ROCK OF AGES announces full London cast
June 16, 2011
** ROCK OF AGES – The Musical announces full London cast **
** Shayne Ward and Justin Lee Collins joined by West End stars **
** Cast members to perform at West End Live this weekend *
ROCK OF AGES THE MUSICAL, the smash hit musical comedy is proud to announce the full cast line up, as Justin Lee Collins and Shayne Ward are joined by West End stars Amy Pemberton, Oliver Tompsett, Simon Lipkin and more.
The roles of the small-town girl and boy Sherrie and Drew, who meet, fall in love, lose each other then struggle to fight for their love, will be taken by West End stars Amy Pemberton (Footloose, Jersey Boys) and Oliver Tompsett (Fiyero in Wicked). They will join a talented ensemble cast (listed below) when the show opens at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre. Previews start on 31st August.
Oliver Tompsett said: “Growing up listening to 80′s Power Ballads on VH1, I used to dream about combining 80′s rock songs with musical comedy, but someone beat me to it. Rock of Ages – the Musical is way better than what I dreamt of, and you know what they say – ‘If you can’t beat them, join them!’”
Joining Oliver and Amy to belt out some of the greatest hits of the 80′s (including Wanted Dead Or Alive, Don’t Stop Believin’, Here I Go Again and I Want to Know What Love Is) will be Simon Lipkin. Best known for playing Nicky / Trekkie Monster in the Original London Cast of Avenue Q, Simon will be taking on the role of the wise-cracking narrator Lonny.
Also, members of the cast will be previewing the show at London’s West End Live event in Trafalgar Square this coming weekend, 18th and 19th June. The performances will be on Saturday – 2.55pm & 3.55pm and again on Sunday – 1.35pm & 3.35pm.
Amy Pemberton’s West End credits include Footloose and Jersey Boys. Other theatre credits include In Touch (Trafalgar Studios) and Sunburnt (New Theatre Hampstead).
Oliver Tompsett is best known for playing the role of Fiyero in the West End production of Wicked. His other West End credits include Mamma Mia, Our House and Over My Shoulder. Other theatre credits include The Royal Hunt of the Sun
(NT) and Kismet (Arcola).
Leading cast:
Dennis Dupree – Justin Lee Collins Stacee Jaxx/Father – Shayne Ward
Drew – Oliver Tompsett Sherrie – Amy Pemberton
Lonny – Simon Lipkin Hertz – Rohan Tickell
Justice/Mother – Rachel McFarlane Regina/Candi – Jodie Jacobs
Franz – Sandy Moffat
(remaining cast are alphabetical)
Mayor/Ja’Keith Gill – Nathan Amzi Ensemble – Natalie Andreou
Ensemble – Grant Anthony Ensemble – Carly Mercedes Dyer
Ensemble – Cordelia Farnworth Ensemble – Ian McIntosh
Waitress #1 – Twinnie-Lee Moore Ensemble – Jamie Muscato
Ensemble – Andrew Spillett Reporter – Zizi Strallen
Young Groupie – Amy Thornton Joey Primo/Sleazy Producer – Dylan
Turner
Release issued by: The Corner Shop PR
LINKS
Book tickets to Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London
West End Live 2011 timetable of performances announced
June 14, 2011
The timetable has been published for West End Live, the free annual theatre event that returns to London this weekend, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2011.
This year the event will be held in Trafalgar Square whilst renovations continue in its traditional home of Leicester Square and promises to be a spectacular celebration of West End shows.
West End musicals taking part in the weekend include Rock of Ages, Betty Blue Eyes, Ghost The Musical, The Wizard Of Oz, Million Dollar Quartet, Shrek The Musical, Lend Me A Tenor and the Open Air Theatre’s new production of Crazy For You. Also new this year will be performances from the madcap The Flying Karamazov Brothers, CBBC’s Dan and Jeff in Potted Potter and ZooNation’s Some Like It Hip Hop.
They will be joined by long-running shows including Stomp, War Horse, Legally Blonde The Musical, Love Never Dies, Mamma Mia!, The Lion King, Billy Elliot The Musical, Jersey Boys, Thriller Live, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, Chicago, Wicked and We Will Rock You.
Stars will be out in force for the event, with performances promised by some of the West End’s top talent, including Over The Rainbow winner Danielle Hope (The Wizard of Oz), Lee Mead (Legally Blonde) and Sarah Lancashire (Betty Blue Eyes).
There will also be performances from Free Run, the West End Gospel Choir, The Gleeks and the London Gay Men’s Chorus and exhibits from the Science Museum, London Film Museum and National Gallery.
This year’s event will run from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 18 June and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday 19 June.
