Theatermania
NY Stage Review
The New York Times
Look out for information about future productions.
ROCK & ROLL MAN is the original musical about a musical original. Alan Freed was a Cleveland DJ who heard the future—and knew he had to let it sing. He named the genre “Rock & Roll,” bringing music to the masses and integrating artists and audiences on the airwaves and in concerts for the first time in history. Along the way, he became an icon to the nation’s youth—and a target for the nation’s establishment.
In addition to explosive original songs written just for the stage, ROCK & ROLL MAN features classics created by legends such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, LaVern Baker, Buddy Holly, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Drifters, The Coasters, and The Platters, including genre-defying hits like “Tutti Frutti,” “Maybellene,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Yakety Yak,” and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.”
Freed’s passion for music inspired the generation that changed society forever.
ROCK & ROLL MAN features a book by Gary Kupper (Freckleface Strawberry The Musical - Outer Critics Circle nomination), Larry Marshak (editor of Night Beat Magazine and Rock Magazine), and Rose Caiola (Freckleface Strawberry The Musical - Outer Critics Circle nomination), original music and lyrics by Gary Kupper, vintage Rock & Roll elements developed by Marshak Classic Music LLC and Gary Kupper Music, direction by Tony Award® nominee Randal Myler (It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues), and choreography by Stephanie Klemons (Associate Choreographer and Global Dance Supervisor of Hamilton).
ROCK & ROLL MAN runs 2 hours and is recommended for ages 7+.
has been writing shows since he was a student at Bronx High School of Science. He was signed to Polydor Records and recorded an album backed by Van Morrison’s band, entitled Shoot For The Moon. He had songs recorded in movies and television. As a musician he backed up the iconic Chuck Berry all over the world. He also shared stages with Elton John, Jay Leno, James Brown, Gary U.S. Bonds, The Drifters, Ben E. King, Martha and the Vandellas, Percy Sledge, and many other notable entertainers. Musical Director, Forever Motown. Kupper’s theater work includes lyrics and music for an adaption of Freckleface Strawberry, based on the bestselling book by Julianne Moore, co-writing the script with Rose Caiola (New World Stages). The show was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle award for Best Musical and was named one of the “seven best family shows for Children in NYC” by WCBS. Other productions include Consumer Behavior (songs and co-wrote the book, Fringe Festival), Timmy The Great (Jay Binder, Savion Glover, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, directors), and Rubirosa (Playwrights Horizons).
was a staff writer and editor at Night Beat Magazine and the editor of Rock Magazine. He has written over 200 published pieces on the rock and roll culture, including in the autobiography of Bruce Springsteen. His first published piece was an interview in The Village Voice with Alan Freed. He produced dozens of rock and roll concerts, including the series of 30 Original Rock & Roll Shows in partnership with CBS Broadcasting in NYC. Marshak has had six productions in Las Vegas, including the longest-running show in history, Love Potion #10. He was the house producer at the Sid Caesar Theater and produced the road shows for Golda, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Play It Again Sam, Groucho, Forever Motown, The Golden Years of Music, Aaron Banks Wonderful World of Martial Arts, and The Golden Years of Comedy. He is the producer of the current touring version of Forever Motown and Lonesome Traveler and has managed The Drifters for forty years.
Rose conceived, co-wrote, and produced the Off-Broadway premiere of Freckleface Strawberry The Musical (Outer Critics Circle nomination for Best New Musical), based on Julianne Moore’s book, which premiered at New World Stages and is currently being licensed worldwide by Music Theatre International. Rose began her career as a dancer and actress and is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is the Founder and Executive Artistic Director of Manhattan Movement & Arts Center (mmac), a state-of-the-art dance and movement classroom, studio and performance facility near Lincoln Center, and Manhattan Youth Ballet, one of the country’s premier classical ballet academies.
is a Tony Award® nominee for co-conceiving and directing It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues at Lincoln Center. He is also known (both as writer and director) for his critically acclaimed Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Drama Desk, Lortel nom, Outstanding Musical; 2 years at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville) and his Janis Joplin bio-musical Love, Janis, which surpassed 700 performances at the former Village Gate. Mr. Myler's other numerous credits include co-conceiving Nat King Cole and Me with Gregory Porter; directing former Ronette Ronnie Spector's triumphant UK tour of Beyond the Beehive; directing Dream A Little Dream: The Mamas and Papas Musical with “Papa” Denny Doherty; Fire On The Mountain: Music Of The Coal Mines (Best Musical—Bay Area Critics); and, most recently, I'll Take You There: The Music Of Muscle Shoals. His extensive regional credits include The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Mark Taper Forum, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alley Theatre, Seattle Rep, Denver Center, Dallas Theatre Center, San Diego's Old Globe, and many others.
is a Drama Desk and Grammy® Award-winning Broadway performer, director, and choreographer. She’s the Associate Choreographer, Global Dance Supervisor, and an original cast member of the Tony & Olivier Award-winning smash Hamilton on Broadway, West End, and tours. Additional original company Broadway credits: In the Heights, If/Then, Bring It On (Assoc. Chor.). Other choreography and direction: Mozart (Carnegie Hall), In the Heights (Kennedy Center), This is Sadie (NYCCT), Little Shop of Horrors (ART), Gypsy (Marriot Theater), Rock of Ages (Drury Lane, PCLO), Frank Wildhorn’s Zelda (Flatrock Playhouse), Children of Salt (NYMF). Other choreography commissions: New Deco Orchestra, Norwegian Cruise Lines, American Dance Machine at The Joyce, and NBA’s Brooklynettes Dance Team. TV/Film Choreography: Victoria’s Secret “Umbrella Commercial Campaign,” George Michael X Vogue Music Video, “Let The Right One In” (Showtime), “Hunters” (Netflix). Stephanie was the choreographer behind the viral 2018 Super Bowl commercial “Time of My Life,” starring Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. Please visit KatiesArtProject.Org to learn more the non-profit she founded in 2010.
Native New Yorker, keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and music director, Dave is a 35-year veteran of the Blues, American Roots, and Broadway music scenes both in the pit and as a worldwide live touring musician in support of his 7 CDs. Dave’s Broadway credits include being the Associate Conductor for the 6-year Broadway run of the Grammy®-winning show Smokey Joe’s Cafe, in addition to other Broadway shows such as Lennon, Hot Feet, and numerous others. Over the last 10 years, in addition to his own band and solo gigs, Dave worked with bluesman Popa Chubby and R&R queen Ronnie Spector in addition to lengthy stints with such iconic legends as Odetta, David Johansen, Bo Diddley, Darlene Love, rockabilly man Sleepy LaBeef, and gospel great Marie Knight. Recently nominated for his 4th Blues Music Award, Dave is thrilled to be returning to his roots playing the great music of Rock & Roll Man.
Effective Date: February 23, 2023
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