Kevin Clifton as Stacee Jaxx in the UK tour of Rock of Ages. Picture: Richard Davenport
Former Strictly pro turned musical theatre star Kevin Clifton will return to the role of Stacee Jax for selected performances when glam rock jukebox musical Rock of Ages returns to theatres across the UK this summer.
The award-winning International Ballroom and Latin dancer who starred in The Wedding Singer and is due to take the lead in Craig Revel Horwood’s Strictly Ballroom in September next year, is one of a number of returning actors from the show’s successful 2018/2019 tour.
The returning cast is headed by Luke Walsh (Boybands Forever, Germany tour) who will return as Drew with Rhiannon Chesterman (Clifton’s co-star in The Wedding Singer, Troubadour Theatre) taking on the role of Sherrie after playing Regina on the last tour. Other cast members from the 2018/2019 tour reprising their performances this summer include: Erin Bell (The Wedding Singer UK tour) as Constance; Andrew Carthy (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Franz; and Vas Constanti (In The Heights, King’s Cross Theatre) as Hertz.
They will be joined by Joe Gash who will make his theatre debut in the pivotal role of Lonny, along with Ross Dawes (Saturday Night Fever, London Palladium) as Dennis Dupree, Gabriella Williams (Mamma Mia! Novello Theatre) as Regina and Jenny Fitzpatrick (TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre) as Justice.
The ensemble will include returning cast members Adam Strong and Joshua Dever along with Scott Hayward, Sam Turrell, Phoebe Samuel-Gray, Siobhan James, Morgan Scott and Janine Somcio.
Presented by Dan Looney, Adam Paulden, Jason Haigh-Ellery and Richard Klin for DLAP Entertainment Group, Sue Gilad and Larry Rogowsky, the 2021/2022 tour is due to open at The Alexandra in Birmingham on 19 August 2021.
Commenting on the casting news, the producers said: “We are delighted Kevin will be back as Stacee Jaxx, he has wowed us and audiences with his superb singing voice and we can’t wait for him to be part of our exciting show once again.
“We are also thrilled to welcome back many returning cast members from the last tour and a new rising star Joe Gash who will be playing the iconic role of Lonny. We can’t wait to be back and to give audiences (and fans) the best party night out of the summer.”
The production is directed and choreographed by Nick Winston with set and costume design by Morgan Large, 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.
The tour crew is made up of company stage manager Paul Deavin, deputy stage manager Sophie Mason, assistant stage manager/book cover Mali-Beth Rose, technical stage manager Toby Lee-White, chief LX Toby Cartmell, LX2/tech swing Pete Fry, sound 1 Christopher James, sound 2 Robert Matthews, head of wardrobe Samantha Griggs and wardrobe assistant Stefan Stuart.
Celebrating the classic soft rock of the 1980s, the musical which 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 favourite Constantine Maroulis.
The show made its West End debut in 2011, the year before the release of the film version starring Tom Cruise, 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, ex Coronation Street favourite Kevin Kennedy and Six’s Jodie Steele also among the touring cast.
Angela Thomas
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