When it comes to Summerland Secondary School’s plays, it was time for something different.
The last few plays put on by the high school included Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Mary Poppins.
The play this year will be Rock of Ages.
This will be the high school version of the musical, but will not skip out on the true feelings of a rock concert.
This musical is promised to take you back to the 1980s with many classic songs from the time period from which the play was built upon.
The story follows young Sherrie and Drew who hope to become stars, and the rock legend Stacee Jaxx.
“It’s the music that I love,” said Heather Ayris , the theatre teacher behind the entire production. “The main difference between the past few plays and this one is the energy that it will create.”
You can catch the show Feb. 14 to 17 and 21 to 24 at 7 p.m. at Centre Stage Theatre. Tickets are available at the Summerland Secondary School office for $15, with opening night at a two for one special.
The students have been working since September to have this performance ready, with casting happening months before that, and the set built from the ground up in October.
The cast includes 23 graduating students who have been committed to theatre since their Grade 9 year. The count of cast and background production crew comes to an incredible 80 students.
Nick Kast, a teacher at the high school, has also lead the crew in creating the stage.
Not only does the story, songs and content change from the past years, the production itself will also be revamped.
This year a sound and lighting crew has been hired, new microphones have been purchased, and there will even be a fog machine.
“We think this should have the feeling of a real rock concert.” Ayris says, who has directed last years ticket funds to doing just that.
This play was chosen for the more high school oriented story, and for the pure joy that comes from classic rock songs. Most of the featured choreography is designed solely by the students.
This is a family friendly show with suggested ages being middle school and up, though discretion is up to parents. All audience members are encouraged to dress up in their own concert clothes and 80s apparel.