BWW Reviews: BWW Revisits ROCK OF AGES

Rock of Ages opened on Broadway in 2008 and closed last January after 2,328 regular performances and 22 previews. It is still running strong at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The music in the show is drawn from the glam metal and hair bands popular in the 1980s and it tends to be familiar to the audience who often sings along.

It takes place on Los Angeles' Sunset Strip,, where two developers from Germany convince the mayor to clean up his city,

Having first opened here in January 2013, there have been many cast changea but that hasn't diminished the professionalism or impact of the show. This tale of an innocent small-town girl Sherrie (Becca Kotte) who comes to LA's Sunset Strip and meets aspiring musician Drew (Rustin Cole Sailors), this joy of a show is at once a love story, party, comedy and, of course, musical.

Among those new to the cast and, not incidentally, outstanding, are Sailos and the always terrific, ultra-talented Eric Jordan Young (Mayor, Ja'Keith).

The music comes from the 80s and showcases the music of all those bands that were the soundtrack of the decade : Journey, Whitesnake (whose frontman David Cloverdale recorded the warning about using cell phones), Twisted Sister, Starship, REO Speedwagon, Asia and others. The thin storyline tells of the Bourbon Room, a Sunset Strip club that the "clean up our city" forces want to see closed, and of the people who congregate there. Among those are the two young lovers, club owner Dennis Dupree (Troy Burgess), falling star Stacee Jaxx (Kyle Lowder) and a crowd of talented, energetic singers, dancers and musicians. And, by the way, the terrific music is performed by a live, onstage band. Wonderful!

The show is directed by Kristin Hanggi, who was nominated for the 2009 Tony Award for directing the show on Broadway. Choreographer Kelly Devine utilizes the relatively small stage space beautifully. There's always something going on and it's always fun to watch.

Rock of Ages is as fresh as it was in 2013 and a is a fine ticket. It's heaps of fun.

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