As pantomime season comes to a close, excitement is building at Salisbury Playhouse as rehearsals begin for our next major production, Rock & Roll Man. This week we are delighted to welcome an exceptional cast and creative team into the rehearsal room, led by Tony Award nominee Randal Myler (Director).

Rock and Roll Man tells the remarkable true story of Alan Freed, the Cleveland DJ who brought rock and roll to the masses, risking everything to share the music he believed would change the world. Freed’s journey explodes onto the Playhouse stage with iconic hits including Tutti Frutti and Great Balls of Fire, alongside original songs and choreography by Stephanie Klemons (Hamilton).

The production stars Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis as Alan Freed, with standout performances from Jairus McClanahan as Little Richard, Mark Pearce as J Edgar Hoover, Cherece Richards as LaVern Baker, Dominique Scott as Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gary Turner as Leo Mintz/Morris Levy.

They are joined by Joe Bence, Marquie Hairston, Joey James, Shelby Speed, Anton Stephans, with understudies Xorael Harrison, Jessica Ncube, and Grant Zavitkovsky.

Following a hit run in New York, Wiltshire Creative is thrilled to be working with American producers to bring this explosive original musical to UK audiences for the first time. With a powerful story and a score packed with toe-tapping tunes, Rock & Roll Man promises an unforgettable and uplifting evening.

Rock & Roll Man runs at Salisbury Playhouse from 13 February to 7 March, before touring to Theatre Royal Windsor, Lighthouse Poole and Arts Theatre Cambridge.

Constantine Maroulis as Alan Freed

Constantine Maroulis is a two-time Tony Award–nominated actor, singer, songwriter, director, and producer whose electrifying performances have made him a standout force on Broadway, television, and the international concert stage. He earned a Tony nomination for Best Actor, a Drama League nomination for Distinguished Performance, and Broadway.com’s Star of the Year for his star-making turn as Drew Boley in the five-time Tony-nominated smash Rock of Ages, later reprising the role on tour and helping define a new era of rock-driven musical theatre.

He went on to headline Broadway’s Jekyll & Hyde on Broadway and tour, earning major critical acclaim. Additional theatrical credits include The Wedding Singer (Broadway), Spring Awakening, RENT, Jacques Brel, The Toxic Avenger, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rocktopia, Avalona, and more.

Maroulis first gained international recognition as a finalist on American Idol during its cultural peak with Carrie Underwood. A prolific recording artist, he has released multiple original albums and continues to tour globally, most recently performing alongside Foreigner. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he is a graduate of The Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music. Constantine is father to Malena James.

Constantinemaroulis.com

Joe Bence as Buddy Holly/Actor Musician

Joe is an actor and musician originally from East London.

Theatre credits include: Death Comes to Pemberley (No1 UK Tour/The Mill at Sonning); Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet (Barn Theatre).

Screen credits include: Apsley Cherry-Garrard in the Antarctic biopic The Worst Journey In The World (prod. Wild Films); Nev in Deadline (Endless Pages); Joey in Never Going To Beat You (Crispy Biscuit Films).

Voiceover credits include: Kyle in the Invisible Fiends book series; Police Operator in The Magnus Protocol (Rusty Quill podcasts).

Marquie Hairston as Frankie Lymon/Ensemble

Marquie Hairston (he/him) was born and raised in Martinsville, Virginia USA. He received his BA in vocal performance at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Marquie has worked with numerous cruise-ship companies over the span of 10 years. He was recently featured in the Motown headlining group Uptown! touring across the United States.

US Regional Theatre credits include: Hairspray, Oklahoma, Smokey Joes Cafe, and All Shook Up!

Marquie is thrilled to join the cast of Rock and Roll Man.

Joey James as Chuck Berry/Ensemble

Joey is a London-based actor and vocalist, recently seen as the lead in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Lyric Hammersmith.

West End credits include: Tina – The Tina Turner Musical.

Other stage highlights include: Thriller Live (Lyric Theatre & UK Tour) and Whitney – Queen of the Night (UK & Europe).

A former X Factor finalist with Rough Copy, Joey has also performed alongside Emeli Sandé, Jason Derulo, and Jessie J.

