It’s a high-energy comedy that blends ’80s glam-rock hits with the traditional boy-meets-girl/boy-loses-girl/girl-becomes-stripper/boy-and-girl-live-happily-ever-after story. Rock of Ages is on its way to Louisville’s Kentucky Center next month for a one-week run in Whitney Hall. The creative team for Rock of Ages earned themselves Tony and Drama League nominations last year and Broadway.com’s Broadway Stars of the Year Award. One of those 2009 Tony noms went to Rock of Ages lead singer Constantine Maroulis, who became a household face in 2006 when he competed for the top spot in season four of American Idol. The Boston Conservatory grad didn’t walk away with first place in that contest, but he has continued his affiliation with the show as a host of numerous special events and parlayed his popularity into a successful career that includes the current Broadway tour. Constantine plays Drew, the boy who meets the girl, in this arena-rock musical.
SD: You are a rocker who started out as a classically trained actor and performer?
CM: I finished my undergrad work at the Boston Conservatory in the spring of ’02. After that, I attended the Williamstown Theatre Festival as an apprentice. That’s a huge deal since it’s the Mecca of American Theatre and I had the chance to work with the best of the best there. That fall I moved back to New York and booked the lead in the international tour of Rent. It had been running for a while, but it was a huge day for me because I always wanted to be in Rent. I’ve always dreamed of being a rock star and a star on Broadway, and I got to do a little of both in that show. I also learned what it’s like to be on the road in a big show, work with an ensemble of talented people and put the tools I had prepped at school to work. I was on the road with Rent for a year and change. When I came back to New York, I ran into an old girlfriend who talked me into auditioning for American Idol with her. We took a bus down to Washington, D.C., because they didn’t have a New York audition that year, and here we are – it changed my life. It was an amazing experience for me.
SD: It sounds like you had the beginnings of a strong career that pre-dated American Idol.
CM: I feel like I was on a focused path. I knew what I wanted to do. Nothing can prepare you for the mania that is American Idol, but I think it was early enough in the show’s run that it still had an innocence. At the time, it was hard to get a sense of the whole thing because I was in sort of a bubble. As soon as I was released out into the world, I got a real sense of just how big a deal the show was.
SD: As you say, the show was really just getting its legs at that point.
CM: It was the biggest season they’ve ever had. Every year is big, of course; and any time millions of people are watching you, it’s a big deal. But that year we had Carrie Underwood and her amazing story; and me and Bo, the two rockers. It was the first year they used a live band and the first year they broadcast in high definition. They didn’t even have stylists for us back then! The tour afterwards, sixty dates, was sold out the whole time. It was great!
SD: Let’s talk about what you have been doing since then and Sweetfire Studio.
CM: That’s my new studio in Brooklyn. I’ve partnered with some great music guys and built a studio a block from the hospital I was born in. I’m always working on new material and trying to better myself as a songwriter, as a musician and as a producer. When I’m not on the road or in a Broadway show, I’m working on new stuff for the fans. I know they love hearing new songs.
SD: I assume you perform your music live?
CM: I play a lot of concerts on my nights off.
SD: Is your brother still producing?
CM: Yes, he produces on his own. He reissues a lot of old material that’s out of print and unattainable. He does the packaging and liner notes, song selection, remastering of music from Marlene Dietrich to rare Nat King Cole Trio stuff. As a musician and performer on his own, he’s more into the underground, gothic, avant garde scene.
SD: You have a sister as well.
CM: Yeah. She has her Ph.D. and is the principal of an elementary school that is part of a really prestigious school system in New Jersey. They were both in the theatre when they were kids and that, along with their music, really influenced me.
SD: Just as you were coming into it, the music business was beginning a transformative period more profound than any since the time recordings became possible.
CM: That is true. I don’t know if people outside the industry are aware just how important that has been. It was exciting and daunting and terrifying all at the same time. People don’t sell records anymore; it’s really kind of sad. I still enjoy going to record stores and buying a record. I really enjoy the ritual surrounding the liner notes and pictures associated with that experience.
SD: Do you download music?
