‘Rock of Ages’ musical to close on Broadway in January

Starting as a modest club production at the King King in Hollywood, “Rock of Ages,” the sweet-natured musical homage to 1980s hair-metal bands, went on to become a stage juggernaut with a five-year run on Broadway, a national tour, a Las Vegas incarnation at the Venetian as well as a number of productions overseas.

On Tuesday, producers of “Rock of Ages” said that the Broadway run will close Jan. 18 after what will be more than 2,300 performances.

The jukebox musical, which was nominated for five Tony Awards, opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York in 2009 and later transferred to the Helen Hayes Theatre, where it continues to run.

“Rock of Ages” recouped its initial investment of $7.3 million in 2012, organizers said on Tuesday. Before opening on Broadway, the musical had runs at the Vanguard nightclub in Los Angeles, the Flamingo in Vegas and the off-Broadway New World Stages in New York.

The musical depicts the yearnings of young rock musicians trying to make it on the Sunset Strip during the ‘80s. The musical was written by Chris D’Arienzo and directed by Kristin Hanggi. “American Idol” alumnus Constantine Maroulis has been part of the cast, off and on, including its off-Broadway run in 2008.

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