Some thoughts about ROCK OF AGES

1. Perhaps the worst script every written in the history of jukebox musical theater. Contrived, self-referential bullSH*T. A Beatlemania-esque piece would have been a lot better.

2. Teach the cast how to respond to the rowdy drunks who talk back. Non-stop drink service during the show (yes, I know...), somebody's gonna get drunk and become rowdy and start heckling, like during this afternoon's matinee. Rather than have the dude who's playing the gay Jack Black stand there like a deer in the headlights, teach him to respond.

Overall, it was fun. If the script weren't so lame, I would have had a better time.

Band was phenomenal - probably the best in New York at the moment. Cast was very strong - Constantine Maroulis knows how to make love to the audience; Kelli Barrett (who is ridiculously HOT) is a star in the making. Great to see Lauren Molina out from behind a cello. Will Swenson and Paul Schoeffler are fun, as well.

Great design elements; direction is solid; choreography isn't anything to write home over.

Crowd ate it up. Delicate mix of twenty-somethings and fifty-somethings. Not at all full.

Could be a huge Broadway smash.

Wait... Lauren Molina is in this?!?!

I guess I'm going now!

I sort of wish they would not sell alcohol during the performance. I got distracted at one point by a neighbor getting a drink and missing a bit. Took me a few minutes to get back into it.

I don't take Rock of Ages too seriously. It's not Andrew Lloyd Sondheim (to quote Lonny), but it was a lot of fun.

A good night out with friends.

The band is very good. A nice collection of experienced musicians.

Love Maroulis. Swenson is over the top fun.

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Lauren also wears a hot pink thong as she points out on bway.com

The Jack Black impersonation is really annoying, but this show is perfect for people who just want to sing along to their favorite 80's songs.

Also Yankee, this probably should go in a different thread, but your credibility is hurt a little bit by saying that Illyria is better than Billy Elliot. That might be one of the craziest things I've heard all year.

"Constantine Maroulis knows how to make love to the audience"

One of the reasons keeping me from seeing this show is his "I'm all that and a bag of chips" attitude.


"this show is perfect for people who just want to sing along to their favorite 80's songs"

If that's the only reason, they're better off staying home and popping in their 80's CD collection.

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"But I'm curious. How is this show financing itself? The cast is HUGE. The reviews were not over-the-top good, but they were basically very good. They said "It's a fun night out."

Easy. They aren't getting paid by reviews. They are getting paid by the number of tickets sold x the price of each ticket. Just like Mamma Mia (another show of questionable artistic merit that does what it was meant to do well), this show is more for the tourist crowd looking to have a good time above anything else. And so far, it's selling pretty well, especially when the B&T head into town on the weekends.

As for worse script ever written for a jukebox musical, at least this show knows what it wants to be and doesn't take itself too seriously. Good Vibrations expected us to care about its characters after slapping us around with cliche after cliche for two acts. I wish the orchestrations for this show allowed for the songs to build more (for a lot of the songs, just when things seem to be kicking into high gear, they retreat back into the story and drop the song), but it IS a fun time.

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Updated On: 10/26/08 at 02:04 AM

How cheap can I get a ticket?

maybe they have a deal with new world that considers part of the alcohol sales into their financial arangement ?? Just a thought...

they do... last time I went my side row alone bought 8 beers and Ive bought a shot everytime Ive gone. The cast dont seem to mind it (in the bway.com video thing they say they like it, but who knows)... its the kind of show where if the audience is a bit rowdy it can be a blast and conversely it can really kill the mood when no one uses the lighter or sings when Will Swenson's trying to get the crowd to sing the "Dead or Alive" part.

ive seen people yell things and stand up and its gotten huge reactions from the rest of the crowd. if youve seen the show youll get this- "pick taint" was something someone yelled and Mitchell Jarvis broke character to laugh too. of course im sure itd be awful if people got stupid drunk. Im also sure selling drinks is meant to get people a little bit away from thinking of it in the normal context of a stage piece- to loosen up- as well as to help with the profit margin.

It reminds me a lot of Rocky Horror in the way that the cast enters from everywhere, you get a prop, things get thrown over the audience, etc. I always give an enthusiast scream during the preshow announcement telling people they cant video "unless youre hot and willing to flash us."

Updated On: 10/26/08 at 04:03 AM

Right now, everyone's wound up...we've got an economy going who-knows-where on greased roller skates, the country in a war, an election, blah blah blah negative sh*t.

I don't know about the rest of ya'll but I can totally appreciate a show where I can hear incredibly familiar songs, get a little buzz going (NOT a stupid drunk, just softening my edges a little) and see some incredbly talented actors / singers / dancers for a VERY reasonable price (there's discounts everywhere for this show).

It lives up to its tag line - NOTHIN BUT A GOOD TIME.

And your concerns about Constantine having an "all that" attitude? Nowhere in sight in this performance. His Drew is shy, insecure, almost nerdy, which contrasts beautifully when he lets loose with some vocal performances that pin your ears back ("Here I Go Again" or "High Enough", anyone?).

Will Swenson (whose birthday is today - Happy B-day, "Stacee!!!") steals the show with his libidinous, arrogant, swaggering Stacee (and sadly, it is not a total caricature - I've been backstage at enough rock shows to sy that he's REALLY on target). Wesley Taylor is cuter than a basket of puppies and just breaks out in Act 2, and I agree with the other posters on this thread that Kelli Barrett is DEFINITELY headed for stardom - she's a stunning "triple threat" and just glowingly lovely.

I also adore the underrated Michele "Maisey" Mais as Venus Club owner Justice, the strip cl...I mean, gentleman's club owner with a heart of gold (a stunning R&B diva, with a few Eartha Kitt purrs in her vocals). IMHO, she'd be a TERRIFIC Mama Morton in "Chicago" but only once this show ends its run (which I hope isn't anytime soon).

The band IS full of rock and roll ringers - starting with no less than Night Ranger guitarist Joel Hoekstra ("Sister Christian" in Act 1 must be a cakewalk for him LOL). I actually noticed his wearing a NR wristband yesterday and he said that while he's been wearing it at every show, I was the first person to notice it. LOL

FYI, Sara...the announcement is, I think, "Text messaging during the show makes you look like a douchebag". :)

Check your inhibitions (WITHIN REASON) and day-to-day circa 2008 worries at the door, and enjoy!

Miss Lizzy
Diva Denizen at Dupree's!

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