Rock out this weekend with ‘A

The four leads in the musical “A-Wop Bop A-Loo Bop” include, from left, Gaven De Jager as Raymond, Ellie Sinclair as Judy, Mason Kind as Gary and Lauren Sinclair as Ruby.

The Ripon Area Community Theater will take its audience members back to the early days of rock ’n‘ roll this week with “A-Wop Bop A-Loo Bop.”

The musical tells the story of one young girl, an aspiring star in the new field of rock ’n‘ roll, who stood up for what she believed in.

Roberts “Ruby” Lester, played by Lauren Sinclair, is a young adult who dreams of making it big in the music industry, but the local radio station decides to shut down the idea of playing rock ’n‘ roll. Ruby and her friends take a stand against the radio station and its owner.

The musical is based on true stories from the 1950s and 1960s, the era of the birth of rock ’n‘ roll, and is in the tradition of other musicals about the subject, including “Hairspray.”

Other characters in the musical include Ruby’s friends, Judy, played by Ellie Sinclair; Donna, played by Maddy Borski; Sally, portrayed by Ryleigh Spillman; and Josephine, played by Bella Geisthardt.

Ruby’s boyfriend, Gary, portrayed by Mason Kind, has a rock ’n‘ roll band that is trying to make it in the music industry as well. When the local radio station starts a campaign that says “Rock ’n‘ roll has to go,” the fight to save rock ’n‘ roll is on.

The cast includes students from the Ripon Area School District as well as adult actors from the area. The musical is co-directed by Linda De Jager and Kim Sinclair. The music director is Lily Laun Orgill and the choreographer is Ricardo Puente Romo.

Featuring such classics as “Rock Around the Clock,” “Johnny B. Goode” and “Jailhouse Rock,”performances will take place Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Ripon High School auditorium.

Cost of admission is $10 for adults. Children under 12 are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at https://showtix4u.com/event-details/75627.

The Ripon Area Community Theatre is a sponsored program of the Ripon Noon Kiwanis. The musical has been co-sponsored by Dante and Jennifer Houston.

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