Cast Announced for Rock of Ages Tour

The cast for the “Rock Of Ages” first national, 60 city tour has been announced by the producers and Broadway In Chicago. The smash hit musical, recipient of five Tony Award nominations, will kick off the run September 21, 2010 in Chicago at Bank of America Theater. Currently tickets for the two week exclusive engagement are on sale.

Constantine Maroulis, “American Idol” finalist and Tony Award nominee, will be reprising his acclaimed Drew performance. Maroulis debuted on Broadway in the 2007 Tony Award Award “The Wedding Singer” production. He co-starred in the critically acclaimed Off Broadway production “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.”

Additional principals include MiG Ayesa playing Stacee Jaxx (“Burn The Floor” (Broadway), “We Will Rock You” (International), “Handel’s Messiah Rocks” (PBS), “Rockstar INXS” (CBS TV); Nick Cordero playing Dennis (“Toxic Avenger”- Off Broadway); Rebecca Faulkenberry playing Sherrie (original cast member of “High School Musical 1” and London cast member of “High School Musical 2”); Patrick Lewallen playing Lonny (“Jesus Christ Superstar”- National Tour); Teresa Stanley playing Justice ( “Dreamgirls” and “Purlie”- Broadway); Casey Tuma playing Regina (“Annie- 20th Anniversary”- Broadway/National Tour); Bret Tuomi playing Hertz (“A Christmas Carol”- Regional); and Travis Walker playing Franz (Chess, the Jeff Award winner from Theo Ubique Cabaret).

The cast is rounded out by Angela Brydon (“Wicked”- Broadway); Joey Calveri (“Grease”, “Saturday Night Fever”- tours), Daniel Luis Domenech (“Rent”- National Tour), Lindsay Janisse (“Wicked”- Broadway), Sean Jenness (“Hair 25th Anniversary”- tour); Holly Laurent (“Hairspray” and “The Wedding Singer”- National tours); Lauralynn McClelland (“West Side Story”- Broadway), Rashad Naylor (“Hairspray”- Broadway), Josh Sassanella (“Mamma Mia!”- Las Vegas) and Erika Shannon (“West Side Story”- National Tour).

“Rock Of Ages” currently is heating Broadway up, bringing the music that fired up a generation. The classic decade rock love story erupts into the best party on Broadway to the sounds of sing out loud, feel good songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Here I Go Again,” “I Wanna Know What Love Is,” and “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” The five time Tony Awards nominee, hilarious musical is all about having a good time.

The touring production, as on Broadway, will have Kristin Hanggi (“Pussycat Dolls on the Sunset Strip,” “Bare”), Tony Award Nominee, as its director. Kelly Devine (Associate Choreographer of “Jersey Boys”) is the choreographer. Chris D’Zrienzo (director and writer of the movie Barry Munday) wrote the book. Ethan Popp (“Mama Mia,” “Europe: We Will Rock You,” “Tarzan”) does Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Arrangements. Original arrangements are from David Gibbs (“That Thing You Do” (film), Counting Crows).

Beowulf Boritt (“LoveMusik,” “Spelling Bee”) is the scenic designer), Gregory Gale (“The Wedding Singer” “Cyrano”), Tony Award nominee, is the costume designer, Jason Lyons from “The Threepenny Opera” is the lighting designer. Peter Hylenski, Tony Award Nominee from “Shrek the Musical” is the sound designer. Zachary Borovay from “A Catered Affair” is the projection designer.

Adam Shankman of “Hairspray” will direct the film version for “Rock Of Ages” from New Line Cinema. Warner Bros. is the distributor. The film’s release date is set for 2011.

“Rock Of Ages” individual tickets currently are on sale and cost $18 to $85. Tickets can be purchased at all Box Offices for Broadway In Chicago, by calling 800-775-2000 and from all retail Ticketmaster locations as well as online by visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com. For groups with more than 15 people, the number 312-977-1710 should be called.

Broadway In Chicago’s 2010-2011 Season Series includes “Rock Of Ages.”

Additional “Rock Of Ages” information can be found at www.rockofagesmusical.com.

Cast Bios

Constantine Maroulis (plays Drew) was nominated for a Tony Award and Drama League Award, as well as the 2009 Broadway Star of the Year from Broadway.com for his “Rock of Ages” performance. His credits include “The Wedding Singer” (Broadway); “Rent” playing Roger (National Tour); “Jacques Brel, “Rock Of Ages” (Off Broadway); Williamstown (Regional); “The Soup,” “The View,” “Regis & Kelly,” “Ellen,” “Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “American Idol” along with many FOX “Idol” related shows (Television). Tours have included “Idols Live” as well as “A Night at the Rock Show,” his new solo tour that celebrates the Rock Songbook. His CDs can be found at www.constantinemaroulis.com. Boston Conservatory is where Maroulis received his training.

MiG Ayesa (plays Stacee Jaxx). Credits include “Burn the Floor” (Broadway), “”Buddy,” “Thriller: Live!,” “Rent,” “We Will Rock You” (West End, London); “West Side Story,” “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Music,” “Rent,” “Grease” and “Fame” (Asia/Australia); “Queen Of The Damned” (film); “The Ferals,” “So You think You Can Dance,” “Handel’s Messiah Rocks,” “Rockstar: Inxs” (television). Self-titled CD is available via Decca/Universal.

