Nick Benson and Shireen Banigan are known entities among Bloomington-Normal’s theater scene. Benson recently played Lazar Wolf in Community Players’ Fiddler on the Roof, for which he’s also served on the board of governors. He’s no stranger to dramas, either.
But ‘80s hair bands?
“I’m getting a callback from Wedding Singer,” he said in an interview for WGLT’s Sound Ideas. “If it keeps bringing back this same feathered mullet wig I get to wear, then I’ll keep doing these shows.”
Banigan can often be seen around town playing and singing jazz standards. She wasn’t born when most of the playlist from Rock of Ages came out—songs by Bon Jovi, Styx, Pat Benatar and Twisted Sister, among others.
The 2005 jukebox musical is on stage March 7-23 at Community Players Theatre in Bloomington.
The show follows a “small town girl, living in a lonely world.” That’s Sherrie Christian, played by Banigan, who takes the plunge and moves from Kansas to Hollywood. There, she meets aspiring rocker Drew Boley (Andrew Crisp), a “city boy born and raised in South Detroit.”
“They’re both there to chase their dreams and end up working at the legendary rock’n’roll bar in town, the Bourbon Room, which is under attack by developers,” said Benson, who plays the bar’s sound guy, Lonny Barnett, a “dramatic conjuror” who guides audiences on Sherrie and Drew’s, ahem, Journey.
“This show is very self-aware,” said Benson. “It’s not that serious. It’s meant to be fun.”
As a rare guilty pleasure, Community Players added a live band to the show and a larger-than-usual ensemble, beefing up the vocals for these iconic—and very difficult—songs. Husband and wife director-choreographer team Brett and Wendy Cottone stitch the show together, with music director Leah Megli handing vocals and the band. Benson said Megli has stressed safety and stamina from day one. But the whole cast is itching to get these songs in front of an audience.
“Part of the challenge so far has been rehearsing to midi tracks,” Banigan said. “A midi rock band is not the same as a real rock band. We’re all so excited to have the band. We’ll really be able to rock out.”
Rocking out is Rock of Ages’ main objective, whether audience members grew up with these songs, lived through their heyday or first heard them on Glee. A note for those hoping to introduce their kids to Styx: You should, but not here. This show is full of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll, best suited for mature audiences.
On the heels of Community Players’ last production, a deeply layered dark comedy commenting on midcentury American psychiatry, Rock of Ages is certainly a vibe shift.
“Everybody’s got their dreams,” Banigan said of the show’s overall message. “You may not achieve what you originally set out to do, but it doesn’t mean the end result isn’t just as good or better.”
In other words, Don’t Stop Believin’.
“It’s not spoiling anything—it’s a lovely little jukebox musical,” Benson said. “It’s gonna have its happy ending the way it wants to be. We just want people to come and have a good time.”
Rock of Ages runs March 7-23 at Community Players Theatre, 201 Robinhood Ln., Bloomington. There's a pay-what-you-may preview at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6. Tickets are $10-$20 at 309-663-2121 and communityplayers.org.
