Going to the Owosso Community Players season opener will feel like a rock concert meets Broadway, according to “Rock of Ages” director Garrett Bradley. With 80s rock hits such as “Don’t Stop Believing,” “Dead or Alive,” “Here I Go Again,” “The Final Countdown” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” the cast will transport the audience into one of rock’s greatest eras, where the rockers’ hair was big and the egos were even bigger.
The Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical “Rock of Ages,” will feature six performances on Sept. 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 8 p.m., and Sept. 11 and 18 at 3 p.m. at the Lebowsky Center. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors/students and $10 for children. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office, by calling the theater at (989) 723-4003 or at owossoplayers.com.
With featured songs from bands Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Bon Jovi, and Styx among others, the classic music of this show is “undeniably awesome,” said cast member Kyle Harwood, who plays the narrator Lonny Barnett “But what might really surprise people is the comedy! This jukebox musical not only shares the music of those glam metal bands but also parodies them in a really entertaining way,” Harwood said.
“Rock of Ages” tells a tale of big dreams in Hollywood. Meghan Corbett portrays Sherrie, an aspiring singer from the Midwest who finds herself in trouble. Coming to her rescue is Drew (Daniel Shafer) a bar-back at the legendary club, the Bourbon Room. With stars in their eyes, the young lovers chase their dreams, but their rock and roll fairy tale is threatened by a misunderstanding involving rock god Stacee Jaxx (Brennan Hattaway) and a group of German developers who want to turn their beloved Strip into just another mall.
Angela Bradley of Chesaning will appear as Justice Charlier, manager of the Venus Club and advisor to young Sherrie. Bradley, who also serves as vocal director for the show, jokes that she is “the only cast member old enough to have grown up with this music. Even though these hits will be familiar to most people, some of the young cast members have a new appreciation for what I like to consider ‘my’ music.” Bradley’s husband Darren will play drums in this production, where the live band is featured on stage throughout the show.
“Having a rock band in the bar setting will make this experience even more exciting for the audience,” Garrett Bradley said. “The cast and the band have wowed us in rehearsals and can’t wait to take the stage.”
The cast also includes Kayla Aue, Alissa Britten as Constance Sack, Nichole Constine, Zach Crawford as Joey Primo, Rachael Cupples as Mother, Erica Duffield, Taylor Engel, Devin Gill, Jonathan Hamilton as Hertz Klineman, Miles Hayes as Club DJ, Josh Holliday as Mayor, Kristin Rebera as Jaqcueline Gill, Grace Rosen as Regina Koontz, Holden Santi as Franz Klineman, Alexa Stechschulte and Mike Windnagle as Dennis Dupree.