Nick Cordero (plays Dennis) appeared on Off Broadway last while creating the tile character for “Toxic Avenger Musical,” winner of an Outer Critics Circle Award. Regional credits include “Blood Brothers” (playing Sammy), “The Last Five Years” (playing Jamie) and “Evita” (playing Che). www.themeansmusic.com, www.nickcordero.com.

Rebecca Faulkenberry (plays Sherrie). The native of Bermuda’s theater credits include “Smoke on the Mountain,” “Slow Dance with a Hot Pick Up,” “The Royal Family,” “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “Highschool Musical 1” at the Hammersmith Apollo and “Highschool Musical 2” at the Fox Theatre, “The Shape of Things” at RADA, and “Aunt Dan and Lemon” at the Royal Court. Television and Film credits include “Doctors” on BBC1.

Patrick Lewallen (plays Lonny). KU graduate and native of Kansas City, Patrick enjoys classic rock music (Queen) and home cooking. Patrick has a severe Pepsi addiction and needs IV therapy. He is experienced playing beer pong and is a sports fan- Go Royal, Chiefs and Jayhawks. www.patricklewallen.com.

Teresa Stanley (plays Mother/Justice). Her Broadway credits include “The Color Purple” “Dreamgirls” “Ain’t Misbehaving,” “Into the Woods,” and “Purlie.”

Casey Tuma (plays Regina). Her credits include “Annie- 20th Anniversary (National Tour/Broadway). Regional credits include “High School Musical 2” (North Shore MT and Atlanta TOTS); “Barefoot in the Park (The Kennedy), “The Music Man” ( at the Lenape Regional PAC), and “All Shook Up” (at Media Theatre). Tuma is an alumni of PSU MT.

Bret Tuomi (plays Hertz). Credits include “A Christmas Carol” (playing Fezziwig at Goodman Theatre), “Macbeth” playing MacDuff with Notre Dame’s Shakespeare Festival, and “Leading Ladies” with the Montana Repertory Theatre playing Leo.

Travis Walker (playing Franz) is excited that his first tour is “Rock Of Ages.” A Chicago native, Walker’s recent credits include “Chess,” the Jeff Award winning Theo Ubique Cabaret production and “Sweet and Hot: A Harold Arlen Revue.” He has worked with Hubris Productions and AboutFace Theatre as well.

Angela Brydon (Ensemble, Waitress #1). Her credits include “Wicked” and “Footloose” on Broadway; and “Fame on 42nd Street” on Off Broadway. Regional credits include “Golden Boy,” “Zorba,” “Finian’s Rainbow,” “Nights On Broadway,” and “All Shook Up.” Television credits include “30th Anniversary Celebration of Michael Jackson at Madison Square Garden,” “A Dream Come True,” “One Life to Live,” “The View,” MTV’s Video Music Awards,” “Tony Awards.” Angela has also appeared in various industrials, voice over’s and commercials.

Joey Calveri (Ensemble/Joey Primo). His credits include “Annie” (playing Rooster), “Hair” (playing Berger), “Grease” (playing Kenickie), “West Side Story” (playing Action), “Trip of Love” (playing Peter), “Saturday Night Fever” (playing Tony), and “We Will Rock You Las Vegas” (playing Galileo).

Daniel Luis Domenech (playing Swing). A native of Long Island, Daniel is coming from Los Angeles to join the show. He had been working in Southern California in film choreography and film on projects such as MTV Movie Awards, the Oscars, Fame 2009 Tropic Thunder, Semi Pro and Step Brothers. Additional credits include being an original “Wonderland” cast member (Jack/Knight), original cast of “Sister Act the Musical” (playing Dinero), the National Tour of “Rent” (Angel/Paul), “Altar Boyz” (playing Juan), “Tommy” from the Who (playing Tommy) and played Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Lindsay Janisse (plays Young Groupie). Credits include “Wicked” (Los Angeles and Broadway).

Sean Jenness (Male Booth Singer/Ensemble). Recent theatrical credits for Jenness include “Jerry Springer: The Opera” (Adam/Chucky) for Carnegie Hall’s production; “The Civil War in Washington DC” (played the Southern Captain). His regional credits include “American Duet,” “Hair,” and “Almost Heaven.” National tours include “Hair” playing Woof and “Pinball Lad” playing Tommy. Sean has also fronted wildly diverse and popular Northeast bands which include The Doug Flutie Band.

Holly Laurent (plays Swing). Her credits include “Hairspray” and “The Wedding Singer” national tours.

Lauralynn McClelland (Ensemble/Constance). Her Broadway credits include “Grease” and “West Side Story.”

Rashad Naylor (Ensemble/Mayor). His Broadway credits include “Hairspray” where he played Thad. He played Seaweed as well as the lone Male Dynamite making Broadway history. He also appeared in “The Wiz” (playing Scarecrow), “Rat Pack Live from Vegas” (playing Sammy Davis Jr.) and “Jersey Boys” (playing Barry Belson).

Josh Sassanella (playing Swing). His credits include “Mamma Mia!” in Las Vegas, “Rent” in Forestburgh Theatre,” “High School Musical 2” at Fox Theatre Atlanta, and “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” at Music Theatre Wichita.

Erika Shannon (plays Swing). Her tours include “Fame” (playing Serena), “Saturday Night Fever” (Annette/Swing), and “West Side Story” (playing Swing). Television and film credits include L’Oreal “Ugly Betty,” “30 Rock,” and “It’s Complicated.”