Jairus McClanahan as Little Richard

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, Jairus has been making waves on West End stages since his arrival in 2021. Even before graduating with an MA from the Royal Academy of Music, he landed his first professional role in Disney’s The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre. Jairus went on to portray Raymond in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical and has more recently joined the cast of one of the world’s most acclaimed musicals, Hamilton. Jairus is thrilled to be teaching at schools throughout the UK and has more recently taught at the Birmingham Ormiston Academy. He hopes to inspire the youth in every classroom; making lasting impressions, so the next generation can succeed in the arts.

Mark Pearce as J Edgar Hoover

Mark trained at Central and can currently be seen as ‘Time Thief Terry’ in the new series of Odd Squad on CBBC.

West End credits include: Sheriff in Groundhog Day (Old Vic); Thénardier in Les Miserables (Sondheim Theatre); Jake Blues in The Blues Brothers (Arts Theatre); Mama Disco in Sensory Cinders (Soho Place) and Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses The Musical (Theatre Royal Haymarket).

Other stage credits include: Hospital Ghost in the original cast of Ghost The Musical; The Wedding Singer (Leicester Curve, UK tour and Korea); This Is Elvis (Bill Kenwright); Fletcher in Porridge (The Lowry); A Night In Provence (The Mill at Sonning); Life of Pi (original production); Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oxford Shakespeare Company); The BFG (Dukes, Lancaster); Snow Child (York Theatre Royal); ‘Allo ‘Allo (UK tour) and Run For Your Wife (Vienna’s English Theatre).

Mark has previously played lead comic/Dame in 16 seasons of panto including: Cinderella (The Lowry); Sleeping Beauty (Theatre By The Lake, Keswick); Aladdin (Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering) and Snow White (Hayes Beck/Qdos).

Most recently Mark played the lead, Inspector Pratt, in the farce Death By Fatal Murder (Nottingham Theatre Royal) and toured the UK with The Ripper Files.

Mark is the face of Taylor’s of Harrogate coffee adverts.

Other TV includes: Hornblower (ITV); Crimewatch (BBC); Win, Lose or Draw (ITV); Strutter (MTV) & The 2020 final of Britain’s Got Talent (ITV).

Cherece Richards as LaVern Baker

Training: Italia Conti, BA (Hons), 2020-2023.

Theatre credits include: Dragon in Shrek (Eventim Apollo & UK/Ireland tour 2023-2024); Ti Moune U/S in Once on this Island (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2023); Enchantress in Beauty and the Beast (Richmond Theatre 2024); Midnight (London & New York 2025).

Concerts include: Little Piece of You: An Atypical Musical in Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).

Recordings include: Get Away (Cherece Richards); Here Right Now (Cherece Richards); Although (Cherece Richards); Blue Skies (Cherece Richards).

Dominique Scott as Jerry Lee Lewis and Musical Director

Dominique Scott is an award-winning actor and pop/rock artist who has performed around the world in Broadway productions such as Hedwig, Bandstand, Rock of Ages, Million Dollar Quartet and Kinky Boots. Dominique is making his UK debut with Rock and Roll Man, a show he originated Off-Broadway in 2023. He also performs with several bands, including Rubix Kube, the Rock of Ages Band, and Sugarmore, as well as his solo project, The Dom Scott Experience. “DOM SCOTT” just released his debut pop album RISE (Spotify/Apple Music/etc) - which his mom says is the best music she’s ever heard. Thanks to Rose, Randy, Gary, Stephanie, Mikey, KMA, Wiltshire Creative, Salisbury Playhouse, as well as this amazing cast/crew/band. Love to Staz/Mullen crew and my wife, Shannon. @domscottrocks domscott.com

Shelby Speed as Ensemble

Training: Laine Theatre Arts.

Theatre credits include: The Further Adventures of Peter Pan (Kenton Theatre, Henley); Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour (West End/Middle East/UK Tour); Puss in Boots (The Spotlight, Hoddesdon); The New Adventures of Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty & Beauty & the Beast (Mercury Theatre, Colchester); Here Comes Santa Claus (New Wimbledon Theatre Studio); Aladdin (Towngate Theatre, Basildon); Gigi & Fantastic Mr Fox (Open Air Theatre, Regents Park); Grease (Goodwood) and Singin’ in the Rain (Adelphi Theatre/Showtime Challenge).

Cruise credits include: P&O Cruise Liners, Australia (Grayboy Entertainment).

TV credits include: The X Factor (ITV).

