By Nick Childs
reporter@highlandsnews.com
Opening night of “Rock of Ages” brought a full house to Highlands Performing Arts Center. It also brought the sparkly, sexy, denim-and-leather-clad volume of both the music and hair of the 80s. Yes, audiences will also find the neon leotards of an 80s aerobics video.
“Rock of Ages” is a Tony Award-nominated musical about love and rock. Drugs, sex, and rock and roll unfold on the glam-rock scene of Sunset Strip, a city quite literally built on rock and roll.
Aspiring rock star Drew, played by Scott Silagy, falls for Kansas-born Sherrie, played by Morgan Milone, who moves to LA to pursue acting. The two dance a will-they-won’t-they until the end of the show. Their lives don’t turn out exactly as planned, but they find that sometimes you get what you need. Every rose may have its thorns but the two learn to appreciate the beauty regardless.
Throughout this love story lurks the threat of rock dying on the strip. Sunset Strip is at risk of being bought out and demolished by a German investor, played by Robert Tully, who puts profit over heart and soul. The famous bar, The Bourbon Room, bands together to keep the strip alive.
“Rock of Ages” featured a live band to back the power and love ballads as well as a cast of 15 ready to deliver well-timed innuendos. There were also frequent fourth-wall breaks to distance the audience. The show is divided into two acts with a 15-minute intermission.
Some of the content or jokes walked a PG-13 line, which may need to be considered, for instance if a viewer or child in the audience may find such content inappropriate. Per Mountain Theatre’s website, children under five are not allowed in.
The show also used fog and flashing lights. Audience members with conditions or sensitivities impacted by these may need to use caution.
The show came together with the help of the creative team including Scott Daniel, director and hair and make up designer, Erin Leigh Knowles, choreographer, Matthew Stern, music director, Tom Hansen, set designer, Beck Jones, costume designer, Hannah Wien, lighting designer, and Frederick Philip, sound designer.
“It takes many, many people to create a production on this scale. Rock of Ages includes a cast of 15 actors, 5 people in the band, crew of 6 people working the show backstage, and 9 people on the design/creative team to bring this show to life. And that doesn’t include our administration staff,” said Lindsay Garner Hostetler, marketing and outreach director.
Hostetler said “Rock of Ages” was selected for the 85th season last fall. Rehearsals began July 11 with preparations about eight months before.
“Mountain Theatre Company casts all of our productions. MTC goes on an audition tour every spring to cast for our upcoming season of shows. In 2023, we held auditions in New York City, Lexington, KY, and accepted online video audition submissions from actors across the country,” said Hostetler.
Mountain Theatre Company has relocated into the Highlands PAC for the time. Mountain Theatre is in its 85th season of entertainment, making it one of the oldest non-profits on the Highlands-Cashiers plateau.
Scott Daniel, director of Mountain Theatre company, said performing the arts takes time and money. “Rock of Ages” cost around a quarter of a million to produce. He encouraged supporting the arts, which can be done online at mountaintheatre.com.
“Rock of Ages” will be on stage until Aug. 19. After that, “Rocky Horror” will take the stage through October. Speaker name said it’ll be shown in a way nobody has seen before.
He said Rocky Horror will be “kooky, whacky, sci-fi fun.”
Tickets, additional information and shows can also be found at the mountaintheatre.com. Calls can also be made to the box office at 828-526-2695. Tickets for “Rock of Ages” range from $58 to $70.