See Rock City & Other Destinations premiered off-Broadway at the Duke Theatre on 42nd Street on July 22nd, 2010 in a production by Transport Group, under the direction of Jack Cummings III and music direction of Justin Hatchimonji. Sets and costumes were by Dane Laffrey with lights designed by R. Lee Kennedy. The cast included Stanley Bahorek (Evan/Rick), Donna Lynn Champlin (Claire/Kate), Ryan Hilliard (Grampy/Carney), Jonathan Hammond (Dempsey/Tour Guide), Mamie Parris (Dodi/Lily), Bryce Ryness (Jess/Cutter) and Sally Wilfert (Lauren/Judy). Nicholas Belton replaced Bryce Ryness for the production's final extension.
Transport Group's production received 6 Drama Desk Nominations including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Direction of a Musical and Outstanding Lighting Design and Adam Mathias won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical.
The show is now available for licensing from Samuel French.
The libretto for the show can be purchased from Amazon.
In 2013 the off-Broadway cast recording was released by Yellow Sound Label under the auspices of Michael Croiter and is available from iTunes and Amazon.
Transport Group's production received 6 Drama Desk Nominations including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Direction of a Musical and Outstanding Lighting Design and Adam Mathias won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical.
The show is now available for licensing from Samuel French.
The libretto for the show can be purchased from Amazon.
In 2013 the off-Broadway cast recording was released by Yellow Sound Label under the auspices of Michael Croiter and is available from iTunes and Amazon.
Production History
Anthony Rapp sings 'Rock City'
See Rock City & Other Destinations began life as part of Raw Impressions Music Theatre Festival. Segments of the show were then presented at The Golden Fleece, Musical Mondays and the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop featuring the talents of Benjamin Schrader, Mamie Parris, Jill Abramovitz, Harris Doran, Cary Miller, Michael Bussilo, Joe Cassidy, Jac Hubberman, Steve Routman, Aron Accurso, Matt Mager & Colleen Hawks.
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In 2007, See Rock City... was awarded the Jerry Bock Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre. The award led to an industry reading of the complete show in February of 2008 under the direction of Kevin Del Aguila and musical direction of Vadim Feichtner and featuring Michael Arden (Jess/Evan), Mamie Parris (Dodi), Lisa Brescia (Lauren), Christian Borle (Dempsey/Tour Guide), John Horton (Grampy), Robb Sapp (Rick), Skylar Astin (Cutter) and Farah Alvin (Kate).
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 Brad & Adam with Jerry Bock |
 'The Alamo' at Barrington Stage  'Rock City' at Barrington Stage |
While in rehearsal for the reading, the authors received word that the show was being awarded the 2008 Richard Rogers Award from the American Association of Arts and Letters.
In the summer of 2008, See Rock City... was performed as part of William Finn's Musical Theatre Lab at Barrington Stage in Massachusetts. The full workshop production included sets, lights and costumes with Kevin Del Aguila and Vadim Feichtner reprising their roles. The cast included Benjamin Schrader (Jess/Cutter), Gwen Hollander (Dodi/Lily), Wesley Taylor (Evan/Rick), Cassie Wooley (Lauren/Judy), John Jellison (Grampy), David Rossmer (Dempsey/Tour Guide) and Jill Abramovitz (Kate/Claire). The Boston Globe reported, "Like its title, the small and winning new musical See Rock City & Other Destinations finds a singular attractiveness in tourist attractions." The show was named one of Metroland's Top 10 Theatre Events of 2008. |
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In the fall of 2008, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre presented See Rock City... as part of their annual New Musical Festival featuring Hunter Foster (Jess/Tour Guide).
In June of 2009, See Rock City... received a three week workshop in New York City under the auspices of Transport Group. The workshop was directed by Jack Cummings, III and musical directed (and orchestrated by) Justin Hatchimonji. The cast included Josh Young (Jess/Cutter), Phoebe Strole (Dodi/Lily), Stanley Bahorek (Evan/Rick), Kerry O'Malley (Lauren/Judy), Jonathan Hammond (Dempsey/Tour Guide), Ryan Hilliard (Grampy), and Heather Ayers (Kate/Claire). |
 'Niagara Falls' at Transport Group workshop  Stanley Bahorek as Rick |
 Jeremy Kushnier sings 'Rock City'  Adam with Will Swenson |
2009 also brought a concert reading of the show at Baldwin-Wallace College directed by Victoria Bussert and a full production at the University of Michigan directed by Brent Wagner. Both productions of the show were performed without the doubling of roles (15 actors each).
Songs from the show have been performed at venues across Manhattan including Birdland, Merkin Hall, The Laurie Beechman, The Duplex, The Triad, Don't Tell Mama, the Snapple Theatre Center and the Canal Room by performers such as Anthony Rapp, Kerry O'Malley, Jeremy Kushnier, Skylar Astin, Wesley Taylor, Will Swenson and more. |
