Rock of Ages hits Norwegian Breakaway!

After storming the stages on Broadway, Rock of Ages finally hits cruise lines with the amazing story of Sherry and Drew, accompanied with the amazing hits that were popular throughout the eighties. Rock of Ages is one of the longest running shows in Broadway history and offers Broadway's best party.

It is set around the late eighties, in the legendary Hollywood club, the Bourbon Room. This is portrayed as a dingy dodgy club in the heart of LA. It creates stars, and is run by former rocker Dennis Dupree, and assisted by Lonny. When a bright-eyed young optimistic Sherrie Christian, a small-town girl who wants to make it as an actress, arrives in town, she bumps into Drew, a Bourbon Room worker with dreams of headlining rock and roll concerts. The main leads for this specifically just hit the notes every time. They were intense, and had such a connection on stage it was electrifying. To perform that show every week and sometimes four times, being an hour and forty-five minutes, they were impressive.

I had a few favourite characters for this show also as I watched it almost as frequent as Burn the Floor. The whole cast were phenomenal and as I said to perform the hits with such class and pzazz was amazing to witness every week. I enjoyed the fact that this show highlights the ensemble and musicians, more than any other show I’ve seen on stage.

Sam Harvey lead the cast starring as Drew, a young and (very) handsome rocker. Drew desperately wants to be a rocker, but works as a bar back at the famous Bourbon Room club on the Sunset Strip until his dreams, however unrealistic, come true. Sam was perfect for this role and it was so inspiring watching him, his talent of comedic timing and just voice, oh my god it was amazing. Also working close with Courtney, they worked together brilliantly and their duets were to die for.

Courtney Daniels took on the role of Sherrie a young, pretty girl who has left her family to pursue stardom in Los Angeles. She is innocent and naïve with a lot to learn about her craft, and herself. Now with Courtney she blew everyone away every time she sang, her voice is pure bliss. Just belting out those notes was so incredible to watch. As I said their connection onstage was perfect, they really sold the story.

T Scott starred as Lonny and was my favourite star of the show, he honestly just owned the show, considering he narrated it, he made it his own. His comedic timing is genius as well as his ability to own a scene with his presence, and voice.

Starring as mayor Hertz Kleinman - Justin Holcomb, described as being a German business man who is looking to take over Sunset Strip. He is the ‘villain’. Justin’s commanding presence normally would own a scene if he entered and his relationship with Franz (Cody) was hilarious they worked together well. His voice was also nuts, he was a goofy character and made me smile when I watched him.

Franz was taken on by Cody Lancaster, being a young foppish German who is pressured by his father to work for his business. I feel like the audience favoured him as well as T Scott’s character as they own a scene. His number with Regina was the talk of the audience afterwards and was hilarious to watch. He surprised me every time I heard ‘Hit me with your Best Shot’ as his voice was just so amazing hitting those notes.

Although this video isn't this cast, the energy was the same, and these guys are awesome too!

Dennis Dupree portrayed by the amazing Joe Hager, he runs the famous “Bourbon Room” club on the Sunset Strip. He is caught between a rock and a hard place when German business men Franz and Hertz pressure him to sell his club. Joe also had a commanding presence in scenes and his voice was amazing, I loved the relationship and connection between him and Lonny it was so fun to watch them onstage and change it up every week. Amazeballs!

Now Stacee bloody Jaxx lit the stage up every performance. Portrayed by the amazingly phenomenal Cole Cote, Jaxx is a very sexy and fit, at the top of his game rocker, and just left his very successful metal rock band to venture out on his own. Cole’s comedic timing was perfect, his jokes and personality came through on stage every night and it was amazing to watch.

Katie Ann Harvey had the pleasure of portraying Regina. I loved her portrayal as she was very cooky and fun and fitted the role perfectly. She was also very talented and as I said previously her duet with Cody was one of my favourite scenes to this day. They owned it! Also portraying one of the strippers Katie was in almost every scene she did a wonderful job!

Dayna Marie Quincy played Justice who runs the strip club where Sherrie ends up when the going gets rough. She is sultry, maternal and a sexy madam with strong vocals and belt. She was phenomenal and her voice commanded the entire theatre some notes you would just be in awe. She played the role very well and I loved her attitude and sass behind her character, she was awesome.

Zoe Unkovich & Jlenia played cameos of strippers throughout the show and I thought they deserved a mentioned as they also worked amazingly well and as I said the ensemble was amazing. Their effort was top notch every night and sometimes doing two shows a night with little break in the middle was a skill. They were amazing to watch on stage and are insanely talented. The whole ensemble cast no matter how big or small the role was they were all so wonderfully talented…

If you ever get a chance to watch it anywhere, the movie does not do it justice, you need to see the stage version preferably with this cast lol. They were immensely talented and I’m so lucky I got to see them on stage multiple times throughout my time working on Breakaway. 10/10

Also loved the music played by Steve, Gino, Maddox, and Terrance! You guys rock….

It’s still rock \m/

<3