Stephanie Hsu Embraces the Iconic Time Warp

Stephanie Hsu calls herself a “soft witch,” a playful label for imperfect intuition. She says her perceptions sometimes land a few clicks off.

Casting for the revival

Hsu had a sudden vision last year that she would play Abraham Lincoln in a Broadway show. She found the gag funny because she is five feet tall.

The next day, director Sam Pinkleton called with an offer. He wanted Hsu to play Janet in a Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show.

Connection to the original work

The musical premiered in London’s West End in 1973. Its 1975 film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, became the longest-running theatrical release.

Hsu had never seen the movie before Pinkleton’s call. She watched it that night and then signed on to the production.

Rehearsals and stage life

On a recent Thursday, Hsu took a dinner break in Studio 54’s mirrored lobby during tech rehearsals. The production is set to open on April 23rd.

She arrived in baggy Levi’s and a blue scarf over a wig cap. From the neck up she still wore Act II makeup.

Playing Janet

The role charts Janet’s shift from innocent ingenue to someone discovering desire. Hsu said the character’s earnestness hides stronger impulses.

She was surprised by the physical and emotional choices that emerged while playing Janet. The performance has allowed her to explore new layers.

On stage, Stephanie Hsu Embraces the Iconic Time Warp with playful energy and fresh interpretation.

Career and background

Hsu was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

After school she worked in the experimental downtown theatre scene. Her first Broadway role came in 2017.

• 2017: Broadway debut as a sentient supercomputer in the SpongeBob SquarePants musical.
• 2022: Cast in the film Everything Everywhere All at Once, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.

In that film Hsu played Joy, a morose daughter of two Chinese immigrants. The role led to an Oscar nomination and a move back to the West Coast.

Despite the success, she missed New York. She decided to return after the morning that followed a second election of Donald Trump.

This profile appears courtesy of Filmogaz.com. The piece highlights Hsu’s return to Broadway and her evolving stage presence.