The Road to Rock: Rock of Ages Creative Team Talks Toronto

Rock of Ages is the smash-hit musical that has been running for over a year on Broadway and is delighting audiences in New York. At its core it is a classic "boy meets girl" love story, based on popular hits of the 1980s and featuring song and dance numbers that represent the big hair, loud music and acid wash culture. The show opened in April of 2009 and went on to be nominated for five Tony Awards (including Best Musical). A US National Tour is in the works and kicks off in September in Chicago, IL with Original Broadway Cast member Constantine Maroulis reprising the lead role of Drew. However, before the National Tour gets underway, the Canadian incarnation is set to open in Toronto courtesy of Mirvish Productions. The Canadian Rock of Ages will represent the first non-Broadway production of the show, with many more countries likely to follow suit.

Rock of Ages is set in 1987 on the Sunset Strip, and tells the story about small-town girl Sherri (played by Elicia MacKenzie) who meets big city rocker Drew (played by Yvan Pedneault) in LA's most famous rock club. The two fall in love to the soundtrack of some of the greatest hits of the 80's including songs from Journey, Foreigner, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more. Some of the songs featured include "Sister Christian," "We Built This City," "I Wanna Rock," "We're Not Gonna Take It," "Waiting For A Girl Like You," "Wanted Dead or Alive," "I Want To Know What Love Is," "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Renegade," and, of course, "Don't Stop Believin'."

Toronto has a long history of success with Canadian productions of Broadway hits and the city is thrilled to be home to the second North American production of Rock of Ages. Opening night is May 11th, 2010 and advance buzz has been overwhelmingly positive. Members of the creative team behind Rock of Ages (including Director Kirstin Hanggi, Book Writer Chris D'Arienzo, Choreographer Kelly Devine, Costume Designer Gregory Gale and Producers Matt Weaver, Carl Levin and Janet Billig Rich) took the time to talk with BWW about the "Road to Rock" in Toronto - and we bring you this exclusive look at what it has been like creating the Canadian Rock of Ages.

Getting Rock of Ages to Broadway was not an easy task. The show started out in LA in 2006 and it took three years before it got its Broadway debut. According to Chris D'Arienzo, the move to Toronto was a lot smoother than the move to Broadway. Since the show was already an established hit, obtaining the necessary support was simpler and Mirvish Productions made the transition an easy one for everyone involved. The same sentiment is echoed by Carl Levin and Matt Weaver, who spoke at length about how nerve-racking it is to open in another city because "you start to question whether the show can have the same success it has had in NYC when you transport it to another location." However, both Carl and Matt were impressed with the Canadian talent and support they received in getting the show off the ground here.

Director Kristin Hanggi was directly involved in the casting process for the Toronto production, and she pointed out what a delight it was to witness the Canadian "triple threats." Perhaps due to the fact that there are far fewer jobs in Toronto for people in musical theatre, those who do come out to auditions have to be on top of their game. Kristin says she loved how talented everyone was, and the fact that so many people were able to "sing, dance, act and be really funny." Rock of Ages is a show that is largely "cast by essence" in that the people are chosen based not only on their talent, but also how the creative team feels they will mould into the roles - and Toronto did not disappoint.

Kelly Devine, who is the choreographer for the production, also spoke highly about the "triple threat" sensation the team witnessed in Toronto. The show is technically difficult with demanding dance moves on top of the vocal stylings needed to pull off the various roles, and Kelly and her team worked hard to ensure that everyone was capable of giving the show the sexy and energetic feel that is associated with the music of the eighties. Part of that process involved something unique to the Toronto production: weekly workouts led by Dance Captains Valerie Stanois and Ashley Burton. They would get the whole team together for a music-fueled workout which helped foster a feeling of family and also got everyone in the shape required to perform eight shows a week.

Once the actors were selected, the creative team started on the massive task of getting everyone ready to rock and putting a uniquely Canadian spin on the production. As Chris D'Arienzo put it, they wanted it to "feel like a rock concert. On a concert tour, every city is made to feel like it is the best on tour." It was that sentiment that started the ball rolling in ensuring that this production of Rock of Ages was tailored to Canada (and specifically Toronto). Chris tweaked the script to include Canadian jokes and references specifically for the Toronto production, so that audience members can truly feel like this is their own version of Rock of Ages.

Kelly Devine worked with the Toronto cast to get the right feel, and help them "achieve their own sparkle." As she explained, a lot of the songs are actually about empowering women so it is important that the dancing be tasteful and sexy at the same time, and that the women come across as strong and feminine. Costume Designer Gregory Gale plays a big role in this process as he designs the sexy costumes that many of the actors wear throughout the show. Many of the costumes were tweaked for the Canadian production, with a lot of the costumes being made locally. One of the most important aspects of the costume design in Toronto was ensuring that "the outfits were appropriate for each person and each body type." Toronto audiences can look forward to seeing costumes that were tailored and designed for the actor who will be wearing them, rather than cookie cutter versions of what might be seen in NYC.

