Split Stage musical salutes those about to rock at Irwin's Lamp Theatre

If there’s a lack of ’80s rock in your life, Split Stage Productions has a remedy.

The theater company will shake the walls of Irwin’s Lamp Theatre beginning Friday with a five-night run of the jukebox rock extravaganza “Rock of Ages.”

First a Broadway musical and then a movie, “Rock of Ages” tells the story of a rock ‘n roll romance between a small-town girl and a city boy on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.

It’s chock full of classic rock songs from the 1980s, from hair bands like Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, Poison and Europe.

“I’m not an ’80s baby — I was born just outside of that — but I remember all of that music,” said Split Stage co-founder Rob Jessup. “It’s a generation of music that is iconic – ‘Sister Christian,’ ‘I Wanna Rock,’ ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It,’ ‘The Final Countdown,’ you name it — there are so many iconic songs woven through the story.

“With every scene, the music is so familiar that you know the song before the lyrics kick in and you know how it ties into the story,” he said.

Not only is it a jukebox musical and a love story, it’s also a comedy and an interactive audience experience.

“As the song says, it ain’t ‘Nothing But a Good Time,’” Jessup said.

Split Stage originally planned to do “Rock of Ages” in summer 2020.

“Then covid comes knocking on our door and said, ‘Yeah, you’re gonna have to wait a few more years,’” Jessup said.

But with audiences raring to kick out the jams in person once again, the reception might be better now than it would have been then, he said.

“You don’t even have to like theater,” he said. “If you like ’80s rock and you like to laugh, you just checked all the boxes and you’re gonna love this show.”

Playing the romantic lead roles are Raegan Hochman as Sherrie and Gabe DeRose as Drew. Jessup shares directing duties with Split Stage co-founder Nate Newell.

Choreography is by Ashley Harmon. Stage Right Executive Director Chris McAllister is music director and leader of a five-piece band.

“The vocals in this show are insane, and our cast handles them almost effortlessly,” Jessup said. “We’ve been fortunate to have a lot of strong casts for our past productions, but this could be one of the strongest vocal ensembles and casts that we’ve ever had. It’s imperative to the show to have that.

“The band just rips,” he added. “They fill every square inch of that building with sound.”

With its stage frequented by rock tribute acts, The Lamp is a perfect venue for a rock musical, Jessup said. Split Stage has brought in extra lighting and props to give the production the feel of an authentic rock concert.

“This is like a tribute show, to a degree. It’s like a mix tape,” he said. “Remember the mix tapes back in the ’80s and ’90s? People would make a tape by recording it off the radio.

“It’s a mix tape of that generation and that time frame,” he said. “You can’t deny you enjoy that music and secretly put it on in your car when you’re driving.”

“Rock of Ages” will be staged at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and June 16-18 in the theater at 222 Main St., Irwin. Tickets are $25.

For information and reservations, call 724-367-4000 or visit lamptheatre.org.