Rock of Ages: Kerry Butler and Tom Lenk join cast

Tony nominee Kerry Butler and "Buffy" star Tom Lenk join the cast of the five-time Tony Award nominated hit musical Rock of Ages on 18 Sep 2009.

Kerry Butler will assume the lead female role of 'Sherrie' from Savannah Wise, and Tom Lenk will assume the role of'Franz' from Wesley Taylor. Taylor and Wise both played their final performance on 13 Sep 2009.

The role of 'Sherrie' was originated by Amy Spanger who unexpectedly left the show for personal reasons. Spanger had been out of the show since the Tony Awards on 7 Jun 2009 resting her vocal cords, but was expected to return on 29 Jun 2009. Understudy Savannah Wise covered for Spanger during her absence, and officially assumed the role on 9 Jul 2009.

Butler most recently starred on Broadway, and received a Tony Anomination for her role as 'Kira' in 'Xanadu.' Her other Broadway credits include playing 'Audrey' in 'Little Shop of Horrors,' the original 'Penny' in 'Hairspray,' 'Belle' in 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Eponine' in 'Les Miserables' and 'Ms. Jones' in 'Blood Brothers.' She recently recorded her first solo CD, 'Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust,' on PS Classics and performed as 'Brenda'� in the 2009 world premiere of the musical 'Catch Me If You Can' this summer in Seattle.

Lenk, who starred as 'Andrew Wells' in the TV series "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and its spin-off "Angel," will make his Broadway debut. He originated the role of 'Franz' in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas productions of Rock of Ages.

Rock of Ages now stars Constantine Maroulis (Drew), Kerry Butler (Sherrie), James Carpinello (Stacee Jaxx), Adam Dannheisser (Dennis), Mitchell Jarvis (Lonny), Michele Mais (Justice), Lauren Molina (Regina), *Don Stephenson (Hertz), Tom Lenk (Franz), Ericka Hunter, Jeremy Jordan, Michael Minarik, Angel Reed, Bahiyah Sayyed-Gaines, Katherine Tokarz, Andre Ward, Tad Wilson and Jeremy Woodard.
*Paul Schoeffler assumes the role of 'Hertz' from 26 Oct

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in LA's most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the '80s. It's Rock of Ages, an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Foreigner and many more.

Following a successful off Broadway run and the sale of the film rights to New Line Cinema, Rock of Ages opened on 7 Apr 2009 at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre, following previews from 17 Mar, where it is currently selling tickets through to 28 Feb 2010.

The play opened to mixed reviews: "seriously silly, absurdly enjoyable" (NY Times); "a somewhat glib nostalgia trip" (NewsDay); "an irresistible, offbeat trip of a show" (NY1); " the exuberance "Rock of Ages" fires up at various times is the real deal" (NY Post); "cheesy exercise in rock nostalgia" (Hollywood Reporter).

The show is written by Chris D'Arienzo (writer and director of the upcoming film 'Barry Munday'), directed by Kristin Hanggi and choreographed by Kelly Devine (Jersey Boys - Associate Choreographer).

Scenic design is by Beowulf Boritt, costume design is by Gregory Gale, lighting design is by Jason Lyons (The Threepenny Opera) and sound design is by Peter Hylenski.

The off Broadway engagement of Rock of Ages opened on 16 Oct 2008 at New World Stages and played its final performance on 4 Jan 2009 after 17 preview and 93 regular performances. The show made its world premiere in Los Angeles at The Vanguard for a limited 4-week run and was extended to 7 weeks by popular demand.

Rock of Ages is produced on Broadway by Matthew Weaver, Carl Levin, Jeff Davis, Barry Habib, Scott Prisand, and Corner Store Fund I, in association with Janet Billig Rich, Hillary Weaver, Toni Habib, Stefany & Simon Bergson, Charles Rolecek, Susanne Brook, Israel Wolfson, Max Gottlieb, Jennifer Maloney and Prospect Pictures.