HAMMERFALL, THERION, Ex-EUROPE Members To Star In Swedish Version Of 'Rock Of Ages' Musical

Kee Marcello (EUROPE),Joacim Cans (HAMMERFALL) and Thomas Vikström (CANDLEMASS, THERION) have been cast in the Swedish version of the hit Broadway musical "Rock Of Ages", which is set to invade Chinateatern in Stockholm this spring. The cast also features some of Sweden's top actors, comedians and singers, including Johan Rheborg, Peter Magnusson, Gladys del Pilar and Peter Johansson (who played the main character Galileio in "We Will Rock You" on West End 2003-2007).

A success on Broadway, West End and in Hollywood, the hottest rock musical in the world will have its Swedish premiere on February 21, 2013.

When director Anders Albien got the assignment to launch "Rock Of Ages" in Sweden, he chose to look for artists outside the common parameters of musical actors. Unlike the casts in both the Broadway and West End productions, he wanted real-life rock stars as well as feature film actors in the cast to give authenticity to the show.

"Rock Of Ages" is a rock/jukebox musical, built around classic rock hits from the 1980s, especially from the famous glam metal bands of the decade. The musical features songs from STYX, JOURNEY, BON JOVI, EUROPE, PAT BENATAR, TWISTED SISTER and POISON, among other well-known rock bands.

The show is noted for being more lighthearted and comedic than other shows on
Broadway. During the performance, the cast members frequently break the "fourth wall", directly addressing the audience and seemingly forgetting (or perhaps reminding the audience) that they are actors in a musical.

"Rock Of Ages" is produced by 2Entertain in cooperation with Vicky Nöjesproduktion.

Tickets go on sale on November 26.

The film adaptation of "Rock Of Ages" — with an all-star cast including Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand — was released on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download on October 9.

The soundtrack to the film adaptation of "Rock Of Ages", which features the cast — Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Brand and Julianne Hough — singing some of the greatest hits of the "hair-band" era, sold 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at opposition No. 15 on The Billboard 200 chart. The original cast production of the stage show peaked at No. 118 in 2009.