A jukebox musical that tells a comedic story of love and predatory real estate development, all through classic 1980s rock songs, will take the stage this weekend in "Rock of Ages," Sitka Community Theater’s performance of an enduring Broadway musical.

Anyone who has enjoyed music in recent decades will recognize the songs in this production, said director Sotera Perez. That, she added, is the major draw of the show in the first place.

 

The cast of “Rock of Ages” rehearses the closing scene in the Sitka Community Theater production of the musical Wednesday night in the Performing Arts Center. The show opens Friday. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

 

“We landed on this one in part because these are all karaoke songs, and we knew that... music-wise, having people come in already being familiar with the music was going to be a boon,” Perez said at a rehearsal at the PAC this week.

Three performances are planned; 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Performing Arts Center.

Last year's SCT play was "Frankenstein" by Danielle Mohlman, a grim and sometimes heavy story of family and loss. “Rock of Ages,” Perez said, is an about face from that in favor of a show designed to make an audience laugh.

“One of the things that I went into this season looking for was something that would be a little bit lighter character-wise for our actors, as well as something that the audience felt like they could relate to without having to do homework,” she said.

The show is R-rated for sexual themes and some cursing. Perez was glad shows like Sitka’s Ramshackle Cabaret have set the precedent locally for shows that transgress some boundaries out of family friendly territory.

“We're leaning hard into adult themes… We sat down and talked a lot about what boundaries are we willing to push and which ones are we willing to soften, both for, obviously, the audience, but also for our actors,” the director said.

In the leading role, Abby Saiz will portray Sherrie, a young woman moving to Los Angeles from Kansas, with big dreams for a music career.

“She's just a small town girl from Paola, Kansas, who's moving to the big city to pursue acting," Saiz said of her character. "... She kind of reminds me of me when I was 19, being honest, just a little naive, but also very sweet.”

Even audience members too young to remember the '80s will find the music familiar, she said.

“The music in the comedy is really the big thing. You're definitely going to know at least one of the songs, if not all of them,” Saiz said. “They’re all pretty popular… Sometimes it's like a whole choir, and it just sounds so good.”

While the music is likely to steal the show, she described the core narrative as “a girl meets boy" story.

Though the show hits on some more serious themes, the overall narrative is light.

“It's really hilarious," Saiz said. "It's just, like, lots of awesome songs, hair metal songs and very entertaining. And there's good deep plot lines, but not serious; nothing's taken seriously.

Her co-lead is Adam Lechowicz, who portrays Drew, a wannabe rock star and Sherrie’s love interest.

For Drew, "to be a star is all that matters,“ Lechowicz said. "And something happens in his life – this co-character, Abby's character, Sherrie, comes into his life. Everything sort of changes.”

Like other cast members in the show, he emphasized the music of the soundtrack, which includes classic numbers by Styx, Bon Jovi and Steve Perry.

The show is “all your favorite rock songs put into a kick-ass musical,” he summarized.

Like Saiz, Lechowicz is new to musical theater, though he has performed music at local events like Ramshackle Cabaret. Along with a vocal role, he will play guitar in this weekend's production.

“I haven't done anything like this, but I've been so excited and happy to work with such incredibly talented people across this cast and crew,” he said.

Christian Litten, an established player in Sitka Community Theater, will portray Lonny, the show’s narrator and the acoustic specialist at the bar, Dupree’s Bourbon Room, where the story takes place.

“My character is also the narrator, so I get to interact with the audience, break the fourth wall a little bit, and kind of guide them on this show. I call myself a ‘dramatic conjurer,’” Litten said.

Part of the story revolves not just around Sherrie and Drew’s romance, but around the story of real estate developers trying to gentrify the neighborhood by tearing down the bar and everything around it. But despite that heavy motif of displacement and dispossession, the show remains lighthearted.

“The show focuses really on the campiness of musicals, the hilarious comedy, the physical comedy,” Litten said. “It's never taking itself too seriously, which I think is a trick to any good musical.”

The show premieres at 7 p.m. Friday in the Performing Arts Center, with another 7 p.m. show Saturday, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Tickets are for sale at Old Harbor Books and online at fineartscamp.org for $20, and $15 for students and seniors.