Maroulis, Spanger, and Carpinello to Star in ROCK OF AGES

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:12pm

"Complete casting has been announced for the upcoming Broadway production of Rock of Ages, which will begin previews at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre March 17.

Following an acclaimed run at Off-Broadway's New World Stages, the eighties-scored musical will officially open on Broadway April 7.

The cast will be headed by "American Idol" finalist Constantine Maroulis (The Wedding Singer), who will reprise the role of Drew that he performed Off-Broadway. He will be joined for the Broadway run by Amy Spanger (The Wedding Singer; Kiss Me, Kate) as Sherrie and James Carpinello (Saturday Night Fever, VH1's "So NoTORIous") as Stacee Jaxx.

The company will also feature Adam Dannheisser (The Coast of Utopia, Twelfth Night), Mitchell Jarvis (Fiddler on the Roof), Michele Mais (Roza), Lauren Molina (Sweeney Todd), Paul Schoeffler (Sweet Charity, Nine), Wesley Taylor (See Rock City), Ericka Hunter (Flower Drum Song, 42nd Street), Jeremy Jordan (Little Dog Laughed tour), Michael Minarik (Les Miserables), Angel Reed (Saturday Night Fever tour), Bahiyah Sayyed-Gaines (Pal Joey, The Color Purple), Katherine Tokarz (White Christmas, A Chorus Line), Andre Ward (Xanadu, The Producers), Savannah Wise (Les Miserables), Tad Wilson (The Full Monty) and Jeremy Woodard (Glory Days)..."

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126430.html

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:14pm

I'm kinda secretly excited to see this show now.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:15pm

What happened to Dave Coulier?

AND YEY AMY SPANGER PLAYING A SLUTTY GIRL FROM THE '80S AGAIN

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:16pm

Lauren Molina and Andre Ward? Nice!

Now I may have to see this.

I'll be the one donning a poncho that will be covered with alcohol by the end of the show.

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:17pm

What happened to WishingWound's predictions about UNCLE JESSIE????

[zepka102]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:17pm

All the best to them... especially Carpinello. I've never seen him, but his return to Broadway needs to be successful at some point!

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:17pm

That is ACTUALLY an amazing ensemble.

And Wickedrocks, it's not so secret if you just told us, now is it?

[burnsy]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:23pm

OMFG! I LOVED James Carpinello in XANADU and the Tori Spelling show So noTORIous!!

This is exciting! I'm so happy to see James back on Broadway.

And we get to see the "Jeremy Jordan" that we talked about a while ago.
Updated On: 2/18/09 at 05:23 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:30pm

Let's hope nothing befalls Carpinello before opening night.

[burnsy]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:33pm

So Cheyenne Jackson can replace him again?

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:34pm

So nice to have Amy Spanger back.

[massofmen]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:38pm

this show is gonna rock..i can't say it enough

[snarkywannabedreamer]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:39pm

It's a kickass cast! And Foster, just so you know, I hear that they are using "sippy cups" in the house so you should be nice and dry :)

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:39pm

Although I have zero interest in this show, it will be wonderful to have Amy Spanger back on Broadway again.

In regards to Carpinello, ironically, Cheyenne Jackson was the production team's first choice to replace Will Swenson (he turned the role down, obviously.)

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:46pm

I had zero interest in the show, but I got freebies to see if Off-Broadway. It was fun. If N2N wasn't coming in and BILLY wasn't so strong, I'd have it pegged for Best Musical. A definite crowd-pleaser.

It'll run for years.

Just unfortunate that Kelli Barrett isn't going with it (was she not rehired?) She was wonderful.

And hot.

[nydirector2]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:54pm

Alcohol in Sippy Cups? I'm totally there.

Wait a minute....they stole that idea from the Disney shows....when I bar tended for them I have no idea how many "doubles" I had to put in sippy cups for the poor dads who were just trying to get through the shows.

As for the cast. Isn't Spanger a little too old and..well...slutty for the role? I thought Sherry was supposed to be more innocent and Spanger just exudes sex when she walks on stage. I was honestly hoping for an unknown in the role.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:55pm

Yankeefan, Barrett was not asked back for the Broadway run.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:56pm

Assumed not.

Big mistake. Spanger's too old.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 5:59pm

You're right, the role of sherrie is NOT a slutty role. However, I think Amy spanger's perfect. They'll make her look younger, I'm sure.

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 6:00pm

she's such a slut.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 6:03pm

I'm with Yankeefan. I thought Kelli Barrett was great in that role. I was sure she was coming to Broadway with them. That sucks.

I'm still looking forward to this, of course. I had a really good time the first time I saw it.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 6:12pm

I now need to see this thanks to Amy Spanger. I love her.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 6:26pm

Agree about Barrett. I thought (still think!) she is a rising star, and didnt need to be replaced.

Very excited to see Andre Ward cast- Great guy !!!

Carpinello does nothing for me.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 6:27pm

EDIT: Sanitized for your protection!

Updated On: 2/18/09 at 06:27 PM

[nydirector2]

Posted: 2/18/09 at 6:34pm

I don't buy the whole, "Make someone look younger" thing. She's 37 or 38 playing a girl in her late teens/early 20's. Just cast someone who is actually in their late teens or early twenties. There are a million girls in this city who could probably fit the bill just as well.