For a rockin’ good time, you have to see Rock of Ages

Electrifying musical features the music of Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi and many more

Arkansas Public Theatre opens its 31st season in Rogers with Rock of Ages, a time-machine visit to the ‘80s and its exciting, pounding rock music scene. You must see this musical.

It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strip’s last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality.

Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock and roll fairy-tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall.

Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip – and themselves – before it's too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx (Too Much Time On My Handsand Renegade), Journey (Any Way You Want It and Don’t Stop Believin’), Bon Jovi (Wanted Dead or Alive), Whitesnake (Here I Go Again) and more hold the answer.

This electrifying worldwide hit features a raucous mix of 28 eyebrow-scorching rock anthems, including Nothin’ But a Good Time (Poison), We Built This City (Starship), The Final Countdown (Europe), We’re Not Gonna Take It (Twisted Sister),Can’t Fight This Feeling (REO Speedwagon) and I Want To Know What Love Is (Foreigner).

The music of the ‘80s is powerful and throbs throughout this raucous, outrageously fun musical. If you are a classic rock fan (people who grew up listening to these songs hate that it is considered ‘classic rock’) or if you are a Millennial, you will love this musical.

Reviews of the New York production were amazing. The New York Timessaid, “Absurdly enjoyable! About as guilty as pleasures get!” Time Out New York ranted, “Insanely fun! Rock and comedy in perfect proportion!”

In Chicago, the Tribune wrote, “Dazzling vocal pyrotechnics! The audience erupts in an emotional frenzy.”

The Arkansas Public Theatre production hits the stage jammin’ on September 9-11, 15-18 and 22-25 at The Victory in historic downtown Rogers. Both Cabaret style and balcony seats are available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ArkansasPublicTheatre.org, by phone at (479) 631-8988 or in person at 116 South Second Street in Rogers, Ark.

The Gayly – September 1, 2016 @ 11:55 a.m.