Rock of Ages is a jukebox musical built around classic rock songs from the 1980s. It tells the story of a small-town girl, a city boy, and a rock ‘n’ roll romance on the Sunset Strip. But when the local bar, the Bourbon Room, where rock reigns supreme is set to be demolished, it’s up to these wannabe rockers and their band of friends to save the day – and the music.
After having premiered in Los Angeles back in 2005, Rock of Ages made its way to New York at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages three years later before moving to Broadway on April 7th, 2009. The production received 5 Tony Award nominations (including Best Musical), and ran for 2,328 performances after closing on January 18th, 2015. This past summer, Rock of Ages made its grand return to New World Stages to celebrate its 10th anniversary for a limited run which will conclude on January 26th, 2020.
Throughout the show, characters frequently break the fourth wall, directly addressing the audience and seemingly forgetting (or perhaps reminding the audience) that they are actors in a musical. Which is a very clever and meta device book writer Chris D'Arienzo uses to tell the story. He even makes references to Rock of Ages being on Broadway, the 2012 film adaptation with Tom Cruise, and the fact that the show is back Off-Broadway.
To explain who everyone is in this show, CJ Eldred plays Drew Boley, who is an aspiring rocker that works as a busboy at the Bourbon Room. Kirsten Scott plays Sherrie Christian, who is a small town girl that just moved to Los Angeles, hoping to make it big in acting. Matt Wolpe plays Lonny Barnett, who serves as the show’s narrator as well as an assistant at the Bourbon Room. PJ Griffith plays Stacee Jax, who is a rock star that had his start at the Bourbon Room. Matt Ban plays Dennis Dupree, who is the owner of the Bourbon Room. Tom Galantich plays Hertz Klinemann, a German developer who wants to introduce “clean living” in the area of the Sunset strip. Tiffany Engen plays Regina McKaig, who is a city planner that protests Hertz’s plans. Jeannette Bayardelle plays Justice Charlier, who is the owner of a nearby strip club. The whole cast really kills it in their roles.
Director Kristin Hanggi is able to keep the energy constantly alive from beginning to end along with choreographer Kelly Devine on a very clever set designed by Beowulf Boritt. The main set piece is pretty much the Bourbon Room, and in such an intimate venue, it feels like we the audience are really there. For my very first show Off-Broadway, Rock of Ages proved to be nothing but a good time!
For more information, please visit:
https://rockofagesmusical.com/
After having premiered in Los Angeles back in 2005, Rock of Ages made its way to New York at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages three years later before moving to Broadway on April 7th, 2009. The production received 5 Tony Award nominations (including Best Musical), and ran for 2,328 performances after closing on January 18th, 2015. This past summer, Rock of Ages made its grand return to New World Stages to celebrate its 10th anniversary for a limited run which will conclude on January 26th, 2020.
Throughout the show, characters frequently break the fourth wall, directly addressing the audience and seemingly forgetting (or perhaps reminding the audience) that they are actors in a musical. Which is a very clever and meta device book writer Chris D'Arienzo uses to tell the story. He even makes references to Rock of Ages being on Broadway, the 2012 film adaptation with Tom Cruise, and the fact that the show is back Off-Broadway.
To explain who everyone is in this show, CJ Eldred plays Drew Boley, who is an aspiring rocker that works as a busboy at the Bourbon Room. Kirsten Scott plays Sherrie Christian, who is a small town girl that just moved to Los Angeles, hoping to make it big in acting. Matt Wolpe plays Lonny Barnett, who serves as the show’s narrator as well as an assistant at the Bourbon Room. PJ Griffith plays Stacee Jax, who is a rock star that had his start at the Bourbon Room. Matt Ban plays Dennis Dupree, who is the owner of the Bourbon Room. Tom Galantich plays Hertz Klinemann, a German developer who wants to introduce “clean living” in the area of the Sunset strip. Tiffany Engen plays Regina McKaig, who is a city planner that protests Hertz’s plans. Jeannette Bayardelle plays Justice Charlier, who is the owner of a nearby strip club. The whole cast really kills it in their roles.
Director Kristin Hanggi is able to keep the energy constantly alive from beginning to end along with choreographer Kelly Devine on a very clever set designed by Beowulf Boritt. The main set piece is pretty much the Bourbon Room, and in such an intimate venue, it feels like we the audience are really there. For my very first show Off-Broadway, Rock of Ages proved to be nothing but a good time!
For more information, please visit:
https://rockofagesmusical.com/