Rock and Roll Man is simply superb; a show filled with iconic music, an important story, and some laughs along the way, but it will also make you pause and think.
After watching the show, I spent some time thinking about how to describe the show, the superlatives I wanted to use to state just how good Rock and Roll Man is. I need more time to think...
Rock and Roll Man is a show about the life of the Cleveland radio disc jockey, Alan Freed. A man who was agnostic in his musical tastes and just wanted to play the songs that he thought young people would like listen to. This was a time when the US was deeply segregated, including radio stations.
A went against the establishment, coined the phrase Rock and Roll, and played what he considered the best music of its time, regardless of the colour of the act's skin.
Rock and Roll takes us on a journey with Alan, as he played the music of Little Richard, Chuck Berry, LaVern Baker, and many more alongside artists like Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis - not only on the radio, but at live concerts and on TV with artists of different backgrounds performing alongside each other - something unheard of at the time.
Along the way, he became an icon to the nation's youth and a target of the nation's establishment.
Now, I have had time to think about the show more. Musically, it is exceptional! There are some incredible voices on stage, bringing to life the aforementioned acts and plenty more. Voices that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up - smooth and soulful, all accompanied by a live band who are so tight you'd almost believe it's a recorded soundtrack.
Joey James, Cherece Richards, Anton Stephans, Jairus McClanahan, Marquie Hairston (Image: Pamela Raith Photography)
The band is led by Dominque Scott, who not only leads the band but also plays several characters in the play. His real highlight is a performance as Jerry Lee Lewis and Great Balls of Fire, featuring dynamic piano and vocals that leave you wanting more. It's incredible!
Bringing to life a cavalcade of musical legends featured in the show is a fantastic cast of singers and actors who elevate the piece musically. The deep soulful tones of Anton Stephans bring to life Bo Diddley and others. Cherece Richards will take you back in time with her amazing voice and on-stage sass. Marquie Hairston joins others in a Quartet as well as delivering his own solos as Frankie Lymon and others.
The standout performances come from Joey James as Chuck Berry. He has a divine voice that is so easy to listen to, it melts into you. Then there is Jairus McClanahan, whose performance of Little Richard is as comedically clever as it is musically brilliant. He had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand, sniggering, giggling, and clapping their hands in equal measure as he added a delightful campness to proceedings.
The biggest compliment to the cast is that it's tricky to spot (to the untrained ear), which are US and which are UK-based performers in a show full of American accents.
Exemplifying this is Gary Turner, who brings to life two important but different characters in the life of Alan Freed. First is Leo Mintz, a record shop owner who encourages Freed down the path of playing black music on the white radio station he works for in Cleveland. He also plays Morris Levy, a man of questionable morals who helps promote Freed after he moves to New York with his shows. Turner brings to life the two very different characters, with two different accents, brilliantly, adding his own vocals to a few numbers along the way.
Gary Turner as Morris Levy (Image: Pamela Raith Photography)
Finally, we come to Alan Freed himself, the star of the show. Played by two-time Tony-nominee Constantine Maroulis, reprising the role from the show's run in New York in 2023. Performing original tracks written for the show by Gary Kupper, he brings so much confidence to the performance and some amazing vocals, too. His acting is on point - capturing the emotional highs and lows of Freed's journey. The highs of appearing on his own ABC TV show, to the lows of being pursued by J. Edgar Hoover, and Freed's battle with drink.
Constantine Maroulis (Image: Pamela Raith Photography)
The set design is fantastic, with the use of lighting, screens, and props that allow the location to be switched in the blink of an eye, and it allows the cast the space to do what they clearly love to do - perform and make you feel like you are at the biggest party in town!
Rock and Roll Man sets an incredibly high bar for 2026 at Salisbury Playhouse - the show would not feel out of place in the West End, with vocal performances that will set your pulse racing, your foot tapping and have you on your feet by the end of the show.
This is a show not to be missed, and I implore you to book your tickets now - you will not be disappointed, it's quite possibly the best show I have ever seen at Salisbury Playhouse!
The show runs until Saturday, 7th March - Book now - https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/rock-roll-man
Want to know more about the show? Listen to our interviews with the cast and the creative team here:
Rock and Roll Man is produced by Wiltshire Creative, Rose Caiola for Caiola Productions and Julian Bird for Green Room Ents Ltd
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