From the classic musical "A Chorus Line," to the fresh, new rock show, "Rock of Ages," theaters in and around South Jersey are gearing up for the winter season.
From classic musicals like "A Chorus Line," to new, hip shows like "Rock of Ages," South Jersey theaters are gearing up for the winter season with some must-see productions.
Off Broad Street Players of The Levoy Theatre in Millville are bringing "Rock of Ages" to South Jersey for the first time ever.
A "jukebox musical," the show features rock hits from 1980s bands such as Journey, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, and Poison.
OBSP veteran Robert "P.J." Muniz plays Drew Boley, an aspiring rock star who is working as a busboy in a Hollywood bar while awaiting his big break.
"Being a rock star is literally a dream come true," Muniz said. "I've always wanted to get signed to a record label and be a musician, so being able to rock out for the run of the show is such an amazing feeling."
Muniz said the hard work of the rest of the "Rock of Ages" cast fuels him to portray the rocker better and better each time he takes the stage.
"This cast is so close, and I am so humbled and grateful for sharing this dream with them," Muniz said.
And while he loves playing a rockstar, the character's slight personality shifts and adjusting his voice to those, are Muniz's biggest challenge with the part.
"For me, there are three different characters I have to play -- Drew who is a sweetheart, boy-next-door type; Wolfgang Von Colt who is Drew's alter rock ego; and then, towards the end of the show, I blend the two together to create the ultimate Drew for Sherrie."
He said each of these "characters" have a slightly different sound and persona.
But his favorite song to perform is "High Enough" -- a duet with Jill Bradshaw who plays Sherrie Christian, a hopeful actress who is working as a waitress.
"She is super talented and so supportive," Muniz said of Bradshaw. "This number is full of emotion for both of us and we really get to sing our hearts out."
Director Philip Hopf said he is "incredibly honored to be directing the South Jersey premier of "Rock of Ages."
"It's not your typical night at the theatre and that's what is great about the piece," he said.
However, Hopf said he took the same approach with this show as he would directing any show. "You lead with the characters and move out from there," he said. "Drew and Sherrie are like 99 percent of us. They have a dream and the show really goes about showing us that life doesn't always go the way you plan. In the end, you find out that the dream itself wasn't the important part, but the journey you took is."
As his OBSP directorial debut, Hopf said the biggest challenge in bringing "Rock of Ages" to life was the size of the production.
"It's huge," he said. "My background in directing has always been in smaller cast shows and even smaller theatre spaces. Working with a cast this size and knowing that my work is being put on this enormous stage is very nerve-wracking."
But his cast and crew made his task much easier.
"The group of people that we have brought together are truly incredible," Hopf said. "It has been very easy to get the work done because they are so open to trying things and they are all so dedicated to making sure that this show is truly amazing."
And even though the show focuses on 1980s rock and the lifestyle that surrounded that genre, Muniz said the show's message is all about dreams.
"The message is that sometimes the dreams you set out to achieve change and you discover new dreams that are just as good as the old ones if not better," he said. "If the message doesn't get you in a seat, the cast should."
Hopf said "Rock of Ages" has something for everyone.
"You have the music that everyone knows and loves," he said. "You have fantastic story with characters that you can root for, and characters you can dislike. I think that when the curtain goes down each night, the audience is going to be dancing and humming in the aisles.
Hopf said the show has heart.
"We are all so close and have worked so hard to make this production the best it can be," Muniz said about the cast. "The energy is through the roof and who doesn't love to rock out to some 80s classics?"
Off Broad Street Players present "Rock of Ages" at The Levoy Theatre, 126 North High Street in Millville, from Feb. 12 to 21.
For tickets, call 856-327-6400 or visit www.obsp.org or www.levoy.net.
Check out these other shows hitting the stage this winter.
Broadway Theatre of Pitman
43 South Broadway in Pitman
From now through Feb. 7, Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" -- a fantastic musical adventure about a car that flies, sails, and takes eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts and his children on an exciting journey.
The show includes songs such as "Toot Sweets," "Teamwork," and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
For tickets, call 856-384-8381 or visit thebroadwaytheatre.org.
Cumberland Players
66 East Sherman Avenue in Vineland
The Cumberland Players are presenting "12 Angry Men" on Feb. 26, 27, and 28, and March 4 and 5.
