2 questions about Rock of Ages.

[rorschach37]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 4:45pm

Hello. I'm new to the board, so I apologize if these questions have already been asked, but how good of a show is Rock of Ages? I'm taking a trip to New York this summer and I was thinking about seeing it. Also, would anyone happen to have any idea when Constantine Maroulis's final performance in the show is? Thank you!

[Kempster]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 4:49pm

Not sure about Constantine last show but here is my take on the play

The story is simple and the music is great, the singing and dancing is top notch. Ive seen this play 3 times as more and more of our friends want to see it and ask us to come along

[frapperia]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 4:54pm

Rock Of Ages is great. Story is completely silly but I loved it! Get a discount off broadwaybox.com, though.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 5:08pm

This is a surprisingly good show. As many others here have said before, it's not the most dramatic piece of theater ever, but it's all that it tries to be: fun. And it does a pretty good job at achieving it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 6:39pm

To be fair, not everyone feels this way. There are many that have some huge issues with the it...mostly the way the audience is encouraged to behave. But most will tell you it's gads of fun....but "good theater"? Meh. I suppose it depends on your own requirements for good theater.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 6:47pm

"To be fair, not everyone feels this way"

And to be fair, not everyone feels one way about anything.

In general, enough people love this show enough to make it the huge hit it is and still going strong. I'm willing to bet that if you see ROA, you will not be sorry.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 6:48pm

Just to give a dissenting opinion, I found it stupid, insulting, tacky, and offensive. I hated it.

But I do understand why other people like it, and I don't judge them. It's just not for me.

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 7:28pm

Speaking of the audience, how ARE they encouraged to behave? I've heard all the horror stories about the drunks and the women flashing their boobs and whatever, and really I've sat next to worse at the theatre, but the one thing I cannot stand is people singing along. Is the audience encouraged to sing along?

I want to see this so badly but if that's the case I'll just stick to bootlegs.

[frapperia]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 7:33pm

The audience is not encouraged to sing along, but as with any jukebox show there is usually someone who cannot restrain themselves from behaving appropriately. Put it this way, I experienced worse at Mamma Mia.

I was really worried about the show's rep before going, but didn't really notice any massive problems. There were some guys in front of me rocking out, but they weren't *too* distracting! They were the kind of people who don't often go to musicals but were loving it, so I couldn't hate on them too much.

The only thing that really annoyed me were the insanely annoying fangirls who had to show their knowledge of the show by singing, jiggling about and 'rocking out' inappropriately next to me the second time I went (I loved it so went twice on my trip). Plus I really don't like the serving of booze throughout the show, but meh, it happens and I guess it helps with the vibe... Updated On: 4/3/10 at 07:33 PM

[Mystic Pasta]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 7:52pm

Yes. You should definitely go see the show. The audience is part of the fun. It's not a rodeo or a monster-truck pull. It's a broadway musical in a historic theater. People are there to enjoy the show which is a really fun night out. When I was at Lion King, I saw worse behavior from parents who don't control their kids.

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 8:00pm

I saw Lion King and didn't have that problem at all, lol. The only bad audience experience I had were these obnoxious old ladies sitting behind me at RENT. They were going on and on about how Richard Gere would forever be the greatest Billy Flynn who ever lived, only having seen the movie, and that Spamalot was a better show than Sweeney friggin' Todd.

Rock of Ages seems like my kind of show. From the ROA Productions Youtube and the cast album, I know I'll have an amazing time. I'm just worried about the sing-a-long part. Definitely shilling the money to see this show.

[StarStruckGB]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 8:32pm

It's Definitly worth it, just make sure to get a Broadwaybox.com discount or lotto.

[rorschach37]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 9:54pm

I think I may go see this one. It's definitely between this and American Idiot. I just really don't want to get stuck with an understudy. I'm a big fan of Constantine. And the vids I've seen of Mitchell Jarvis as Lonny are hilarious. Is there any way to know that they'll be there when I see it? Do the actors have a specific day of the week they take off or are they just gone when they have a personal emergency, or in Constantine's case, singing at a scheduled event?

[StarStruckGB]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 10:19pm

Aside from them posting something about it on their Facebook page, there is no way to know.

