By Harshitha Kothapalli – Editor-in-Chief

Jonathan Law High School’s Drama Club brought the energy of classic rock to the stage this spring with its recent production of “Rock of Ages,” transforming the auditorium into an immersive experience. 

Set in the 1980s, “Rock of Ages” is known for its iconic soundtrack and interactive storyline, something the drama department fully embraced. From the beginning, the goal was to make the show feel different from a traditional high school musical. 

“My overall vision for ‘Rock of Ages’ was to make it more of an immersive concert than your typical musical,” Drama Director Ms. Rivera said. “Having the VIP tables in front and the cast performing in the audience throughout the show helped achieve that vision.”

For Drama Club President Christopher Serrano, this experience was just as memorable as those in the audience. 

“Being a part of this production has helped me grow a lot, especially in learning how to support others while still pushing myself creatively,” Serrano said. “As both a performer and someone in a leadership role, I’ve had to step outside of my comfort zone, take initiative, and help guide the energy of the group, and it’s made me more confident not just in my abilities on stage, but also in my ability to collaborate and lead.”

Lead roles for the production included Serrano as Drew Boley, senior Keira Askintowicz as Sherrie Christian, senior Elliott Carter as Dennis Dupree, senior Ross Dejusti as Stacee Jazz, senior Stage Manager Ciara Tavarez as Joey Primo, senior Kiara Tavarez as Justice Charlier, senior Gabriella Coffin as The Mayor, and senior Rose O’Connell as Constance.

A major component of the play was incorporating a live band, something the program had not done in years. 

“I also was set on having a live band… with this type of show, we would benefit so much from having the music be live,” Rivera said. “Both performers and audience members were in agreement that the live band totally changed the tone of the show.”

Cast members knew that this production was much different than the norm, and this challenge helped them grow for the better.

“During rehearsals, everyone’s energy was very high,” cast member Ava Daniele said. “I noticed it was much higher than anything I have been a part of.”

Despite its success, the road to opening night came with several challenges. 

“We had to move up the dates to an earlier date and had multiple snow days, which resulted in less rehearsal time,” Rivera said. “Our scripts were delayed so we didn’t have them for the first half of the rehearsal process, and we did not rehearse with the band until the week of the show.”

Even with these obstacles, the cast and crew remained dedicated. 

“The students all remained committed and never let anything get them off their game,” Rivera said. “Everything came together better than I could imagine.”

The cast put months of hard work, effort, and dedication into making a cohesive immersive experience for the audience. Serrano believes that all the late nights were worth seeing family members, faculty, students, and strangers leave the auditorium happy. 

“’Rock of Ages’ is fun and over-the-top, but it also celebrates passion, individuality, and not being afraid to go after what you want,” Serrano said. “I hope people walked away with a smile and maybe a little more confidence to be themselves.”