Rock of Ages to celebrate '80s rock at Montecasino

As the humorous high-energy storyline unfolds, the audience takes a journey back to a colourful era while singing-a-long to rock anthems that come alive on stage. Rock of Ages is a feel-good stage production where audiences are rocking in their seats at every performance.

The characters and roller-coaster story that turned Rock of Ages into a global phenomenon are brought to life by a dynamic all-South Africa cast, band and production team. The star-studded Rock of Ages cast features this country’s finest talent across the entertainment spectrum including musical theatre, television shows, concerts, movies and recording artists.

Casting call

Vocalist, producer and Wonderboom band frontman Cito is cast as the male lead playing ‘Stacee Jaxx’ with The Voice SA 2017 runner-up Josh Ansleyin the role of ‘Drew’ and singer, actor, director and producer Zak Hendrikz is ‘Lonny’.

Popular actor, writer and award-winning director Neels Clasen is cast as ‘Hertz’ and actor and drama lecturer Matt Counihan plays the role of ‘Franz’. Jessica Driver plays the female lead ‘Sherrie’ and Lois du Plessis fills the role of ‘Justice’ – returning to South Africa after living in the USA for almost 12 years.

Returning from Chicago The Musical world tour sees former West End and SA performer Craig Urbani, Natasha van der Merwe and Raquel Munn in principal roles with fellow Chicago cast members Alex Girard and Stefania du Toit joining Lara Kleynhans and Chantel Stanfield to complete the female ensemble. Thokozani Jiyane, JP Rossouw and Ryan Flynn are the male ensemble.

Rock of Ages combines the production team of executive producer Jaco Van Rensburg; director and choreographer Timothy Le Roux and musical director Wessel Odendaal who leads the five-piece live band.

Bringing the ‘80s to life

“We are delighted to be co-producing this revamped production of Rock of Ages with Jaco van Rensburg and his expert team,” says Gareth Kaschula, Montecasino’s marketing manager. “With South Africa’s finest talent on and off-stage, this production is a feast of comedy, glamour rock, outrageous hairstyles and never-ending guitar solos to bring the 1980s back to life in the most entertaining way.”

Nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Rock of Ages captures the iconic era that was the big bad 1980s Hollywood. The nostalgic rock anthems include the music of Bon Jovi, Journey, Twisted Sister, Styx, Poison, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar and many other great rock bands.

After six years on Broadway, followed by a Las Vegas season and a nation-wide tour of the USA and productions in London, Tokyo, Toronto, Sydney, Mexico City, Panama City, Manila, Malta, Singapore and other territories this smash-hit musical guarantees patrons an evening of “high energy feel-good nostalgia” (Sunday Express) and a show that’s “impossible to resist” (New York Times).

Rock of Ages is a rock ‘n roll romance set on the Sunset Strip in The Bourbon Room, the last epic venue where the legendary Stacee Jaxx returns to the stage and rock-n-roll dreamers line up to turn their fantasies into reality – celebrating a time.

Tickets on sale at Montecasino.co.za and Computicket.