Maroulis and Spanger work off of each other well, which is fortunate as Spanger is a new addition to "Rock of Ages" since its Broadway transfer. James Carpinello is another replacement in the new production, although he is filling the shoes of Will Swenson who opted to be in the revival of "Hair." It makes for an unfortunate comparison, but Carpinello, as the fading rocker Stacee Jaxx, is able to keep things entertaining enough.
Along with perfectly quirky performances from Lauren Molina, Paul Schoeffler and Wesley Taylor, all playing roles pivotal to the secondary story concerning the Bourbon Room's demolition, the production holds up well under the weight of Broadway.
Not everyone will find the huge serving of 80s nostalgia and rock anthems appealing, but those tired of yet another revival might just discover their own golden ticket to the Broadway experience. In a time when theatre producers are checking pay phones for loose change, a guilty pleasure like “Rock of Ages” has potential to draw in the untraditional theatergoer, a patron that reads Perez Hilton rather than the New York Times.
Photos by Joan Marcus.
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 James Sims is the Senior Editor at BroadwayWorld.com. Beyond his duties on this website, James also contributes as a featured blogger for the Huffington Post. Having grown up in Los Angeles, California, James spent time working as an entertainment reporter on the west coast before heading to New York City to attend Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. For more information, visit SofaSnark.com and follow James on Twitter at @SimsJames.
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