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FULL 'ROCK OF AGES' SYNOPSIS
ACT ONE
It’s the late 80’s and the era of big-hair glam-rock metal bands, Lycra, lace and leather. LONNY BARNETT is the effervescent, mischievous narrator of Rock of Ages and friend of DENNIS DUPREE the former stoner rocker who runs ‘The Bourbon Room’, a legendary club on the famous ‘Sunset Strip’ of Los Angeles. Lonny introduces us to DREW BOLEY (stage name ‘Wolfgang Von Colt’), an aspiring rock songwriter-singer, who works in the bathrooms of The Bourbon Room while hoping and waiting for his rock-star dreams to come true. Drew is instantly attracted to SHERRIE CHRISTIAN, the fresh-faced new arrival from the midwestern Kansas township of Paola, who has just stepped off the bus to pursue her own dreams of acting stardom. Sherrie’s conservative FATHER and MOTHER had objected to her move to LA and virtually disowned her, but Drew convinces Dennis to hire Sherrie as a waitress, and her new friend WAITRESS #1 consoles her.
Meanwhile the intimidating German businessman HERTZ KLINEMANN and his foppish son FRANZ entice West Hollywood’s MAYOR to hand-over the entire Sunset Strip for redevelopment, claiming that the decadent rock-and-roll element is destroying his city. This provokes the ire of the Mayor’s hippie city planner REGINA KOONTZ who tries to remind the Mayor of the history and institution of the Sunset Strip, its importance to local businesses, and the unknown plans of these foreign strangers - but the Mayor fires her for it.
When Dennis receives a letter from the Mayor stating The Bourbon Room doesn’t generate enough tax revenue, he’s torn about whether he should sell up. Then noticing a newspaper article about the impending breakup of monster metal-rock band Arsenal and the intention of the band’s charismatic, bad-boy lead singer STACEE JAXX to go solo, Dennis invites Stacee to do the band’s last tour show in the same venue that started them off, in an attempt to bump up The Bourbon Room’s revenue.
After Sherrie encourages Drew to boldly go after his rock-singing dreams, he shyly asks her out. Regina rallies the masses to protest against the redevelopment, while Hertz hounds Dennis to sell his club. When Arsenal’s opening act Concrete Ballz drop out, Drew auditions from his heart. As the lyrics that he’d always been searching for are finally inspired by his feelings for Sherrie, Drew gets his big break; but then he blows his first picnic date with Sherrie on the peak of picturesque Mulholland Overlook (complete with wine coolers) when he tries to play nice by easing into their relationship as just “friends”.
Stacee Jaxx arrives at The Bourbon Room and gives a melodramatic interview for journalist CONSTANCE SACK about his wild tragic life. Sherrie admits to Waitress #1, that she’s smitten by Stacee. But it is clear that Stacee’s band loathe him. Believing that Drew has no feelings for her, Sherrie becomes Stacee’s next easily-seduced target. Drew hopelessly watches them leave together before he goes on stage. Immediately after Stacee’s liaison with Sherrie, Stacee demands that Dennis fire her and, once she realizes she’s been duped, Sherrie flees The Bourbon. During his opening performance Drew has been spotted by JA'KEITH GILL, an agent of Two Star Entertainment, who lures Drew from The Bourbon Room with the promise of fame, and Drew ignores Sherrie when she tries to make amends before she leaves. Sherrie aimlessly walks the streets and stumbles into JUSTICE CHARLIER (“Mama”), the proprietor of the Venus strip (aka “gentleman’s”) club, who quickly recognises her familiar story of broken dreams, and persuades Sherrie to survive by becoming one of her exotic dancers.
ACT TWO
The demolition of Sunset Strip is underway, while cops and protestors clash. Franz is shaken by the carnage, torn by Regina’s insistence that he follow his flamboyant dreams and stand up to his father, and they start to grow fond of each other. Drew’s rock persona ‘Wolfgang Von Holt’ is rejected repeatedly by record companies, so Ja’Keith coaxes Drew to lead the hip-hop boy band Street Boyz in a new uncomfortable incarnation as ‘Joshy J’. Sherrie attracts the unwanted attentions of the Venus club’s visitors. Sherrie and Drew bump into each other on the street, reveal their new paths, realize their misunderstandings and start to admit their true feelings, but still part troubled by these revelations.
Stacee visits the Venus club, and is given a reluctant angry lap dance by Sherrie. Arsenal’s now twice-as-popular music plays in the club, successfully headed by new young lead singer JOEY PRIMO. Drew enters the Venus club to excitedly reclaim Sherrie’s love, but witnesses her lap dance and retreats. Sherrie knocks Stacee out cold and pursues Drew. Dennis and Lonny, upset by the task of packing up and saying goodbye to The Bourbon Room, admit that they have feelings for each other. With Regina’s prompting, Hertz struggles to understand his son, and examines his own purpose. Justice reflects on her own past love and tries to pass on her wisdom to Sherrie.
All the characters are in turmoil. Can Drew, Sherrie, and the gang, save Sunset Strip, save themselves, and learn to follow their dreams before it's too late? Only the music of hit 80’s bands Styx, Journey, Survivor, and more, hold the answer!
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