ROCK OF AGES Reviews- Page 7

[blueroses]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 1:38pm

I LOVED Wesley Taylor!

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 4/15/09 at 2:15pm

[MiracleElixer]rave reviews might not make a lick of difference. I seriously doubt literate theatre types (i.e.: review readers) are going to run out and see ROCK OF AGES

It worries me; often when I look out over the orchestra from rear of theater, it is just a SEA of white hair (literate theatre types). Where is the next cohort of theater-goers going to come from?

[Starlight4]The producers were smart in designing the poster to resemble the graphics for Guitar Hero and Rock Band. [Rolling Stone]

How often does ROLLING STONE review/feature a Broadway show? This is not a bad thing.

[Dramamama611]the 250K is not going toward re-couping. It's paying the CURRENT bills. Take a look at the difference between GROSS and POTENTIAL earnings: OUCH.
Sharp eyes, there, mama; that indeed is the essential calculus. So, can anybody here estimate (or does anyone know) what the weekly nut is?

And why are all of my apostrophes turning into question marks?
Updated On: 4/17/09 at 02:15 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/16/09 at 1:16am

They need to make 85% of gross on avg to recoup in a year. All alcohol sales go to the house and that has to factor into their deal. I predict they make it.


"MOST AMAZED CRIX

Musicals spawned in alien territory aren't supposed to wow them on B'way. And that goes double for heavy-metal tuners from L.A. Chris D'Airenzo's "Rock of Ages," however, delivered money reviews from Variety ("brash charms"), the AP ("a lively night in the theater") and the New York Times ("as guilty as pleasures get")."





Variety 2009 Tony Season Highlights Updated On: 4/16/09 at 01:16 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/16/09 at 1:45am

Possibly my favorite review. It's a RAVE! And her "new Spring Awakening!"

Around 4 mins in she lips syncs 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot" with all the right hand movements. So cute!

16 y o girl vlog review of ROA Updated On: 4/16/09 at 01:45 AM

[Jersey Girl2]

Posted: 4/17/09 at 10:40am

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2009/04/10/creative_trio_taps_into_the_80s_sound_for_rock_of_ages/

"I remember I was wearing like my Journey concert tee - it was sleeveless," D'Arienzo said. "And I threw my bag into the room before I walked in. I figured I had to make a rock star entrance or they wouldn't hire me."

[Jersey Girl2]

Posted: 4/17/09 at 5:33pm

http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/news/story.asp?ID=-JV9AM

This is now, at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Why, God, why?


:) I think he liked it.

[massofmen]

Posted: 4/18/09 at 8:06pm

"I did not know that I was in for a night of surprises and that this show would be the most fun I've had on Broadway since The Producers"

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2009/04/18/094625.php

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 1:35am

I saved my pennies, like I said I would, for tickets to this show.

It was a Tuesday night, the Early Show, kids' night. And for the ROA cast, the last show before the dark day. (Phone-it-in day?)

And, I've read every word you guys have written, cautioning about the sloppy-drunk-sing-along-people. I had my two daughters (late-teens) with me, and I was concerned; I take your warnings seriously.

WELL, What a Monumental Piece of Entertainment. [Among my top 5 favorite shows is I Do! I Do! so -- I was not biased in favor of this type of show, see?]

I thought, Every One Of Those People onstage looked like they were having the time of their lives. The stupid book/ plot/script presented huge challenges to the actors who had to read those lines believably; yet, they did.

I fear that, in the style of TV, producers will look at this show and say, We Can Make One Of Those! and somehow, try to copy the formula that makes this goofy show work. That would be bad.

This show has craft, timing, terrific performance opportunities -- it is a lightning strike.

I loved seeing so many people in the audience who were my peers, middle-aged, (sometimes) geeky rock-lovers, who also loved the theatrical spectacle: lights, staging, set, costumes, ACTING -- everything that made this show NOT a concert. Audience members who GOT the integration thing that this show has pulled off so astonishingly well.

Oh -- weird, but no one within 10 seats of me in any direction was drinking during the show. Those (farther away) who were drinking were no more rowdy than folks who weren't. That was unexpected, but nice.

I don't know about awards, and how they might contribute to the show's success, but I want to get the people I love into this theater -- as soon as I can. So do my daughters (born after the eighties).

I hope it's a hit, however you must define the term. And these awards nominations that are starting to come in? That's so cool!

[SINGASIMPLESONG]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 5:09am

Very, very well said - LadyD2...

Pretty soon the only surprise will be finding available tickets...

Spread the Rock!

xo

Team Shill

ps...CONGRATS TO THE SHOW AND WES TAYLOR! WELL DESERVED!

[massofmen]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:16am

one more satisfied customer. and you paid money! helping the economy and helping yourself at the same time!
who knew.

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 8:46pm

massofmen: and you paid money! helping the economy and helping yourself at the same time!

I always have to buy (at least) three tickets, too (or sometimes, only two for my kids, if I can't afford one for me).

