Written by Chris D'Arienzo
Directed by Kristin Hanggi
Synopsis: It's 1987 and the final countdown is on for a legendary Hollywood rock club facing its demise at the hands of eager developers. When a young rocker hungry for his big break and a small town girl chasing her dreams land on the scene at this infamous venue, how far will ambition drive them? And will it be lights out for the club and all the regulars and rockers who have made it their home?
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...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."
Read the whole review HERE.
NEW YORK POST:
"And guess what? Familiarity does breed content. Especially if you're the kind of person who gets misty hearing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn.""
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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS:
"Tacky '80s fashions, grungy set pieces and glaring concert-style lighting are spot-on. The Bic lighters you're given to wave during the show are fake, but the exuberance "Rock of Ages" fires up at various times is the real deal."
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THEATERMANIA:
"As the song goes, it don't mean nothin' but a good time. But it's also one of the funniest shows now on Broadway."
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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."
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NY1:
"This jukebox musical featuring vintage rock tunes from the likes of Twisted Sister and Bon Jovi is sure to turn off some theater purists. But it's so cleverly staged and impressively performed that it's an irresistible, offbeat trip of a show that hits all the right notes."
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BACKSTAGE:
" But the humor level is so low and the characters so broad that interest in the story is lost after the first 20 minutes. If the creative team had dispensed with the script and just let the ensemble and kick-ass onstage band tear through the hits of the era, Rock of Ages would have really rocked."
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AMERICAN THEATER WEB :
"The most recent transfer to Broadway is the jukebox tuner Rock of Ages, which after a well-received and often extended debut at New World Stages last fall, opened last night at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. The move has proven to be a wise one; "Ages" has retained all of its goofy innocent charm and has been tweaked perfectly to fit its new venue."
Read the whole review HERE.
AMNY:
"The jukebox musical, built on familiar pop songs, is the most reviled genre of modern theater. But what makes “Rock of Ages” so refreshing is how it makes no reservations about offering a paper-thin story, clichés and poop jokes set to distorted guitar riffs and hard-hitting drumming."
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NEWSDAY:
"The most successful jokes are the outdated props: denim vests, midriff tees, a cooler full of Bartles & Jaymes. It's breezy, silly fun, but a genuine musical set against this colorful, chaotic era - the "Rent" of hair-metal - has yet to be written."
Read the whole review HERE
