Rock of Ages farewells Melbourne

 

The hit musical Rock Of Ages packed up its lycra and spandex and closed in Melbourne this evening after a 7 month season at the Comedy Theatre.

The hit musical Rock Of Ages has closed in Melbourne this evening after a 7 month season at the Comedy Theatre and will transfer to Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre, QPAC for a limited season from Saturday, November 12 – December 18, 2011

Originally scheduled to play a Sydney season from January 14, 2012, the show will now end it’s Australian run in Brisbane due to the current economic climate’s effect on ticket sales, with hopes to remount the production in Sydney at some time in the future.

Sydney’s ability to sustain three major musicals at once has come into question recently, and if the Sydney season was to have continued as planned, it would have opened in direct competition with Love Never Dies and Annie as well as the Sydney International Arts Festival.

In a recent statement, Producer Rodney Rigby of Newtheatricals (on behalf of the producing group) made it clear that the decision to postpone the Sydney season was financially driven:

“It has been decided due to the current economic environment, Rock of Ages will reschedule its Sydney season at a later time”, he said. 

Set in 1987 on L.A.’s Sunset Strip, Rock of Ages is a feel-good love story told through hit songs of the 80s including ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’, ‘High Enough’, ‘The Final Countdown’, ‘We Built This City’ and ‘More Than Words’.

Led by Amy Lehpamer, Justin Burford and Michael Falzon, the cast of Rock Of Ages includes Francine Cain, Emma Clark, Brendan Coustley, Rachel Dunham, Alexander Ellis, Samantha Hagen, Lincoln Hall, Anthony Harkin, Melanie Hawkins, Brent Hill, Shaye Hopkins, John O’Hara, Jensen Overend, Thern Reynolds, Ellen Sutton, and David Whitney.