IT IS OFFICIAL - ROCK OF AGES - BROADWAY, SPRING 2009

[VocalLizzy]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 5:59pm

DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ IN BROADWAY!

AFTER A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL OFF-BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT
AND A BIDDING WAR OVER THE FILM RIGHTS
THE NEW SMASH HIT MUSICAL

ROCK OF AGES

WILL OPEN ON BROADWAY ON APRIL 7, 2009
PREVIEWS BEGIN ON MARCH 20, 2009
AT THE BROOKS ATKINSON THEATRE
ROCKING BROADWAY WITH A $99.00 TOP TICKET PRICE

THE OFF BROADWAY PRODUCTION WILL PLAY ITS FINAL PERFORMANCE
ON SUNDAY JANUARY 4, 2009
AFTER 17 PREVIEW AND 93 REGULAR PERFORMANCES
AT NEW WORLD STAGES

The producers of ROCK OF AGES announced today that after an extremely successful off Broadway run and the sale of the film rights to New Line Cinema, the new, smash hit musical will transfer to Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th Street, and open on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. Previews begin on Friday, March 20, 2009.

The off Broadway engagement of ROCK OF AGES began previews on October 1, 2008 and opened on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at New World Stages, 340 W. 50th Street. That production will play its final performance on Sunday, January 4, 2009 after 17 preview and 93 regular performances.

“After such an exciting run off Broadway, we are delighted to be moving ROCK OF AGES to Broadway,” says Matthew Weaver and Carl Levin, the producers of ROCK OF AGES. “We know these are difficult and uncertain times for everyone, so we are thrilled to announce that ROCK OF AGES will set a new precedent on Broadway with a top ticket price of $89.00 for weeknight performances and $99.00 for weekend performances.”

Written by Chris D’Arienzo (writer and director of the upcoming film Barry Munday), directed by Kristin Hanggi (Bare, Pussycat Dolls on the Sunset Strip) and choreographed by Kelly Devine (Jersey Boys – Associate Choreographer), ROCK OF AGES is an explosive new musical with a heart as big as 80’s rock hair. As a legendary rock club faces its demise at the hands of eager developers, a young rocker hoping for his big break falls for a small town girl chasing big dreams of her own. Have nothing but a good time with the cast of ROCK OF AGES as they fall in love in the heat of the moment and rock out with more than words.

ROCK OF AGES takes audiences on a musical joyride set to blazing hits from iconic rockers such as Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar,Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more. Crowds and critics agree – ROCK OF AGES is “crazy fun,” writes the Associated Press, “a nonstop party laden with sexy choreography, energetic performances and an on stage band that totally rocks the house.” The Star Ledger proclaims, “tons of retro fun for anybody loving those bygone times of big hair and even bigger power chords,” while The New York Post says, “ROCK OF AGES does for '80s rock what "Mamma Mia!" did for ABBA.

Scenic design is by Beowulf Boritt (Spelling Bee, LoveMusik), costume design is by Tony Nominee Gregory Gale (Cyrano, The Wedding Singer), lighting design is by Jason Lyons (The Threepenny Opera), sound design is by Walter Trarbach (The Farnsworth Invention) and projection design is by Zachary Borovay (A Catered Affair). The Music Supervision, Arrangements & Orchestrations are by Ethan Popp (Tarzan) with original arrangements by David Gibbs (Film: That Thing You Do).

ROCK OF AGES premiered in Los Angeles at The Vanguard for a limited 4-week run and was extended to 7 weeks by popular demand.

ROCK OF AGES will be produced on Broadway by Matthew Weaver, Carl Levin, Jeff Davis, Scott Prisand, and Corner Store Fund I, in association withJanet Billig Rich, Hillary Weaver, Stefany & Simon Bergson, Charles Rolecek, Susanne Brook, Barry Habib, Israel Wolfson, Jennifer Maloney andProspect Pictures.

Tickets for the Broadway production of ROCK OF AGES range from $46.50 – $99.00 and will go on sale via Ticketmaster.com/ 212-307-4100 on Monday, January 5, 2009. The performance schedule will be Monday at 8pm, Tuesday at 7pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sunday at 3pm & 7pm. Complete casting will be announced soon.


BIOGRAPHIES

CHRIS D’ARIENZO (Author) is a writer/director who just finished his directorial debut Barry Munday (starring Patrick Wilson, Judy Greer, Chloe Sevigny, Jean Smart, Malcolm McDowell, Cybill Shepherd and Billy Dee Williams). Chris is currently developing a one-hour drama for HBO with Tobey Maguire, as well as a feature film for Warner Bros. entitled La Vida Robotproduced by John Wells (I’m Not There, “ER,” Far From Heaven). Chris is a giant music nerd as well as a songwriter in his own right, and his band Saint America is set to release their self-titled debut album this fall.

