Students teased up their hair, threw on some neon and rocked out like true ’80s legends. Why? Because the Middle School’s production of Rock of Ages was nothing short of epic. Under the direction of Middle School teacher Tom Hollingworth, in his debut as a musical director, this musical extravaganza delivered ’80s bangers, big dreams and even bigger hair. With a cast full of future rock stars and a team that gave it their all, this show was the definition of rad.
An ’80s adventure with a timeless twist
Set in 1987, Rock of Ages followed the journey of aspiring rock star Drew Boley and small-town sweetheart Sherrie Christian as they chased their dreams and fought to save the legendary Bourbon Room from doom. While the story was drenched in ’80s awesomeness, its themes of following your dreams, believing in yourself and standing up for what’s right resonated deeply with today’s latest rockers.
“The story itself is totally timeless,” said Hollingworth. “It’s all about finding your way, figuring out who you are and maybe falling in love along the way. Sure, the outfits were wild and the music was epic, but at its heart, this story was all about passion and perseverance.”
Despite being new to directing, Hollingworth approached the musical with the confidence and skill of a seasoned professional.
“I didn’t exactly have a background in the arts,” he revealed. “But I’ve always loved them! This was my chance to step out of my comfort zone and go full rock star.”
His experience directing mirrored the show’s themes: discovery, resilience and taking a leap into the unknown.
“One of the best parts of directing Rock of Ages was watching students realize what elements of a production like this excite them. That’s exactly what this process was for me!”
Middle schoolers: A force of nature
If you’ve ever met a Gen Z student, you know they have energy to spare. Hollingworth knew he had to harness that wild, wonderful energy and turn it into stage magic.
“When kids feel like they’re part of something epic, they give it everything they’ve got,” he said. “It’s not just about acting. It’s about owning the moment.”
But it wasn’t just about the spotlight.
“Some students fell in love with costume design, set building and even graphic design,” he added. “It was amazing to see them dive into different creative outlets.”
It takes a village
Pulling off a show this big took a village, or, in this case, an entire school. Assistant director and choreographer Arabella Martin and musical director David Enns were absolute rock stars in making this dream come true. Hollingworth gave them all the credit.
“Seriously, I couldn’t have done this without them. They were my backstage superheroes,” he said.
For students, this production was more than just rehearsing lines and nailing dance moves.
“This is what resilience looks like,” Hollingworth reflected. “Whether it was pushing through a tricky song, perfecting a dance routine or just supporting their castmates, these kids showed serious dedication.”
When the curtain rose, the excitement was at an all-time high.
“The energy in the theatre was off the charts,” Hollingworth said. “And knowing I helped bring that to life? Unreal.”
Packed with killer tunes, outrageous fun and heartwarming moments, Rock of Ages wasn’t just a school production. It was a full-blown rock spectacle. The next generation of rock legends had officially arrived.
