Rialto Chatter: Efron And Gyllenhaal Vying To Lead ROCK OF AGES Film

Hollywood Superstars Zac Efron and Jake Gyllenhaal are both vying to star in the film adaptation of ROCK OF AGES, according to New York Magazine. It is thought that the two stars are contending for the role of "Drew", a character originated onstage by Tony Award Nominee Constantine Maroulis.

The film adaptation of ROCK OF AGES will be produced by New Line Cinema, and will be directed by librettist Chris D'Arienzo, who will also pen the screenplay.New Line Records recently released the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the critically acclaimed, Five-time Tony Award® nominated, "ROCK OF AGES." The album, which features 22 songs from the Broadway show, will be available digitally on June 2nd and in stores nationwide on July 7th. In the spirit of the original musical, the cast recording defies Broadway conventions. Recorded in New York City on April 28th & 29th and helmed by seasoned hard rock musicians and producers, the album was mixed and engineered by Mike Barbiero (Guns n Roses' "Appetite for Destruction", Metallica's "And Justice For All") and produced by David Gibbs (Original Arrangements for "ROCK OF AGES," Gigolo Aunts, Street Sweeper), executive produced by Janet Billig Rich, Hillary Weaver and Kurt Deutsch/SH-K-BOOM Records and co-produced by Ethan Popp (Music Supervision, Arrangements and Orchestrations for "ROCK OF AGES"). "At its heart, ‘ROCK OF AGES' has always been about joining great rock songs from the 80's with an incredible live theater experience," said Executive Producers Janet Billig Rich and Hillary Weaver, who both also serve as producers of the musical. "Our greatest desire for the cast recording was simply to make a great rock record - one that shows how much we truly cherish these songs and how much fun it can be to hear them performed by our amazing cast and bitchin' band.""Once in a lifetime a unique project like ‘ROCK OF AGES' comes along, which blends comedy, rockin' music, nostalgia and heart and you know that you have to be a part of it," explained Jason Linn, Executive Producer of the album on behalf of New Line Records. "It's why we hope to make a movie of the musical and why we're now producing the cast recording. Finally everyone will get to experience the joy that ‘ROCK OF AGES' brings to audiences every night on Broadway." "ROCK OF AGES" is set in 1987 in L.A.'s most legendary rock club on the Sunset Strip, where a small-town girl meets a big-city dreamer and they fall in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80's. The musical is a hilarious feel-good love story told through the hit songs of iconic rockers Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, and many more.Following an extremely successful off-Broadway run and a bidding war over the film rights (which New Line Cinema won), "ROCK OF AGES" opened on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre to rave reviews and audience adoration. 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). Music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations are by Ethan Popp ("Tarzan," "Europe: We Will Rock You," "Mamma Mia"), with original arrangements by David Gibbs (Counting Crows). Featured in The Cast are Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger, James Carpinello, Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis, Michele Mais, Lauren Molina, Paul Schoeffler, Wesley Taylor, Ericka Hunter, Jeremy Jordan, Michael Minarik, Angel Reed, Bahiyah Sayyed-Gaines, Katherine Tokarz, Andre Ward, Savannah Wise, Tad Wilson and Jeremy Woodard.TRACK LISTING:
Just Like Paradise / Nothin' But A Good Time
Sister Christian
We Built This City / Too Much Time On My Hands
I Wanna Rock
We're Not Gonna Take It
Heaven / More Than Words / To Be With You
Waiting For A Girl Like You
Wanted Dead Or Alive
I Want To Know What Love Is
Cum On Feel The Noize / We're Not Gonna Take It (Reprise)
Harden My Heart / Shadows Of The Night
Here I Go Again
The Final Countdown
Any Way You Want It / I Wanna Rock (Reprise)
High Enough
I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Can't Fight This Feeling
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Oh Sherrie
The Search Is Over
Don't Stop Believin'