WEST END LIVE 2011 TIMETABLE
SATURDAY 18 JUNE 2011 |
|
| 11.00 | Million Dollar Quartet |
| 11.20 | Free Run |
| 11.35 | Wicked |
| 11.43 | Love Never Dies |
| 11.50 | Billy Elliot |
| 11.55 | War Horse |
| 12.00 | Lend Me a Tenor |
| 12.15 | Legally Blonde |
| 12.30 | Betty Blue Eyes |
| 12.45 | Chicago |
| 13.00 | We Will Rock You |
| 13.20 | Jersey Boys |
| 13.45 | Mamma Mia |
| 14.00 | Thriller Live |
| 14.25 | Flying Karamazov Brothers |
| 14.40 | Ghost The Musical |
| 14.55 | Rock of Ages |
| 15.10 | Crazy For You |
| 15.25 | West End Kids |
| 15.40 | Bob The Builder |
| 15.55 | Rock of Ages |
| 16.10 | Mark Jermin Stage School |
| 16.20 | West End Gospel Choir |
| 16.35 | London Gay Men’s Chorus |
| 16.55 | Dan and Laura Curtis |
| 17.10 | Helena Blackman |
| 17.20 | Some Like It Hip Hop |
| 17.35 | Priscilla Queen of The Desert |
| 17.50 | Stomp |
| 18.00 | SHOW CLOSES |
SUNDAY 19 JUNE 2011 |
|
| 12.00 | Stomp |
| 12.15 | All Join In And Other Stories |
| 12.30 | The Wizard of Oz |
| 12.40 | Thriller Live |
| 13.05 | Disney’s The Lion King |
| 13.20 | Shrek The Musical |
| 13.35 | Rock of Ages |
| 13.50 | West End Gospel Choir |
| 14.10 | Mamma Mia! |
| 14.25 | Potted Potter |
| 14.40 | The Gleeks |
| 14.55 | Bob the Builder |
| 15.10 | Jersey Boys |
| 15.35 | Rock of Ages |
| 15.50 | Helena Blackman |
| 16.00 | Julie Atherton |
| 16.15 | EverYoung |
| 16.30 | Sylvia Young Theatre School |
| 16.50 | National Youth Music Theatre |
| 17.15 | Congo Faith Healers |
| 18.00 | EVENT CLOSES |
LINKS
The X Factor’s SHAYNE WARD joins West End cast of ROCK OF AGES The Musical
June 9, 2011
ROCK OF AGES The Musical announces further London casting: The X Factor winner Shayne Ward to take the role of rock bad boy Stacee Jaxx
ROCK OF AGES The Musical is proud to announce the casting of X Factor winner Shayne Ward in the role of disillusioned rock bad boy Stacee Jaxx.
Shayne Ward will be taking to the West End stage when ROCK OF AGES The Musical previews at the Shaftesbury Theatre from 31st August 2011. Tickets are on sale now.
Shayne Ward is one of the UK’s premiere vocal talents, having sold over 3 million records worldwide since winning the X Factor in 2005. ROCK OF AGES The Musical marks his West End debut. He said: “I cannot wait to take to the stage for Rock of Agesl it’s an absolute thrill to have been chosen for this part and can’t wait to show a new side to my voice.”
Ward released his third album Obsession last Autumn, followed by a nationwide UK and Ireland tour.
ROCK OF AGES The Musical is the ultimate 80′s rock mix-tape musical, an hilarious story of hedonism, dreams, love and, of course, rock.
A celebration of classic 80′s rock culture, ROCK OF AGES The Musical tells the story of a small town girl and a big city rocker falling in love to the greatest songs of the decade.
So popular has it been in New York, Toronto and Melbourne that the show is currently being made into a star-studded movie starring, amongst others, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Tom Cruise will be playing Shayne Ward’s role of Stacee Jaxx.
Release issued by: The Corner Shop PR
LINKS
Book tickets to Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London
Justin Lee Collins to join Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre
June 1, 2011
TV and radio star Justin Lee Collins is to play Dennis Dupree in new West End musical Rock of Ages.
Justin Lee Collins to join the cast of Rock of Ages
The smash-hit Broadway musical Rock of Ages, which is set to rock London this autumn as it transfers to the Shaftesbury Theatre, has announced its first casting.
The high-profile new show will see TV and radio personality Justin Lee Collins play bar owner and ageing hippy, Dennis Dupree, a role originally played in the LA stage show by Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass.
Rock of Ages, which runs from 31 August 2011 at the Shaftesbury, celebrates (glam)rock music of the 80’s, featuring hit songs by Bon Jovi, Journey, Whitesnake, Poison, Pat Benatar and many more.
Lee Collins, who started as a stand-up comedian, has gone on to forge a strong TV and radio career including The Friday Night Project and The Justin Lee Collins Show. Rock of Ages won’t be his West End stage debut as he played Mr. Cellophane in Chicago for three nights in 2009 as part of Sky show JLC Is….
Rock of Ages is set in 1987 on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, when a small town girl meets a big city rocker in LA’s most famous rock club and they fall in love, set against the greatest songs of the 80s. This arena-rock love story is told through a succession of rock hits including I Wanna Rock, We’re Not Gonna Take It, Come on Feel the Noize, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Don’t Stop Believin’, Dead or Alive, We Built This City, I Wanna Know What Love Is and The Final Countdown.
The musical features a book by Chris D’Arienzo, and a Hollywood movie version is currently in production starring Tom Cruise, Russell Brand and Paul Giamatti.
Rock of Ages is set to perform at this year’s West End Live in Trafalgar Square over the weekend of 18 and 19 June 2011, with some of the Broadway cast being flown over for the event.