CM: I have never downloaded a song in my life, though I’m not one of the anti-internet guys. It’s just something I don’t do. If I need music I can find it other ways. Carrie, of course, was able to sell millions of records, and Chris Daughtry from season five did well; but that’s been hard to replicate. As an artist, I’ve had to adjust and diversify to stay busy: I act, host, perform in concert, etc.
SD: Rock of Ages is set right at the end of the recording industry’s old business model. Styx, Pat Benatar, White Snake, Asia…these were all bands that had their day as part of big labels.
CM: I grew up listening to all these bands. They were the sound track of my youth. At the time, I was listening to everything from New Wave to Guns ’n’ Roses. I grew up with the early U2, Police and The Cure, but I also loved Bon Jovi – who also grew up in New Jersey. Our show represents the end of rock, in a way. This was the last five years of music and debauchery before things really changed with Kurt Cobain and the grunge movement. From that point on, the scene was anti-rock star; it was a reaction to the videos, the hair and make-up world, the girls and guitars. But we find a very innocent story within that era.
SD: Give me a thumbnail of the story line.
CM: t’s about two dreamers who move to the Sunset Strip, circa 1987, and they –like everybody – want to make it. They have that dream that MTV painted for us in the early ’80s. It’s an earnest love story, but it’s an insane comedy; it’s really the funniest and dirties show you’ve ever seen. It’s the show that guys who don’t like Broadway shows can bring their girls to. This is nothing like any Broadway show you’ve ever seen. It’s sexy and dirty, but sweet and innocent, too. You can sing along, have drinks and rock out.
SD: Bands of the era interacted with the audience in new ways, and your show carries on that part of the experience.
CM: There’s a character in the show named Lonnie who narrates the show, and he is the one who really has license to break the “fourth wall” and engage the fans. There are audience participation moments and people definitely get rowdy; we’ve had some really crazy nights at Rock of Ages – especially in New York. On the road people tend to start out a little reserved, but by the end they’re waving their lighters, throwing drinks on each other and making out.
SD: I think the fact that the story centers around the Bourbon Room will resonate with a lot of Kentuckians.
CM: We like that! It’s a festive atmosphere.
SD: It sounds like a plus-21 show.
CM: It definitely is, but there are a lot of teens who love it, too. I think it’s too edgy for some younger kids. It’s a sexy show, no doubt about it. We really speak to anyone who grew up with Bon Jovi and Journey.
SD: Chris d’Arenzio is working with New Line Cinema on a film adaptation. Is there any news on that?
CM: It’s being developed and there’s new stuff every day. I think Adam Shankman (Hairspray) is set to direct. I think they’ve reached out to Tom Cruise to play one of the rock stars in the movie.
SD: Have you been involved?
CM: I’m sure if they need my services they’ll give me a call at some point. These things can take a while to get going. I’m really happy for our producers who have taken this from a little bar in LA to the Tonys and now a big Hollywood movie.
SD: You are working on an album titled A Night at the Rock Show. Tell me about that project.
CM: I did about a dozen sold-out concerts around the Rock of Ages New York production, and this is my own celebration of rock ’n’ roll. I’m doing everything from Chuck Berry to Bob Seger and the Goo Goo Dolls. It’s a multi-media project with lots of bands and storytelling. There are a number of guest stars and we’re developing it for a television special. You might see some of the live tracks online as singles, but for now it’s a TV special that’s in development with – I hope – a subsequent tour. I love this material.
SD: Is this an extension of Rock of Ages?
CM: No, it’s very different. This encompasses my love for rock music, beginning at its roots.
SD: Have the artists featured in Rock of Ages come to see it?
CM: Yeah, just about everybody has been there at one time or another. Dee Snyder, the lead singer of Twisted Sister, is actually in Rock of Ages right now in New York. He’s playing Dennis Dupree, the owner of the Bourbon Room. He’s doing a great job and he’s brought a new energy to the show. He’s a very funny actor who has become a good friend. This has all just been
such a great time.
Rock of Ages runs January 25-30, 2011, in Whitney Hall. Mamma Mia! (Feb 18-20), Les Misérables (Mar 8-13) and Shrek the Musical (Jun 7-12) round out the PNC Broadway Across America season. For tickets to all, call 502.584.7777, or go to kentuckycenter.org.