Directed by Zoe Bradford, Musical Direction by Steve Bass, Choreography by Sally Ashton Forrest, Costume Design by Alison Gordon, Lighting Design by Dean Palmer Jr., Set Design by Ryan Barrow.
by Linda Chin
Welcome to the 80s, or as the show’s narrator (Brad Reinking) delightfully describes, “the Reagan era…a time before most of the people on this stage were born.” Like many musicals, Rock of Ages is thin on plot, a classic girl-meets-boy story of small-town girl and aspiring actress Sherri (Emily Lambert) and city boy and rock star wannabe Drew (Braden Misiaszek) searching for fulfillment in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Their field of dreams – the Bourbon Room – is being targeted by a greedy developer Hertz (Kevin Groppe), and club owner Denise’s (Janis Hudson) attempts to save her business from the wrecking ball, including hiring an egomaniacal rock star Stacee Jaxx (Trey Lundquist/Shane Hennessey) add additional twists to the storyline.
A jukebox musical, Rock of Ages is a romp through the music of Starship, Pat Benatar, Journey, Twisted Sister, Foreigner, with rock hits like We Built This City, We’re Not Gonna Take It, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, and Don’t Stop Believin’. Dance moves befitting of the era (choreography by Sally Ashton Forrest) and the five-piece band led by Steve Bass drive the action forward. Though the unit set dominated much of the stage, causing the ensemble to be crowded downstage, and actors’ lines were sometimes drowned out by the band or dropped microphones, the ensemble kept the energy at a high level throughout the production (particularly impressive as it was performed without an intermission).
Judging by the enthusiastic reception of the audience (a fairly-full crowd that chose to spend a beautiful summer Sunday afternoon indoors), the nostalgia in the theatre was not just for the big hair, Aqua Net, the shoulder pads, or the beloved tunes. It was for feeling those feelings that seem like distant memories, again. Of young love. Of chasing your dreams. Of being in the company of strangers, laughing, sharing a common experience. Of live musical theater. To actors and audiences – It’s been a long 18 months to be away from what you love. if you “can’t stop this feeling” anymore,” Rock of Ages is running through August 22nd. For tickets and information, go to: https://www.companytheatre.com/
Thank you, Linda!!! Thanks for coming to the show.