Rock of Ages

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Rock of Ages

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  10w, 7m plus ensemble

Book by Chris D’Arienzo
Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp

Rock of Ages takes you back to the time of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair! This Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical features the hits of bands including Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister and more.

Image: 2009 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

Rock of Ages

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    10w, 7m plus ensemble
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Stage & Screen), Parody/Spoof
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Five 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Musical
    Nominee: Two Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical
Rock of Ages
Also Available
Rock of Ages: Youth Edition
Rock of Ages: Teen Edition

Details

Summary

Updated version!

It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strip’s last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock ’n’ roll fairy tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip – and themselves – before it’s too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer.

Rock of Ages is also ready to rock for YOUTH and TEENS!

History
Rock of Ages opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 7 April 2009. It played for 2,328 performances; the 31st longest-running show in Broadway history. 
Keywords
Performing Groups
DREW 
SHERRIE 
LONNY
DENNIS DUPREE 
STACEE JAXX/FATHER
JUSTICE/MOTHER
HERTZ KLINEMANN 
FRANZ KLINEMANN 
REGINA 
MAYOR/JA'KEITH/ENSEMBLE 
JOEY PRIMO/ENSEMBLE
FEMALE ENSEMBLE 
  • Time Period 1980s
  • Setting The Bourbon Room, Hollywood, CA
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“A seriously silly, absurdly enjoyable arena-rock musical.” – New York Times

“As the show opens with blinding lights, shredding guitars and hammer-handed drumming, even nonbelievers may start inhaling the Aqua Net and embracing their inner rocker.” – Variety Read More

“A seriously silly, absurdly enjoyable arena-rock musical... the performances blend sincere conviction and knowing parody. I never would have guessed that wine coolers could age this well!” – New York Times Read More

“Even doubters will be wiping tears from their Wayfarers. Rock of Ages is the power-ballad decade in all its glory, tricked out with big perms, bigger dreams, and the kind of operatic ecstasy you read about only in bathroom stalls.” – Entertainment Weekly Read More

Check out the Opening night in Manchester! 

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Our Picks For The 2019/20 Season
Lawrence Haynes
January 7, 2019

Get Ready to Rock!
by Courtney Kochuba
January 20, 2015

The Final Countdown: Samuel French Attends the ROCK OF AGES Closing Night Performance
by Amy Rose Marsh
January 23, 2015

How Rock of Ages Brought the Sunset Strip to Long Island
by Laura Paloti
June 30, 2015

How To Rock: Your Guide To Air Guitars, Shredded Jean & The Right Way to Head Bang
by Ashley Moniz
April 24, 2015

ROCK OF AGES Instagram Takeover!
by Courtney Kochuba
May 29, 2015

Videos

  • TV Promo - Rock of Ages youtube thumbnail

    TV Promo - Rock of Ages

  • Opening Night - Rock of Ages youtube thumbnail

    Opening Night - Rock of Ages

  • Here I Go Again - Rock of Ages youtube thumbnail

    Here I Go Again - Rock of Ages

  • Rock of Ages Across the Country youtube thumbnail

    Rock of Ages Across the Country

  • Fan Promo - Rock of Ages youtube thumbnail

    Fan Promo - Rock of Ages

Show more +

Photos

  • Rock of Ages

    Image: 2009 Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

Music

Music Samples

Act I

1. “Cum On Feel the Noize / Just Like Paradise / Nothin’ But A Good Time” – Company
2. “Sister Christian” – Father, Mother, Sherrie, Drew, Franz, Ensemble
2a. Wail to the Chief – Band
3. “We Built This City / Too Much Time On My Hands” – Hertz, Regina, Mayor, Franz, Lonny, Dennis, Stacee, Ensemble
3a. “Heaven 1” – Drew
4. “I Wanna Rock” – Drew, Ensemble
4a. “Heaven 2” – Drew
5. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” – Regina, Protestors, Ensemble
5a. “Heaven 3” – Drew
6. “More Than Words / To Be With You / Heaven 4” – Sherrie, Waitress #1, Drew, Ensemble
6a. “Waiting for a Girl Like You” – Drew, Sherrie, Stacee, Ensemble
6b. Dead or Alive Intro – Band
7. “Dead or Alive” – Stacee, Ensemble
7a. Renegade U/S – Band
8. “I Want to Know What Love Is” – Stacee, Sherrie, Ensemble
8a. Heaven U/S – Band
9. “Cum On Feel the Noize / We’re Not Gonna Take It (Reprise)” – Company
10. “Harden My Heart / Shadows of the Night” – Sherrie, Justice, Women, Men
11. “Here I Go Again” – Company

Act II

12. “The Final Countdown” – Dennis, Lonny, Hertz, Franz, Regina, Ensemble
12a. “Heading Towards Venus: Scene Change” – Band, Justice, Strippers, Men
13. “Pour Some Sugar On Me / I Wanna Rock / Rock of Ages Medley” – Justice, DJ, Sherrie, Drew, Ja’Keith, Strippers, Men
13a. “We’re Not Gonna Take It (Reprise 2)” – Regina, Protestors
13b. Dennis’s Oscar Moment – Band
13c. Rock Candy U/S – Band
13d. Hangin’ Bluff – Band
14. “High Enough” – Sherrie, Drew, Ensemble
14a. Beaver Hunt – Prerecorded
14b. Kiss Me Deadly U/S – Band
15. “I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat of the Moment” – Sherrie, Stacee, Drew, Ensemble
15a. Hate Myself Transition – Band
16. “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” – Franz, Regina, Hertz, Protestors
16a. I Can't Fight Transition – Band
17. “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” – Lonny, Dennis, Solo Female, Women, Men
17a. Still Can’t Fight (Transition) – Band
18. “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” – Company
18a. “Keep On Lovin’ You” – Hertz
19. “Oh, Sherrie” – Drew, Sherrie, Ensemble (Offstage)
20. “The Search is Over” – Drew, Sherrie, Ensemble
20a. The Search is Over U/S – Band
21. “Renegade” – Stacee, Ensemble
21a. Dennis is Dead – Band
22. “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Company
23. Bows – Company

  • Musical Style Pop/Rock
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo
  • Chorus Size Medium

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
    PLEASE BE ADVISED: There are multiple versions of this title. Before you proceed, please double-check to ensure that you are applying for the version you want. We will not be able to refund rental or shipping fees if you pay for the wrong version.

    If you’re not sure which version best suits your needs, you may purchase a perusal for each available version.

    ROCK OF AGES

    ROCK OF AGES: TEEN EDITION

    ROCK OF AGES: YOUTH EDITION

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!

17   Libretto-Vocal Book
1   Piano-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)
1   Guitar 1 – Electric, 12-String Acoustic, Gibson Les Paul
1   Guitar 2 – Electric, 6-String Acoustic, 12-String Acoustic, Gibson Les Paul
1   Drums
1   Bass – Electric, 5-String Electric
1   Digital Download (containing "Beaver Hunt")

Additional Material:
Performance tracks are available for an additional fee. Please contact your licensing representative for more information.

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Add-Ons

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Authors

Chris D'Arienzo

Chris D'Arienzo
Chris D’Arienzo is the book writer of the five-time Tony-nominated Rock Of Ages, as well as the screenwriter and executive producer of the film adaptation starring Tom Cruise. Chris wrote and directed the film Barry Munday, starring Patrick Wilson, Judy Greer, Chloe Sevigny, ...
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