Classic rock songs from the 1980s will come alive when the Southwestern College Summer Theatre Festival presents “Rock of Ages” on Friday and Saturday, June 29 and 30, at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, July 1, at 2 p.m., in the Richardson Performing Arts Center in the Christy Administration Building on the campus of Southwestern College.  

The rock/jukebox musical features songs from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Poison, Whitesnake, and Europe among other well-known rock bands. 

Music director Matt Berthot (who also plays rock star Stacee Jaxx) says that the audience should expect an exciting show. 

“They can expect to get their faces rocked off, because it’s '80s rock and the pit and performers will bring the thunder,” Berthot says. 

The pit will consist of lead guitarist Michael Steiner, second lead guitar TJ Zigler, Anthony Gropper on rhythm guitar, Nick Hofmeister on drums, Nathan Johnson on bass, Billy Bearden on keyboard, and Aidan Wells Filbert conducting. Page Butler and Parker Butler are the sound engineers.

According to director Allyson Moon, the setting for “Rock of Ages” is the tail end of the big, bad, rockin’ 1980s in Hollywood.  The Bourbon Room, home of rock star Stacee Jaxx is in danger of closing.  Drew (Kamdon Fuqua) longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri (Kaela Massey), fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes).  But the rock and roll fairytale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Sunset Strip into just another capitalist strip mall.

The musical contains some adult content and language. 

“For the 20-year-olds on up that love '80s rock, this is going to take them back to a time that was wild and crazy, with the hair, the makeup, the raw songs; it was a crazy fun time to be alive,” Berthot says. 

For Berthot, this is a show that takes him back to his childhood.

“This show means so much to the inner child of Matt Berthot growing up in the '80s, I would literally dance and sing with my brothers in the living room to all of these songs that we are going to sing and perform in the show,” Berthot says.  “It also takes me back to the time of playing outside, listening to Whitesnake before baseball games, and playing with my friends and just rocking out.”

Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $6 youth or students.  Individuals can order tickets by calling (620) 221-7720, online at https://www.showclix.com/event/rockfoages, or by emailing boxoffice@sckans.edu.