Le monde des musicals

It’s the late 1980s and the final countdown is on for a legendary Hollywood rock club facing its demise at the hands of eager developers. When a young rocker hungry for his big break and a small town girl chasing her dreams land on the scene at this infamous venue, how far will ambition drive them? And will it be lights out for the club and all the regulars and rockers who have made it their home?

Act I
Lonny Barnett, who serves as the show's narrator, sets up the story: In 1987, an aspiring rocker named Drew Boley works as a busboy in the Hollywood bar/club called The Bourbon Room, owned by Dennis Dupree ("Just Like Paradise/Nothing But a Good Time"). He falls instantly for a girl, Sherrie Christian, who just arrived from Paola, Kansas hoping to make it big in acting ("Sister Christian"). Drew convinces Dennis to hire Sherrie as a waitress.

A pair of German developers, Hertz Klinemann and his son Franz, convince the city's Mayor to abandon the "sex, drugs and rock-n-roll" lifestyle of the Sunset Strip and introduce "clean living" into the area, much to the anger of the City Planner, Regina ("We Built This City"). When Dennis learns that part of the plan involves demolishing The Bourbon Room, he believes the club can generate more money by having rock star Stacee Jaxx and his band Arsenal, who recently announced their break-up, perform their last show at The Bourbon ("Too Much Time on My Hands"). He calls Stacee and convinces him to play the band's last show in the club where he had begun. As Drew struggles to write new lyrics, Sherrie urges him to go after his dreams ("I Wanna Rock"). Regina begins protesting Hertz and Franz's redevelopment plans ("We're Not Gonna Take It").

Later, after arguing with her parents during a phone call, Sherrie begins to discover feelings for Drew, who supports her dream. Also, Drew, auditioning to open for Arsenal, finds the lyrics he has been searching for and realizes that they have come from his feelings for Sherrie ("More Than Words/Heaven/To Be with You"). After obtaining the opening slot for Arsenal, Drew invites Sherrie to have a picnic in the hills overlooking Los Angeles ("Waiting For a Girl Like You"). There, he mistakenly suggests that the two are merely friends to calm their nerves, disappointing both of them and ruining the date.

Stacee Jaxx arrives at The Bourbon and gives an interview about his life ("Wanted Dead or Alive"). Sherrie is immediately smitten with him, and believing she means nothing to Drew, has sex with Stacee in the men's room ("I Want to Know What Love Is"). While Stacee and Sherrie are copulating, Drew opens for Stacee and Arsenal, not knowing a record producer is in the audience. After their tryst, Stacee tells Dennis to dismiss Sherrie before the concert begins. His guitarist realizes what Stacee did and knocks him out. The record producer in the club was impressed with Drew's performance and suggests he take over for Stacee. He then offers Drew a contract, which he accepts. Sherrie seeks comfort from Drew after she is fired, but having seen her go into the men's room with Stacee, he dismisses her ("Cum on Feel the Noize"). In the midst of these events, Regina continues her protest ("We're Not Gonna Take It [Reprise]").

An upset and unemployed Sherrie meets Justice Charlier, the owner of the nearby Venus Club, which Justice prefers to call a "gentleman's club." She relates to Sherrie's story, saying that many of the small-town girls hoping to hit it big in LA end up making a living as strippers. Grudgingly, Sherrie accepts Justice's offer to work in her club ("Harden My Heart/Shadows of the Night"). As the act closes, everyone is alone – Drew, as an upcoming rock star; Sherrie, fending for herself as an exotic dancer; Regina protesting the redevelopment; and Dennis, trying to save his club ("Here I Go Again").

Act II
Hertz and Franz begin demolition on the Sunset Strip, alienating them from each other as Franz falls for Regina and sees "the error of their ways." Dennis and Lonny join the fight with little success ("The Final Countdown"). Drew's rocker image is upsetting the record producer, and Sherrie is learning how things work at the Venus Club ("Any Way You Want It/I Wanna Rock [Reprise]"). When they meet on the street, Sherrie is embarrassed about her job and Drew is upset that his record company is attempting to reshape him into part of a boy band. They argue and Sherrie admits that she was crazy about Drew, but failed to make a move because he said they were friends. They part ways more troubled by these new revelations ("High Enough").

A drunken Stacee arrives at the Venus Club and is pleased to see Sherrie. After being forced to give him a lapdance, she beats him up while dancing ("I Hate Myself for Loving You/Heat of the Moment"). Drew arrives to admit his feelings to her, but becomes angry when he sees the two in a suggestive position and storms off. Justice later tells Drew that as soon as he left, Sherrie had punched Stacee in the jaw.