It was a long and difficult process, but with only a few days left before opening, everything seems to be falling into place. The actors are ready to go, The Royal Alexandra Theatre is glammed out and Toronto is eagerly getting ready to rock. Perhaps most importantly, the producers themselves are exuding enthusiasm that one doesn't often get to see outside of a Broadway opening. They are working hard to ensure that Canadian audiences get to have not only a unique experience, but also an evening of fun at the theatre. Producer Matt Weaver hopes that the same rules that work on Broadway will work for Toronto audiences. People are encouraged to get up and dance in their seats, use their Rock of Ages lighters to order a drink and get directly involved in the show. As he said, "while some shows might kick you out for that behavior, at Rock of Ages you will get thrown out if you simply sit quietly in your seat!"

For his part, David Mirvish is also excited about the show. He has worked directly with the Production Team and was present when the Rock of Ages bus of "super fans" from NYC visited the first Toronto dress rehearsal. The response was overwhelmingly positive. When BWW asked David what his hopes are for the life of Rock of Ages in Toronto, his response conveyed all the exuberance that has been the hallmark of this show's rise to success: "Given the audience response from the dress rehearsal and the first few previews, we are excited for ROCK OF AGES in Toronto. We hope it will have a long and prosperous life. I know it will rock our city like it has never been rocked before."

Get ready Toronto; as David says, this is a show unlike anything the city has ever seen before. Loud music, onstage rock bands, beer served at your seat and scantily clad women. Rock of Ages is musical for the masses, but also something so unique that it could change the landscape of musical theatre in the city. And everyone is excited about it. Perhaps Janet Billig Rich summed it up best when she said that the whole creative team is "excited and humbled to be coming to Toronto and working with the Mirvishes. I hope that the people of Toronto love Rock of Ages as much as we all do"

It's The Final Countdown - Rock of Ages officially opens May 11th in Toronto and if you Wanna Rock, Want to Know What Love Is or simply want to Feel the Noize, make sure that you get on down to The Royal Alexandra Theatre and come ready to rock!

ROCK OF AGES TORONTO - THE CAST

The Toronto production stars Yvan Pednault as Drew and Elicia MacKenzie as Sherrie. Also starring are Aaron Walpole as Lonny, the quick-witted sound guy in the Sunset Strip's Bourbon Room who acts as narrator for the story; David W. Keeley as Dennis, the owner of the Bourbon Room, Sunset Strip's legendary music club; Peter Deiwick as Stacee Jaxx, the bad-ass, always "cocked and loaded" lead singer of the band Arsenal; and Victor A. Young as Hertz, the seemingly evil businessman who wants to strip all the fun from the Sunset Strip and bring in a lifeless corporate culture.

Rounding out the cast (in alphabetical order) are: Tessa Alves, Ashley Burton, Eric Coles, Caleb Cosman, Cody Scott Lancaster, Tony LePage, Jennifer Mote, Carson Nattrass, Josephine Roberts, Valerie Stanois, Angela Teek, Melvin Tunstall and Emily Williams.

ROCK OF AGES TORONTO - THE CREATIVE TEAM

The show is written by Chris D'Arienzo (writer and director of the upcoming film Barry Munday), directed by Tony nominee Kristin Hanggi (Bare, Pussycat Dolls on the Sunset Strip) and choreographed by Kelly Devine (Associate Choreographer for Jersey Boys).

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 Tony nominee Peter Hylenski (Shrek); 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).

The Canadian production of ROCK OF AGES will be produced by Matthew Weaver, Carl Levin, Jeff Davis, Barry Habib, Scott Prisand, Janet Billing Rich, Hillary Weaver, Relativity Media, The Araca Group and David Mirvish.

When and Where?

ROCK OF AGES - TORONTO

The Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King Street West, Toronto

Performance Schedule:
Opening night is May 11th, 2010

Tues - Sat at 8PM
Sat and Sun Matinees at 2PM
Sunday Evening at 7PM

Tickets range in price from $28-99 and can be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333 or online at www.mirvish.com

For more information please visit the official website at http://www.rockofagesmusical.com/toronto/

Rock of Ages in Toronto is sponsored by Air Canada and the production's official hotels are the Sheraton Centre Toronto and the Westin Harbour Castle. New Theatre/Hotel Packages are now available - see www.mirvish.com for more details