Anyone using a cell phone today, which is pretty much everyone, knows texting in ALL CAPS indicates the texter is shouting.
So unsuspecting potential patrons of Broadway in Chicago’s “Rock of Ages” should know first, this hit musical is REALLY LOUD.
This second national tour, from producer Phoenix Entertainment, is also REALLY GOOD.
It’s a fair guess the only two who didn’t enjoy March 11’s opening night at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre were the pair who walked out five minutes into the performance, hearing aids blown by the deafening sound.
They should have stayed.
Because beyond the numerous blasts of ‘80s music, foul language and sexually suggestive subject matter is a camp musical thoroughly relished by the other 2,012 in attendance. Book writer Chris D’Arienzo folds enough emotional purity into his humor and outlandish caricatures to tell a story that just works in the same way “Hairspray” does.
Set in “the mid to late ‘80s,” “Rock of Ages” revolves around characters who seek to keep Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip the bastion of youthful dreams, indiscretions and music they love, despite developers’ plans to mall it over.
The show is punctuated by an endless barrage of ‘80s rock hits from Journey, Poison, Whitesnake, Styx, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister and more. From “Sister Christian” to “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” the “Rock of Ages” cast recording is the playlist of any DJ worth his salt for parties populated by folks in their 30s through their 50s.
A full plot summary and song list may be found here.
On-stage plaudits for this extraordinarily talented cast abound. Young love interests Drew (“born and raised in South Detroit”) and Sherrie (“Oh Sherrie”) are perfectly portrayed by Dominique Scott and Shannon Mullen, respectively.
Justice/Mama, played by Kadejah Onè is simply extraordinary. Her rendition of Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” is of showstopper quality and illustrates Onè has the vocal ability to be the brightest star shining on any stage in the country. When she and Mullen sing together, as they do several times (“Harden My Heart” and “Any Way You Want It” immediately come to mind), it’s pure magic.
While others in this cast (to wit, Andrew Sklar, Tanner Hussar and Brian Ashton Miller) give star performances, it’s the quality of this entire production that needs to be acknowledged. That’s particularly true because it’s a very short Chicago run (only through March 16) with a non-Equity cast.
This reviewer has taken Broadway in Chicago to task at times for booking touring companies whose productions (typically short-run/non-Equity) muddy the Broadway in Chicago brand. Too often, full sets that would be seen in London or New York are replaced with substandard video, and some performers are not quite ready for prime time.
But that is certainly not the case with “Rock of Ages.” Kudos to Producers Stephen B. Kane andMichael McFadden of Phoenix Entertainment, whose tour reaches the high “Broadway” bar set by recent Equity productions of “Phantom of the Opera” and “Chicago.” Added to that, the average ticket price for “Rock of Ages” is $51.50, compared to $75 for the excellent production of “Chicago” at the same venue just days before.
To discerning patrons of musical theater, beyond this enthusiastic recommendation to see “Rock of Ages” before it leaves town March 16, it might also pay to know Phoenix Entertainment is producing the national tour of the recent Broadway hit “Peter and the Starcatcher.” The Bank of America Theatre will host its Broadway in Chicago stop April 2-13.
Just sayin’.
“Rock of Ages” plays through March 16 at the Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe, Chicago. Tickets range from $18 to $85 (plus fees) and are available by phone at 800-775-2000, in person at all Ticketmaster retail locations and online.
Barry Reszel is a Libertyville-based writer, at-home dad and executive director of the not-for-profit entertainment company Liberty Town Productions.
