'Rock of Ages' at the Palace Theater - My Review

The touring company of the musical Rock of Ages stopped briefly at the Palace Theater this weekend, but it was plenty of time to rock to the core Waterbury audiences that came to the three performances. Phoenix Entertainment brought this homage to 80's rock to the venerable theater in downtown Waterbury and the audience at the Saturday matinee was most grateful, whether they ever wore big hair and acid washed jeans or not.

Rock of Ages is a five-time Tony Award nominee with a book by Chris D'Arienzo. The love story told through the hit songs of glam metal rockers Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, and more. Great, right?  It includes 28 classic rock tunes including “Don't Stop Believin,'” “We Built This City,” “The Final Countdown,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Here I Go Again,” “Can't Fight this Feeling,” “Renegade,” and “I Want To Know What Love Is,” but interestingly enough not Def Leppard's "Rock of Ages." Some songs are mashed together and all are performed flawlessly by the talented cast members and the onstage five piece Rock of Ages band.

These hit songs are woven into the love story, along with a healthy dose of sometimes raunchy comedy. The action is set in 1987 on California's Sunset Strip and follows a small town girl and a big city rocker who meet in L.A.'s most famous rock club called The Bourbon Room, with a subplot that involves the closing of said rock club. I liked how the performers frequently broke the fourth wall and that the show lightheartedly made fun of itself. There are liberal doses of sex, drugs and rock and roll and it probably is not appropriate for young children.

Tony Award Nominee Kristin Hanggi directed the fast-paced and very high energy show and Kelly Devine (Jersey Boys) choreographed the amazing dance numbers. Since various 80's rock legends wrote all the music that is performed, credit goes to David Gibbs for original arrangements and music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp.

The gritty set designed by Beowulf Boritt somehow reminded me of the interior of Aerosmith's Rockin' Rollercoaster Starring Aerosmith from which I have often used the chicken exit. The costumes designed by Gregory Gale could not be more 80's and Tom Watson provided some gravity defying wigs. The high-decibel sound worked almost too well for where I was sitting. Small projection screens added cheeky punctuation marks to the action.

Narrator Lonny is played by rocker/actor Andrew Sklar. Kadejah One displays her amazing voice in the role of Justice Charlier, the owner of the nearby Venus Club. Dennis, the owner of the Bourbon Room, is played Brian Ashton Miller. Mr. Miller played Roger in national tours of both Rent and Grease!

The young couple in love is made up Dominique Scott as Drew and Shannon Mullen as Sherrie (as in Journey's "Oh, Sherrie.")  Mr. Scott possesses an amazing rocker voice and Ms. Mullen is a true triple threat. Joshua Hobbs plays the sleazy rocker Stacee Jaxx that comes between them.

Jessica Pucek takes on the character role of activist Regina. Philip Peterson plays the German Hertz and Tanner Hussar is a riot as his son Franz. The lovely Ashley McManus is referred to in the dialogue as well as in the program as Waitress #1.