‘Rockae’ promises to rock audiences

“The Rockae,” a new 1980s glam-rock musical, is making its collegiate debut at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the Wells-Metz stage.

Based on a Greek tragedy by Euripides, “The Rockae” follows the Greek god Dionysus, god of wine and festivity, who has returned to his hometown of Thebes to punish his family and town for refusing to worship him.

Director George Pinney, head of musical theater at IU, and writer Peter Mills have been fervently working the past three weeks with the cast and crew.

“It allows the creators to re-work things and have the luxury of being able to change things with the show on its feet,” Pinney said.

For example, the opening number has been completely revised due to contributions from the actors and the writers.

“What makes it a workshop is the collaborative process aspect of it,” sophomore Hana Slevin said. “It gives the writers a forum to bounce idea’s off everyone. We all contribute.”

Slevin plays Lydia, one of the three Bacchae, or followers of Dionysus.
“It’s neat how one of the actors can make a suggestion and the writers will go with it,” she said.

“The Rockae” follows the story of its predecessor closely while attempting to make the story more accessible to a wider audience.

“It appeals to people who maybe aren’t even that into musicals,” Slevin said. “It’s kind of like a rock concert at times – it’s just so much fun.”

Contrary to the majority of Greek tragedies where all the action happens offstage while the chorus informs the audience of what’s going on, “The Rockae” brings that action onstage, making the show different from its contenders.

“From the second the audience walks into the theater, they become a character in the show,” Pinney said. “Walking in is like walking into a construction site. It’s beyond entertainment.”

Pinney said he believes audience members will leave the theater feeling energized.

“It’s the Red Bull of musical theater,” Pinney said. “Everyone from every corner of the show is so psyched for the show and has gone beyond the call of duty.”