Casting is complete for the forthcoming West End production of '80s tuner Rock of Ages, which is set to begin performances on August 31 and open on September 27 at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre. Amy Pemberton and Oliver Tompsett will play the show's young lovers, Midwestern transplant Sherrie and wannabe rocker Drew. They join the previously announced Justin Lee Collins, who will play Sunset Strip club owner Dennis Dupree, and Shayne Ward, who will play over-the-top rock star Stacee Jaxx.
The cast will also feature Simon Lipkin (Lonny), Rohan Tickell (Hertz), Rachel McFarlane (Justice/Mother), Jodie Jacobs (Regina/Candi) and Sandy Moffat (Franz), as well as Nathan Amzi, Natalie Andreou, Grant Anthony, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Cordelia Farnworth, Ian McIntosh, Twinnie-Lee Moore, Jamie Muscato, Andrew Spillett, Zizi Strallen, Amy Thornton and Dylan Turner.
Pemberton's West End credits include Footloose and Jersey Boys. Tompsett is best known for playing Fiyero in Wicked on the West End. His other West End credits include Mamma Mia!, Our House and Over My Shoulder.
Rock of Ages is set in 1987 on the Sunset Strip, where a small town girl meets a big city rocker in L.A.’s most famous rock club. Their love story is told through the hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Asia, Whitesnake and more. Currently running at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre, the show received five Tony nominations (including Best Musical) after opening on April 7, 2009. A national tour stars American Idol alum Constantine Maroulis, and the A-list-filled movie adaptation is currently filming in Miami, with an eye on a June 2012 release date.