Kevin Kennedy (Chicago, Adelphi Theatre, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, UK tour) will reprise his performance as Dennis Dupree when glam rock jukebox musical Rock of Ages embarks on its 2023 farewell tour.
The former Coronation Street favourite who first played the club owner in the 2018 tour and returned to the role for the 2022 tour, will star alongside a number of returning cast members in the production which will open at Peterborough New Theatre on 1 February.
Sam Turrell returns as Drew Boley after playing the role on tour last year and around the world on the NCL Breakaway cruise ship, with Gabriella Williams (Mamma Mia! Novello Theatre, Eugenius! London Palladium) back as Sherrie Christian, Cameron Sharp (School of Rock, Gillian Lynne Theatre, Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Stacee Jaxx, Natalie Winsor (Fame, Shaftesbury Theatre, Dirty Dancing, UK tour) as Justice Charlier, Vas Constanti as Hertz Klinemann, David Breeds (Dear Evan Hansen, Noel Coward Theatre, The Girls, Leeds Grand/Lowry) as Franz Klinenmann.
Tim Oxbrow (Bat Out of Hell, West End/UK and Canada tour, Mythic, Charing Cross Theatre) will step into the pivotal role of Lonnie with Stephanie Chandos (9 to 5 The Musical, Savoy Theatre/UK tour, Hairspray, Royal Caribbean) as Regina.
The cast is completed by Erin Bell, Adam Strong, Scott Hayward, Darius James, Reece Duncan, Tianna Sealy-Jewiss, Janine Somcio, Rhys West and Phoebe Samuel-Gray.
The band is made up of musical director Liam Holmes on keys, Liam Stevenson (guitar 1), Alex Ward (guitar 2), Elliot Mason (bass guitar) and Steve Hynes (drums).
Presented by Dan Looney, Adam Paulden, Jason Haigh-Ellery and Richard Klin for DLAP Entertainment Group, Sue Gilad and Larry Rogowsky, Rock of Ages will follow its Peterborough performances by visiting Bromley, Aberdeen, Blackpool, Truro, Bradford, Manchester, Barnstaple, Llandudno, Crewe, Hull, Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Swansea.
Directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, the production’s set and costume design is by Morgan Large, with lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Ben Harrison, video and projection design by Duncan McLean and casting by Jim Arnold.
The creative team also includes associate director Victoria Gimby, associate choreographer Ryan-Lee Seager and associate lighting designer Chris Vaughan. Costume supervision is by Lee Tassie and production management is by Phil McCandish.
Celebrating the classic soft rock of the 1980s, the musical features a book by Chris D’Arienzo and orchestrations and arrangements by Ethan Popp. The original Broadway production opened in 2009 and was the 29th longest-running musical in Broadway history when it closed in 2015. The production was nominated for five Tony Awards in 2009 including Best Musical and Best Actor for the original leading man former American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis.
The show made its West End debut in 2011, the year before the release of the film version and three years before the first UK tour. The sold-out second tour launched in Manchester in 2018 and ran until the summer of 2019 with former pop star Anthony Costa and Six’s Jodie Steele also among the touring cast.
Angela Thomas
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