Photo Coverage: 'ROCK OF AGES' Meets the Press

Following an extremely successful off Broadway run and the sale of the film rights to New Line Cinema, ROCK OF AGES will open on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W. 47th Street) with previews beginning on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. The production will have a lower top ticket price than ANY other Broadway musical with a ticket range of $26.50 - $99.00.

Also featured in the cast are 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).

Rockin' in the on-stage band, ARSENAL, are Music Director/ keyboardist Henry Aronson (Theatre: Rocky Horror, RENT ), lead guitarist Joel Hoekstra (Night Ranger), drummer Jon Weber (The Orion Experience, Theatre: Hedwig), bassist Winston Roye (Ace of Base, Theatre: Bright Lights, Big City) and guitar player David Gibbs (Counting Crows, Film: That Thing You Do), who also wrote the original arrangements.

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in LA's most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80s. It's ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more. Don't miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on. The show is 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).

Crowds and critics agree - ROCK OF AGES is "a nonstop party laden with sexy choreography, energetic performances and an on stage band that totally rocks the house" proclaims The Associated Press. 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 Peter Hylenski (Shrek), and projection design is by Zachary Borovay (A Catered Affair). The Music Supervision, Arrangements & Orchestrations are by Ethan Popp (Tarzan; Europe: We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia)

The successful off Broadway engagement of ROCK OF AGES opened on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at New World Stages and played its final performance on Sunday, January 4, 2009 after 17 preview and 93 regular performances. The show made its world premiere 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, Barry Habib, Scott Prisand, and Corner Store Fund I, in association with Janet Billig Rich, Hillary Weaver, Toni Habib, Paula Davis, Stefany & Simon Bergson, Charles Rolecek, Susanne Brook, Israel Wolfson, Max Gottlieb, Jennifer Maloney, John Butler/Sara Katz and Prospect Pictures.

A large block of orchestra and front mezzanine tickets to all preview performances (March 17, 2009 - April 6, 2009) of ROCK OF AGES can be purchased for the special discount rate of $49.50 with the code "PROCK". After opening on April 7, 2009, tickets will range from $26.50 - $99.00. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com/ 212-307-4100. The Brooks Atkinson Box Office opens to the public on Monday, February 23, 2009.

The performance schedule for March 17 - March 29 is Monday at 8pm, Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday at 8pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 2pm & 8pm. Beginning on Monday, March 30, the performance schedule is Monday at 8pm, Tuesday at 7pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sunday at 2pm & 7pm.

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.