I am so excited for 'The Heart of Rock and Roll'

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

On March 29, 2024, previews for the new Broadway musical ‘The Heart of Rock and Roll’ will begin at the James Earl Jones Theatre. The show features a score of Huey Lewis & The News hits, including “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” “Hip to be Square,” “Power of Love,” “Do You Believe in Love?” “If This Is It,” “Doing It All for My Baby,” “Stuck with You,” "I Want a New Drug,” “It’s Alright,” and “Heart and Soul.”

The show takes place in 1987 and centers on a couple of twenty-somethings on the cusp of their futures—Bobby, a rock and roller who’s traded his guitar for the corporate ladder, and his boss Cassandra who’s always put the family business first. When they both get a second shot at their dreams, it’ll take “The Power of Love” and a little help from their friends — to figure out what kind of life they want.

The cast will be led by Corey Cott and McKenzie Kurtz in the lead roles. The principal cast also includes Josh Breckenridge (Come From Away), F. Michael Haynie (Wicked), Zoe Jensen (Six), Tamika Lawrence (Caroline or Change), Raymond J. Lee (Sweeney Todd), John-Michael Lyles (A Strange Loop), Orville Mendoza (Swept Away), Billy Harrigan Tighe (Pippin) and John Dossett (Wicked).

Folks, when I say I am irrationally excited for this musical, words don’t begin to describe it.

I am a huge fan of Huey Lewis & The News. Their infectious blend of rock, pop, and soul puts me in a good mood anytime I hear one of their songs. Theirs was also one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.

It was the summer of 2003, I was home from college and my friends and I went to the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT to see the band. I didn’t know it walking into the venue, but what followed was an almost three-hour set that covered so many of their hits, that the band was taking requests by the end of the night.

It also didn’t hurt that they put on a great show and sounded wonderful live. From that moment on, I was a ride-or-die Huey Lewis fan.

Now fast forward to 2018 when the show premiered in San Diego at The Old Globe. I was very excited to see it but even more excited that there were rumors it was going to make its way to Broadway. Then COVID happened.

But I am so glad to see that plans were not abandoned to bring this show to NYC. Between this and the ‘Back to the Future’ musical, who would have thought that Huey Lewis’s music would be dominating 42nd Street?

I know there are a lot of people who are down on jukebox musicals, and I understand some of their frustrations. At the same time, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a show that’s purely meant to entertain and features a slew of songs that people love.

I will absolutely be going to see ‘The Heart of Rock and Roll’ when it opens in April and I hope you will too.