KRISTIN HANGGI (Director). Directed the NY and L.A. productions of Bare (Ovation,L.A. Weekly awards); Pussycat Dolls Live at the Roxy with Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera and Charlize Theron; 2007 NY Fringe Best Play Catch the Fish; L.A. premiere of Corpus Christi (Ticketholder Award); and L.A. and NY productions of Ann
E. Wrecksick. Other L.A. theatre includes 12th Premise; 40 Days; Crane, Mississippi; Greystone; Wayside. Also a film director and screenwriter, Hanggi is developing the musical movie Dear Dumb Diary for Zucker Productions. M.A. from USC and B.A. from UCLA.

KELLY DEVINE (Choreographer). Kelly recently choreographed Cabaret and Romeo and Juliet for Des McAnuff at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada. Broadway: Jersey Boys(assoc. choreo). Off-Broadway: Frankenstein (37 Arts), Ann E. Wrecksick (Ars Nova). Regional theatre: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Kirk Douglas Theatre); La Jolla Playhouse Zhivago,Private Fittings and The Wiz (assoc. choreo); Sneaux (Matrix Theatre, L.A.Weekly Theatre Award for best choreography);Wozzeck (San Diego Opera). Film/television: Zombie Prom; 30 DaysUntil I’m Famous; Happy, Texas; So Little Time; Two of a Kind; and Passport to Paris. Upcoming: Disney’s Peter and the Starcatchers at the La Jolla Playhouse.

BEOWULF BORITT (Set Designer). Broadway: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, LoveMusik, Jay Johnson: The Two and Only. Off-Broadway: More than 50 including The Last Five Years, Saint Lucy’s Eyes, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Miss Julie, Public, MTC, Second Stage, New Group, MCC. 2007 and 2008 Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. Awards: Obie, AUDELCO, three Drama Desk noms.

GREGORY GALE (Costume Designer). Broadway: Cyrano de Bergerac (Tony nomination); The Wedding Singer (Drama Desk nomination); Urinetown (Lucille Lortel nomination). Off-Broadway: The Voysey Inheritance (Lucille Lortel Award, Atlantic); The Milliner (Lucille Lortel nomination, CSC); Country Club (Drama Desk nomination, Drama Dept.). Regional: The Third Story (La Jolla). Irene Sharaff Young Master Award 2002. www.gregorygale.com

JASON LYONS: (Lighting Designer). The Threepenny Opera; Barefoot in the Park; Good Vibrations; Clay; It’s Only Life; Rafta, Rafta…, Two Thousand Years; Body Awareness; Scarcity; The Piano Teacher; Vigils; Evil Dead the Musical; The Field; Once Around the Sun; Kiki & Herb; The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie; Abigail’s Party; Hurlyburly; Roar; Aunt Dan and Lemon;Comedians.

WALTER TRARBACH (Sound Designer). B’way: The Farnsworth Invention, Cymbeline. Off-B’way: Measure for Pleasure, Satellites, Sandra Bernhard’s Everything Bad and Beautiful, I Love You Because, Mr. Marmalade. Regional: La Jolla Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Bay Street Theatre. Associate Sound Designer: Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays. Assistant Sound Designer: Jersey Boys nat’l tours.

ZACHARY BOROVAY (Projection Designer). Recent: To Be or Not To Be (Broadway), Les Misérables (national tour), A Catered Affair (Broadway; Drama Desk nom.), Radio City Music Hall’s 75th Christmas Spectacular, Xanadu (Broadway). Upcoming: Peepshow at the Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas and Nerds.

ETHAN POPP (Music Supervisor, Arranger, Orchestrator). Recent credits include Glory Days (Broadway), Tarzan (Broadway), Being Alive (Philadelphia), the New York workshop of Spider-Man (Julie Taymor/Bono and the Edge of U2), We Will Rock You (German premiere), Disney’s Aida (German premiere /European tour), Mamma Mia! (German premiere), Forever Plaid (U.S. tour), Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Mexico City production), Fame! (U.S. tour) and others. Ethan is also currently developing Victor Woo: An Average Asian American, winner of Best Music and Lyrics at the 2007 NY International Fringe Festival.

DAVID GIBBS (Original Arrangements) served as the music director and arranger for the original Los Angeles run of Rock of Ages. He has written music for film and TV including Josie and the Pussycats, That Thing You Do, Dumb and Dumber, “Alias,” “The OC,” “Smallville,” “What About Brian” and many more. He was a founding member of the critically acclaimed Gigolo Aunts and has toured with such artists as Lisa Loeb, Counting Crows and Tom Morello. He is currently performing with the Low Stars and released a solo record as Kid Lightning.

