Jake Shears says his lifelong connection to The Rocky Horror Show made playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter on Broadway a deeply personal opportunity. The Scissor Sisters rocker currently stars in the revival at Studio 54, taking over the role after Luke Evans and Paul Soileau.
Shears discovered The Rocky Horror Picture Show as a teenager and quickly became devoted to its music, story and midnight-screening culture. He told Billboard that the film helped shape his identity as a performer and even influenced the creation of Scissor Sisters. He described the show as a formative message that made him feel less alone, calling it a “sacred text” and his “Rosetta Stone.”
The role also carries the weight of Tim Curry’s iconic performance. Curry originated Frank-N-Furter onstage in London in 1973 and reprised the character in the 1975 film. Shears made his Broadway debut on Sept. 11, only weeks after Curry died at age 80 on Aug. 25.
Shears said Curry’s death made him acknowledge how deeply the actor’s interpretation was embedded in his own understanding of the character. At the same time, he has worked to bring his own energy to Frank while retaining elements of Curry’s celebrated vocal performances. Shears, Evans and Soileau also shared the stage to perform “I’m Going Home” on the night Curry died, an experience Shears described as especially meaningful.
The Broadway production, directed by Tony Award winner Sam Pinkleton, is presented as a playful and deliberately unconventional take on the sci-fi musical. Shears said the staging’s DIY design, camp sensibility and Studio 54 setting have helped him develop a Frank who is fully immersed in the party of the show’s central night.
He also connected the role to his previous theater work, including Charlie in Kinky Boots and the Emcee in Cabaret on the West End. Shears said those experiences helped him develop the skills needed to take on Frank-N-Furter, a part he had wondered about for years but once considered beyond his abilities.
Shears described the demanding schedule of eight performances a week as part of the appeal. He enjoys reaching the final numbers with little energy left and finding the character in that exhaustion. His preparation includes putting on the wig and boots, pacing around his dressing room and making faces in the mirror before the performance.
Audience participation has been another major attraction. Shears said he welcomes callbacks and enjoys being surprised by unexpected jokes, but asked audience members to participate confidently and understand the show’s rhythms. He noted that callbacks work best during dialogue, since comments are difficult to hear while the songs are playing.
Among the musical numbers, “I’m Going Home” has become especially emotional for Shears. He described it as a queer hymn and a quiet, spiritual moment within an otherwise chaotic production. Singing it after Curry’s death, while seeing the reactions of audience members, has given the song an additional personal resonance.
Rather than diminishing his admiration for Rocky Horror, performing the role has deepened it. Shears said stepping into the production has expanded his ideas about the characters and the unseen story surrounding them, reinforcing what he sees as the show’s lasting magic.
Sources: Billboard.