Just after
Christmas, I finally was got around to seeing the Las Vegas version of “Rock of
Ages” at The Venetian.
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First, the
backstory. I saw the original version
Off-Broadway in New York City in 2009.
It was showing in a multiplex with several different shows. I had seen advertisements while in New York
for the show and though it sounded fun, with its 80’s theme. I purchased tickets Friday afternoon for that
evening’s show. I ended up in the back
row of the balcony, in a 480 seat theater.
I laughed and sang through the whole show. I was able to sing through the songs, because
I knew all the sings. Near the end of
the show, there was one of the “lighter” songs.
A few of us grabbed our cell phones and shined them during the
song. (Afterwards, I got the Zippo App
for my phone).
I was so excited
about the show, that when I returned to my hotel room, I looked up the show on
my phone. The show had started in
California, and after a very successful runs, the show opened in the theater I
had gone to. The show I saw was closing
that weekend. Unlike shows that were
closing and ending, they were closing and moving to a Broadway Theater. I looked up while writing this, and saw the
New York show would be closing completely this month, after running from 2009
to 2015, would become the 27th longest running show on Broadway.
What gave this
show a unique twist, since a big part of the play takes place in the “Bourbon”,
drinks were not only served in the lobby, but “in” the theater as well. The
show has had several traveling tours, including the U.S., Canada and UK
In 2012, the
story went through a rewrite, and was released to the big screen. I did go see the movie just after it came
out, and also bought the DVD. The same
year, the show moved into the Venetian in Las Vegas. When both the Broadway Cast and Movie Soundtrack
were released, I purchased them from iTunes, and they maintain in my
collection. If the Broadway Cast
Soundtrack were an audio cassette, I would have had to replace it at least
once.
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When entering the
Rock of Ages Theater, after checking for tickets, you receive a small item that
looks like a “Bic” Lighter. A small LED
replaces the flame. The seats I had
purchased were in the front row of the second section, behind the first
section. These were great seats to see
the stage. I could tell there had been
editing since the show moved to Broadway, touring and then to Las Vegas. There were also a few scenes that had been
rearranged, but still kept the story line.
How did I feel
this time? I had memorized the show’s
song versions, so I sang and laughed through the whole show. It was still the great, loose story line I
had enjoyed in New York.
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This was
defiantly not a family show. There is
plenty of adult humor. For those of us
who grew up in the 80s, it brought back many memories. Even if you have seen the movie version, if
you enjoy the music of the 80s, then you should see this show.
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