Martin Meylin Middle School will present its 2024 musical, "Rock of Ages," on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5, 6 and 7, at Lampeter-Strasburg High School's performing arts center, 1640 Book Road, Lancaster. Doors for each show will open at 6:30 p.m., and the musical will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available to purchase at the door for a set price.

"Rock of Ages" is a jukebox musical that will take audiences back in time to the 1980s, featuring classic rock songs by famous artists such as Styx, Journey, Europe, Bon Jovi and Pat Benatar. Martin Meylin Middle School will present the youth edition of the Broadway musical, which will incorporate the same amount of iconic music, '80s fashion and nostalgia as its adult counterpart, but without any content that may not be appropriate for children.

"Rock of Ages" begins with the story's narrator, Lonny, who will be played by Cole Lyons, welcoming audience members to a renowned venue called the Dupree Room. Lonny introduces Drew, an employee at the venue and aspiring rockstar who will be played by Segen Perez-Valle. Drew meets a new arrival to the Sunset Strip named Sherrie, who will be played by Millie Ambrose. Sherrie left her hometown in Kansas to become a star in Los Angeles, and Drew helps her get a job at the Dupree Room. Meanwhile, the city's mayor, who will be played by Carson Beiler, plots to redesign the Sunset Strip and to demolish the Dupree Room. The scene is set for a showdown as the musicians fight to defend their stage, pursue dreams of fame and navigate romance and heartbreak in the world of rock 'n' roll.

The show's director, Memory D'Agostino, chose "Rock of Ages" as the 2024 musical to offer students and audience members an experience unlike recent productions. Last year, the middle school presented "Anastasia," a show with a heavier tone that takes place during the Russian Revolution. While searching for a more upbeat production, D'Agostino and assistant director Julie Palmer realized the school had never done a jukebox musical before. D'Agostino and Palmer concluded that "Rock of Ages" would also give students an opportunity to learn about the trends and tunes of the '80s, as well as give adult audience members a nostalgic blast from the past. "I'm a child of the '80s," D'Agostino said. "The music is near and dear to my heart, and we thought it would be a fun show for our students."

In preparation for showtime, D'Agostino gave cast members homework assignments that involved listening to '80s hits such as "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey and "The Search Is Over" by Survivor. Students also scoured thrift stores for old band T-shirts for costumes, and they practiced using a landline phone with a long chord for the first time.

"We're fortunate to have some really talented students both vocally and for acting," D'Agostino said. "I love to watch their growth from the first rehearsal to where they are now - it's pretty amazing." Many of D'Agostino's former students have continued to act at the high school level, including some Lampeter-Strasburg School District alumni who now perform at professional theaters in the local area and beyond. "We do what we need to build them up as actors," D'Agostino added. "It's a sort of proud mom moment to see them go on to theaters around the country."