Photos by Mikki Schaffner | @mikkischaffner

Since the inception of theatre, the stage has been a place for the expression of the human experience in its purest form. From comedy to tragedy, we learn what it means to be human by watching actors embody characters who reflect different pieces of ourselves. But sometimes we find as Queer people that we don’t find ourselves reflected in traditional stories. Luckily, Covington has a professional theatre looking to explore these stories and “open hearts and minds in ways nothing else can.”

The Carnegie is a theatre, gallery, and educational space dedicated to the power of the arts, producing shows that reflect its community. Last year’s The Rocky Horror Show was one of their best-selling shows in its history, with more than half the attendees visiting The Carnegie for the first time. This was due to an exceptional, colorful production and the star power of Dusty Ray Bottoms, a RuPaul’s Drag Race girl and Louisvillian, and Pam Kravetz, a Cincinnati artist, activist, and icon.

Most may not think of Covington as a hot spot for queer theatre, but The Carnegie’s Theatre Director Tyler Gabbard says, “Covington exemplifies this great intersection of tradition and transformation. It’s a city with deep roots and a bold, creative identity. There’s a vibrant Queer community here that deserves to see themselves reflected on stage as the complex, powerful, joyful humans we are. By centering Queer stories, we’re building a space where people feel seen, celebrated, and safe.”

Past shows have included Kinky Boots, RENT, The Rocky Horror Show, and most recently The Color Purple, all featuring different facets of Queerness that Gabbard has been intentional about exploring. In fact, the 2025-2026 season features a Queer person on the writing team for every musical. Next season touts La Cage Aux Folles, which will be the first professional production in Greater Cincinnati. “It’s glittery and has a chorus of drag queens and a big, brassy Broadway score,” Gabbard says, “but it’s ultimately this really sweet, honest story about family.”

This year’s season—along with Always… Patsy Cline, Grease, and Anything Goes—includes The Rocky Horror Show for the second year in a row, so everyone has the chance to do the Time Warp… again! Dusty Ray Bottoms will be stepping back into the role of the sweet transvestite Dr. Frank-n-Furter, which had been a dream role for the revered drag queen. “I’ve wanted to play Frank for years,” Dusty Ray Bottoms reminisces, “and I’m honestly glad it didn’t happen until now. Pursuing a career in theatre and acting eventually led me into the world of drag, which is its own form of theatre. So being able to bring everything I’ve learned as a drag queen to this role, to really drag Frank up, was incredibly fulfilling.”

The Rocky Horror Show is so much more than a Queer-affirming world played out on stage; it’s something that extends to the audience as well—call- and-response moments, props for audience members to use, and the allowance of out-of- this-world costumes have all contributed to making Rocky Horror a Queer cult classic for over 50 years. (Side note: I grew up going to Rocky Horror at Baxter Avenue Theatre in Louisville, and nothing felt more authentic than seeing a weird 70’s movie at midnight in nothing but underwear and body glitter). At its core, Rocky Horror is a world of possibility.

Gabbard says, “I often think about Queerness in relation to possibility. Being Queer means having the ability to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be. I’m certain this comes from the long history of Queer people having to fight to claim our place in the world. We envision it and then we make it so.”

The Rocky Horror Show runs October 24 – November 2, 2025, and you can find information for all their productions on The Carnegie’s website.