City Springs Theatre Conservatory Debuts The Heart of Rock and Roll JR, August 14-16 at Oglethorpe University

Step “back in time” and “feel the power of love” as City Springs Theatre Conservatory pilots the new musical The Heart of Rock and Roll JR for the Music Theatre International (MTI) pilot program. Performances will take place August 14–16 at the Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University. For $25 tickets, contact the City Springs Theatre Company box office at 404-477-4365 or visit CitySpringsTheatre.com.

This is the second such opportunity afforded by the Conservatory, after successfully piloting the Dolly Parton musical Nine to Five JR two years ago, prior to it being available to schools and arts organizations. “Broadway shows are routinely adapted into condensed, student-friendly versions for schools to perform,” explains Jenna Gamerl, the Conservatory’s Director of Education. “This pilot production is an opportunity for the creators of the show and the licensing company to see what their new junior version looks and sounds like, and to tinker with it on the way to a wider public release.”

The musical, which follows two 1980s twenty-somethings at a professional and romantic crossroads, was inspired by the hit song catalogue of Grammy-winning rockers Huey Lewis and the News. The band enjoyed more than a dozen top ten hits in the 1980s and 90s, and the musical spotlights many of those iconic songs including “Do You Believe in Love,” “Stuck With You,” “Hip To Be Square,” “Heart and Soul,” “The Power of Love” and many more.

Co-directing the production is actor-educator Billy Harrigan Tighe, who was a part of the cast of the original 2024 Broadway production of The Heart of Rock and Roll. “It’s always a thrill to be part of a new Broadway musical, and to be able to share that experience with these students and to create their own core memory is just as thrilling,” says Tighe. “And the songs – it’s one recognizable hit after another - to hear them sung by a large cast of talented students like this, well, the show takes on a whole new dynamic, which is super exciting.” Tighe shares directorial duties with Kristine Reese and Haden Rider for the production. Haden Rider is also the show’s musical director, and Arielle Rider is the choreographer.

For the last four years, the Conservatory’s Competition Team has annually participated in the Junior Theater Festival, where judges and organizers have regularly singled out the team for recognition. “The opportunity to premiere this new junior adaptation speaks to the caliber of our students and the confidence the licensing team has in our Conservatory,” said Natalie DeLancey, executive director of City Springs Theatre Company, the Conservatory’s parent organization. “We are honored to be entrusted with bringing their work to the stage and know that our students and faculty will give it the care, quality and professionalism it deserves.”

The cast includes Connor Green as Bobby; Lily Bishop as Cassandra; Madailein Ferrell as Mrs. Stone; Camille Crenshaw as Roz; Adrian Perez-Arciniegas as Tucker; Adrienne Ocfemia as Paige; Samuel Volz as Wyatt; Jacob Zacharewicz as Otto Fjord; Annalyn Tietjen as Deborah; Rene Takahashi as Pat; Jackson Arthur as Chris; Erik Rhobotham as Mike Wallace; and Jaxson Merritt as Emcee/Porter. The show’s ensemble features Ellis Marie Brown, Harrison Choice, Landon Davidson, Bella Dole, Paschal-Marie Dueve, Ava Fields, Jaya Ganesh, Oliver Gold, Lauren Grigsby, Ellie Gustin, Amelia Kamoroff, Katie Kraushaar, Ava Lambert, Elyse Lambert, Emmerson Linke, Jayla Lopez, Logan Marber, Gigi McClenning, Nala Mayhane, Sylvie Nieminen, Mila Reem, Haven Shelton, Dani Shikhris, Abby Stanford, Ivy Stull, Zoe Toles, and Lilly Trovato. Performances of The Heart of Rock and Roll JR will take place on Friday, August 14 at 7:00pm; Saturday, August 15 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm, and Sunday, August 16 at 2:00pm at the Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University located at 4484 Peachtree Road NE, in Brookhaven. Tickets are $25 each, and seating is limited. For more information, visit CSTConservatory.com/heart or call 404-477-4365.