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Rocktopia coming to the Broadway Theatre in Spring 2018
Rocktopia coming to the Broadway Theatre in Spring 2018

Rocktopia Melds the Work of Music’s Innovators

This spring, the great innovators of music, from Beethoven to Queen, and Handel to U2, are set to be celebrated when Rocktopia opens on Broadway for a limited-engagement. For six epic weeks, from March 20 to April 29, 2018, the Broadway Theatre will play host to this exciting musical event.

Vocalist and recording artist Rob Evan and Maestro Randall Craig Fleischer, a pioneer in the fusion of symphonic rock and world music, co-conceived Rocktopia, which “celebrates the fusion of the best rock songs of the past century with some of the greatest classical music ever written.” Rocktopia aspires to deliver “one-of-a-kind, spine-tingling musical arrangements with insanely talented lead vocalists, a 5-piece rock band, a choir of 40, and an orchestra of 20.”

“We love both classical music and classic rock. There are so many parallels between the genres and between the “rock stars” who composed and performed them,” says Evan. “With Rocktopia, we want to break down barriers and any preconceived notion of what either genre is about – and electrify and inspire lovers of either musical styles with these completely original new pieces.”

Among the myriad innovators whose music inspire the show are Mozart, Queen, Beethoven, Journey, Handel, U2, Tchaikovsky, Pink Floyd, Heart, Rachmaninoff, Foreigner, Copland, The Who, and many more. Rocktopia was developed over eight-years, a creative pairing, comparing, and contrasting the styles of classical musicians and composers of the rock & roll era. Evan and Fleisher “looked for common themes, potency, and emotional resonance in the songs before fusing them together to create explosive and moving new musical arrangements.”

The cast will include some Broadway favorites including Rob Evan (Les MiserablesJekyll & Hyde) and Tony Vincent (American Idiot, RENT). Joining them will be Chloe Lowery (Chris Botti, Yanni’s Voices); and Kimberly Nichole (NBC’s “The Voice”) and Alyson Cambridge (The Merry Widow at The Met, Madame ButterflyLa Boheme, Show Boat). Musicians will include Emmy Award-nominated violinist Máiréad Nesbitt (Celtic Woman, Lord of the Dance); acclaimed guitarist Tony Bruno (MD & guitar for Enrique Iglesias & Rihanna, “America’s Got Talent”); pianist Henry Aronson (MD/Conductor/keys for entire Broadway run of Rock of Ages, The Who’s Tommy); bass player Mat Fieldes (Joe Jackson’s Grammy-winning album Symphony No. 1, the Gorillaz, Book of Mormon); and drummer Alex Alexander (David Bowie, Jimmy Cliff, Ritchie Blackmore).

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, November 13 at 10 AM via Telecharge.com. Special student pricing, beginning at $39, will be available for the duration of the run.

Performance schedule, complete creative team, and opening night will be announced shortly.

Mark Robinson is the author of the two-volume encyclopedia The World of Musicals and maintains a theater and entertainment blog at markrobinsonwrites.com.

 

Learn More About Rocktopia