The Gift of Song

There’s nothing quite like a musical that can deliver power ballads, screaming guitar solos, enormous hair and enough ’80s excess to make a can of Aqua Net rethink its part in the ozone layer crisis. Rock of Ages IS just such a musical. The Gift of Song is bringing the totally awesome jukebox musical resplendent with classic 80s tunes by such arena rock legends as Journey, Styx, Poison, Europe and more to the stage at Mills-Pate Arts Center in Murfreesboro, with Leslie Berra directing and a cast ready to crank up the volume on some of the biggest rock anthems of the era.

Set on Los Angeles’ legendary Sunset Strip, Rock of Ages follows aspiring rocker Drew, wide-eyed newcomer Sherrie, Bourbon Room owner Dennis and Venus Club proprietor Justice as dreams, romance, friendship and the threat of change collide against a soundtrack packed with ’80s rock classics. In this JHPENTERTAINMENT Rapid Fire 20Q, Dylan Ellis, Allee Williams, Clint Randolph and Corrie Maxwell take us behind their characters, their musical moments, their ’80s inspirations and what it’s been like creating this production with Berra and the creative team. So turn up the volume, tease your hair to the max and let’s get ready to rock!

RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH THE CAST OF THE GIFT OF SONG’s ROCK OF AGES

RAPID FIRE WITH DYLAN ELLIS, DREW BOLEY IN ROCK OF AGES

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Drew arrives in Los Angeles determined to become a rock star. What do you think is driving him most at the beginning of the story—his love of music, the dream of fame, or simply the need to prove to himself that he can make it?

DYLAN ELLIS: I think Drew is a wide eyed dreamer who is surrounded by constant inspiration. He loves the music but also the rockstar image and lifestyle his heroes embody, and at the start of the story he’s just trying to carve his place in the legendary rock scene on the sunset strip.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The world of Rock of Ages is unapologetically late ’80s. Since you’re an 00 baby, What’s been your greatest source of research as you’ve taken on this role?

DYLAN ELLIS: Even though I’m a 2000’s baby I grew up playing in bands and listening to classic rock especially from the 80’s. Much like Drew, my childhood heroes were all rockstars so stepping into this show felt very familiar and close to home. To prepare, I mostly just tapped into what I was like in high school.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Drew gets some serious musical moments, among them, Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock”, Bryan Adams’ “Heaven,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You” by Foreigner and of course Steve Perry’s “Oh Sherrie”. Is there one number you’re particularly excited—or nervous—to perform?

DYLAN ELLIS: I’m very excited to perform “Heaven” because I get to play guitar during that song, and also the blocking Leslie gave Allie and I for “Waiting For A Girl” has been so fun and hilarious. “High Enough”, one of my duets with Sherrie is very vocally taxing and daunting but nonetheless still very excited to perform it.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Drew’s relationship with Sherrie goes through quite a roller coaster. What have you discovered about him through that relationship that you didn’t necessarily see when you first approached the character? AND…what’s it been like to develop that relationship on stage with your Sherrie, Allie Williams?

DYLAN ELLIS: Rock of Ages is a very funny and raunchy show but I think Sherrie and Drew’s relationship shows a more sentimental and emotional side of the musical. It helped me get a better idea of his inner thoughts and feelings. Working with Allie has been awesome, she’s such an excellent performer. Doing scenes with her have been great because she’s so into it and it’s easy to get into character with her.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If there were ever a Rock of Ages sequel musical or update, Where might we find Drew in 2026 AND…What current tune might work well as Drew’s theme?

DYLAN ELLIS: I think Drew and Sherrie would have had more kids and I could see him owning one of those School Of Rock type of businesses that teaches kids music and puts them in bands. As far as current tunes, I think in the 90’s Drew went through a big brit-rock phase and with the Oasis reunion, he’s breaking out all of his old Oasis records again.

RAPID FIRE WITH ALLEE WILLIAMS, SHERRIE CHRISTIAN IN ROCK OF AGES

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Sherrie arrives in Hollywood with stars in her eyes and a dream of becoming an actress. What do you think audiences will find most relatable about her journey from wide-eyed newcomer to the woman she becomes by the end of the show?

ALLEE WILLIAMS: I think the audience will really relate to her zeal for new experiences in her dream city, as well as her tenacity to try new things and not give up. Sherrie goes through so many of the ups and downs we all have felt moving to a new city to pursue our dream careers, but in the end she is reminded that she is always on time, and everything works out exactly how its supposed to.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If you could magically transport yourself back to one specific moment in the late ’80s, what would you want to experience firsthand?

ALLEE WILLIAMS: Oh my gosh, honestly I wish I could have seen any of the major Michael Jackson events, like the premiere of the “Thriller” music video, attend his Bad World Tour, or even just been there when he debuted his moon walk. His music and dance-style really shaped my passion for dancing since I was a little girl. I can only imagine what it was like to witness those great events during the ’80s. He truly is such a legend!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Sherrie gets to sing some terrific material, including Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian,” “More Than Words” by Extreme, Quarterflash’s “Harden My Heart mixed with Pat Benatar’s Shadows of the Night” and more. Which musical moment feels most personal to you?

ALLEE WILLIAMS: The song that feels the most personal to me is definitely “Harden My Heart.” I feel I can fully relate to the grief Sherrie is going through after a rough breakup, being so far from home, and feeling like you are failing at everything you do. I went through a similar experience back in the summer of 2022 when I moved back to Nashville. I had gone through a very painful breakup, had to leave all the hard-work I had built at my jobs, leave my friends, and move back in with my parents in Nashville with no clue what I was doing with my life anymore. However, just like Justice is waiting for Sherrie at the end of the song, I had a newer and better life waiting for me at the end of my struggle. Harden My Heart is a sad song about closing yourself off to the world when pain arrives, but once you allow the pain to run its course, you slowly begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and see that if it weren’t for the difficulties, you wouldn’t have made it to your new and even better beginning. Sometimes, we must go through tribulations, to be put into even better circumstances. Rejection is just redirection. – On a simpler note, I also love “Don’t Stop Believing!”

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Sherrie’s journey takes her places she certainly never expected when she first steps off that bus in Los Angeles. How do you approach playing the vulnerability, resilience and growing independence underneath all that ’80s glamour?

ALLEE WILLIAMS: First off, the glamour, primarily the hair, is probably heavier than the emotional journey itself. However, I take a lot of my own experience into account when I join Sherrie onstage. I relate to her story, growing up in a more conservative upbringing, taking a chance to move across the country to pursue your unconventional artistic dreams (except I must say that my parents were more supportive than Sherrie’s…hi mom!), and then ultimately facing some of the biggest adversities of your life during it all. I see a lot of myself in her. It’s like tapping back to seventeen-year-old Allee, she’s smart and capable, but inexperienced. I allow Sherrie to be completely excited and full of naivety, and then allow the script to slowly guide her through a hard lesson, that will eventually make her so much stronger.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of Sherrie’s unexpected circumstances. One turn find her working at The Venus Club alongside Corrie Maxwell as Justice. How has Corrie been as a scene partner and as a source of support and guidance for Sherrie?

ALLEE WILLIAMS:  Where do I even start with Corrie other than she’s absolutely amazing. Her experience in theatre has really grounded me and helped me grow as a actress. Corrie is always so consistent and reliable, and is above and beyond what I could ask for in a scene partner. As for Sherrie, Justice really helps her find her voice and strength to push-through hardships. You will see that even in Sherrie’s lowest moment, someone was there looking out for her. I believe we can always trust that even in our darkest moments, there is always a light, or, there is always a Justice.

RAPID FIRE WITH CLINT RANDOLPH, DENNIS DUPREE IN ROCK OF AGES

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Dennis is trying to keep the Bourbon Room alive while surrounded by characters who seem determined to make his life increasingly complicated. What is your favorite contradiction about this guy?

CLINT RANDOLPH: Dennis tries to put on a “tough guy” persona, but he’s really just a softy with a huge heart.  He loves all of his employees, and does all he can to take care of them.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The Bourbon Room is practically a character itself. If Dennis could give a guided tour of his beloved club, what do you think would be the first thing he’d proudly show—and what would he hope you didn’t notice?

CLINT RANDOLPH: You’ve got to notice the moose head plaque above the bar. It’s so Rock’n’roll! The horns are perfect for catching bras that party chicks throw at the band!
Don’t look too closely at the bathroom stalls,  though. The dividers are perfectly placed for some low perspective peeking.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Dennis gets to be part of some wonderfully over-the-top musical moments, including “We Built This City,” “The Final Countdown,” “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” and others. Which number has been the most fun to attack so far?

CLINT RANDOLPH: “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” is such a campy number that’s as funny as it is touching. It’s been a blast to perform that song every night .

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Rock of Ages takes place in an era when rock clubs, big hair, MTV and power ballads were practically their own cultural universe. My research tells me you are literally and 80s baby, having just made the cut with your ’89 birth. What piece of late-’80s rock culture do you think you would have embraced most enthusiastically?

CLINT RANDOLPH: I would have most likely been more of a Madonna fan than a rocker myself, but I love the glitz, glitter, and style of glam rockers. Long-haired shirtless men in tight pants are A+ in sex appeal.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: How has working with director Leslie Berra influenced the way you’re approaching Dennis as more than just the comic relief behind the bar?

CLINT RANDOLPH: Leslie is a very talented and visionary director. It is so refreshing to be trusted with my role and respected as a performer. Under Leslie‘s guidance and coaching, I have found many creative ways to bring depth, as well as charm, to the role. Leslie is so uplifting, positive, and generous to her actors and she always recognizes and acknowledges the hard work being done. Being a part of this show has inspired me as an actor, and reminded me why I love being a theater artist.

RAPID FIRE WITH CORRIE MAXWELL, JUSTICE CHARLIER IN ROCK OF AGES

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Justice has already lived enough life to recognize the difference between a dream and the reality of chasing one. What do you think she sees in Sherrie that makes her want to take the younger woman under her wing?

CORRIE MAXWELL: Justice sees Sherrie and immediately recognizes her younger self.  She WAS Sherrie. She moved to LA with high aspirations of being a singer (Sherrie, an actress) and I think she got beaten down by the culture that was the music business pre-“me too.”  In my mind, she ended up with nowhere to turn and in a similar situation. She may have had no family, no mother to turn to. I imagine that she bought the club from the previous owner to ensure that she could look out for those lost souls who needed family and a mentor and protector (or “Mama,” if you will), as well as to pave her own way so that no one could ever take advantage of her, or her girls, ever again if she could have anything to say about it. That’s why her motto is, “any way my girls want it,” and NOT any way the customers want it.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Justice runs the Venus Club, but she’s also something of a protector and maternal figure for the women who work there. How do you balance her tough exterior with the compassion underneath it?

CORRIE MAXWELL: She is a sharp businesswoman and knows that there is a tough balance between running a successful business that makes money, that allows her dancers/staff to make money, while sticking to principles. I imagine those are especially at odds in a business such as hers. I believe while she tries her hardest to protect her employees (i.e. no touching, etc…), she knows that sometimes in order to pay the bills they may have to suck it up and muddle through dancing for someone they despise. But I also think she is closely watching in those instances, like when she keeps an eye on Sherrie dancing for Stacy. The audience may not see her, but she’s watching; standing guard to be sure her family is safe. She’ll take their money but she will be damn sure her “family” comes out ahead.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: One of Justice’s most memorable musical moments comes near the end of act one when she and Sherrie team up for a classic 80s powerhouse musical sequence with “Harden My Heart/Shadows of the Night.” What makes that particular number such an exciting challenge for you as a performer?

CORRIE MAXWELL: Man – that is quite a moment. It’s that gut punch where you know someone is sad and hurting, and you’ve been there – you’ve felt that hurt, and you want to help. You know you can at least offer something to get them back on solid ground, even if it may not be what they ever expected or even wanted. And for me – it’s about somehow making her feel compelled to trust and go with me because she senses I will take care of her. That’s an exciting challenge. And I am a caretaker personality by nature, so I find myself truly experiencing that feeling of, “come on baby, I got you. You are safe with me!”

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If my research serves, you might actually remember the late-80s era at the heart of Rock of Ages. Please tell me as an 80s preteen girl you had a Sony Walkman…or at the very least might have made your own mixtape or two…What late 80s classic tune that’s not in the musical might you include as Justice’s theme?

CORRIE MAXWELL: Oh man. Yeah… for sure. I am part of that micro-generation between Gen X and Millennial that straddled the 80s and 90s. I for sure sat by my radio with my tape-loaded boom box ready to record my favorite songs when they came on. Haha I still have a few mixtapes in my possession. Then I was in middle school when CDs came out (game changer because you could no longer do the recording off the radio thing). My middle school was listening to Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Warrant, Guns and Roses… but also at the same time I was all into Pop, R&B, and Rap. I think, though, if I could add an anthem for Justice it would be either She Works Hard For the Money, or Control by Janet Jackson.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you hope audiences come away with after attending a performance of Rock of Ages?

CORRIE MAXWELL: I hope they leave smiling, laughing, and having had a great time, but I hope they also receive it’s underlying message. Behind all the camp and nostalgia, at the show’s heart is a theme of loving each other, without judgement, without fear, against the odds, and with all your heart.

Get ready to turn up the volume as The Gift of Song‘s Rock of Ages directed by Leslie Berra hits the stage October 2–4 & 8–10, 2026, at Mills-Pate Arts Center (7120 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro, TN 37129). Tickets are $21.74 for Seniors and Students and $26.91 for Adults, with fees included. So grab your tickets, tease that hair, break out the spandex or parachute pants and prepare for a night of power ballads, big dreams, bigger hair and the kind of unapologetic ’80s rock excess that Rock of Ages was built to deliver. CLICK HERE for tickets. To keep up with the latest from The Gift of Song, CLICK HERE or check them out on Facebook.

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