‘Rock of Ages’: Top community musical theatre company presents face melting classic

It’s big hair and bigger vocals as Rock of Ages hits the Pumphouse stage in Front Row Centre Players’ high-octane season opener.

Directed and choreographed by longtime FRC artist Stephen West, this community theatre production is bringing fresh choreography, and a live on-stage band to the 1980s rock musical favourite.

“One thing that FRC does that’s special is we don’t use canned music,” they said. “We’ve got a five-piece live band on stage melting your face with all shred in these beautiful 80s one hit wonders and rock legendary songs.”

You may know the movie, but should expect something different.

“I come at every single production I do completely fresh,” West added. “In every script, there’s these brackets, and these brackets underneath lines are the stage directions that originally happened in the first production. Not my favourite thing to follow, I see them as a suggestion. I don’t see them as law.”

West has 13 shows under their belt at FRC since 2018 in various capacities, from actor to producer. This time he has formed two levels of ensemble (one that sings, one that dances), to support the source material.

West says they are thrilled with the level of talent being brought by the cast, and is just dying to share it.

“I feel like I have purchased the perfect Christmas present for someone. And I’m like, ‘Do you want to know what you got? No, you can’t know.’ Like that’s where I’m at with getting this show on its feet and sending it off to the world to see.”

But behind the glitter and guitar riffs is something more grounded: a deep commitment to community and the family of the community theatre company.

“We built this other world within Front Row Centre that is where I fill my cup to pour it out. Doing this professionally is nearly impossible; if someone wants to discover me, great. But getting to do it for the love and passion of theatre is great, that’s why I’ve stuck around this long,” West said. “That’s why I’m on the board as the associate artistic director of the company currently.”

That passion has paid off — recent FRC productions like La Cage aux Folles and Sweeney Todd cleaned up at the CAT Awards, thanks to the same crew that now powers Rock of Ages. 

This show also reflects a push to bring new faces into the fold, West says 25 per cent of people in the cast have either never worked with FRC or never done community theatre at all.

As for the final sales pitch?

“I couldn’t say anything more, but it’s electric. It’s fun. It’s funny. It has heart. It has meaning,” West said. “And I have poured and everyone has poured a thousand and ten per cent into the show. And I really think that people are going to love it and have just the best time.”

Rock of Ages runs Sept. 12-27 at the Pumphouse Theatre. Tickets are $30.