Broadway cast performs five Rocky Horror songs at NPR studio
The revival of Richard O'Brien's musical brought a costumed audience to Washington, D.C., for a live session that included the show's signature dance number.
By Vincent Parker ·
The performance of the show's most recognizable dance number ended with the entire studio audience moving in unison, a moment the source described as the highlight of the evening.
The event took place in October at the NPR offices in the NoMa district of Washington, D.C. The Broadway revival of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show brought its cast to the Tiny Desk studio for a recorded session. The production has been running for over 50 years, with a film adaptation that helped cement its status in pop culture.
Audience members arrived dressed in costumes referencing the show's characters, including Frank-N-Furters, Magentas, and Eddies. The group included fans in fishnets, corsets, and maid costumes, alongside others in 1950s-style greaser outfits and nerd attire. The source noted that the crowd represented a mix of passionate fans and first-time attendees seeking a sense of community.
The musical set began with Anania singing "Science Fiction Double Feature." Lorna Courtney and Kevin McHale performed "Over at the Frankenstein Place" as the characters Brad and Janet. Andres Quintero provided vocals on the same track, while George Salazar led the performance of "Hot Patootie." Lynn Ligammari played saxophone during that number. Jake Shears closed the instrumental set with a solo rendition of "I'm Going Home."
The final song was "The Time Warp." The source stated that a primary goal of the production was to have the NPR staff and guests perform the choreographed dance moves. The audience joined the cast in the performance, moving hands to hips and knees tight as directed by the song.
The musical lineup included Jane Cardona on keys and music direction, Nate Brown on guitar, Winston Roye on bass, and Shannon Ford on drums. Background vocals were provided by Jimin Moon, Renée Albulario, Boy Radio, Preston Perez, Star Quezon, Larkin Reilly, and Paul Soileau. Mitra I. Arthur produced the session, with Maia Stern serving as director and editor.
The session was part of the Tiny Desk Concert series, created by Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, and Robin Hilton. Suraya Mohamed served as executive producer, and Sonali Mehta as executive director. The production team also included Josh Newell as audio director and mix engineer, and Bobby Carter as creative director.
