Mingus Union High School’s A Troupe of Ridiculous Thespians theatre group opened Chris D’Arienzo’s 2009 jukebox musical “Rock of Ages,” on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 6:30 p.m. with six performances through Sunday, Feb. 11.
Plot: “It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, Calif., 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, the Bourbon Room, a place where Stacee Jaxx [Xander Johnson] takes the stage and groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality.
“Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star – and resident toilet cleaner – Drew Boley [Jesus Barraza] longs to take the stage as the next big thing – and longs for small-town girl Sherri [Kayta Aronson], fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes.
“But the rock ’n’ 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, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer.”
“Rock of Ages” was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and nomincated for two Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical.
“Rock of Ages” opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on April 7, 2009. It played for 2,328 performances; the 31st longest-running show in Broadway history.