Anton Stephans as Bo Diddley/Judge/Ensemble

Theatre credits include: Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors (UK Tour); Fizz in Bugsy Malone (Her Majesty’s Theatre); Monsieur Vernier in Mathilde (Vaudeville Theatre); Lead Vocalist in Blues Brothers Meet Soul Sisters (Theatre Royal); Porgy in Porgy and Bess (Savoy Theatre); Poppa in Starlight Express (UK & International Tour); Musical Lead in Smokey Joe’s Cafè West End (Prince of Wales Theatre, UK Tour, Broadway & US Tour); Lead Vocalist in Hey Mr. Producer (Lyceum Theatre); Principle in Riverdance (Broadway, West End & International Tour); Crying For You…No More (Fortune Theatre); Musical Lead in Dancing and Singing The Blues (European tour); Classique (Off Broadway & US Tour); Songs of Broadway (Off Broadway & US Tour); An Evening with Anton (Congress Theatre, Eastbourne); Lead Singer in Riverdance (European Tour); Company in Show Boat (Royal Albert Hall); Father in Children of Eden (Prince of Wales Theatre); Sweeney Todd (Chichester Festival Theatre); Leadville in Fishermans Friends (International & UK Tour); Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar (West End & International Tour); Leadville in Fishermans Friends (National and International Tour); Tarantino Live (Riverside Studios).

Television credits include: Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Channel 4); Presenter and Lead Vocalist in Tribute to Motown (MTV); Backing Vocalist for George Michael, Sting, Chaka Khan and Elton John on Top of the Pops; George Michael concert (MTV); Presenter and Lead Vocalist for Ebony Magazine Show; A New Aria (BBC 2 Shakespeare season); Finalist on X Factor (2015).

Film credits include: The Double (A George Lucas short movie); Narrator of The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 2021); Earned a Best Narrator nomination on Audible Books for narration of Winnie the Pooh (Disney, Summer 2022).

Radio credits include: Montano in Othello Blacking Iago (BBC Arts Intermission Theatre); Resident singer for BBC Radio London; Play for Today; Alan Bennett monologues.

Gary Turner as Leo Mintz/Morris Levy

Born and raised in Chester and North Wales, Gary graduated from RADA in 1991. His career has taken him all over the world working extensively in TV, film and theatre.

He’s played countless leading roles from Macbeth to spending three years as Carlos Diaz in ITV’s Emmerdale; from Henry Jekyll to Sy Spector in the Bodyguard musical; from Captain Hook (9 times) to touring an award-winning (TMA) one-man show Toro! Toro!.

Other TV credits include: Anthony Bourdain for Sky TV; the evil Nathan Blake in Hollyoaks, Let Loose, Soldier, The Bill, Anatomy of a Crime, Courtroom and Families.

On Film he played Duncan Grant in Carrington and Roberto in Never Mind.

He played Peter in Strictly Murder, which toured the UK for Hello World productions which is now being turned into a major feature film On The Edge of Darkness, currently in pre-production.

Other Theatre credits include: Gary Goodman in Glamour (Nottingham Playhouse); Silva Vaccero in Baby Doll (Glasgow Citz); Orpheus in Orpheus and Ion in Ion the Lost Boy Found (World Tour and Lyric Hammersmith, London); Ferdinand in The Tempest (Nottingham Playhouse and World Tour); Lilo in Cafe Vesuvio (Manchester Royal Exchange); The Bad One (UK Tour); How the Other Half Loves (UK tour); Bali – The Sacrifice, A Passionate Woman (Leicester Haymarket); Much Ado About Nothing (Northcott Theatre, Exeter Open Air); Toby Belch in Twelfth Night.

A keen improviser, he is one of the founding members of The Spontaneity Shop Improv Company, and voices documentaries, commercials and audio dramas. He plays guitars, writes scripts – but more than anything, he is a proud dad to his daughters Betsy and Lola.

Xorael Harrison as Understudy

Training: Sylvia Young Theatre School and The Academy of Contemporary Music.

Theatre credits include: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (West End) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Royal Albert Hall).

Xorael is delighted to be joining the cast of Rock and Roll Man and extends his sincere thanks to his family, friends, and his agent, Natasha at YOU Management, for their unwavering support.

Jessica Ncube as Understudy

Grant Zavitkovsky as Understudy

Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and Coastal Carolina University

Credits include: Syd Norman’s Pour House (Norwegian Cruise Line); Newsies (John W. Engeman Theatre); American Idiot (Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte); Ghost (Theatre of The Republic); Rock of Ages, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (McLeod Summer Playhouse).