West End stars Oliver Tompsett, Simon Lipkin and Amy Pemberton are to join Shayne Ward and Justin Lee Collins in big-haired anthemic musical Rock Of Ages.
The talented trio complete a cast that also includes Rohan Tickell, Jodie Jacobs, Rachel McFarlane and Sandy Moffat.
Former Wicked star Tompsett, who played Fiyero in the Oz-set musical, leads the Rock Of Ages cast as Drew, a South Detroit boy who falls in love with small town girl Sherrie (Pemberton, previously seen in Footloose and Jersey Boys), when they meet in an LA nightclub in 1987.
The power ballad-loving pair must fight for their love to a soundtrack of guitar-wielding, wide-stancing, hair-thrashing 80s rock classics from the likes of Bon Jovi, Europe and Journey.
Speaking about his casting, Tompsett said: “I used to dream about combining 80s rock songs with musical comedy, but someone beat me to it. Rock Of Ages is way better than what I dreamt of, and you know what they say – ‘If you can’t beat them, join them!’”
Lipkin, best known for playing Nicky and Trekkie Monster in the original West End cast of Avenue Q, takes the role of narrator Lonny.
Rock Of Ages, which is also being made into a film starring Tom Cruise and Russell Brand, opens in the West End’s Shaftesbury theatre in September, following the summer run of Derren Brown: Svengali.
Fans eager to get a taste of the bedenimed musical in the meantime should head to Trafalgar Square this weekend, where Rock Of Ages will be performing as part of the free entertainment extravaganza West End LIVE.
MA