Rock of Ages, which premiered in 2006, is a Tony-Award-winning musical built around epic ‘80s rock hits by power house bands like Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Styx, REO Speedwagon and Foreigner. It's not your typical musical and the story will also soon be a feature film, in production now from Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema, set for theatres in June 2012.

The fictional story takes place in 1987 when Drew Boley, an aspiring rock star, begins working at a bar on the Sunset Strip and falls in love with Sherrie Christian, an aspiring actress named after the hair ballad "Sister Christian."

Some of the tunes performed — by a stellar live rock band - include Poison's "Nothin But a Good Time" and "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," the Damn Yankee's ballad "High Enough," Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It," White Snake's "Here I Go Again" and the "Final Countdown" by Europe — to only name a few.

In this touring production the lead role of Drew is played by actor Dominique Scott, a 23-year old Miami native. With the show's classic rock five-piece band, Scott said the atmosphere is very laid-back and casual, much like the ‘80s rock venues these characters would've been head-banging at.

"It's a very unique show, it's a Broadway musical but it's also a rock concert," Scott said. "It's actually a beautiful blend of the two. When you go into the show immediately you walk into the theatre and there's music blasting through the speakers. The show starts with a guitarist coming down and just ripping one of the most incredible guitar solos in your face — he melts faces.

"There's a lot of energy in the show," Scott continued. "It's grounded because there's a great story, it's two people falling in love and people can relate to that, but it's very much about the music and about the fun time you have when you go to a rock concert. By the end of the show everybody's on their feet dancing, it's very much a party."

The plot of Rock of Ages may be fictional, but Scott said it's easily something that could've happened at a place like the Rainbow Room, a legendary Los Angeles venue.

"It's something that definitely could've happened back then. Also, it's a story that people can relate to in life in general," Scott said. "When you're young having all these big hopes and aspirations and then being challenged by them — that's what I think is charming about the show, it's real life situations. Along with all the glitz, glamour and rock music and everything, it's something really truthful and honest that people can relate to."

The story in Rock of Ages begins with the classic "right place at the right time" success story, but then quickly goes awry when things don't work out the way Drew had hoped.

"He gets a big break but things don't go over so well," Scott said. "He meets a girl that he really falls in love with, but the thing about Drew is that he doesn't have the confidence or the know-how to go about expressing his love for this girl ... he's a pretty shy guy and so he ends up losing her to one of the big rock stars in the club."

In the end Drew gets a taste of stardom, but when reality hits, he must make tough life decisions involving money and his eternal love for Sherrie — queue the epic performance of Steve Perry's "Oh, Sherrie," which helps close out this epic rock tale.

Other Theatre Events | By Nicole Rico