Regina continues her protest against the destruction of the Strip, but yields no success. She convinces Franz to stand up to his father if he does not believe in his father's vision. Franz admits that he has his own dream, namely to open a confectioner's store in Germany. He rebels against his father and admits his love for Regina ("Hit Me with Your Best Shot"). Meanwhile, Dennis and Lonny, upset at the loss of The Bourbon Room, suggest they had feelings for each other ("Can't Fight This Feeling").

Sherrie decides to leave the Venus Club after the scene with Drew, and Justice tells her that she had a similar experience with her first love. Everyone is in turmoil as they attempt to move on with their lives ("Every Rose Has Its Thorn"). Franz leaves for Germany and Hertz stands on the balcony of his hotel regretting the hurtful way he treated his son ("Keep on Lovin' You"). Regina arrives and explains to Hertz that Franz does not hate him; he simply wants his father to support his dream. Hertz later returns the deed to the Bourbon Room to Dennis and invests in Franz's confectionery store.

Drew, now a pizza delivery boy, realizes none of his dreams have come true—he still is not a rock star, and Sherrie is leaving on a midnight train. Lonny arrives and explains to Drew that his life is so miserable because they are all characters in a musical and that it was their book writer who made it so. He then tells Drew that if he wants a happy ending, it is up to him to get the girl. Through this revelation Drew realizes that he does not need fame to make him happy, only Sherrie ("Oh Sherrie"). He reaches her at the train station in time, and they realize that their love has survived all their trials and reconcile ("The Search Is Over").

In the epilogue, The Bourbon Room is spared from demolition and Stacee Jaxx, now a washed-up has-been who has been charged with statutory rape, flees to Uruguay ("Renegade"). Franz opens his confectionery store in Germany and has a long distance relationship with Regina, who becomes the new mayor of West Hollywood. Dennis passes away, and Sherrie and Drew move to Glendale and start a family. Lonny notes that on The Strip, sometimes the dreams with which you enter are not always the dreams with which you leave, but they still rock ("Don't Stop Believin'").

Rock of Ages is a rock/jukebox musical, with a book by Chris D'Arienzo, built around classic rock hits from the 1980s, especially from the famous glam metal bands of the decade. The musical features songs from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Poison and Asia, among other well-known rock bands. It is directed by Kristin Hanggi and choreographed by Kelly Devine with music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Ethan Popp. The show is noted for being more lighthearted and comedic than other shows on Broadway. During performance, the performers frequently break the "fourth wall", directly addressing the audience and seemingly forgetting (or perhaps reminding the audience) that they are actors in a play.

1 Rock of Ages peut-être considéré comme un juke-box musical autour de la musique de Classic Rock Hits

Early Development
Los Angeles (2005, 2006)
The musical premiered on July 27, 2005 in Los Angeles at King King, a club on Hollywood Boulevard. It moved to the Vanguard Hollywood in January 2006 where it played for six weeks. Chris D'Arienzo's book was directed by Kristin Hanggi, with choreography by RJ Durell. Orchestrations and arrangements were by David Gibbs and Kyle Puccia. Gibbs has also played guitar in the onstage band, Arsenal. Laura Bell Bundy played the role of Sherrie in this early production.
Following a successful run at the Vanguard, the show then moved to Ren-Mar studios, where it played to sold out crowds. In May 2006 there was a short run at the Flamingo in Las Vegas.

Off-Broadway (2008–09)
The musical opened Off-Broadway at New World Stages on October 16, 2008 and ran through January 4, 2009, featuring Constantine Maroulis, Paul Schoeffler and Will Swenson.[3] Kelly Devine was the new choreographer, and Ethan Popp was brought in to help orchestrate new songs added to the production.

Broadway (2009–present)
The production transferred to Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre with previews beginning March 20, 2009, and officially opening on April 7, 2009.[4] The Broadway production temporarily closed on January 9, 2011 and moved to the Helen Hayes Theatre on March 24, 2011.
The show's band has significant stage time compared to other musicals' bands and orchestras. The band dresses in typical metalhead costumes, fitting with their role as Stacee's back up band, and they are always on stage. The drummer plays inside a cage with a sign on it that says "Please don't feed the drummer". One of the guitarists in the stage band, Joel Hoekstra, is a member of Night Ranger (whose hit "Sister Christian" is performed in the show) and Trans Siberian Orchestra. Another guitarist Tommy Kessler is also a member of the band Blondie.

