The Rocky Horror Show

by Richard O'Brien

(Music Sales America). The whole gory story in song! These vocal selections match the 1990 cast recording and are arranged for piano, voice and guitar. All the songs from Richard O'Brien's monstrous musical masterpiece, complete with lyrics and guitar chord symbols. Also includes a CD with soundalike backing tracks. Songs Damn It, Janet * Don't Dream It, Be It * Eddie's Teddy * Sweet Transvestite * The Time Warp * Touch-a Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me * I'm Going Home * and more.

Genres: Music, Plays, LGBT, Musicals, Drama, Science Fiction, Horror

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an acting edition, so it's pretty bare bones (and not particularly well-edited), but it was still a gas to read the actual play. The film is remarkably faithful to it, changing and adding relatively little--though the play (or so it seems from the script) would have a higher proportion of song to dialogue than the film does. There's not much in the play I was sorry to see cut, though Frank's last words to Columbia really should have been kept, I think. Anyway, fun to read, but a lot more fun to watch!

[Dana Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did a scene of touch me from this at American University and played it as a really old woman with my later friends young husband.

[elio · Rating 5 out of 5]

GONNA WATCH THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW ON THURSDAY WITH MY BESTIE!!!

[Mason Oberle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insane. Reading this is a fever dream. It feels a lot like a jukebox musical. Even though the songs were written for the show, many of them are integrated very poorly into flow of the narrative. It's something that should be seen and not read.

[Trent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did a performance of Rocky Horror this summer, so I extensively learned the songs.

[Ilyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worked on this with Lee Mikeska and Jo Michael Reyes and Jack Cline at Central Square. Did a trans and non-binary forward version. I choreographed. Still a fun piece. Super flawed. But super fun.

[marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly bitch.

[alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

the script itself doesn't do this justice to be honest, it is the basis for everything that came after but just reading it as is does not suffice

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This doesn't really require a written review. You've either seen the movie (or the earlier stage show) or you haven't. If you have, this is a deliciously silly read. If you haven't, I can only imagine it'd be a bit puzzling, as some things have to be seen to be properly appreciated. (Susan Sarandon! Barry Bostwick! Tim Curry! Meat Loaf! Well, now that everybody's met...)

Anyway, I was thrilled to find this in my local library and read it over lunch. This features everything I remember from the film, plus a few extras (like the description of proposed stage action, which is just as funny as what goes down on stage: "THE BOX... should be robust enough to have people stand on it without feeling insecure and light enough for anyone to pick up and move. (Note To Actors: Always arrange to be on the other side of the stage when this gets done.)" -- p. 7). Don't remember the songs 'Sword of Damocles' or 'Once in a While' so it was nice to encounter them here. Also, the stage action is here slightly less elaborate than the movie (which stands to reason), and... did you know that Meat Loaf played BOTH Eddie and Doctor Scott in the original show (no Sarandon or Bostwick, though)? That Richard O'Brien's stage-stage name ("O'Brien" being itself a stage name) was "Ritz O'Brien?" That the original lighting was handled by someone named "Chip Monck?" I'm just saying, it's the little details that make all the difference.

It's so exciting to have found this in our local library. It gives me hope that a member of our community may yet be inspired to actually stage the thing. Anyone? Anyone? Brad? Janet?

Magenta?

[Gonzalo Rodríguez Risco · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the craziest musicals of all times... Embrace the madness and you'll enjoy it!

[Donny Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I loved this. I was just in it and it's always been one of my favorite shows! Yay Richard O'Brien!!!