I can say that Mitch is rarely out, good thing too <3

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 10:31pm

generally as StarStruck said, the cast sometimes posts things on facebook/twitter about being out, but unless it's a scheduled vacation there is no way of knowing for sure. they should all still be around during the summer, the original cast members that are still there resigned for a year last september, so unless something happens, they should all be there.

[Piper3500]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 10:56pm

It was fun. I just went to have a good time and reminisce about the music. Having an aisle seat and a drink and being around like minded people who went for same reason made it even better.

I watched a lot of ROA productions on youtube and talking to Lauren Molina right after was great. very nice woman and extremely funny and talented. I did not get to see Wesley Taylor unfortunately, but i enjoyed them all. Michele mais- wow! (she and lauren were selling calendars for haiti at the back of the theatre right after)

I bought a Hooray for Boobies 80s style baseball t as well. I guess I got caught up with it all.

I think the best part of it for me was Mitchell Jarvis. He was the best character along with Lauren Molina. I also loved Adam Dannheisser. Mitchell definatley should have been nominated over Constantine. He is the show, imo.

Constantine was cordial and it was nice to see him perform, but he was not my favourite by a long shot.

lots of laughs!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 11:51pm

"Mitchell definatley should have been nominated over Constantine. He is the show, imo"

I agree! I think both deserved a nomination to be honest, but yes, Mitch was snubbed unfairly.
Go see the show!!! It's really fun and one of my favorites on Broadway right now, fun FUN!!! And the audience was never annoying in any way the 6x I saw it.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 12:48am

If you do see it, have a shot (or three) first. It will help relax you. It was a fun show, not one of my favorites, but worth seeing. The talent on the stage is great and the voices are top notch, even if the material is less than. I had a lot of fun and I was there on a night when breasts were exposed-IMO it is a different crowd, but for the most part respectful, just a little rowdy which works just fine for this show.

It's a fun time but its not art.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 8:38am

I'm pretty convinced that anyone who calls the show "tacky" really doesn't get it. It's a hilarious post-modern satire of the 80s; it is all down with a nod and a wink. I loved it. I've seen it twice and would totally go back to see it again.

And Constantine signed a year long extension that put him through 2010 and 2011 I believe. At any rate, he'll definitely be in the show during the summer. Updated On: 4/4/10 at 08:38 AM

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 8:38am

DELETE, double post. Updated On: 4/4/10 at 08:38 AM

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 8:59am

That's why I said it was my kind of show. My favorite types of shows are the shows that poke fun at the fact that they're a musical, i.e. [title of show], Spamalot, Xanadu. No one ever said that ROA was art (even though, I personally think it is. Art is subjective, mind you), but who wants to go see Next to Normal on Broadway every day? Rock of Ages, Xanadu, Legally Blonde, [tos], 9 to 5...all of these shows are FUN and that's why people love them. No one said they were Shakespeare and they clearly are not trying to be and that's why I love those types of shows.

Rock of Ages ain't gon' win a Pulitzer, but if it's gonna make me laugh my ass off, then it's definitely an awesome show. I agree with TalkinLoud. ROA is clearly a tongue-in-cheek post-modern satire.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 9:06am

Of course it's art. And it's theatre (with an "re" even!). I don't understand how anyone could legitimately say otherwise.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 9:19am

If you are deciding over American Idiot or Rock of Ages, it is solely based on which one interests you more. You will get some of the behavior at American Idiot too. When I went to American Idiot, the lasy next to me was tapping her foot to the music (which doesn't bother me because I do it too), but she was constantly rocking back and forth and side to side EVERY song. It was really obnoxious..

[angelxschunard]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 10:14am

I harshly judge people that speak (or type or write, I should say) of the theatre and spell it with an "er"...

[Piper3500]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 12:44pm

"but she was constantly rocking back and forth and side to side EVERY song. It was really obnoxious.. "

and how pray tell would you avoid that at one of those shows. seriously. i have been to a few and maybe it was my seats but i know all around were tapping, clapping, rocking and i didn't really feel a thing, or even hear them all too loud for that matter.

i cannot imagine going to a show like that and expecting anything less and if it were going to be annoying for me i would definately not go.