James Vásquez Replaces Oanh Nguyen as Director of The Old Globe's ROCKY HORROR

The Old Globe today announced that James Vásquez will direct the theater's upcoming revival of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show. Vásquez replaces the previously announced Oanh Nguyen, who has departed the production due to artistic differences. The Rocky Horror Show, with book, music and lyrics by Richard O'Brien, musical staging and choreography by JT Horenstein and music direction by Mike Wilkins, will run in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, Sept. 15 - Nov. 6. Preview performances run Sept. 15 - Sept. 22. Opening night is Friday, Sept. 23 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Vásquez will also this direct this season's 14th annual presentation of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, for which he has recreated the original musical staging since 2003. He won the 2010 Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Direction for Sweeney Todd (Cygnet Theatre Company). His recent directing credits include the West Coast Premieres of [title of show], Fair Use and Twist (Diversionary Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (choreographer), A Little Night Music (choreographer) and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Cygnet) and Into the Woods (New Village Arts). Along with his partners Mark Holmes and Carrie Preston, Vásquez is co-founder of Daisy 3 Pictures. Their first two feature films, 29th and Gay (TLA Releasing, Here TV) and Ready? OK! (Wolfe Video, LOGO) have played national and international film festivals, with Ready? OK! taking top honors in Seattle, North Carolina and San Diego. Daisy 3 recently completed its latest feature, That's What She Said starring Anne Heche. As an actor, Vásquez has appeared on film, television, Off Broadway and regional and local stages. He is a graduate of The Juilliard School.

The musical that became a movie and started a 35-year nonstop cultural phenomenon is back where it is meant to be seen - live on stage. When Brad and Janet, a clean-cut young couple from the suburbs, get caught with a flat in the middle of nowhere, they seek help from the devilishly charming transvestite Dr. Frank ‘N' Furter. What they discover in his mysterious laboratory is a time warp of sexual and scientific possibilities - and, perhaps, true love.

 

As previously announced, the cast of The Rocky Horror Show includes Andrew Call (Eddie, Phantom), Jeanna de Waal (Janet), Sydney James Harcourt (Rocky), Nadine Isenegger (Columbia), Lauren Lim Jackson (Phantom), Kelsey Kurz (Brad), David Andrew Macdonald (Narrator, Dr. Scott), Matt McGrath (Frank ‘N' Furter), Anna Schnaitter (Phantom), Laura Shoop (Magenta, Usherette), Kit Treece (Phantom) and Jason Wooten (Riff Raff, Usher).

The creative team also includes Donyale Werle (Scenic Design), Emily Rebholz (Costume Design), Rui Rita (Lighting Design), Kevin Kennedy (Sound Design), Aaron Rhyne (Projection Design), Carrie Gardner, CSA (Casting) and Anjee Nero (Stage Manager).

Playwright and composer Richard O'Brien began his career as an actor, performing in the London productions of Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar in the 1970s. With the guidance of director Jim Sharman, O'Brien opened his musical The Rocky Horror Show at the Theatre Upstairs in 1973. Within weeks it became a cult theater hit and quickly led to an original cast album. Two years later O'Brien and Sharman adapted it into a film, retitled The Rocky Horror Picture Show, starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. Though the material was highly provocative for its time, including depictions of gay and transgender culture, the movie gained a huge cult following and made stars of its leads. O'Brien himself appeared in the movie as Riff Raff. Still in limited release 35 years after its premiere, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the longest-running theatrical release in film history. O'Brien created a follow-up movie, Shock Treatment, and several more stage musicals in the ‘80s, and he continued to act in bit parts in cult films such as Flash Gordon, Dark City, Ever After and Dungeons & Dragons. In 1998 he released a CD, entitled Absolute O'Brien, of music from his one-man revue, Disgracefully Yours. He served as the host of the popular British game show "The Crystal Maze" and appeared on the West End in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He also occasionally does cabaret-style music and comedy performances on stages around the world, singing songs from Rocky Horror, among others.

Choreographer JT Horenstein recently premiered his work at Broadway's DanceBreak at the Alvin Ailey Theatre. He also filmed a Volkswagen Jetta commercial and is the dancer behind Gene Kelly's face. Horenstein can also be seen in the film Fame as the jazz dance teacher opposite Bebe Neuwirth and will next be featured in The Muppets. Horenstein has choreographed, coached and performed in concert appearances, music videos, arena tours, films and on television with artists such as Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, My Chemical Romance, Puddle of Mudd, Ricky Martin, Kings of Leon, Sean Lennon and Modest Mouse. He has performed in over 15 Broadway shows, national and international companies and tours including Tommy Tune's Grease on Broadway with Rosie O'Donnell, The Who's Tommy, White Christmas at the Pantages Theatre and Michael Jackson's European Sisterella Tour. He is currently developing two new dance and theater pieces that he has created: The Question (premiered at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre on March 9, 2009) and A Day in the Life of America, a collection of short stories told entirely through song, dance and multimedia with a classic rock score that takes place across five U.S. cities in one 24 hour period.

Music Director Mike Wilkins holds a B.A. in Music Theory and Composition from Azusa Pacific University and a Master's degree in Choral Conducting. He is proud to be an Associate Member at Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills. His Chance Theater projects include Merrily We Roll Along, Little Women, The Who's Tommy (nominated for four Ovation Awards, including Best Musical), The Secret Garden and the world premiere of The Boy in the Bathroom. He is currently working on Chance Theater's production of the Southern California Premiere of Jerry Springer: The Opera. He has worked on numerous productions as a musical director and accompanist, including The Wild Party, Guys and Dolls, Footloose, Anything Goes and Godspell.

TICKETS to Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Tickets are currently available by subscription only. Single tickets will go on sale online on Friday, Aug. 19 at midnight. Single tickets will go on sale at the Globe Box Office on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 10:00 a.m. Performances at the Old Globe Theatre begin on Sept. 15 and continue through Nov. 6. Ticket prices start at $29. Performance times: Previews: Thursday, Sept. 15 at 8:00 p.m., Friday, Sept. 16 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17 at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 18 at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8:00 p.m. Regular Performances: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturday matinees at 4 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. There is an 8:00 p.m. performance on Monday, Oct. 31 (Halloween) and no performance on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The Friday, Oct. 28 performance will begin at 7:30 and will be followed by the Rocky Horror Costume Bash (see below for details). Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and under, seniors and groups of 10 or more.