West End (2011–present)
The UK production premiered in the West End of London on August 31, 2011 at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Opening night took place on September 27, 2011.
Natalie Andreou (who replaced Amy Pemberton three weeks into the run) and Oliver Tompsett play the show's young lovers, Midwestern transplant Sherrie Christian and wannabe rocker Drew Boley.
Celebrities Justin Lee Collins and Shayne Ward star as Dennis DuPree and Stacee Jaxx respectively.
The cast also features Simon Lipkin (Lonny), Rohan Tickell (Hertz), Rachel McFarlane (Justice/Mother), Jodie Jacobs (Regina/Candi) and Sandy Moffat (Franz), as well as Nathan Amzi (The Mayor), Grant Anthony, Scarlette Douglas, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Cordelia Farnworth, Ian McIntosh, Twinnie Lee Moore (Waitress Number 1), Jamie Muscato, Andrew Spillett, Zizi Strallen (Constance/Dream Sherrie), Amy Thornton (Young Groupie) and Dylan Turner (Joey Primo).
Amy Pemberton's early departure from the show was due to contracting glandular fever; she only managed to perform in the first week of previews and West End Live 2011. She remained on leave from the show for several months, with Natalie Andreou filling in, until it was decided that she would no longer continue the role and Natalie made official full-time Sherrie. However, Pemberton remains in pictures stills in the 2011-2012 program and main show advertising board displayed at the theatre.
It has been confirmed that Oliver Tompsett, Shayne Ward, Justin Lee Collins, Zizi Strallen, Amy Thorton, Twinnee Lee Moore, Jamie Muscato and Dylan Turner will depart the show on September 23, 2012; Natalie Andreou (Sherrie), Simon Lipkin (Lonny), Rohan Tickell (Hertz), Rachel McFarlane (Justice/Mother), Jodie Jacobs (Regina/Candi) and Sandy Moffat (Franz), as well as Nathan Amzi (The Mayor), Scarlette Douglas, Carly Mercedes Dyer,(Waitress Number 1) Cordelia Farnworth, Ian McIntosh, Grant Anthony & Andrew Spillett are all due to remain with the cast.
On August 22, 2012 via Twitter that Ross Hunter will be replacing Oliver Tompsett as Drew. On September 16, 2012, the Rock of Ages London Facebook page it was announced that Tim Howar and Daniel Fletcher will take over as Stacee Jaxx and Dennis Dupree. It has since been announced that Tim Driesen will be playing the role of Drew every Tuesday until the transfer of the show from the Shaftesbury Theatre to the Garrick Theatre in January 2013.

Act I
"Just Like Paradise/Nothin' but a Good Time" – Lonny & Entire Company
"Sister Christian" – Sherrie, Drew, Mother, Father & Company
"Too Much Time on My Hands/We Built This City" – Drew, Dennis, Lonny, Stacee Jaxx, Regina, Franz, Hertz & Company
"I Wanna Rock" – Drew & Company
"We're Not Gonna Take It" – Regina & Ensemble
"More Than Words/Heaven/To Be with You" – Sherrie, Drew & Company
"Waiting for a Girl Like You" – Drew, Sherrie
"Wanted Dead or Alive" – Sherrie, Stacee Jaxx & Ensemble
"I Want to Know What Love Is" – Drew, Sherrie, Stacee Jaxx & Ensemble
"Cum on Feel the Noize/We're Not Gonna Take It (Reprise)" – Drew, Stacee Jaxx & Company
"Harden My Heart/Shadows of the Night" – Sherrie, Justice, Lonny & Company
"Here I Go Again" – Entire Company

Act II
"The Final Countdown" – Regina, Dennis, Lonny, Franz, Hertz & Ensemble
"Any Way You Want It/I Wanna Rock (Reprise)" – Drew, Sherrie, Justice, Record Company Men & Ensemble
"High Enough" – Sherrie, Drew & Company
"Beaver Hunt" – Arsenal
"I Hate Myself for Loving You/Heat of the Moment" – Sherrie, Drew, Stacee Jaxx & Company
"Hit Me with Your Best Shot" – Regina, Franz, Hertz & Ensemble
"Can't Fight This Feeling" – Dennis, Lonny & Company
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" – Sherrie, Drew, Lonny, Dennis, Justice, Stacee Jaxx, Franz, Hertz & Ensemble
"Keep on Loving You" – Hertz †
"Oh Sherrie" – Drew, Sherrie & Ensemble
"The Search Is Over" – Drew, Sherrie & Company
"Renegade" – Stacee Jaxx and Company †
"Don't Stop Believin'" – Entire Company

† Not on Original Broadway Cast Recording
‡ The song "Rock of Ages" by Def Leppard is not in the musical because Universal Music Group did not grant licenses for the song. However, Def Leppard's original recording is often played after curtain call.

Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Rock of Ages

Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Rock of Ages