Rock of Ages:  A Timeless Tale of Big Dreams, Big Hair Launches National Tour

At the 63rd Annual Tony Awards (held in 2009 for those of you that aren't keeping track), all the nominated musicals performed a song or two.  I saw numbers from Shrek, Hair, Guys and Dolls, Next to Normal, West Side Story, and Billy Elliot.
They were all fabulous and they all made me want to rush right out and see the entire musical (if only I lived anywhere near Broadway).  But the show I really wanted to see was Rock of Ages.
Oddly enough, of all the aforementioned musicals the silliest and the most sophomoric is Rock of Ages.  Compared to the high affluent masterworks of art like West Side Story, Billy Elliot, and Next to Normal, Rock of Ages is a comic strip written on a gum wrapper.
Still, I wanted to see the "low-brow" Rock of Ages because it looked like so much damn fun.
Rock of Ages is a jukebox musical featuring songs from the hair bands of the 1980's.  The score uses tracks from Bon Jovi, Poison, Twisted Sister, Pat Benatar, and Foreigner—just to name a few.  The finale is a rousing rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."  Yes, the Fox show Glee stole the idea from Rock of Ages.
The show's musical namesake, Def Leppard's "Rock of Ages," is not included in the score because the producers couldn't get the licenses for any of their songs.  Think of what they could have done with "Pour Some Sugar On Me?"
The show is set in the 1980's in Hollywood, California.  The plot revolves around German developers who are trying to bring "clean living" to the Sunset Strip.  However, the show is really about dreams... and by dreams we mean sex, drugs, and rock n' roll (make "sign of the horns" with fingers and stick out tongue).
Rock of Ages is really like a 1980's music video from MTV's Headbangers Ball that has suddenly come to life under a rather expensive professional lighting grid.  The show never takes itself seriously and it often breaks the so-called "fourth wall" as well as the seldom used "third ceiling." 
Even more good news, Constantine Maroulis will be reprising his role of Drew Bowie for the national tour.  He originated that lead role in the original Broadway production.  Righteous!  If you recall, Maroulis was a former finalist on American Idol.
Rock of Ages runs about two and half hours but it moves very quickly.  Due to its adult content (namely scantily clad dancers) it's probably best that you leave the kids at home.  Besides, you don't want your kids to accidently get hurt from all that teased hair flying around on stage.
At least on Broadway, drinks are served seat-side during the show.  It seems doubtful they would do that at the Pantages, the Colonial, or any of the other stuffy venues Rock of Ages is set to visit during its national tour.  So, I guess you'll just have to bring your own bottle.  Party on!

About the Author:
Ryan Hogan writes for Best Show Tickets, an entertainment web site that offers a large selection of sports, concert and Broadway tickets such as Rock of Ages tickets and more.