Rock N Roll company on their first day of rehearsals
By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers
Grace’s just legged it down the route with something properly rockin’ rattling about in her satchel, and it’s called Rock & Roll Man. The high-voltage new musical is firing up its UK tour at Salisbury Playhouse, and if you listen carefully, you can already hear the ghosts of jukeboxes past warming up.
This is no polite little history lesson. Rock & Roll Man throws open the stage doors and celebrates the life and legacy of Alan Freed — the Cleveland DJ who coined the term “rock & roll” and then promptly used it to shake the world awake. Freed wasn’t just spinning records; he was smashing barriers, uniting Black and white audiences through music, and poking authority square in the eye while he was at it. A rebel with a radio dial, a visionary with rhythm, and a man who helped soundtrack the slow march towards desegregation.
Leading the charge is award-nominated Broadway star Constantine Maroulis, stepping into the role of the DJ who gave rock & roll its name. Best known for originating Drew in Rock of Ages on Broadway — a performance that earned him a Tony Award nomination — Maroulis brings powerhouse vocals, proper rock credentials, and a bit of grit under the fingernails. He first burst onto screens as a finalist on American Idol and has since carved out a career spanning Broadway, touring productions, and recording. In short: the lad knows how to hold a mic.
Joining him is the mighty Gary Turner, widely recognised for his portrayal of Frankie Valli in the West End and international productions of The Bodyguard, and for causing a fair few raised eyebrows as Carlos Diaz in Emmerdale. He’s the sort who walks onstage and immediately looks like he belongs there — no explanations needed.
And then there’s the cast, which honestly reads like a greatest-hits playlist that’s come alive and nicked your pint. Jairus McClanahan struts in as the flamboyant Little Richard, while Joey James takes on Chuck Berry. Marquie Hairston channels teen sensation Frankie Lymon, and Cherece Richards brings the full rhythm and blues force of LaVern Baker. Joe Bence steps in as Buddy Holly — and yes, Grace will be checking the glasses.
And then, just when you’re getting a bit too comfortable tapping your foot, along comes Mark Pearce as J. Edgar Hoover — looming like the bloke at the party who keeps asking if the music has to be quite so loud. He represents the suits, the stiff collars, and the joyless lot who’d quite like everyone to sit down, shut up, and stop dancing. Every proper rock & roll story needs someone desperately trying to turn the volume knob the wrong way.
Thankfully, the volume is firmly wrestled back up by Dominique Scott, who joins the production as Jerry Lee Lewis and Musical Director. Grace is pleased to report there’s a live onstage band powering the whole thing, rattling the floorboards and generally refusing to behave. If your foot isn’t tapping at this point, Grace will assume it’s gone numb and suggest medical attention.
Backing all this glorious noise is a cracking ensemble, with Shelby Speed and Anton Stephans keeping things fizzing along, while understudies Xorael Harrison, Jessica Ncube and Grant Zavitkovsky stand ready to leap in at a moment’s notice — which, in rock & roll terms, is basically a badge of honour.
Behind the scenes, the brains trust is just as punchy. The show is written by musician Gary Kupper, journalist and music producer Larry Marshak, and Tony Award-winning producer Rose Caiola, with direction from Tony Award nominee Randal Myler. Together they mash up original stage songs with iconic hits from the legends who shaped a generation — the sort of music that makes you promise yourself you’ll stay seated, then immediately break that promise.
The choreography is in the hands of Stephanie Klemons, renowned for her work on Hamilton and In the Heights, with Associate Choreographer Christian Knight alongside her. The movement has bite, swagger, and that irresistible sense that something rebellious might kick off at any moment.
Visually, the show doesn’t hang about either. Set designer Morgan Large brings his sharp eye to Rock & Roll Man following his work on the UK tour of Dear Evan Hansen and Midnight at Sadler’s Wells. Grace’s verdict: this is a set that refuses to stand quietly in the corner — it moves, it breathes, and it knows exactly why it’s here.
Produced by Wiltshire Creative, Rose Caiola for Caiola Productions and Julian Bird for Green Room Ents, Rock & Roll Man is a high-octane celebration of sound, struggle, and the cultural revolution that didn’t just change music — it changed who got to be heard.
This is the original musical about a musical original. The man who gave rock & roll its name, kicked the door open, and left it swinging for everyone else to follow. Grace approves.
Grace recommends loosening your shoulders before you go. You’re going to need them.
https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/rock-roll-man
About the Author
