The 1980s are back. The fashion is here, the former child stars are all over bookstores selling their biographies or making comebacks in family-oriented shows, and the music has finally arrived, especially in Rock of Ages. Anyone that has fond memories rekindled by the music of Styx, Journey or Poison needs to get Rock of Ages tickets and see this new breed of musical theater on Broadway.
Rock of Ages is a musical with a book written by Chris D'Arienzo and music and lyrics written by the glam metal bands that rocked the radio waves in the ‘80s. The show premiered at the Vanguard Hollywood in January 2006. D'Arienzo's creation played for six glorious weeks as he made the minor adjustments that would help Rock of Ages tickets sell on the Off-Broadway stage at the New World Stages in New York.
The Off-Broadway production lasted from October 16, 2008 to January 4, 2009 before transferring to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. That original Broadway cast that began previews on March 20, 2009 before the official opening on April 7, including Constantine Maroulis as Drew, Amy Spanger as Sherrie, James Carpinello as Stacee Jaxx and Adam Dannheisser as Dennis.
Rock of Ages revolves around the Bourban Room, a rock club in Los Angeles that is scheduled to be torn down as part of a new initiative to clean up the city. New to the club are Drew, aspiring rock musician, and Sherrie, an aspiring actress. Drew takes a job as a busboy and Sherrie takes a job as a waitress. They instantly connect, but inadvertent, nervous words from Drew ruin the moment.
The two would be lovers are torn farther apart after Stacee Jaxx and his band Arsenal arrive in the club owner's last ditch effort to make some money. This is to be Jaxx's last show with the group. He takes a lustful liking to Sherrie and takes her in the bathroom as Drew displays his talent on stage when Jaxx cannot be found.
Sherrie, thinking she has found lasting love with a rock star, is devastated when she discovers that he has had her fired. Meanwhile, in Rock of Ages, Drew has just earned a record contract.
