Joey Taranto Named Rock of Ages' New Drew; Mitchell Jarvis and Jay Klaitz to Rock as Stacee Jaxx and Lonny

A mosh pit of cast changes will rock the Broadway musical hit Rock of Ages this fall. Joey Taranto will assume the role of Drew on September 10, replacing Constantine Maroulis, who has been with the production since its original off-Broadway run in 2008. Maroulis plays his final Broadway performance on September 9 before reprising the role on the show’s first national tour, which kicks off in Chicago on September 21. (Watch our video for an exclusive look at Taranto getting the news he’ll rock Broadway as Drew!)

Current scene-stealer Mitchell Jarvis will also take on a new role, jumping from narrator Lonny to replace James Carpinello as fallen rock god Stacee Jaxx beginning September 13. Current Lend Me a Tenor cast member Jay Klaitz assumes the role of Lonny on September 6.

Taranto made his Broadway debut in Rock of Ages as a vacation swing, covering the role of Drew for Maroulis. The newcomer has previously appeared in regional productions of Rent and Tommy.

Klaitz, who will end his role as the Bellhop in Lend Me a Tenor on August 15, has also appeared on Broadway in High Fidelity. Off-Broadway, he has appeared in Expats. Klaitz can be seen on the big screen in Frozen River and Super Powers, as well as on TV in shows like Rescue Me and Law & Order: CI.

Rock of Ages is set in 1987 on the Sunset Strip, where a small town girl meets a big city rocker in L.A.’s most famous rock club. Their love story is told through the hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more.