"Rocky Horror" returns to Oasis for one final bow

It's time to do the time warp again at Oasis, one last time.

Why it matters: Cult movie turned live musical production "The Rocky Horror Show" returns for its final run this month at the iconic drag nightclub, which will close its curtains for good at the end of the year.

State of play: The show follows two sweethearts who discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter and encounter a string of wild characters, including Frank-N-Furter's latest creation.

• What makes the production unique is its immersive format. The nightclub transforms into Frank-N-Furter's mansion, with performers interacting with audience members and prancing across the floor.
• Audience members sing along to club-inspired mixes of the show's musical numbers, which incorporate drag and burlesque.

What they're saying: "This show is close to my heart. ... I opened the club the same year that I did Frank-N-Furter for the first time," Oasis owner D'Arcy Drollinger, who leads the cast in his 10th year as Frank-N-Furter, told Axios.

• "In the show, it's everyone coming to Frank's castle for his party. And in a way, they're coming to my castle for my party," he said.
• It's a reminder that "there is a world where you can celebrate and be celebrated for being your quirky, kinky, freaky self ... not just living in the mode of dreaming about things but actually making them a reality," Drollinger added.

The intrigue: Because it's the show's final iteration at Oasis, the production will include some never-before-seen surprises.

• Though Drollinger stayed mum on details, he said he wants "our last time in the space ... to be as fun and fabulous as possible."
• This year's cast includes Cheetah Biscotti, Trixxie Carr, Joe Greene and Samuel del Rosario. The show is directed by Jason Hoover and presented by Oasis Arts and Ray of Light Theatre.

Claire Reilly's thought bubble: Rocky Horror is one of my favorite "only in SF" shows (this year will be my third time seeing it, and I'm dragging friends from out of town). It feels like the best combination of cult film tribute, immersive theater and massive dance club party.

• Every time I watch D'Arcy Drollinger's Frank-N-Furter sing "don't dream it, be it" at the end, I can't help but get a tear in my eye.

Catch up quick: Drollinger first starred as Frank-N-Furter 11 years ago at a Ray of Light production at Victoria Theatre. It later morphed into a partnership with Oasis and became a fully immersive experience after the pandemic.

• He announced in July that Oasis would permanently close at the end of 2025 due to rising costs, declining bar sales and attendance since the pandemic.
• The increasingly anti-DEI climate pushed by the Trump administration has also impacted funding and philanthropy, according to Drollinger.

Yes, but: Oasis isn't going out without a bang.

• The nightclub's cultural legacy will live on through Oasis Arts, the nonprofit arts organization led by Drollinger.
• He told Axios he still plans to hold events around the city and is in discussion with the mayor about how to sustain its operations.
• "I'm living my life to prove that there is artistic merit in drag and burlesque, and I'm going to be fighting for that until the day I die," he said.

What's next: "The Rocky Horror Show" debuts Oct. 9 and runs through Nov. 1 at Oasis. Tickets start at $52.20.