Ashley Spencer to Take on 'Sherrie' in ROCK OF AGES, 5/10

Producers of the five-time Tony Award nominated hit musical ROCK OF AGES have announced that Ashley Spencer (Grease, Priscilla..) will star in the leading role of Sherrie – the "small town girl" who "took the midnight train goin' anywhere" – beginning Thursday, May 10 at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre (220 W 44th Street). Emily Padgett, who has performed the role since November 2011, will play her final performance on Tuesday, May 1. During the interim week, the role will be covered alternately by Katie Webber and Tessa Alves.

A finalist on the NBC talent competition series "Grease: You're The One That I Want", Ashley was recently seen on Broadway as "Diva" in the original cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, "Sandy" in Grease and "Amber Von Tussle" in Hairspray.

The music that ignited a generation is heating up Broadway in ROCK OF AGES. The classic rock love story of the decade erupts into Broadway's Best Party, all to the sounds of such feel-good, sing-out-loud songs as "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", "I Wanna Know What Love Is", "Here I Go Again", "Don't Stop Believin" and more. The smash hit musical opened on Broadway on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 and played its final performance at The Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Sunday, January 9, 2011 before re-opening at The Helen Hayes Theatre on March 24, 2011.

ROCK OF AGES also stars Justin Matthew Sargent as "Drew", Jeremy Woodard (original Broadway Cast member) as "Stacee Jaxx," Adam Dannheisser (original Broadway Cast Member) as "Dennis," Genson Blimline as "Lonny", Cody Scott Lancaster (Original Toronto Cast Member) as "Franz," Michele Mais (original Broadway Cast Member) as "Justice," Josephine Rose Roberts (Original Toronto Cast Member) as "Regina," and Paul Schoeffler (original Broadway Cast Member) as "Hertz." Rounding out the cast are Tessa Alves, Tony LePage, Michael Minarik, Jennifer Rias, Andre Ward, Katie Webber and Neka Zang.

ROCK OF AGES will soon become Hollywood's Biggest Party when New Line Cinema releases a film of the musical on June 15, 2012. Directed by Adam Shankman, the film stars Tom Cruise as "Stacee Jaxx," Diego Boneta as "Drew," Julianne Hough as "Sherrie," Russell Brand as "Lonny," Alec Baldwin as "Dennis," Mary J. Blige as "Justice," Brian Cranston as the Mayor, Malin Ackerman as "Constance Sack," Catherine Zeta-Jones as the wife of the Mayor and Paul Giamatti as "Paul Gill."

In addition to being a bona fide hit musical that has played over 1000 performances and currently ranks as the 80th Longest Running Show on Broadway, ROCK OF AGES was a runaway success in Toronto and Australia; just completed its First National Tour of 60 cities, starring original Broadway cast member and Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis; has a production running in London's West End; and has licensed productions in several additional countries, including Korea and Japan.

ROCK OF AGES is produced worldwide by Matthew Weaver, Jonathan Linden and Michael Cohl.

Tickets for ROCK OF AGES at The Helen Hayes can be purchased via Telecharge.com, by calling (212) 239-6200 (outside the NY metro area (800) 432-7250) or in person at the Helen Hayes Box Office. The performance schedule is Monday at 8pm, Tuesday at 7pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sunday at 3pm & 7:30pm.