An 80’s rock concert and a Broadway musical are two of the most entertaining types of performances, so audiences are bound to go crazy when you combine the two. Eastern Regional High School wowed audiences with their production of the rock/jukebox musical, Rock of Ages: High School Edition.

With a story centered around some of the most iconic songs of the 80s, Rock of Ages tells the story of Drew Boley and Sherrie Christian, wannabe rockstar and actress, who get lost in the madness of the 1980s while struggling to find their identities.

Lauren Cianfranni took on the role of leading lady Sherrie Christian with powerhouse vocals, specifically an impressively high belt. Sherrie and Drew (Jordan Edmondson) had solid chemistry and created lovely harmony in their Act II duet, “High Enough.” Most notable though, was Lonny Barnett (Vincent Melara) who served as the narrator of the story. His stage presence and high energy made for an entertaining and memorable performance.

Another major standout of the cast was Lindsay Cohen as lead protester Anita Bath. Cohen was passionate and quirky, and her vocals were highly impressive. Robert Sundstrom also gave a hilarious performance as the hippie bar owner Dennis Dupree, especially in “I Can’t Fight the Feeling,” his hysterical duet with Lonny Barnett. Other celebrated performers were hotshot rockstar Stacee Jaxx (Jake Fritz), and rebellious son Franz Klinemann (Primo Davis).

Eastern’s large ensemble of rockers helped bring the Sunset Strip to life. Specifically, the featured waitresses added to the production with their fantastic dance skills and sleazy attitudes. The entire ensemble always had strong energy and perfectly blended vocals, particularly in Act I Finale, “Here I Go Again.”

The most outstanding part of the production, however, was the Broadway-caliber scenery. Completely student built and designed, the Bourbon Room unit set had incredible detail and really felt like a bar on the Sunset Strip. The crazy 80s makeup design was also notable, as each cast member’s vibrant colors stood out under the bright stage lights.

Pulling off the energy and atmosphere of a rock musical is difficult, but Eastern’s cast and crew did so with enthusiasm and skill. Eastern Regional rocked the theatre with a story of love and passion, matched only by their own love and passion for the production itself.