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She’ll make history as the first trans Mexican American featured in a principal cast on Broadway
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Valentina will play Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show, marking her Broadway debut starting July 21
She is the first trans Mexican American featured in a principal Broadway cast, a historic milestone
The actress and reality star’s career includes multiple runs on RuPaul’s Drag Race and roles in the screen adaptations of Rent: Live and In the Heights
Valentina certainly won’t be lip syncing when she takes the stage to do the Time Warp next week.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race star, actress, recording artist, television personality and model will make her Broadway debut as Columbia in Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show beginning July 21. She takes over the role from Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, who originated Columbia in the acclaimed Studio 54 revival before departing the production last month.
Rocky Horror is led by Luke Evans as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, alongside Rachel Dratch as the Narrator, Andrew Durand as Brad, Stephanie Hsu as Janet, Amber Gray as Riff Raff, Harvey Guillén as Eddie/Dr. Scott, Josh Andrés Rivera as Rocky and Sherie Rene Scott as Magenta. Anania, Renée Albulario, Boy Radio, Caleb Quezon, Andres Quintero, Larkin Reilly, Paul Soileau and John Yi round out the company.
With her casting, Valentina becomes the first trans Mexican American featured in a principal cast on Broadway.
The milestone casting feels especially fitting for a performer who has captivated audiences since she first sashayed into the RuPaul’s Drag Race season 9 Werk Room in 2017. While she ultimately didn’t snatch the crown, the “fan favorite” queen cemented herself in the herstory books thanks to her involvement in multiple memeable moments, including her attempt to lip sync with a bedazzled mask covering her face because she didn’t know the words (prompting her now-iconic plea, “I’d like to keep it on, please”).
Valentina’s popularity only grew when she returned to the Drag Race universe in 2018 for All Stars 4. In 2023, she debuted as the inaugural host and judge in season 1 of Drag Race México.
But the queen’s talents extend further than reality TV. The California native made her acting debut as Angel Dumott Schunard in 2019’s Rent: Live opposite Brandon Victor Dixon, Vanessa Hudgens and Jordan Fisher. Other screen credits include Netflix’s The House of Flowers, AJ and the Queen, La Usurpadora: The Musical and the big-screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights.
The Rocky Horror Show originally opened at London’s Royal Court Theatre in 1973 and has been in continuous production throughout the world for the last 52 years — the only musical to have achieved this record. It came across the pond in 1974, first to Los Angeles and then to Broadway the following year.
O’Brien’s cult favorite follows the adventure of newly engaged couple Brad and Janet after their car breaks down outside the mansion of the mysterious Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Its score features beloved songs including “Dammit Janet,” “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me,” “Hot Patootie” and “Time Warp.”
Of course, many fans likely first encountered the musical through its 1975 film adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show, starring Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Made for just $1.4 million, the movie became a phenomenon, developing a cult-like following thanks to its lively midnight sing-along screenings which are still going strong five decades later. In fact, the title is the longest continuously running theatrical release in film history.
This revival, directed by Tony winner Sam Pinkleton, began previews in March before opening at Studio 54 in April. It went on to earn nine Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical.
Rodriguez announced her departure from the production on June 23, calling her Broadway debut in the role “nothing short of a dream realized.” In a heartfelt Instagram post, she reflected on the friendships she built during the run and praised The Rocky Horror Show as a production “for everyone” that “speaks to every kind of human being, every walk of life.”
She also thanked director Sam Pinkleton, the crew and her castmates for creating what she called “a moment. A movement. A true game-changer,” adding that while she’d “miss this chapter deeply,” she knew the show’s legacy would continue.
Tickets for The Rocky Horror Show are now on sale.
Read the original article on People
