CAMBRIDGE – Drayton Entertainment has announced casting for Rocky: The Musical.
The musical based on Sylvester Stallone’s Academy-Award-winning film will launch the 2019 season at the Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge. The production will run for four weeks, from March 6 to 31.
Up and coming Canadian performer Alex Kelly is taking on the coveted role of small-time boxer Rocky Balboa.
“After an exhaustive search, Kelly proved he had the voice, athleticism and underdog spirit to step into the ring and bring this beloved character to life,” theatre officials state in a press release.
The PEI native graduated from Sheridan College’s Musical Theatre Performance program in 2015, and has since appeared in a number of musicals across Canada, including Jersey Boys at Stage West Calgary, Beauty and the Beast at The Globe Theatre Regina, along with several productions at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, and West Side Story for Drayton Entertainment.
“Rocky Balboa is one of the most iconic characters in film history. In addition to searching for a young actor who had the vocal and physical stamina for the role, we knew we needed someone who could embody Rocky’s grit, vulnerability and passion – we are happy to have found that in Alex Kelly,” said Drayton Entertainment artistic director Alex Mustakas, who will direct the production.
Jayme Armstrong will play Rocky’s love interest Adrian, the shy little sister of his best friend Paulie. Armstrong has appeared in a number of Drayton Entertainment productions including Rock of Ages, Legally Blonde, The 39 Steps and Chicago.
Christopher James will make his Drayton Entertainment debut as Apollo Creed, the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
James has appeared on stage as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Rooster in Annie and Cinderella’s Prince in Into The Woods. He is also a martial arts instructor, boxer and certified combatant and stuntman for film and television.
Fresh from his multi-year run in the original cast of Come From Away on Broadway, Lee MacDougall will take on the role of Mickey, owner of the local gym and Rocky’s eventual trainer.
Former Canadian Idol finalist and Broadway performer Aaron Walpole will play Paulie, Rocky’s best friend and Adrian’s older brother. Walpole appeared as MC Lonnie in Rock of Ages, Sancho in Man of La Mancha, and Evilus Maximus in Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, among other productions for Drayton Entertainment.
The cast also includes Carla Bennett, Justin Bott, Matthew Bradley, Jeremy Carver-James, Matthew Chenuz, Vanessa Cobham, Jacquelyn French, Ryan Gifford, Dani Jazzar, Marianne McCord, Daphne Moens, Dan Payne, Andrew Scanlon, Sash Striga, and Samuel Van Dusen.
Rocky: The Musical is based on the famous 1976 movie of the same name conceived by Sylvester Stallone, who wrote and starred in the classic film. The film was a sleeper hit, earning over $225 million in global box office receipts, ultimately becoming the highest-grossing film of 1976.
Rocky went on to win three Oscars, including Best Picture, and Stallone became an overnight movie star.
To ensure the musical’s authenticity to the movie franchise, Sylvester Stallone worked with Broadway book writer Thomas Meehan to adapt the story for the stage.
The musical features a score by Tony Award-winning composing team Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music), writers of Ragtime, Once on this Island, Seussical, and many other musical theatre hits.
Drayton Entertainment is among the first professional theatre companies outside of Broadway to be granted the rights to produce the musical. The production will be choreographed by Phil Nero with music direction by Steve Thomas.
The creative team also includes set designer Brian Dudkiewicz, lighting designer Kevin Fraser, costume designer Adrienne Pink and fight director Joe Bostick.
Rocky: The Musical is on stage at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge from March 6 to 31. It will transfer to the Huron Country Playhouse this summer, playing in Grand Bend from July 18 to Aug. 3.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.draytonentertainment.com/rocky, in person at any Drayton Entertainment Box Office, or by calling (519) 621-8000 or toll free 1-855-372-9866.
