Show guide
Rock of Ages
Rock of Ages is a jukebox musical about aspiring performers and a threatened rock club on Hollywood's Sunset Strip in the 1980s. Its book is by Chris D'Arienzo.
- Broadway premiere
- 2009
- Music by
- Various Artists
- Genre
- Jukebox
- Setting
- 1980s
Songs from rock hits associated with Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Whitesnake, and other bands.
Rock of Ages: quick answers
What is Rock of Ages about?
- Aspiring rock singer Drew and newcomer Sherrie pursue love and success while developers threaten the Sunset Strip club at the center of their world.
When did Rock of Ages open on Broadway?
- Rock of Ages opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on April 7, 2009, later transferred to the Helen Hayes Theatre, and closed on January 18, 2015, after 2,328 regular performances.
Is Rock of Ages a jukebox musical?
- Yes. Chris D'Arienzo's original story uses existing rock hits, with arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp.
Where and when is Rock of Ages set?
- Rock of Ages is set on Hollywood's Sunset Strip in the late 1980s.
The story of Rock of Ages
Drew dreams of becoming a rock star while working at a Sunset Strip venue. Sherrie arrives from Kansas with ambitions of her own, and their romance develops amid the excesses of the local music scene.
Rock star Stacee Jaxx complicates their lives, while property developers threaten the neighborhood's future. The club's struggle gives the characters a shared cause alongside their personal dreams.
The rock songs and the makers
The score combines existing hits associated with Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Whitesnake, and other rock acts. Those songs come from multiple writers, making Various Artists the catalog credit used in THEATERLE.
Chris D'Arienzo wrote the story around the music. Ethan Popp supplied arrangements and orchestrations, with original arrangements by David Gibbs. Familiar rock anthems carry the romance, comedy, and concert atmosphere.
Rock of Ages on Broadway
Rock of Ages opened on Broadway on April 7, 2009, at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. It later moved to the Helen Hayes Theatre and ended its Broadway run on January 18, 2015, after 2,328 regular performances.
The show received five 2009 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. Its 2009 premiere and 1980s setting are separate clues in THEATERLE.
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