Bust out the polyester and big hair — the sounds of the ‘80s are coming to UF.
The musical “Rock of Ages” is coming to the Phillips Center for Performing Arts on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the performance are $20 for UF students and can be purchased at the Phillips Center Box Office or the University Box Office.
A valid Gator 1 Card must be shown to purchase tickets.
“We’ve done these types of events before with ‘In the Heights’ and ‘The Wedding Singer,’” said Elizabeth Auer, the Phillips Center’s assistant director. “We can help them prepare for the tour, we’re known for doing this, and that’s why they asked us to host the show.”
The show is the first performance by the cast of a national tour directed by The Road Company, a New Yorkbased production company.
The cast arrived in Gainesville on Jan. 2 for its first rehearsal.
“This is the first time the cast has been on set — full costume, makeup, even wigs,” Auer said.
After kicking off in Gainesville, the tour is scheduled to continue throughout the nation, ending in Denver.
“We’ve had many more musicals this season than in the past,” said Todd Taylor, a Phillips Center public relations associate. “But of all the genres we present, the Broadway musicals appeal to UF students the most.”
UF biology freshman Kelsey Gwin, 18, has yet to attend a Broadway performance at the Phillips Center but said she didn’t realize ticket prices were so low.
“I don’t know why I haven’t gone yet,” she said. “‘Rock of Ages’ is definitely a fun show that I want to see.”
A version of this story ran on page 4 on 1/9/2014 under the headline "‘Rock of Ages’ tour to kick off at Phillips Center on Friday"
