Folks, “I Can’t Fight This Feelin’” because “The Search is Over” for all you Rockers out there who spent your adolescence ensconced in the music of your youth. Yes, Circa 21 Dinner Theatre’s current production is Rock of Ages the high-energy jukebox musical built around the classic rock hits from the 1980s. Set in 1987 on Los Angeles's infamous Sunset Strip, the story follows Drew, an aspiring rocker, and Sherrie, a small-town girl who arrives in Hollywood chasing her dreams. They fall in love at a legendary rock club called the Bourbon Room. Greedy German developers arrive with plans to demolish the venue and turn the street into a strip mall. The show features iconic anthems from bands like Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Poison, and Twisted Sister. It ran on Broadway from April 2009 to January 2015 for over 2300 performances and garnered five Tony nominations including for Best Musical and was made into a film in 2012.
This show, which has an audacious narrator who frequently and hilariously breaks the fourth wall, has a bit of a trite plot specifically contrived to weave in those hit songs from the ‘80s, and Director Ashley Becher milks every ounce of hilarity out of the comedy. And, like all good love stories, it ends happily ever after.
Making their Circa 21 debuts in the roles of Sherrie and Drew, are Avery Gallagher and Tate Milton. Both have impressive résumés and both have absolutely incredible vocal talent. I hope Circa will keep them on their call list for future casting. I don’t know if this was intentional or coincidental but I got a chuckle that Sherrie was supposedly from Kansas. Coming on the heels of Circa’s The Wizard of Oz…well, she wasn’t in Kansas anymore.
The secondary love interest between rabble rouser Regina Kootz and Franz the son of the ruthless German developer, are played by Hanna Marie Felver and Owen Spinoza. Their scenes are the height of hilarity especially when Franz breaks free from his uber-controlling father in order to follow his dreams.
Circa’s famous Bootleggers delivered an impressive pre-show that, rather than supporting the current show, delivered a peek into Circa’s 2027 season which will be a celebration of its 50th anniversary of bringing professional theatre to the Quad Cities. A medley of songs from A Christmas Carol, Million Dollar Quarter, Oklahoma!, Mama Mia, Annie, and Pretty Woman whet our whistles for what’s to come.
Full disclosure: The music of the 1980s isn’t my cup of tea. My teenage years were during the ‘60s and the hard rock era passed me by. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed this highly entertaining, turbo-charged production that earned a well-deserved standing ovation from a highly enthusiastic opening night audience. So, “Don’t Stop Believin’” because you can “Have It Any Way You Want It.”
Thinking about bringing the kiddos? Just note there is very mild profanity (nothing they probably haven’t heard before) and some skimpy costuming and provocative choreography so you might want to think twice before introducing them to your adolescent past.
Rock of Ages continues at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 – 3rd Avenue in Rock Island through November 7th with matinee performances on Wednesdays, evening performances Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and early Dinner performances on Sundays.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg and rock on!