Mitchell Jarvis Steps In As Lonny For First Four Days Of ROCK OF AGES NAT'L TOUR

Broadwayworld has been informed that Patrick Lewallen, the actor set to play the role of "Lonny" in the Rock Of Ages National Tour, has come down with laryngitis, and therefore unable to perform in the Chicago leg of the show.

Mitchell Jarvis, currently starring as Stacee Jaxx in the Rock Of Ages Broadway company, will step in for Lewallen during the four days he will be absent from the production.

ROCK OF AGES will launch a 60-city, first national tour at The Bank of America Theatre, 18 West Monroe, Chicago, IL as part of ‘Broadway in Chicago' on September 21, 2010.

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small-town girl met a big-city dreamer - and in L.A.'s most legendary rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80's. It's ROCK OF AGES, 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. Don't miss this awesomely good time where big hair meets big dreams and the result totally wails.

ROCK OF AGES opened on April 7, 2009 at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre to critical acclaim, following an off Broadway engagement in the fall of 2008. The Broadway production was nominated for Five 2009 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and New Line Records released the Original Broadway Cast Recording in July 2009 featuring 28 songs from the show. A New Line Records film of the musical, directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray), is scheduled to be released in 2011.

As on Broadway, the touring production will be directed by Tony Award Nominee Kristin Hanggi (Bare, Pussycat Dolls on the Sunset Strip) and choreographed by Kelly Devine (Jersey Boys - Associate Choreographer). The book is by Chris D'Arienzo (writer and director of the upcoming film Barry Munday), the original arrangements are by David Gibbs (Counting Crows, Film: That Thing You Do) and the Music Supervision, Arrangements & Orchestrations are by Ethan Popp (Tarzan; Europe: We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia).
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 Peter Hylenski (Shrek), and projection design is by Zachary Borovay (A Catered Affair).

ROCK OF AGES will have its Canadian premiere at the legendary Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, with performances beginning April 20, 2010. It was also recently announced that ROCK OF AGES will head down under and open at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Australia in April 2011.

ROCK OF AGES will be produced on tour by Matthew Weaver, Carl Levin, Jeff Davis, Barry Habib, Scott Prisand, Janet Billig Rich, Hillary Weaver, Relativity Media and The Araca Group.

Group tickets are currently available for ROCK OF AGES in Chicago. Groups of 15 or more may receive a discount on most shows by calling (312) 977-1710. Single tickets will go on-sale at a future date to be announced. Tickets can be obtained at The Bank of America Theatre box office (18 West Monroe, Chicago, IL), www.BroadwayInChicago.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 775-2000. For more information, visit www.RockofAgesMusical.com.

Photo credit: Monica Simoes