The Broadway revival of "The Rocky Horror Show" embraces the distinctive aesthetic that has defined the cult musical since its debut in 1973. Design collective dots, responsible for the set, acknowledged early on that capturing the show’s intentionally rough-edged, campy spirit was essential, even as budget constraints required scaling back original plans.
Santiago Orjuela-Laverde, a founder of dots, described the production as a “trashy little musical,” highlighting a deliberate embrace of the show’s seediness and irreverence that have long been central to its identity. This approach aligns with the legacy of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” the 1975 film adaptation whose midnight screenings have become a cultural phenomenon marked by audience participation and a celebration of queer-positive themes.
Directed by Sam Pinkleton, the revival has garnered critical attention and nine Tony Award nominations, including nods for the set design by dots and costume work by David I. Reynoso. Reynoso emphasized his intention to honor the iconic visual elements familiar from the film while reinterpreting them in fresh ways. His designs blend recognizable motifs with unexpected details, reflecting the characters’ self-assembled costumes and the setting’s playful, DIY charm.
The set features a recurring motif of silver duct hose entwined with green rope lights, which extends into the audience to evoke the ongoing sci-fi experiment of Rocky happening elsewhere in Frank-N-Furter’s sprawling castle. The production’s atmosphere combines elements of “Rocky Horror” camp, the decadence associated with Studio 54, and the kitsch of a party supply store, complete with deliberately artificial candles and handcrafted touches intended to give the space a lived-in, improvised feel.
One scene depicts the inhabitants of Frank-N-Furter’s castle performing the signature "Time Warp" dance as Brad and Janet, the straight-laced visitors to the castle, observe from the stairs, encapsulating the contrast between the world of the mysterious castle residents and the conventional outsiders.
Together, the design and direction aim to preserve the show’s irreverent spirit and its unique blend of horror, humor, and queer celebration, reinforcing why “The Rocky Horror Show” remains an enduring cultural touchstone more than five decades after its debut.