Smiling and sweet, Alice Ripley looked like a glam Athena. Daphne Rubin-Vega looked sexy, luscious and in her element. And Tom Hewitt, handsome and towering everyone else, was constantly overwhelmed by what he liked to call “my public, who have been patiently waiting.”

By the time I showed up at the Nov. 15 opening night party for The Rocky Horror Show, the Supper Club had already exploded into an orgy of dancing, schmoozing, eating, drinking and merrymaking.

With producer Jordan Roth (The Donkey Show) at the helm, it was as if a cabal of downtown denizens and mod scenesters had moved their crazy-funky sensibility uptown.

You could have perched upstairs on the second floor of the Supper Club, where the mood was darker and the tables less crowded. But if you looked down on everybody you would seethe with envy at the dionysiac revelry that was going on downstairs. On the dance floor, the boys and girls were cute, hot and sweaty. Everyone cavorted, and everyone was smiling. Eventually you would just want to wend your way downstairs and be part of the fun.

At one end of club, the cast of Rocky Horror milled around in a special area for their friends and family. Though it was cordoned off the rest of the crowd, it was not so hard to sneak your way past the tough-looking security.

The paparazzi knew that this was the place to get the best group shots. At one point, there were so many people in that red area, bedecked with soft plush seats and concave tables, that I chose to just stay in one spot and simply twisted around to talk to the cast.

Tom Hewitt told me that more than anything else he is thrilled that Rocky Horror Show is now in the actors' hands. Rehearsals are over, and after opening night the show is completely his to play with and explore. He said he’s still occasionally perplexed by the audience participation part of the show.

“Sometimes I think, ‘Work with me now. Work with me,” Hewitt said. But for the most part he said that he has never felt hostility or disrespect from the audience. He described Rocky fans as “sweet” and “very respectful.” Although the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter does allow him to exercise his improv skills, it is really Dick Cavett, as the Narrator, who really gets to shoot off his mouth.

Jarrod Emick, who plays Brad, partied with his mother, Diane Emick. At one point, both were spotted talking to Nathan Lane, whose beaming face expressed the pleasure of being up-close and personal with one of Broadway’s handsomest leading men.

In a bodyhugging outfit and without the square glasses, Emick has shed the stereotypically 1950s angularity of Brad -– a stud version of Drew Carey. Emick said that he is happy to return to Broadway since his Tony Award winning performance in Damn Yankees. And his mom, Diane, was so cool. She partied until 1 AM. At one point, she told me, in a burst of excitement: “The party for Damn Yankees was never like this!”

Truth be told, there is nothing quite like the sight of Emick gryating his pelvis to disco music. Ricky Martin, look out.

DeLaria agreed that aside from the Tim Curry role, her character Eddie is the only other iconic part in The Rocky Horror Show, in part because Eddie was played on Broadway and in the film by Meat Loaf. “Eddie made Meat Loaf a star,” DeLaria said. “Even though all of the film’s stars are still working, when you think of Rocky Horror you think Tim Curry first and Meat Loaf second. Tom and I have a little harder work than the other people do. I mean, who’s not going to pick up Susan Sarandon running around in a bra and slip?”

Daphne Rubin-Vega said that her theater career has indeed been a little schizophrenic. Off-Broadway, she plays highly dramatic characters in plays like Gum and Two Sisters and a Piano. But on Broadway, she’s tagged as a hot bombshell performer. “You’re the first person to articulate that,” Rubin-Vega said. “It is like living two lives. But the best part of it is that I can get to explore all parts of my personality.”

Raul Esparza, who plays Riff Raff, was simply adorable. He described his meeting Richard O’Brien, the author of The Rocky Horror Show, who also played Riff Raff in the movie.

“I was quite intimidated of him,” Esparza said of O’Brien. “He talks very fast, and he’s very British.” During their conversations, Esparza said that O’Brien paid the Broadway actor a compliment about his singing style. O’Brien, who had simply spoken and pattered the songs, said he was struck by Esparaza’s strong singing voice and the kind of emotional commitment he gave to the role.

Sebastian LaCause said that to warm up and make himself physically ready for the role of Rocky, he has had to work out at Prescriptive Fitness on West 54th Street, an hour before the show. Sebastian didn’t quite agree with my own take on his character, which is that it’s ironic that Rocky turns out to be most likely straight when he comes upon Janet in the dark hallways.

“I think, it’s more Rocky’s innocence that I try to play in the show,” LaCause said. “He’s naďve and new to the world. He wants to explore new things in life. So he doesn’t necessarily swing one way or the other yet. He’s still too young and innocent.”

Near the end of the evening, more stars showed up at The Rocky Horror opening night bash. Michele Lee was spotted in a black-knit concoction, along with her Tale of the Allergist’s Wife co-star Tony Roberts. Singer Sam Harris was also there. He was talking up his new holiday album, which will be released in a couple of weeks, and his new cabaret show at Joe’s Pub. Lilias White was spotted hanging out with Hewitt and Mitchell. She said that she is actually going to return to Too Hot To Handel, the gospel "Messiah" that she performs every year at Lincoln Center.

Also spotted was scenic designer David Rockwell who said: “This is the most fun I have had in a while. It’s more fun than working on architecture." Sounds as if there’s one more artist who’s been bit by the theater bug.

Wearing a leopard spandex outfit, Rocky Horror author Richard O’Brien described this current Broadway revival as “one of the best versions of the show.” The Supper Club was so loud and he talked so fast that it was a little difficult to keep up with what he was saying, but he felt that this new version of Rocky Horror runs at a fast, exciting clip. He added that this return to Broadway is certainly more rewarding than his last series of Bottom Line concerts at the West Village five years ago, when the crowds were paltry and the returns not so encouraging. “I spent a lot of money to do that show,” O’Brien said. “I am excited to return to New York with this incredible Broadway show.”

Without a doubt, O’Brien must thank Rocky Horror producer Jordan Roth first and foremost. With his proud mom Daryl Roth dancing away the night, the 24-year-old Roth is the guy who made this revival happen by bringing together director Christopher Ashley and designer David Rockwell. In fact, many of the partiers I talked to said that if you were not originally a fan of the midnight cult film, this new Broadway revival may just win new converts.

“Producing this show has been challenging but also exhilarating,” Roth said. “You’re right to say that producing is about finding so many aspects of yourself. As producer, you are so many things to so many people. It’s the role of a collaborator, friend, boss, encourager, supporter, cheer leader, drill sergeant. It really runs the gamut, and it depends on where we are on the process.”

O’Brien must also give kudos to Christopher Ashley, who actually manages the heroic -– he improved O’Brien’s script. Not only did Ashley deliver the kinky goods, he also seamlessly integrated the material's film lineage to a stage format. “It was so crazy making that short film with Brad and Janet” shown at the end of the stage show, Ashley recalled. “Sure it helped that I did the film version of Jeffrey. But I just remember so many people wanting to see what was going on, while we were shooting it, especially when we shot the Times Square scenes.”

But while Roth is boss and Ashley is the director, DeLaria may be even bossier. At 1:30 PM, when the Supper Club management had lit up the lights to signal the end of the party, DeLaria hollered, asking all the cast members and the creative team to gather together to take a final group shot.

It marked the end of what was quite simply the best opening night party for any Broadway show I had ever attended. {:-)-:}

All photos by Randy Gener