And, massofmen, why did you say, who knew? Do you know me?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 10:14pm

Another great review from the Editor of Spin Mag:

Love this:

"5. It's the best use of an American Idol alum ever. For a guy who came in sixth on the fourth season of the reality show, Constantine Maroulis sure landed a plum gig. And he's good. His soulful voice is perfectly suited to Mr. Big's "Be With You" and Warrant's "Heaven," and he's charming in such an adorably dopey kind of way that you can't help but root for him. You just know David Cook is angling to be his understudy."

Ain't that the truth?!!

Nice words about James' Stacee. Yep.

". It offers a virtuosic version of the hair metal superstar. Hollywood's attempts to do ha-ha hair metal have always fallen short -- either you have Marky Mark's Rockstar (which took itself way too seriously) or Rainn Wison's The Rocker (which didn't take anything seriously). But James Carpinello's portrayal of Stacee Jaxx, the strapping, bleach-blond Arsenal frontman ("Ladies love him, guys want to be him and his band hates him"), is perfect mix of homage and parody. Stacee's eyes are too blue, his pants are too tight, and his ego is too big. He's like the Terminator of ?80s frontmen: a mix of Bret Michaels, Axl Rose, David Lee Roth -- but a better singer than all of them. If he had existed in the ?80s, hair metal would still be at the top of the charts."

Really nice about Mitch or, "Puck" (lol):
" It stars a guy who's better at being Jack Black than Jack Black is. Mitchell Jarvis, who plays Lonny -- the club's sound guy and the show's narrator (the Puck of this mid-80s night's dream) -- is such a frighteningly good Jack Black impersonator that I wonder if the show was actually supposed to star Black and Jarvis just filled in at the last moment. Jarvis' over-the-top facial expressions (the dramatic single eyebrow-raise, the goofy lip-pucker) and amusing, but oddly graceful, dance moves (the woodland sprite leap, the mischievous pole spin) are straight out of the Tenacious D handbook. Of course, people who aren't familiar with the D will just think Jarvis is a comic genius. And that's just fine with me -- he's fantastic."

It matters absolutely NOTHING that a handful of BWW posters "despise" the show. In fact, that gets funnier and funnier as weeks go by. LOL It seems to have found an appreciative audience among high and low-brow tastes. I think it's a hit. Here's hoping to reach that 85% of gross and coast through to recouping.

Don't stop believin'.
7 Reasons to Love 'Rock of Ages'

[snarkywannabedreamer]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 10:50pm

Lady Dramaturg, i don't think you give the book enough credit. People slag on in all the time but that is so easy and I think unfair. The story is no stupider than "Hair" or half the musicals made. It's classic boy meets girl... the writer has said in interviews he INTENTIONALLY embraced the cliches of broadway AND rock because of the music he was asked to make a musical out of... cliche filled pop rock. The jokes were not the brain child of these actors. They were written by somebody. And a house full of people laughing their asses off is half due to him.. and half to the actors. I know you like the show so I am not going off on you personally but using the opportunity to defend the work of someone who I think did a pretty decent job considering what he was asked to do.... make people laugh and rock out to 80's rock for two hours.

[Lohania]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 11:57pm

I'm going to New York in one week. So, without reading all of this thread: is this worth seeing? Are there discounts or lotteries? Thank you if you can help me.

[massofmen]

Posted: 4/23/09 at 9:56am

i was making a sarcastic statement when I said "who knew"; meaning that of course people have a good time at ROA. It had nothing to do with you at all.

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 4/23/09 at 12:59pm

Massofmen -- who knew?of course people have a good time at ROA?

Yeah, but have you noticed how often people are trashed here because they try to use discounts or lotto seats? So it sounded like you were going in that direction a little. Sorry.

Snarky/dreamer -- Lady Dramaturg, i don't think you give the book enough credit?The story is no stupider than "Hair" -- the writer ?[made] a musical out of... cliche filled pop rock. The jokes were not the brain child of these actors? [& they made] people laugh and rock out to 80's rock for two hours.

Whoa, wait, I was using ?stupid? in the best sense of the word: that?s why I was saying that I?m afraid that others will now look at this and say, We Can Do One Of These Too!! ? not realizing how artful and well-crafted the goofiness of this production is.

Whether lines are well-written-stupidity or not, it takes real skill as an actor to read them authentically, to sell them. I acknowledge the well-writtenness of the show, but I wanted to acknowledge the skill of the players too ? I think people may tend to look at this and say, OH SO WHAT? They?re just screwing around up there having a lot of fun.

Fun, yes. But great performers, too (and let?s not forget that gorgeously, squeezably soft band).

Oh, and I want James Carpinello?s wig.

[snarkywannabedreamer]

Posted: 4/23/09 at 8:03pm

"Whoa, wait, I was using ?stupid? in the best sense of the word"

Sorry, never heard "stupid" used as a compliment before. Sounds (in print) like a slam wrapped in a compliment if anything.