ROCK OF AGES to Make Central Florida Debut at Dr. Phillips Center This Fall

TheatreWorks Florida will present the Central FL regional premiere of Rock Of Ages, opening at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (Alexis and Jim Pugh Theater) Sept 28 - Oct 9, 2016 for 15 sizzling performances. Rock Of Ages is sponsored in part by the National Endowment for The Arts and is TheatreWorks Florida's fourth Central Florida regional premiere production.

Rock Of Ages is set at the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strips last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock and roll fairy-tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip - and themselves - before it's too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer...

Rock Of Ages is directed by Scott A. Cook, the artistic producer of TheatreWorks Florida. TheatreWorks Florida has brought exciting and colorful productions to the Central Florida Stage in the past, including Hands On A Hardbody (2016 - Central FL regional premiere), Schoolhouse Rock Live! (2015 Tour - National Endowment for The Arts), Sweeney Todd (2014 - winner of Best Set, Best Musical Direction and Best Lead Actress In A Musical; BroadwayWorld Orlando 2014), Nunsense (2013), and Legally Blonde: The Musical (2012 - Central FL regional premiere; winner of Best Musical; BroadwayWorld Orlando 2012). Cook has developed show designs and concepts for companies such as Universal Studios Florida and the Walt Disney World Company, and won numerous producers' honors including the Pierrots Award, Best Musical for Cats at Theatre Winter Haven in 2006 and multiple awards at the Orlando Fringe Festival including Best In Fest 2010 & 2012 for The Great American Trailer Park Musical and Little Shop of Horrors, respectively.

Says Cook of Rock Of Ages, " I grew up as a teenager with the music of the real 80s rock stars featured in Rock Of Ages. Back then, the music shaped me, moved me and rocked my soul everywhere I went. It was a time of pure freedom and discovery where music was my guide. Now, I get to relive all the heart-pounding guitar anthems of Journey, Foreigner, Styx, Pat Benatar, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger and more that infuse the high-energy experience of Rock Of Ages from start to finish. Bringing this "arena rock" homage to our community as a live musical theatre experience is the answer to our age of "digital overload". Experiencing art live with friends and family is so rewarding that people are seeking it out amidst the digital age. Notably, this is a musical that attracts a whole new audience - the audience of the live rock and roll world. And for anyone whose youth coincided with the 80s time period, this over-the-top, electric nostalgia of "badassery" is a siren call filled with screaming guitars and sing-along choruses that will be impossible to resist."

TheatreWorks Florida is proud to announce the outstanding cast, band, designers and staff of Rock Of Ages:

Cast:

Dennis Dupree - Casey Sweeney

Lonny - Christopher Jones

Drew - Justin J. Scarlat

Sherrie - Kayla Alvarez

Stacee Jaxx - Stephen Alan*

Hertz - Nathan Jessee

Franz - Chase Livingston

Regina - Ashley Turner

Justice Charlier - Katrina Akers

Ensemble - Charissa Hope, Abigail Lloyd Emily Laughridge, Jon Rivera, Juan Silva

* Stephen Alan is the front man for Orlando-based band, "Mad As Adam".

Band: Shannon Kropf (Keyboard), Bobby Keller* (Lead Guitar), Mark McDowell (Guitar 2), Mark Young (Bass) and Dave Kropf (Drums).

* Bobby Keller is the lead guitarist for national heavy metal band, "Meka Nism".

Designers and Staff: Shannon Kropf (Music Direction), James F. Beck (Scenic), Cori Blythe (Lighting), Nicholas Hartman (Costumes), Heather Franklin (Hair & Makeup), Steven Maynard (Props/Set Dec), Bobby Brickman (Sound), Melissa E. Fritzinger (Stage Manager), Abel Gonzales (Company Manager), Alexis Senge Johnson (Development Director),and Jessica Hoehn (Live Events Manager).

Tickets to Rock of Ages range between $26.75 and $38.75. Show times are Tuesdays - Saturdays at 8PM, Saturdays & Sundays at 2PM and Sundays at 7PM. Tickets can be purchased at the Dr. Phillips Center website at drphillipscenter.org or by calling the box office at 844.513.2014.

Additionally, TheatreWorks Florida's highly successful outreach program TheatreCares has partnered with Full Sail University to offer educational workshops to underserved music students in the Central Florida region. These workshops will explore the basic building blocks of classical music and demonstrate the connection to all music, including rock and roll. Following the workshops, students will be able to attend the show for 50% off a normal ticket price. After the performance, these students will attend a special interactive educational discussion with the professional cast and explore how the music of "Rock of Ages" can educate their minds, impact their lives and inspire continued participation in the performing arts. Workshops are sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information contact Abel Gonzales, Company Manager: theatrecares@theatreworksfl.org.

Playwright Chris D'Arenzio created the five-time Tony nominated musical "Rock Of Ages," the 27th longest running show in Broadway history. Since it?s inception, "Rock Of Ages" has employed nearly 4,000 people with productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, 3 National Tours, the West End, as well as productions in Australia, Scandinavia, Toronto, Tokyo, Korea, Philippines, Mexico, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and a home at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Chris also co-wrote and executive produced the major motion picture adaptation of his musical starring Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, and Catherine Zeta Jones.

TheatreWorks Florida is a 501.c3 professional Central Florida-based theatre company. Formed in 2007, TheatreWorks offers some of the finest theatrical musicals available today as well as produces new, original works from area artists and artists from around the country. For more information, visit theatreworksfl.org.

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