The Waterfront Playhouse musical Rock of Ages on opening December 1

The Waterfront Playhouse musical Rock of Ages on opening December 1

The Waterfront Playhouse on Mallory Square will transport audiences back to the 80’s with the hit musical Rock of Ages, opening December 1 and playing through December 17. A sneak preview will be on Wednesday November 30 and the 2pm Saturday matinee on December 10. For tickets call 305-294-5015 or visit www.waterfrontplayhouse.org.

Rock of Ages started life in a little club on Hollywood Boulevard before hitting the big time, racking up thousands of performances in a dozen countries – meaning that it’s actually living the dream to which its characters can only aspire. The jukebox musical is filled with so many classic rock anthems – Here I Go Again, Don’t Stop Believin’, The Final Countdown, and more – that it’s no wonder it’s become such a global sensation. Nominated for a 2009 Tony Award, this musical proves “if you wanna rock, then you’re in for nothin’ but a good time.”

Rock of Ages is set in the heyday of the mid-to-late 80s, a time that was post-punk and pre-grunge: the era of soft rock and hair metal, where if you had three chords and a perm, you were a god amongst men. LA’s Sunset Strip is the place where such dreams are made – or dashed: a small town girl and a city boy who fall in love; a washed-up rock star staging his comeback; and a motley crew (not that one) fighting to save the Strip from gentrification.

Brendan Daugherty and Sarah McKinney are the star-crossed Sherrie and Drew. Daugherty is a Brooklyn based performer and artist. Most recently, he has been seen as part of the company of “Dirty Circus” at House of Yes in Brooklyn. He wrote/acted and directed the award winning web series “Call Center,” (LAFA Best Comedy/best actor, Indie series award “Best Series”) a comedy web series about working at a call center in Florida. His original music can be found on spotify or seen live all over the country (Hard Rock Tampa, Rockwood Music Hall, House of Yes etc.) as himself or with several bands (“Friends in Town,” “Doo Dah Beasties”). Sarah could not be more thrilled to be playing her dream role in her all-time favorite musical! In addition to Escape to Margaritaville, some of her previous credits include: Scaramouche (We Will Rock You), Sally Simpson (The Who’s Tommy), Fiona (Shrek), Sandy (Grease), Margot (Legally Blonde), Chris Hargensen (Carrie) and Judy Turner (A Chorus Line). 

Michael Spaziani plays the salacious Stacee Jaxx – who, as he sings on Wanted Dead or Alive, really has seen a million faces and rocked them all. Spaziani  has been seen in The Sound of Music (dir. Jack O’Brien). Select regional: South Pacific, The Great Gatsby, The Rocky Horror Show, Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Spamalot, Violet. 

There’s also some serious powerhouse support by Oliva White as the illustrious Justice Charlier, who was recently seen in Escape to Margaritaville and Talitha Jones as the rabble-rousing Regina. Talitha’s credits include: Big Fish (Sandra Bloom), Carousel (Nettie Fowler), When Calls the Heart: the Musical (Elizabeth Thatcher), Beauty and the Beast (Babette/u.s. Belle), and Annie (Theatre Aspen). Other favorite Credits include Cabaret (Fraulein Kost): In Collaboration with John Kander, Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), Singing in the Rain (Lina Lamont) and Hairspray (Penny). She has also performed on the Carnegie Hall stage alongside Megan Hilty and the NewYork Pops’ ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ holiday concert. Andrew Theede as Heinz, and Zachary Franchini as Franz (a German Pee-Wee Herman, don’tcha know?) 

The shows narrator, Lonny, is played by local Ray West and his partner in business and in life, Dennis Dupree, is played by Jack D’Emilio: imagine if Axl Rose mellowed and started really investing in fringed jackets, and you’re pretty much there. 

Mathias Maloff, Andie Rose Roberts, Tyler Gallaher, Ervin Tumm, Jillian Todd and Tino Araujo playing a multitude of roles. 

Directed by Tom Thayer, designed by Michael Boyer, choreographer by Carolyn Cooper, music directed by Roberta Jacyshyn with lighting by Kim Hansen. Expect high energy, big hair, big music from the on stage band, skimpy clothes, and lots of laughs.  With a  book by Chris D’Arienzo Rock of Ages isn’t a show that behaves itself: it’s chaotic, it’s crude, and it makes lowbrow look high – but when it rocks, it rolls. Come ready to have a blast as Rock of Ages will be the best party in Key West!

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