Rock of Ages is a jukebox musical featuring classic rock songs from 1980s (but not the title Def Leppard song as they couldn’t get the rights!). The show’s song list includes such hits as ‘We Built This City’, ‘Here I Go Again’, ‘Any Way You Want It’, ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’, ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ and ‘Don’t Stop Believing’.

Rock of Ages tells the story of Sherrie, a country girl who makes her way to the Sunset Strip to follow her dreams of becoming a musician. She meets Drew, a city boy, who she falls in love with but when megastar Stacee Jaxx shows up on the scene, he adds some complications to the relationship. Add some comedy from Lonny and Dennis Dupree who run the bar that gives Drew his big break as a singer, and a side plot with the dastardly Hertz and Franz who want to knock down the Sunset Strip for luxury apartments, this show is pure fun and filth.

Since the show’s original Broadway production, it has enjoyed successful runs across the world including a West End production, multiple UK tours and productions in Australia, Manila, South Africa and Switzerland, in addition to a 2012 film adaptation.

Over the years, the show has starred popular performers including Constantine Maroulis, Noel Sullivan, Oliver Tompsett, Danielle Hope, Jodie Steele, Frankie Grande, Kerry Butler, Kate Rockwell, Matt Terry, Kevin Clifton, Kevin Kennedy, Zoe Birkett and Jodie Jacobs.

FACTS:

Music and Lyrics: Various Artists

Book: Chris D’Arienzo

Original Broadway Theatre: Brooks Atkinson Theatre (moving to the Helen Hayes Theatres on 24 March 2011)

Original Production Run: 17 March 2009 to 18 January 2015 (with a pause from 9 January 2011 to 24 March 2011 whilst the show moved venues)

TONYS:

NOMINATED: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical – Constantine Maroulis, Best Direction of a Musical – Kristin Hanggi, Best Costume Design of a Musical – Gregory Gale, Best Sound Design of a Musical – Peter Hylenski

Watch the cast of Rock Ages perform I Wanna Rock and Don’t Stop Believing at the 2009 Tony Awards below: