This show was built on the basis of rock and roll: live performances at the Garden Theater are returning with a bang

WINTER GARDEN, Florida. – The return of the Garden Theater to live performances after a six-month break was accompanied by dirty jokes, rock and roll and a confetti cannon.

The Winter Garden establishment rose from the ashes of a public feud between its board and employees last summer, with an explosion of energy at the Rock of Ages Thursday night.

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The Jukebox Musical got the audience up several times during the night as they shook their fists and sang along to 80s rock anthems and power ballads like Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again”, REO Speedwagon’s “I Can”. t Fight This Feeling” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin”, an uplifting finale that calls for an encore.

“Another thing I love about a show that is encouraged is that people sing along. You know, there are some big rock anthems, so when the ensemble sings, if you feel like it, sing along,” said Fernando Varela, president and executive producer of Victory Productions, a local entertainment company.

The show takes you on a journey – a small-town girl, an urban boy – as rock ‘n’ roll wannabes try to save their musical haven, the Sunset Strip bar, from demolition.

It is also the first performance under the theater’s new partnership with Victory Productions.

“I want to bring in out-of-town talent with world-class experience, mix it with our local talent, and let them collaborate,” Valero said.

He does just that in Rock of Ages, where we see American Idol runner-up Beau Baies in 2005 as Dennis Dupree, the owner of the Bourbon Bar, singing and dancing on stage with the season 22 finalist. “Voices” by Omar Cardona. like Drew, an aspiring rocker.

A line-up of Broadway stars and regional performers, including the acclaimed Sherri played by Diana Huey, rounds out the show with an unstoppable enthusiasm on stage, complete with light shows, aerial choreography, a smoke machine and a live band to rock with.

The infectious energy, however, does not overshadow the display of raw talent, which is even more impressive by the fact that this production was created within a month.

“In December we signed on to produce the show here and of course we want to start right now,” Valero said, adding that his first phone call was to Justin Matthew Sargent.

He is a director in addition to playing Stacey Jax/Father on the show and was tasked with gathering Rock of Ages veterans to play a part in this production given they had a short time to put it all together. .

And that led to some powerful performances.

“It’s an incredible honor that (this cast) has been a part of this so far,” said Sargent, who played Drew in Rock of Ages on Broadway.

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This return followed a six-month hiatus from live performance after professional disagreements between the theater’s board and its staff came to a head.

In August, theater officials released a public statement detailing the friction.

“(We) have made the decision to exploit short-term programming gaps and temporarily shift our operational focus to the Theater’s organizational health,” Garden Theater’s board of directors said in a Facebook post. “The board and staff will spend this time on an in-depth review of our organizational structure and operations.”

The controversy has rippled through the theater community, provoking a backlash from organizations such as the Central Florida Entertainment Advocacy, which, in a letter released in January, questioned the “troubled leadership” at the helm of Winter Garden. The letter stated that the board had ignored concerns expressed by employees.

“CFEA doesn’t want division in our community. We do not condone the shame of artists caught in the crossfire of problematic management. We do not condone the dismissal of artists who openly talk about their experiences and traumas resulting from this space. We also cannot recommend or support activity in this space (at the Garden Theatre) until adequate steps are taken to address its problems, or until a viable action plan is developed truthfully and consistently,” the letter reads. part.

“Rock of the Ages” is the theater’s first live performance since this summer, when criticism of the theater’s board of directors first became public.

“I wasn’t here when it happened, but I know a lot of people in this community. To be honest, one of the reasons I decided to get involved was to help build a bridge to heal this. And I know it will take time. It won’t happen overnight,” Valero said.

The president of the production company went on to say that he admires the theater’s previous creative leaders, namely Joe Walsh and Roberta Emerson, and their fight for equality and inclusion, which he hopes to continue.

“I think this is one of the greatest things that has happened in this theater and I admire Roberto and Joe for being the pioneers and really creating this, so I know I am not inventing this,” Valero said. “I’m really trying to build on that and honor that because I think it’s important and necessary.”

He pointed to the cast of The Rock of Ages as an example of moving towards that vision.

“You see two main characters that are usually played by white characters who are people of color and it’s powerful, you know, I want to continue that. And, you know, I want to be the change I want to see in my community,” Valero said.

Those who wish can see the “Rock of the Ages” at the Garden Theater until February 26. More information can be found on the theatre’s website.

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