ROCK OF AGES To Offer 'On the Rocks' On Broadway?

The Off Broadway production of "Rock" encourages a party feel by allowing the crowd to bring drinks to their seats. (It's original incarnation was after all in a Hollywood nightclub.) Variety is reporting that the producers of the show are hoping to to offer in-seat cocktail service at the Brooks Atkinson, turning the Atkinson into the only Broadway venue to do so. The Nederlander Organization has blessed the plan, but the exact details have yet to be determined revealed Variety.

Variety also disclosed the information that ROCK OF AGES star Will Swenson is still considering if he'll stay with the show or join the Broadway production of HAIR for which is was a cast member of when it played at the Delacorte in Central Park. Swenson was also seen on Broadway in LESTAT. The rest of the ROCK OF AGES Off-Broadway cast is expected to follow the show to Broadway, including Constantine Maroulis.

The producers of ROCK OF AGES announced yesterday 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 with Janet Billig Rich, Hillary Weaver, Stefany & Simon Bergson, Charles Rolecek, Susanne Brook, Barry Habib, Israel Wolfson, Jennifer Maloney and Prospect 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.

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 Robot produced 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 Days Until 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.

Photo of Will Swenson by Peter James Zielinski