In this classic drama, a dissenting juror in a murder trial slowly manages to convince the other jurors that the case is not as obviously clear as it seemed in court.
For tickets, call 856-692-5626 or visit www.cumberlandplayers.com.
Eagle Theatre
208 Vine Street in Hammonton
Eagle Theatre presents "Assassins" on select dates from Jan. 22 to Feb. 21.
Centered around nine people who have each attempted to assassinate a president of the United States, "Assassins," is a chilling comedy musical with a darkly poignant twist.
For tickets, call 609-704-5012 or visit theeagletheatre.com.
Grand Theatre: Home of the Road Company
405 South Main Street in Williamstown
From Jan. 21 to Feb. 6, the Road Company will present Rodgers and Hammerstein's "In the Heights" -- the story of New York's vibrant Washington Heights community which is on the brink of change, and full of hopes, dreams and pressures.
In 2008, "In the Heights" won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations.
For tickets, call 856-728-2120 or visit www.roadcompany.com.
Haddonfield Plays and Players
957 East Atlantic Avenue in Haddonfield
Haddonfield Plays and Players will bring the legendary music of "Smokey Joe's Cafe" to life from Jan. 14 to 30.
With classic tunes like "Hound Dog," "Love Potion #9," and "Stand By Me," this show is the longest-running revue in Broadway history.
For tickets, call 856-429-8139 or visit www.haddonfieldplayers.com
The Ritz Theatre Company
915 White Horse Pike in Haddon Township
With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton herself, the Ritz Theatre Company brings "9 to 5 The Musical" to the stage from now to Feb. 7.
Based on the 1980 movie, "9 to 5 The Musical" follows three unlikely friends who take control of their office and learn that there is nothing they can't do, even in a man's world.
For tickets, call 856-858-5230 or visit www.ritztheatreco.org.
South Camden Theatre Company
400 Jasper Street in Camden
From now through Jan. 31, the South Camden Theatre Company presents "House of Blue Leaves" -- a story that takes place in 1965 in Sunnyside, Queens.
Set on the day Pope Paul VI visited New York City, the show features nuns, a political bombing, a GI headed for Vietnam, a zookeeper who dreams of making it big in Hollywood as a songwriter, and his wife Bananas -- a schizophrenic destined for an institution call the "House of Blue Leaves."
For tickets, call 856-409-0365 or visit www.southcamdentheatre.org.
Woodbury Sketch Club Players
433 Glover Street in Woodbury
The Sketch Club Players bring the classic musical, "A Chorus Line" to the stage from now through Jan. 30.
With iconic songs such as "Nothing," "Music and the Mirror," and "One," this story of 17 dancers competing for the few open spots in the chorus of a Broadway musical takes the audience through the audition process straight to the grand finale.
"A Chorus Line" will be presented at The Fine Arts Center at Rowan at Gloucester County College thanks to the Gloucester County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
The center is located at 1400 Tanyard Road in Sewell.
For tickets, call 856-848-8089 or visit www.sketchclubplayers.org.
Philadelphia
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut Street in Philadelphia
Walnut Street Theatre presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy "Harvey" from now through March 6.
This story follows Elwood P. Dowd, a charming and kind man with one character flaw -- an unwavering friendship with a six-foot-tall, invisible white rabbit named Harvey.
The New York Post said "Harvey" is a "show for the entire family," and "by the end, you too may want to see that rabbit."
From Feb. 4 to 13, Walnut Street Theatre for Kids brings the love back from the dead with "Zombie in Love," based on the popular book series by Kelly DiPucchio.
Mortimer, a zombie, wants to find a date to Cupid's Ball, finds it difficult since his rotting body grosses out all the girls. But he learns there's someone for everyone in this sidesplitting yet touching musical.
For tickets, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787, or visit www.walnutstreettheatre.org.
The Academy of Music at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
300 South Broad Street in Philadelphia
Broadway Philadelphia presents "Pippin" from Feb. 23 to 28 at the Academy of Music.
This Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of a young prince who is on a death-defying journey in search of his life's meaning.
For tickets, call 215-893-1999 or visit www.kimmelcenter.org.
Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyroncace. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.