‘My Whole Life Has Been the Audition’: Jake Shears Talks ‘Rocky Horror,’ Tim Curry & His ‘One Request’ About Callbacks
Categoria: Musica
The Scissor Sisters rocker currently stars as Dr. Frank-N-Furter on Broadway.
Por Billboard | 02/11/2026
Although fans have been cosplaying as Dr. Frank-N-Furter for half a century thanks to The Rocky Horror Picture Show ’s infamous midnight screenings, stepping into the mad scientist’s spangled heels remains a tall order for one reason: Tim Curry. Both on stage and on screen ( The Rocky Horror Show debuted on London’s West End in 1973; the Jim Sharman-directed film released in 1975), Curry used his mellifluous voice, wildcat mannerisms and wicked wit to craft one of the most unforgettable characters of all time. Related It’s Astounding, Time Is Fleeting: 50 Years of ‘Rocky Horror’ Coverage In Our Back Pages Tony Winner Sam Pinkleton on His ‘No A–holes’ Policy for ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ on Broadway Suki Waterhouse, Australian Crawl Join Sydney Opera House's On The Steps Series Curry’s Frank was easy to swallow but tough to follow — many who have laced up the corset since then have glimmered, but always in Curry’s shadow. When Jake Shears became the third actor to portray Frank-N-Furter in the current Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show at Studio 54, his debut took on a sad, sweet resonance, happening just weeks after Curry’s death at age 80. (Curry passed away on Aug. 25; Shears debuted on Sept. 11, taking over from Paul Soileau, who followed Luke Evans’ Tony-nominated turn.) “If you’d told me when I was 15 that I’d be in the theater rehearsing for it on the day [Curry’s death] happened — to be able to share that moment with everyone else and be in the theater even now — it feels like a living memorial in a way,” Shears tells Billboard . It may be a living memorial, but don’t get it twisted: this version of the sci-fi/horror/musical is no hushed, reverent recreation. Directed by Tony winner Sam Pinkleton ( Oh, Mary!, Ta-Da! ), this production leans into DIY set design, hodgepodge casting and playful camp to reanimate a show that remains as transgressive and titillating as ever. Eight times a week at Studio 54, the Scissor Sisters rocker-turned-actor brings his sly, bratty take on the Sweet Transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania to life. As he packed his go-to bag ahead of a Tuesday night performance, Shears spoke to Billboard about his lifelong obsession with Rocky Horror, what he thinks about the audience callbacks and how Curry’s death affected his take on the role. What’s your backstory with Rocky Horror ? Is this something that’s been with you throughout your whole life? I’m a true Rocky Horror nerd. I don’t think there would be Scissor Sisters without Rocky Horror . I don’t know if I would be a performer without Rocky Horror . I discovered it for myself when I was 12, just about to turn 13. For its 15th anniversary in 1990, they were putting it out on VHS. In celebration of that — I was an avid MTV and VH1 watcher at that age — I started seeing imagery from it and became really, really curious. Right — it was a late arrival to VHS and