ROCK OF AGES announces first London cast member

* Comedian and TV presenter JUSTIN LEE COLLINS to play Dennis Dupree *

TV and radio personality Justin Lee Collins has signed up to star in the West End version of the hit rock musical Rock of Ages. He will take on the role of bar owner and ageing hippy, Dennis Dupree (played in the original LA stage show by Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass).

Justin Lee Collins will be taking to the West End stage when Rock Of Ages begins at the prestigious Shaftesbury Theatre from 31st August 2011. Tickets are on sale now.

Rock Of Ages is the ultimate 80’s rock mix-tape musical, an hilarious story of hedonism, dreams, love and, of course, rock.

A celebration of classic 80's rock culture, Rock of Ages tells the story of a small town girl and a big city rocker falling in love to the greatest songs of the decade.

So popular has it been in New York, Toronto and Melbourne that the show is currently being made into a star-studded movie starring, amongst others, Tom Cruise, Russell Brand and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Alec Baldwin will be playing Dennis Dupree. 

Justin Lee Collins has always had a passion for singing and for the theatre. Famously he performed as Tom Jones in Convention Crasher for Channel 4; and he actually got to perform with the man himself on the Sunday Night Project (Channel 4) when Tom appeared as a guest host in the last series. He has sung live on several occasions on Chris Moyles’ Radio One Breakfast Show.  

He has never shied away from showing his love for the artists whose music he will be singing in the show. He says: “Being a fan of bands like Whitesnake, Foreigner, Journey and Bon Jovi, I couldn’t resist when I heard about the chance to appear in the show. What young lad hasn’t strummed the air guitar to the classic riffs of those poodle-haired rock bands of the 80’s? Now I’ll get to do it on stage every night!”

Collins’ dream of performing in the West End came true in 2009 when he was working on a series for Sky: JLC Is…… He starred in Chicago as Mr. Cellophane for three performances after weeks of intense voice training and rehearsing.

For more information and to book tickets please visit: www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk

LISTINGS INFORMATION

ROCK OF AGES

Book by Chris D’Arienzo
Director: Kristin Hanggi
Choreography: Kelly Devine
Scenic Design: Beowulf Boritt
Costume Design: Gregory Gale
Lighting Design: Jason Lyons
Sound Design: Peter Hylenski
Projection Design: Zachary Borovay
Music Supervisor: Ethan Popp
Cast includes: Justin Lee Collins

From 31 August 2011
Press Night: 27 September 2011
Monday-Thursday at 7.30pm
Friday at 5.30pm and 8.30pm
Saturday at 4pm and 8pm

Shaftesbury Theatre
210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP
Box office 020 7379 5399 / www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk 

EDITORS NOTES

·                     Five times nominated for the prestigious Tony Awards in the US (including ‘Best Musical’), ROCK OF AGES the musical is a celebration of Los Angeles rock culture, with a great story to boot. Set in 1987, a small town girl meets a big city rocker in LA’s most famous rock club and they fall in love to some of the greatest songs of the decade – all classic tracks which will have London rockin’ for more.

·                     The film of the musical, directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray), has started filming, for release in 2012