Rock of Ages to play final performance on 18 Jan 2015

It's the Final Countdown! Producers of Broadway's five-time Tony Award nominated musical comedy Rock of Ages, have confirmed that the show will play its final performance at the Helen Hayes Theatre on 18 January 2015. It will have played 22 previews and 2,328 Broadway performances, and numbers as the 27th longest running show in Broadway history.

Producer Matthew Weaver released a statement saying:

"It's hard to believe that a decade has passed since our 45-minute showcase at King King, a little dive bar on Hollywood Boulevard. That was the night Rock of Ages came to life, and what this incredible team has achieved since is nothing short of triumphant. We landed Off-Broadway in the midst of the financial meltdown and yet, against all odds - thanks to the sheer determination, grit, naivety and enthusiasm of our dream team of creatives, actors and producers - opened on Broadway in the spring of 2009 to an overwhelming embrace from critics and audiences alike. To have that lead to the launch of over a dozen productions worldwide has been a glorious dream come true."

"As a team we've experienced the greatest - and in many ways, unexpected - joys of having a hit show and being a part of the Broadway community. From performing at The Tony Awards, to the Super Bowl, and Times Square on New Year's Eve, this has been the ride of a lifetime for the entire Rock of Ages family and I am so proud of what we've all accomplished. And on the road to our final performance, I'm thrilled our cast is one of the finest we've ever had - with seven members of the original Broadway company teamed up with some of the brightest, new talent Broadway has ever seen."

Synopsis: "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 an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Foreigner and many more."

Rock of Ages opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre to mixed reviews: "A seriously silly, absurdly enjoyable arena-rock musical" (New York Times), "An irresistible, offbeat trip of a show that hits all the right notes." (NY1); "Cheesy exercise in rock nostalgia" (Hollywood Reporter); "A somewhat glib nostalgia trip" (NewsDay).

The cast currently features Constantine Maroulis (Drew), Lauren Zakrin (Sherrie), Chester See (Stacee Jaxx), Genson Blimline (Lonny), Adam Dannheisser (Dennis), Frankie J. Grande (Franz), Josephine Rose Roberts (Regina), Paul Schoeffler (Hertz) and Teresa Stanley (Justice), with Tessa Alves, Cristy Candler, Lisa Finegold, Alyssa Herrera, Tony LePage, Michael Minarik, Josh Sassanella and Andre Ward.

The show is written by Chris D'Arienzo, 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.

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.

The musical was adapted into a comedy musical film which was released in Jun 2012. Directed by Adam Shankman, it stars Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin and Tom Cruise.

- by Tom Millward