Broadway Blogs - Rock of Ages Review Roundup and More...

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, Poison and many more. Don't miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on.

David Rooney, Variety: "If the 1980s were a bad-fashion blur you'd rather forget, "Rock of Ages" may not be for you. But if tortured mullets, unwaxed chests, studded leather, acid-wash denim and wailing guitars make you yearn for the Reagan years, this unapologetically silly hair-metal jukebox musical will probably have you gulping tequila shots and singing along. Every bit as brazen as the yardstick for the genre, "Mamma Mia!," in wedging hit songs into a purpose-built, featherweight plot, the show has an abiding affection for its inglorious era that goes some way toward selling its brash charms."

Charles Isherwood, New York Times: "Fortunately, and I must say surprisingly, the attractions of this latest in the ceaseless parade of jukebox musicals on Broadway extend well beyond the extensions. Written with winky wit by Chris D'Arienzo, directed with zest by Kristin Hanggi, sung with scorching heat by a spirited cast, and featuring a towering stack of heavy-rotation favorites from the glory years of MTV - hits from Journey and Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar and Poison, Whitesnake and Twisted Sister - this karaoke comedy about warped-vinyl dreams is about as guilty as pleasures get. Call it "Xanadu" for straight people - and straight-friendly people too.'

Elysa Gardner, USA Today: "In fairness, this alternately snarky and sappy songfest, which opened Tuesday at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre, focuses on a specific portion of that decade's pop terrain: the land of hair bands and power ballads - acts and songs that one associates with fans pumping fists and waving cigarette lighters in smoke-filled arenas."

Peter Santilli, Associated Press: "Constantine Maroulis leads a solid cast with an impressively natural performance as Drew, the fledgling rock star. Maroulis displays the sterling voice and easy, engaging presence that made him a favorite on TV's "American Idol." He has appeared on Broadway in "The Wedding Singer" and off-Broadway in last year's production of "Rock of Ages" at New World Stages."

Thom Geier, Entertainment Weekly: "In the knowingly cheesy tradition of Mamma Mia!, these retro hits are shoehorned into a shotglass-deep boy-meets-girl love story set in and around a rock bar on L.A.'s Sunset Strip. The romantic journey centers on the lithe Amy Spanger as a small-town girl, living in a lonely world, and the goofily affable American Idol survivor Constantine Maroulis as a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit. You can see where this is going, right? Did I mentioned the small-town girl's name? It's...oh, Sherrie."

Joe Dziemianowicz, NY Daily News: Now '80s classics made famous by artists like Journey, Styx, Pat Benatar and Whitesnake could mean jukebox-musical gold for "Rock of Ages." The unapologetically silly show opened Tuesday night at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, slightly revised from its fall Off-Broadway run but with the same don't-take-it-serious, winking attitude that made it so easy to like."

Elisabeth Vincentelli, NY Post: IT'S the gift that keeps on giving: You've played all your favorite '80s hits on "Guitar Hero" -- now hear them on Broadway! "Rock of Ages" is what it is: a jukebox musical stringing together songs so familiar, the program lists them in small print between the hosiery credits and the union logos. If you can't identify the first seconds of "Sister Christian," you shouldn't be at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre to begin with."

Robert Feldberg, Bergen Record: Otherwise, "Rock of Ages," which has been directed with a frantic hand by Kristin Hanggi, seems intent on creating a crude, crass and raunchy atmosphere that will echo the 1980s rock world. A dubious goal, sloppily pursued."

Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter: "The audience at a recent preview ate it all up, enthusiastically singing along and dutifully waving their flashlights. Clearly, "Rock of Ages" is tapping into a target demographic that has little use for the music of ABBA or Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons."

While it would be just loverly to have Melissa Errico's crystalline soprano back on Broadway, the Tony-nominee for Amour has been keeping busy doing remarkable work as the founder of Bowery Babes. Check out this terrific New York Observer feature on her hand-on support group for mommies.