With big chords, big hair, and an even bigger heart, the ultimate arena-rock love story Rock of Ages explodes onto the stage at the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge from Oct. 11 to Nov. 5.
“Rock of Ages is a goofy tribute to the ‘80s hard rock scene – it’s packed with incredible classic rock tunes, fun characters and some hilarious, albeit crass, comedy that epitomizes the hard-living lifestyle of the time,” said artistic director Alex Mustakas.
“This is definitely an opportunity to leave the kids at home and rock out to the music of your youth.”
This ‘80s musical will have audiences yearning for vintage concert t-shirts, leather pants, hot pink scrunchies and anything spandex, as it tranSports them back to the nefarious Sunset Strip in Hollywood circa 1987.
Small town girl Sherrie Christian arrives in the big city with even bigger stars in her eyes. She quickly gets a nasty taste of what the underbelly of L.A. has to offer when her suitcase is stolen right outside of the world-famous Bourbon Room club.
Luckily, she’s saved by city-boy and aspiring singer Drew Boley, who works at the legendary bar. The pair have an instant connection, and Drew gets Sherrie a job as a waitress. Lycra, lace and liquor flow freely at the scintillating strip club, a place where bad-boy rock star Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily-clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality.
But the rock and roll fairy tale is about to end when industrial developers convince Hollywood’s mayor that it is time to clean up the area’s wild reputation.
Can Drew, Sherrie and the gang save the strip – and themselves – before it’s too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer.
Featuring 28 classic rock tunes like Don’t Stop Believin’, We Built This City, The Final Countdown, Here I Go Again, Harden My Heart, Can’t Fight this Feeling, and more, Rock of Ages is a full throttle, hold on to your shoulder pads, musical love letter to the glam rock era.
However, as the production is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the classic rock scene, it includes behavior associated with that culture – like explicit language, the mention of casual drug use, and sexual innuendo.
Rock of Ages is loud, crass, playfully suggestive and ultimately geared to adult audiences.
Mustakas himself leads the creative team as director. He is joined by choreographer Robin Calvert, music director Konrad Pluta, set designer Samantha Burson, costume designer Adrienne Pink and lighting designer Jeff JohnstonCollins.
A rock solid cast has been assembled to ensure that audiences are amped up to the max. Vancouver’s Kale Penny makes his Drayton Entertainment debut as Drew Boley, the bus boy with a heart of gold who dreams of making it big.
Leading lady Jayme Armstrong takes on the role of naive Sherrie Christian, an aspiring actress who sees the strip as her chance for fame.
Fresh from his title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jamie McKnight brings his soaring tenor voice and washboard abs to the role of cocky rock mega-star Stacee Jaxx.
Broadway performer Aaron Walpole makes his Drayton Entertainment debut as Lonny, co-owner of The Bourbon Room
Seasoned actor Mark Harapiak takes on the role of Dennis Dupree, Lonny’s business partner.
Kristen Peace is Justice Charlier, the owner of the nearby “gentleman’s club” Venus who befriends Sherrie, and veteran actor Victor A. Young is businessman Hertz Klinemann with Gregory Pember as his son Franz.
Dani Jazzar, Ayrin Mackie, Anthony MacPherson, Jade Repeta, Brent Thiessen, Jennifer Thiessen and Christine Watson play a variety of roles.
Rock of Ages runs at the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge from Oct. 11 to Nov. 5. Tickets are $46 dollars for adults and $27 dollars for youth under 20 years of age.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.draytonentertainment.com, in person at the box office or by calling 519-621-8000 or toll free at 1-855 DRAYTON (372-9866).
