The production of the musical “Rock of Age” at Orange County Community Theatre has earned real rock star credits.
REO SpeedWagon’s longtime base player Bruce Hall is partnering with Horizon West Theater Company on Broadway’s “Rock of Ages,” the upcoming show to open in the Southwest Orange Community on May 1st. The Hall family lives in this area.
“I remember my band approaching the early 2000s about the spinning new Broadway musicals around the ’80s. I was excited to learn that it would include two songs,” Hall says.
The musical debuted in 2009 before it opened in 2009. Goofy Comedy tells the story of an aspiring rock star who works in a funky nightclub where he is at risk, lost to corporate developers, using the music of artists such as Bonjovi, Journey, Pat Benatal, Foreigners, and Poison. Some of the 1980s hits include REO SpeedWagon’s “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “I Keep Loved You.”
Hall remembers that his debut of “Rock of Ages” was a real family affair for him at the time.
“My boy was very young when it first appeared, but growing up in a real ‘Rock World’ prepared this pretty well,” he says. “They grew up, they knew Styx, Pat Benatar, Night Ranger, Journey, and they loved their music. It was the first time they’d seen a Broadway production, and they loved it.
Hall’s son, Timmy, will become part of the show’s signature rock band called Arsenal. But the Hall family has also made a significant contribution behind the scenes, says Melissa Kratish Depot, a member of the theatre company’s board of directors.
“We are extremely grateful to Bruce and his family for their generous support in making our production possible,” Depot says. “With rising costs associated with rental space, their sponsorship was essential to bringing our vision back to life and continuing to bring theatre to our community.”
The company rents theatres from a production at Horizon High School.
Depot points out that Hall provides artistic and financial support.
“They were an integral part of the process and worked as creative consultants, from auditions to working closely with the band to contribute to creative ideas and help shape the entire production,” she says. “Their passion and dedication have really helped us guide us to the final product that we are all excited to share.”
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Blues Hall has donated band guitar picks, pennants and autographed poster items for REO SpeedWagon’s “fanpacks” that can be purchased with tickets for an additional $50 donation to the theatre company.
Formed in 1967, Reo SpeedWagon sold over 40 million records and charted 13 top 40 hits over decades. Hall joined the lineup in 1977 and in 2023 he stopped touring with the band and underwent back surgery. The band officially retired from their name at the end of 2024, but other former REO SpeedWagon members still touring and performing songs for the group.
Hall says he’s looking forward to seeing the show take the stage.
“How cool it’s to have my son Timmy Drum for Arsenal,” he says. “I’m going to be on all the shows. Our family can’t wait to see him and the amazing others shaking this May.”
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