REVIEW: Rock & Roll Man
***** [5 stars]
An electrifying musical full of toe-tapping tunes and vibrant choreography
Now in Salisbury for its European premiere, Rock & Roll Man tells the story of Alan Freed, the pioneering DJ credited with popularising the term “rock & roll". Alan Freed, from Cleveland, Ohio, was the first American DJ to play rock & roll music on a mainstream station, bringing black music to a white radio station in the early 1950s, thanks to support from his sponsor and mentor Leo Mintz. This original musical follows his colourful career and perfectly encapsulates the music that shaped it.
Freed is played exceptionally by Constantine Maroulis, bringing raw emotion and stellar stage presence for the entire duration of the 2-hour show. It must also be noted that every single member of the cast adds high energy and soulful vocals to this feel-good production. It’s a triumph all round. The musical interludes, featuring lots of rock & roll classics as well as original songs, have been thoughtfully considered and aren’t just randomly dropped in for good measure.
The choreography is both dazzling and dynamic, which is no surprise considering Stephanie Klemons’ experience as the Associate Choreographer and Global Dance Supervisor of Hamilton.
The cast, directors and crew truly deserved their standing ovation at press night. Transporting the audience to 1950s America, the audience were clapping, dancing and tapping their feet throughout the entire duration. As always with a Wiltshire Creative production, the set and costumes were both clever and creative.
A few comedic moments also make their way into what is a complex story with a range of juxtapositional moments. Writers Larry Marsak, Rose Caiola and Gary Kupper were committed to telling Alan’s story accurately, interviewing his friends, family, business partners as part of the writing process. Rather than portraying just the highlights, Rock & Roll Man depicts an unfiltered and nuanced look into the ups and downs of his career as well as his personal struggles.
This original musical debuted in New York in 2023, and this production, presented by Wiltshire Creative, Rose Caiola for Caiola Productions and Julian Bird for Green Room Ents Ltd, is in Salisbury until 07 March before it heads to Windsor on the next leg of its UK tour.
You do not want to miss this one! Whether you’re into rock and roll music or not, this is a show you’ll want to see again and again.
You can book your tickets for Rock & Roll Man on Wiltshire Creative's website.
Tickets start from £12 and this production is suitable for ages 7+.