LINKS
Book tickets to Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London
Rock of Ages announces first London cast member
June 1, 2011
Comedian and TV presenter JUSTIN LEE COLLINS to play Dennis Dupree
TV and radio personality Justin Lee Collins has signed up to star in the West End version of the hit rock musical Rock of Ages. He will take on the role of bar owner and ageing hippy, Dennis Dupree (played in the original LA stage show by Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass).
Justin Lee Collins will be taking to the West End stage when Rock Of Ages begins at the prestigious Shaftesbury Theatre from 31st August 2011. Tickets are on sale now.
Rock Of Ages is the ultimate 80’s rock mix-tape musical, an hilarious story of hedonism, dreams, love and, of course, rock.
A celebration of classic 80′s rock culture, Rock of Ages tells the story of a small town girl and a big city rocker falling in love to the greatest songs of the decade.
So popular has it been in New York, Toronto and Melbourne that the show is currently being made into a star-studded movie starring, amongst others, Tom Cruise, Russell Brand and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Alec Baldwin will be playing Dennis Dupree.
Justin Lee Collins has always had a passion for singing and for the theatre. Famously he performed as Tom Jones in Convention Crasher for Channel 4; and he actually got to perform with the man himself on the Sunday Night Project (Channel 4) when Tom appeared as a guest host in the last series. He has sung live on several occasions on Chris Moyles’ Radio One Breakfast Show.
He has never shied away from showing his love for the artists whose music he will be singing in the show. He says: “Being a fan of bands like Whitesnake, Foreigner, Journey and Bon Jovi, I couldn’t resist when I heard about the chance to appear in the show. What young lad hasn’t strummed the air guitar to the classic riffs of those poodle-haired rock bands of the 80’s? Now I’ll get to do it on stage every night!”
Collins’ dream of performing in the West End came true in 2009 when he was working on a series for Sky: JLC Is…… He starred in Chicago as Mr. Cellophane for three performances after weeks of intense voice training and rehearsing.
Release issued by: The Corner Shop PR
LINKS
Book tickets to Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London
Free event West End Live back for 2011 featuring Betty Blue Eyes, Shrek, Rock of Ages and more
May 19, 2011
West End Live, the free annual theatre event, will return to London this summer on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2011, promising a spectacular celebration of West End shows.
In a break with tradition, the seventh annual event will be held in Trafalgar Square whilst the renovations continue in its traditional home of Leicester Square.
A host of major London shows have signed up to take part in the live showcase, including new musicals Rock of Ages, Betty Blue Eyes, Ghost The Musical, The Wizard Of Oz, Million Dollar Quartet, Shrek The Musical, Lend Me A Tenor and the Open Air Theatre’s new production of Crazy For You. Also new this year will be performances from the madcap The Flying Karamazov Brothers, CBBC’s Dan and Jeff in Potted Potter and ZooNation’s Some Like It Hip Hop.
They will be joined by long-running shows including Stomp, War Horse, Legally Blonde The Musical, Love Never Dies, Mamma Mia!, Billy Elliot The Musical, Jersey Boys, Thriller Live, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, Chicago, Wicked and We Will Rock You.
West End Live 2010
Rock of Ages, which does not open until September at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, is flying some of the stars of its Broadway cast over to London especially for the event. Rock of Ages is currently being made into a big-budget Hollywood movie starring Tom Cruise.
Stars will be out in force for the event, with performances promised by some of the West End’s top talent, including Over The Rainbow winner Danielle Hope (The Wizard of Oz), Lee Mead (Legally Blonde) and Sarah Lancashire (Betty Blue Eyes).
There will also be performances this year from Free Run, the West End Gospel Choir and the London Gay Men’s Chorus and exhibits from the Science Museum, London Film Museum and National Gallery.
This year’s event will run from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 18 June and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday 19 June.
LINKS
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos from past West End Live events. Photos by Roy Tan.
Rock of Ages to hit London
March 7, 2011
The smash-hit Broadway musical Rock of Ages is set to rock London this autumn as it transfers to the Shaftesbury Theatre from 31 August 2011.
Rock of Ages celebrates (glam)rock music of the 80’s featuring hit songs by Bon Jovi, Journey, Whitesnake, Poison, Pat Benatar and many more.
The show is set in 1987 on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, when a small town girl meets a big city rocker in LA’s most famous rock club and they fall in love, set against the greatest songs of the 80s. This arena-rock love story is told through a succession of rock hits including I Wanna Rock, We’re Not Gonna Take It, Come on Feel the Noize, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Don’t Stop Believin’, Dead or Alive, We Built This City, I Wanna Know What Love Is and The Final Countdown.
The musical features a book by Chris D’Arienzo, and a Hollywood movie version is currently in pre-production starring Tom Cruise.
Book tickets to Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre
March 4, 2011
ROCK OF AGES CLOSES AT THE SHAFTESBURY THEATRE ON 6 JANUARY 2013 AND RE-OPENS AT THE GARRICK THEATRE ON 18 JANUARY 2013. The smash-hit Broadway musical Rock of Ages is rocking London at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
