Rock of Ages – Musical – Tacoma Little Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Rock of Ages jukebox musical w/ Tacoma Little Theatre and UW Tacoma. Impressive production value for community theatre. Complete with a catwalk and stage sparklers! #RockOfAges #theatre

Synopsis from the Theatre: Aqua Net, Lycra, lace, and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strips last legendary venues in the 1980s. 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 Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the 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, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, and more hold the answer.

Reviewed Performance: 3/12/23 Matinee

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes, a 5-piece live band

Recommendation: See it if they improve the sound balancing.

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: No, I first saw Rock of Ages at 5th Ave Theatre

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Maybe if it was a professional Equity production

Equity Actors: 0

Total Number of Actors: A whopping 26 performers! I assume the large cast size had to do with the joint production with University of Washington – Tacoma. There were times where it seemed too crowded on stage especially since actors had to share space with the live band.

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Intermission: Yes

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

  • Production Value: Tacoma Little Theatre always surprises me with the production value of their shows. For example, there are always high-quality projections in the scenic background. Also, one of their previous plays, Murder on the Orient Express, utilized a rotating stage. And Rock of Ages featured a catwalk with stage sparkler machines! What will they surprise us with next?

Rant(s)

  • Sound/Volume Balancing: For having such high production value, it’s a mighty dang shame I could hardly hear the performers sing or speak when the band was playing. Both the singers and the band seemed alright separately, but the volume wasn’t balanced well together. Better sound balancing would make this show 1000x better.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Earplugs: I always worry when there are earplugs at the door. Thankfully, I didn’t need them. Nice touch though for catering to those with sensitive eardrums.

Theatre Company: Tacoma Little Theatre and University of Washington – Tacoma

Venue: Tacoma Little Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 210 N I St, Tacoma, WA 98403

Price: Cheap

Ticket Affordability Options: PWYC (pay-what-you-can) on 3/16/23

Dates: March 3 to 26, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Mostly street parking. I usually like to park one block away on North Yakima Ave. Season ticket holders and donors can access a free parking lot.

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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video below by Dennis K Photography.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures and video below

@showsiveseen “Rock of Ages” #jukebox #musical at @tacomalittletheatre & @uofwa Tacoma. Impressive production value for community theatre. Complete w/ a catwalk & stage sparklers! Review: showsiveseen.com/4321 #RockOfAges #theatre ♬ We Built This City – Starship
Regnia (Mari Roy), Hertz (Eric Strachan), Mayor (Wade Hicks) & Franz (Camren Bleiler)
Lonny (M. Keala Milles, Jr.), Dennis (Rafe Wadleigh) & Drew (Vinny Contini)
Lonny (M. Keala Milles, Jr.) and the ensemble of Rock of Ages
Dennis (Rafe Wadleigh) & Lonny (Keala Milles)
Stacee Jaxx (Ryan Coleman)
Stacee Jaxx (Ryan Coleman) and the Rock of Ages ensemble
Stacee Jaxx (Ryan Coleman) and the Rock of Ages ensemble
Hertz (Eric Strachan), Franz (Camren Bleiler) Mayor (Wade Hicks) & Regina (Mari Roy)
Lonny (M. Keala Milles, Jr.), Franz (Camren Bleiler) & Dennis (Rafe Wadleigh)
Regina (Mari Roy) leads the cast of Rock of Ages
The cast of Rock of Ages
The Venus Club dancers (Julia Wyman, Erin R. Johnson, Kristina Dustan, Molly Quinn) and Justice (Michelle Weingarden-Bandes)
Stacee Jaxx (Ryan Coleman) and the ensemble of Rock of Ages
Stacee Jaxx (Ryan Coleman)
Franz (Camren Bleiler), Dennis (Rafe Wadleigh) & Hertz (Eric Strachan)
Regnia (Mari Roy) leads the protest with the ensemble of Rock of Ages
Groupie (Madison Bleiler), Stacee Jaxx (Ryan Coleman) & Groupie (Kyleigh Medard)
RoleName
Franz Klinemann Camren Bleiler
EnsembleMadison Bleiler
Sleazy Producer/Ensemble Bailey Stanton Christie
Stacee Jaxx Ryan Coleman
Drew Boley Vinny Contini
Mother/Justice Understudy and EnsembleChristine Dove
EnsembleKristina Dustan
Venus Room D] + EnsembleAsante Hayes
Mayor + Ensemble Wade Hicks
Constance/Mother Understudy + Sherrie Understudy + Swing + Ensemble Erin R. Johnson
EnsembleDavey Magno
Sherrie ChristianAnnelise Martin
EnsembleKyleigh Medard
Lonny BarnettM. Keala Milles, Jr.
EnsembleKelsey Monahan
Ja’Keith Gill + Ensemble Trevor Owens
EnsembleKeri Peredo Panlasigui
EnsembleMolly Quinn
ReginaMari Roy
Hertz Klinemann Eric Strachan
Joey Primo + Ensemble Haunz Stroschein
Father/EnsembleAndrew Taula
EnsembleElle Tena
Dennis Dupree Rafe Wadleigh
Justice Charlier Michelle Weingarden-Bandes
Waitress #1/ EnsembleJulia Wyman
Keyboards Dr. William Bryant
GuitarCameron Schneider
DrumsScot Sexton
BassPeter Vosshall
GuitarStorm Tucker
Director Maria-Tania Bandes B. Weingarden
AuthorChris D’Arienzo
Composer and ArrangerEthan Popp
Musical Director Kim Davenport
ChoreographerAshley Roy
Stage Managers Isobel Brown & Kay Meier
Assistant Stage Managers Cathy Jackson & Irene Ellis
Technical Director/Scenic Designer/Visuals Blake R. York
Costume DesignerCori DeVerse
Production Manager/Sound Designer Dylan Twiner
Lighting Designer Michelle Weingarden-Bandes
Assistant Lighting DesignerRyan Asche
Lighting Assistant Octavio Diaz Salas
Lead Carpenter/Properties DesignerFrank Roberts
Shop AssistantNate Lovitt
Scenic ArtistJennifer York
Sound Board Operator Katie Jones
Sound ConsultantChris Aveline
Follow Spot Operator Ellie Rutt
Hair and Wig Consultant Mauro Bozzo
Assistant Hair and Wig StylingMadison Bleiler
Dance CaptainKelsey Monahan
Student Mentors Christine Dove & Rafe Wadleigh
Social Media CampaignsHannah Shea
Photography Dennis K Photography
Graphic DesignBlake R. York
Tacoma Next Move Interns Lachlan Desmarais, Sarn Hibbard Sergio Mijares