LOS ANGELES -- A new live stage production of The Rocky Horror Show will open at the Tiffany Theatre Jan. 29 for a one-month run through Feb. 20. Broadway veteran Paxton Whitehead, film actor David Arquette ("Scream") and rising newcomer James Carpinello (Off-Broadway's Stupid Kids) star.

With book, music & lyrics by Richard O'Brien, the musical premiered at London's Royal Court Theatre in June 1973, winning the Evening Standard Award for Best New Musical, and subsequently played 2,960 performances before closing in Sept. 1980. The show, with Tim Curry, repeating his London role as Dr. Frank 'N' Furter, ran at the Roxy Theatre in L.A. from March 1973 to Jan. 1975.

Since 1981, the film version has achieved cult midnight feature status.

Dennis Erdnamn directs the current production for producer Paula Holt. Featured alongside Whitehead and Carpinello in the cast are David Arquette, Kirsten Benton, Tim Fitzgerald, Donnie Kehr, Lacey Kohl, Eric Leviton, Hope Levy, Phillip McNivan and Hynden Welch (the Broadway mounting of Little Voice).

Todd Oldham, known for his retro-inspired fashions (as seen in "Batman Forever"), is the costume designer (along with Denise Wingate). The set is by Yael Pardess and Cara T. Hoepner, lights by Ken Booth, sound by Francois Bergeron. The Tiffany is at 8532 Sunset Blvd. For information on Rocky Horror call (310) 289-2999.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent