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Rock & Roll Man

Presented by Wiltshire Creative, Rose Caiola for Caiola Productions and Julian Bird for Green Room Ents Book by Gary Kupper and Larry Marshak and Rose Caiola Original Music and Lyrics by Gary Kupper Vintage Rock & Roll Elements Developed by Marshak Classic Music LLC and Gary Kupper Music

Mon 23 – Sat 28 Mar 2026

Rock & Roll Man is an electrifying new musical celebrating radio's 'father of rock 'n' roll' Alan Freed - the Cleveland DJ who brought rock 'n' roll to the masses and changed the course of music history. See this electrifying show, coming to UK audiences for the first time after a hit run in New York.

Rock & Roll Man is the original musical about a musical original.

Alan Freed was a trailblazing Cleveland DJ who heard the future and knew he had to let it sing. He was the first important rock ‘n’ roll disc jockey with an ability to tap into and promote the emerging black musical styles of the 1950s to a white mainstream audience.

He named the genre ‘rock ‘n’ roll’, bringing music to the masses. Along the way, he became an icon to the nation’s youth, and a target for the nation’s establishment.

Freed’s passion for music inspired the generation that changed society forever.

His journey explodes onto our stage with iconic hits including Tutti Frutti and Great Balls of Fire, alongside original songs and choreography by Stephanie Klemons (Hamilton).

Enjoy explosive original songs written just for the stage, alongside classics from legends such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry,  Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, and The Drifters. Revel in genre-defying hits like Tutti Frutti,  Great Balls of Fire, Yakety Yak, and Why Do Fools Fall in Love.

Following the hit New York run, Wiltshire Creative is thrilled to be working with American producers to bring this explosive original musical to UK audiences for the first time.

With a powerful story and a score packed with toe-tapping tunes, Rock & Roll Man promises an unforgettable and uplifting evening.

* New York premiere presented at New World Stages in 2023 by

*Caiola Productions, Benedetti Productions, Maria Caiola, Colleen Freed,

*HopeJoy Productions, Jay & Cindy Gutterman, and MTTM Theatrics

 

Rock & Roll Man runs at Salisbury Playhouse from 13 February to 7 March, before touring to Theatre Royal Windsor, Lighthouse Poole and Arts Theatre Cambridge.

 

 

Constantine Maroulis

Alan Freed

Joe Bence

Buddy Holly

Marquie Hairston

Frankie Lymon/Ensemble

Joey James

Chuck Berry/Ensemble

Jairus McClanahan

Little Richard

Mark Pearce

J Edgar Hoover

Cherece Richards

Lavern Baker

Dominique Scott

Jerry Lee Lewis and Musical Director
The audience is in rock & roll heaven!

New York Stage Review

Irresistible choreography and top-notch performances

Theatermania

A parade of hits

The New York Times

Mr Maroulis' voice is a gorgeous, crystal-clear, unwavering, bright tenor instrument that will blow you away

Houston Chronicle

Mr Maroulis, the onetime American Idol finalist and a Tony nominee for Rock of Ages, has bloomed into a fine actor... he gives a wonderfully sensitive performance

The New York Times

The joy of the show - the chance to hear classic rock and roll

Talkin' Broadway