Independent Arts News Reporting Frankie Grande Does the Time Warp...Again
Reported on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
Pictured Above: Frankie Grande in “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show.” Photo Credit: Joan Marcus.
NEWSROOM POST: NEW HOPE, PENNSYLVANIA
“The Rocky Horror Show” returns to Bucks Playhouse Limited Engagement Runs October 10 – November 2
New Hope, PA – Actor, producer and reality star, Frankie Grande, will revisit his role as Dr. Frank-n-Furter in “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show” at Bucks County Playhouse beginning October 10 and running through November 2.
Grande returns to the Playhouse production, where he performed the role to critical and audience acclaim the last two seasons — while breaking Bucks County Playhouse’s Box Office records for the show in 2023 and 2024. “The Rocky Horror Show” has become an annual experience at the historic venue, but the current production will not be seen next year as production rights are not available to the Playhouse for 2026.
The Playhouse’s Executive Producer Robyn Goodman, Producing Director Alexander Fraser and Producer Joshua Fiedler announced casting for the return of the production which features choreography by Shannon Lewis and direction by Playhouse Artistic Associate, Hunter Foster. Greg Santos is resident director.
“The Rocky Horror Show has been one of my favorite things to be a part of since we first came to the Playhouse 11 years ago. As we prepare to step away from producing at the Playhouse, I’m thrilled to be a part of this show for one last time (warp). And, having Frankie Grande return in the role he was born to play is just icing on the cake!” says Producer Josh Fiedler.
“The Rocky Horror Show has been a Playhouse tradition for decades. We’re proud to present Hunter and Shannon’s gloriously gothic production… and it’s been a hit two years’ running. And Frankie’s performance is for the ages,” says Producing Director Alexander Fraser.
Pictured Above: The cast of “Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show” in 2023. Photo Credit: Mark Garvin.
A sensation on social media, as well as on stage, Frankie Grande is a multihyphenate performer, producer, and host who has appeared on Broadway in “Mamma Mia!” and “Rock of Ages,” produced award-winning theater and film, and starred in television favorites including “Big Brother” and “Henry Danger.” Most recently, he released his debut album Hotel Rock Bottom with Casablanca of Republic Records.
Along with Grande, returning cast members include Jordan Bollwerk as Brad Majors, Natalie Welch as Janet Weiss, Tim Shea as Riff Raff, Alyssa Wray as Magenta and Stanley Martin as Eddie. Joining them are Madeline Benoit as Columbia and Patrick Richwood as Dr. Scott/Narrator. The ensemble includes Mary Grace Humphries, Annie Gagen, and Hank Santos. Casting of Rocky will be announced soon. The creative team includes Jeffrey Perri (Scenic Design), Nicole V. Moody (Costume Design), J. Jared Janas (Hair and Wig Design), Travis McHale (Lighting Design), and Bart Fasbender (Sound Design). Musical Director is Evan Zavada. Kellian Frank is production stage manager. Casting by Paul Hardt.
With book, music, and lyrics by Richard O’Brien, “The Rocky Horror Show” inspired the 1975 cult classic film. The musical follows innocent couple Brad and Janet on the adventure to beat all adventures. As they seek shelter at a mysterious old castle on a dark and stormy night, they encounter transvestite scientist, Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter, who is in the midst of a maniacal experiment to create his “perfect” man Rocky. With an infectious rock n’ roll score, “The Rocky Horror Show” is the most fun you can have in fishnets! Given the nature of the subject matter, parental discretion is advised.
“The Rocky Horror Show” will run from October 10 through November 2. “The Rocky Horror Show” will play the following schedule: Tuesday through Friday evenings at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm and 8 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets start at $75. A limited number of $39 tickets will be available for each performance of “The Rocky Horror Show” via an online lottery. The lottery will open each week on Monday at 12 PM and the drawing will occur on Friday at 12 PM for performances the following week. Details at BucksCountyPlayhouse.org/
For full details, and to purchase tickets, please visit buckscountyplayhouse.org, call 215-862-2121, or visit the box office at 70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA.
Bucks County Playhouse, steeped in theatrical history dating to its 1939 founding by a roster of theatrical royalty, is celebrating the 13th anniversary of its 2012 reopening and restoration. With more than 75,000 patrons each year, the Playhouse continues to help lead the economic resurgence of New Hope and the surrounding community. In 2014, Tony Award-winning producers Alexander Fraser, Robyn Goodman and Josh Fiedler assumed leadership of the Playhouse, helping it reclaim its reputation for attracting top-tier Broadway and Hollywood talent. Productions of “Company,” starring Justin Guarini, and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” were named to The Wall Street Journal’s Best of Theatre list in 2015. In 2018, the Journal again recognized the Playhouse — and Artistic Associate Hunter Foster — for its acclaimed production of “42nd Street.” The following year, the publication hailed the Playhouse as “one of the best regional theaters on the East Coast.” Box-office records have been repeatedly broken by signature productions including “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” “Steel Magnolias” (directed by Marsha Mason), “Million Dollar Quartet,” “42nd Street” and “Guys and Dolls” (all directed by Foster), as well as “Mamma Mia!” (directed by Artistic Associate John Tartaglia and choreographed by Shannon Lewis). A brief pause during the pandemic did not diminish the theater’s momentum. Bucks County Playhouse continued producing onstage and onscreen throughout 2020, culminating in a live summer season in 2021 that welcomed an increasing number of first-time audience members. The 2023 season featured standouts such as Jonathan Larson’s “Tick, Tick … Boom!” (directed by Artistic Associate Eric Rosen, who returned in 2024 to helm the audience and critics’ favorite “Anastasia: The Musical”), “The Bridges of Madison County,” directed by Foster, and “The Rocky Horror Show,” starring Frankie Grande. Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” became the highest-grossing show in Playhouse history. In 2024, more than 40% of the audience were first-time attendees, drawn to record-breaking productions of “Grease!” and “Anastasia: The Musical.” The Playhouse continues to attract top creative teams — artists who relish the chance to work on the historic stage where Grace Kelly, Robert Redford and Jessica Walter began their careers.
