Crocus Plains students fired up for ‘Rock of Ages’

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This article was published 06/04/2017 (3331 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In a choir room filled with music stands and percussion instruments usually orchestrated to bring the classic works of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart to life, a different classic is being awakened — ’80s rock.

The students at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School are busy putting the finishing touches on those high notes — and dessert garnishes — for their dinner theatre production “Rock of Ages.”

“Believe it or not, a lot of (the students) are actually familiar with a lot of the songs, so that makes it easier,” said Deanna Ginn, choir teacher at Crocus Plains.

“I’m a classically or traditionally trained musician and music teacher, so it’s a bit of a leap for me to be working on rock vocals with the kids, but it’s also a lot of fun because you get to venture into a different genre and watch the kids use their instruments a little differently.”

When Crocus Plains drama teacher Ramey Praznik saw “Rock of Ages” on Broadway, she said she knew it had to be their next production — and that her students would be up for the challenge.

“It was the most fun I’ve had watching a musical,” Praznik said. “It was just so interactive, all ’80s music, which I was a teenager in the ’80s so I loved it, and I knew lots of parents would love it too.”

And Praznik was right. All showtimes, including matinees, have completely sold out three weeks before opening day.

“It’s just crazy. That tells us the community is excited to see the show, and it raises the level of anticipation,” Praznik said.

“I want it to be great. It is great, but it’s crunch time. It’s time to make the magic happen.”

Organizing the production, especially developing it as a dinner theatre production, has presented its own unique challenges, Praznik said.

“(Rock of Ages) is not a dinner theatre show, so the challenge is figuring out things like when to place dessert? How do we make sure that people aren’t sitting there for seven and a half hours because we’re trying to couple (the show) with a meal, and a three-course meal at that,” Praznik said.

“But our school is able to do something a little different, so we do something different.”

The production is multifaceted, with different classes and departments working together, building construction is making the sets, cosmetology and hairstyling classes create the look and the culinary arts program creates the menu and cooks each meal.

The dinner is a show of its own, intertwined with the production to bring the audience back to the ’80s with classic pub fare.

Caesar salad serves as a starter for dinner, which includes a half rack of smoky barbecue ribs, Greek chicken skewers, corn on the cob and potato wedges. A generous piece of chocolate brownie finishes everything off.

“Our students are so conscientious, engaged and talented, They’ve been enjoying it, but more than anything they’ve been working very hard,” Praznik said.

A lot of the cast may have not seen “Rock of Ages” before, but it didn’t take long for them to not only fall in love with the production, but their characters as well.

“(Rock of Ages) is awesome. It’s all old classic rock, and they have some sweet characters and good story lines,” said Grade 12 student Michael Wenham, who is playing the dual role of Lonny Barnett, the narrator and secondary male lead character within the story.

“It’s awesome. (Lonnie) is a lot like me. He’s very outgoing, outspoken and he’s not really afraid to show his true colours.”

Bryan Kwak plays the city boy born and raised in South Detroit, Drew Boley. He auditioned specifically for role because he believed he could relate to him.

“It’s like me playing myself almost. He’s kind of like a shy and chill guy,” Kwak said.

“I’m surprised that I got the role, I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m really happy that I got to play it with these awesome people, in this awesome show with awesome teachers.”

The dinner theatre production of “Rock of Ages” runs from April 20 to April 22 at the MNP Hall at the Keystone Centre.

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