What? The off-Broadway musical Rock of Ages is about religion? No, silly. But this show delivers something close to a rock and roll revival: an ecstatic experience where the audience becomes part of the congregation, swaying, laughing, singing along, and surrendering to the beat.
Directed and choreographed by Kim Schafer, whose productions consistently prove their mettle, Rock of Ages at TexARTS knows exactly what it aspires to be: loud, outrageous, nostalgic, and unapologetically fun. It makes you scrunch your nose, flash a grin, pump up your heartbeat, and whether you planned to move your feet.
Based on the book by Chris D’Arienzo, with arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp and music direction by Lyn Koenning, the musical transports audiences back to the Sunset Strip in 1987, when big hair, bigger egos, and even bigger guitar solos ruled the rock world.
The story follows small-town girl Sherrie Christian, played by Sara Teeter, who arrives in Los Angeles dreaming of fame and fortune. Her first discovery of Hollywood? Arby’s. To Sherrie, it is nothing short of “amazing”, a perfect reminder of the wide-eyed innocence she brings to the city.
She soon meets Drew Boley, played by Shane Scandurra, an aspiring rocker searching for confidence, love, and his big break. Scandurra captures Drew’s insecurity and vulnerability as a young musician trying to find his voice, even as the character navigates the demanding vocal terrain of classic rock anthems.
And those anthems are the real stars of Rock of Ages.
The soundtrack is a glorious time capsule of 1970s and 1980s rock, featuring songs including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Here I Go Again,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “The Final Countdown,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Cum On Feel the Noize,” “Nothin’ But a Good Time,” and “Sister Christian.”
For anyone who grew up during that era, the music is a time machine.
I loved these songs as a teenager. They were the soundtrack of my youth. That was the era when rock stars ruled the world with leather pants, enormous hair, and an attitude that often crossed the line from rebellious into repugnant. Looking back now, it is impossible not to notice how much of that culture celebrated macho posturing, promiscuity, and a casual disrespect toward women.
But that is also part of what makes Rock of Ages so entertaining: it knows exactly how ridiculous that world could be. The show doesn’t just recreate the excesses of 1980s rock; it sends them up.
The humor is full of the same outrageous sexual innuendo that filled the lyrics and mythology of the era. There are endless jokes about anatomy, ego, and rockstar behavior. At one point, a band called Concrete Balls is praised for being “loved,” only for another character to quickly add, “So do crabs.”
Subtle? Absolutely not.
Accurate to the world it is parodying? Completely.
The production’s biggest strength is its energy, and that comes from the entire ensemble and the musicians behind them.
First, let’s toss our proverbial hats in the air for the live band, especially guitarist Anthony Basini, bassist Kurtis Rogers, drummer Cole Koenning, and guitarists Reuben Akins and David Coker. Their job is not easy. They are the engine driving a show where singers are asked to soar through some of rock’s most demanding songs. When a performer occasionally misses a note, the musicians do what great theater musicians do: keep the train rolling, support the moment, and make the audience believe.
At its core, Rock of Ages is not asking audiences to analyze the contradictions of the rock era, it is inviting them to celebrate, laugh at, and remember it. It is a love letter and a roast simultaneously.
TexARTS has created a production that understands the assignment: turn up the volume, embrace the absurdity, and let the audience have a ridiculously good time.
Because sometimes theater is not about searching for enlightenment. Sometimes it’s about grabbing a microphone, turning the speakers up, and shouting along.
Rock of Ages runs through August 9 at TexARTS Theatre & Academy, 1110 Ranch Road 620 South, Lakeway.
Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are available through TexARTS.