Rock Theatre was a variety show performed at the Drama department of the University of Southern California during the early 1980s, which integrated the genres of Rock and Musical Theatre. After his graduation from USC, Rock Theatre director Greg Holford adapted the concept to his new position with a youth performing arts ensemble called Kids of the Century (formerly City of Los Angeles Children's Chorus), in partnership with Musical Director Terry Danne.
The new, younger, Rock Theatre was hired for performances at many community and industrial events, and participated in vocal/dance competitions throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1992, Rock Theatre became a California non-profit educational corporation, with the stated goal of providing excellent opportunities for performing arts education to the youth of Southern California. It was also in 1992 that the group was chosen to represent the United States at the World's Fair in Seville, Spain.
Among the alumni of Rock Theatre it its various incarnations are actors Ally Sheedy and Eric Stoltz, Dana Daurey (of the TV series Providence), Carmit Bachar (Pussycat Dolls), and Broadway headliner Mandy Gonzalez (In The Heights, Dance of the Vampires, Aida (musical)). While some alumni have gone on to perform on Broadway, TV, record albums, others have followed other career goals and passions.
Rock Theatre comprises two competition choirs in the movie Sister Act 2 and is featured on John Tesh's album The Choirs of Christmas. Other performance highlights include "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Pantages Theatre starring Sam Harris. In 2000, a new generation of Rock Theatre was selected to perform before an international audience with a performance tour of Australia. Performances included at the World Music Festival, Olympic Torch Relay, and at the Sydney Opera House.
Famous quotes containing the words rock and/or theatre:
“The forest waves, the morning breaks,
The pastures sleep, ripple the lakes,
Leaves twinkle, flowers like persons be
And life pulsates in rock or tree.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“To save the theatre, the theatre must be destroyed, the actors and actresses must all die of the plague. They poison the air, they make art impossible. It is not drama that they play, but pieces for the theatre. We should return to the Greeks, play in the open air: the drama dies of stalls and boxes and evening dress, and people who come to digest their dinner.”
—Eleonora Duse (1858–1924)