# # # # #

ROCK OF AGES - Rocking Broadway Spring 2009!!!

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 6:02pm

Looks like they'll have to find someone to replace Will Swenson

[barcelona20]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 6:11pm

Did they actually make any money Off-Broadway?

Posted: 12/18/08 at 6:13pm

the happiest news this season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this show was my replacement show for the loss of XANADU.

i'm so happy for the cast and crew.

i will be there
again and again
ROCK ON!!!!!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 6:14pm

Good! Now I can see it without the drunks. Well, without as many drunks anyway!

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 6:23pm

YAY! I got the email, too!
Super-stoked!

Will there be revisions to the show, y'think?

What theatre is this taking?

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 6:30pm

<< What theatre is this taking? >>

The "Brooks"---

I love how they go out of their way to mention the "low" top ticket price.

As much as I really like the show (and look forward to seeing it on Broadway), $46.50 as a low is a bit too high for this show, but just my opinion.

Just PLEASE dont serve the alcohol !!!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 7:06pm

Interesting...

shouldn't be too much of a Tony shakeup. I guess it'll take that last slot that most people thought would be taken by [tos]...BEST MUSICAL: 9 TO 5, SHREK, BILLY ELLIOT, and ROCK OF AGES?

Talk about an eclectic group of shows...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 7:12pm

Did they actually make any money Off-Broadway?

IN THE HEIGHTS didn't make money Off-Broadway, and it transferred.

And rOcKs, don't be so sure it will take the fourth slot for Best Musical.

A few seasons ago, people thought CORAM BOY, the currently running play, would take the fourth Best Play slot, but the Nominating Committee gave the slot to already-closed THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED.

A LOT of people in the industry love [tos]. Don't count it out. An original musical over another jukebox musical.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 7:14pm

Excellent news for them!

$89 as a top ticket price is extraordinary.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 7:15pm

True, but [tos] seems to really divide a lot of people in the industry who either LOVE it or HATE it.

And for me, I think [tos] has a much better shot in the Score and Book categories...it's much less of an overall best MUSICAL than it is a clever score and witty book. ROCK OF AGES on the other hand seems like an overall more crowd-pleasing, hit of a BEST MUSICAL. If that makes any sense...

And also, they may want to give the last slot to a show that will be (presumably) open when the Tonys roll around as opposed to a show that closed nearly a year before the 2009 Tonys.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 7:20pm

Oh Jesus.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 7:21pm

Not to threadjack, but any more news about a possible "Fela!" transfer?

JMHO, but it's the only show that would give "Billy Elliot" a run for its money (though still think "Billy" will Best Musical (and deserves it) -

Personally, enjoyed "ROA" much more than "Shrek"-

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 7:22pm

VocalLizzy, do you work for the production?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 7:49pm

Foster, were you appointed BWW shill-detector? When did I miss that memo?

[Hest882]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 8:03pm

How wonderful to hear the news "officially." Yay!!!

However...as fond as I am of ROA and as pleased as I was that the book was witty and tongue-in-cheek enough to elevate it from a more mundane jukebox musical show, I'd really rather have a musical with original songs win Best Musical.

[BlueforBroadway]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 8:06pm

WooHoo! I am so happy this show is transferring. What a great cast. Maybe Will might rethink things. This show is on a roll.

I can't wait to see it again.

[AntonEgo]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 9:22pm

I don't think Will Swenson would rethink things. Berger is a much better role.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 9:42pm

Testing1232, the commercial producers behind FELA! quietly canned plans for a Broadway transfer some time ago.

[VocalLizzy]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 9:46pm

Wanna Be A Foster, I don't work for the production. I am just a fan helping out on a strictly volunteer basis.

Rockin' Regards,

Miss Lizzy
Dupree's Diva Denizen...packing her spandex and mousse for the move to Broadway!

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 9:48pm

<< Testing1232, the commercial producers behind FELA! quietly canned plans for a Broadway transfer some time ago.
>>

Thanks for the info ! Shame, because its really an amazing show, but I can understand them not transferring. Dont think they would have been able to find an audience.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 9:49pm

Honestly, I'd be more surprised if Shrek were nominated for Best Musical, considering the reviews it received.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 9:57pm

<< Honestly, I'd be more surprised if Shrek were nominated for Best Musical, considering the reviews it received. >>

I thoughts the reviews for "Shrek" were positive for the most part?

Personally, I wouldn't nominate it.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 9:59pm

I suppose the best term would be mostly positive for the cast, while rather mixed for the show.

[Mikers]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 10:27pm

The article named everyone except the cast. Maybe the producers plan to recast all of the parts for the big move.