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Nights in White Spandex

Rock of Ages rocks the Fort Wayne Civic stage

By Eddie Torres

Fort Wayne Reader

2018-09-11


To anyone who came of age in the 80s listening to AOR or Top 40 radio, the idea that the “glam rock” and pop rock of the era would make its way to a Broadway stage seems like… well, a pretty natural progression, to tell the truth. The anthemic choruses, over-the-top production, soaring vocals delivered by larger-than-life stars with their hair done up like an elaborate headdress, telling stories about rockin’. And dreamin’. And dreamin’ about rockin’…

It’s all more opera or show choir than nitty-gritty rock n’ roll (think about it — was there a Journey song that wasn’t covered on Glee?) but that’s the way people liked it back then, and apparently, they still do. When Rock of Ages — a “juke-box musical” featuring a veritable greatest hits of 80s anthems — first debuted on Broadway in 2009, it sold more tickets than a late-80s Bon Jovi album. 80s nostalgia? Maybe. But then again, you might be surprised how many people of all ages know these songs.

Theater goers can declare their desire to rock, their inability to fight the feelin’ anymore, and their refusal to stop believin’ when the Fort Wayne Civic Theater’s production of Rock of Ages begins its run on Friday September 14.

Imagine the ingénue-comes-to-the-big-city-in-search-of-stardom story transplanted from 30s New York Broadway to 80s LA Sunset Strip and you have the Rock of Ages plot. While working as a busboy at the Bourbon Room in 1987, aspiring rocker Drew Boley (played by Chandler Chastain) meets Stacee Christian (Halee Bandt), newly arrived from Kansas and looking for stardom. There are shady nightclub owners, sleazy rock stars, and property developers with deep, deep pockets, looking to sanitize the Sunset Strip.

But the point of a jukebox musical is not the story, it’s the songs, and in that respect, Rock of Ages is certainly (ahem) nothin’ but a good time. Sing-along staples of the era by Styx, Journey, Twisted Sister, Poison, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar and many others (one guess at what Sherrie Christian’s theme song is) never let up, even finding room for a few “lost gems” to keep the aficionados on their toes.

Those who grew up with this music may be surprised at how “positive” or even innocent many of these songs sound, especially comparing it to the rock that came later in the 90s. That said, this is a story about the rock scene on LA’s Sunset Strip in 1987, so Rock of Ages is rated R for some suggestive scenes, situations, and references.

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Fort Wayne Civic Theater presents Rock of Ages
Arts United Center
303 East Main Street

Fridays September 14 and 21 at 8 pm
Saturdays September 15 and 22 at 8 pm
Sundays September 16 and 23 at 2 pm

Tickets available at the box office; or call (260) 424-5220; or online at fwcivic.org.

Rock of Ages is Rated R.



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