"Glee" star Dot-Marie Jones makes New York stage debut in Rock of Ages

Jones assumes the role of Dennis Dupree for a limited 8-week engagement at New World Stages.

Don't Stop Believin' in Dot-Marie Jones! The "Glee" standout makes history tonight as the first-ever woman to play Bourbon Room owner Dennis Dupree in the much-loved jukebox musical Rock of Ages.

The role marks Jones' New York stage debut and she is set to play an 8-week limited engagement at New World Stages through April 19, 2020. As reported, previous cast member Matt Ban will return to the production on April 20.

Dot-Marie Jones earned three Emmy Award nominations (in 2011, 2012 and 2013) for her role as Coach Bieste on Fox's hit musical series "Glee" and she previously appeared on stage in Deaf West Company's 2017 production of Our Town at The Pasadena Playhouse in California.

The Off-Broadway principal cast of Rock of Ages currently includes CJ Eldred (as Drew), Kirsten Scott (as Sherrie), PJ Griffith (as Stacee Jaxx), original Broadway star Mitchell Jarvis (as Lonny), Dot-Marie Jones (as Dennis Dupree), Dane Biren (as Franz), Tiffany Engen (as Regina), original Broadway star Paul Schoeffler (as Hertz), and Amma Osei​ (as Justice/Mother).

Rock of Ages, which features a book by Chris D'Arienzo, opened on Broadway on April 7, 2009, and enjoyed an impressive six-year run of 2,350 performances. It originally premiered in January 2006 at The Vanguard Hollywood nightclub in Los Angeles, later moving to The Flamingo in Las Vegas in May 2006. Rather fittingly, the musical was first staged in New York (ahead of its Broadway transfer) in October 2008 at New World Stages, the home of this current 10th Anniversary production.

Previews began Off-Broadway on June 19, 2019, ahead of an official opening on July 2, and in November 2019, producers announced that the musical would switch to an open-ended run.

This new production of the five-time Tony Award-nominated musical re-united the original Broadway creative team, including Tony-nominated director Kristin Hanggi and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Kelly Devine.

Synopsis: "Rock of Ages is set to the greatest rock anthems and power ballads of the 80s, like you've never heard them before. Featuring such hits as "Wanted Dead or Alive," "I Wanna Know What Love Is," "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," "Here I Go Again," "Don't Stop Believin'" and many more."

The production also features scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Gregory Gale, lighting design by Jason Lyons, sound design by Peter Hylenski, and projection design by Zachary Borovay.

Rock of Ages is produced off-Broadway by Michael Cohl/S2BN Entertainment in association with Barry Habib, Scott Prisand/Seth Fass, Tony Smith, and Randi Zuckerberg/Mara Burros-Sandler.

Rock of Ages Tickets are available now for performances through September 13, 2020.

^{(Photo by Ricky Middlesworth​)}