Original Rock Musicals -- A List of New and Undiscovered Rock Musicals

Introduction

This site is intended as a resource for those who are interested in original rock musicals and for those who have written original musicals and want to develop and/or promote their work. In addition to a comprehensive list of these new or undiscovered musicals, there are links to other pages that provide helpful information. Enjoy, and good luck to you!

Description: Based on Goethe's immensely popular novel. Both English and German translations are provided. Classic rock sound, with some pop-influenced songs. Music seems to be a combination of 60s and 80s rock, with some "Rocky Horror" thrown in.
Comment: Great show, with cool web page. Music is quite strong, with one good song after another. Lyrics seem a bit clumsy at times, which may result from the translation. Things drags a bit during Grete's ballads, and the show ends abruptly, but these are minor criticisms. Faust appears to have only been produced in Germany, but it should only be a matter of time before it reaches the States.

Description: Set in the latter part of the 21st century, this musical depicts the journey of a man to discover the meaning of an event in his youth, in order that he may save souls that have been "uploaded" into cyberspace. The music is not classic rock, but rather leans toward standard contemporary Broadway tunes.
Comment: This show is nicely polished and has the makings of a successful musical. The Web site nicely conveys the story while allowing sampling of music. The story line is a bit far out, but after all, this is the future!

Description: Rock musical based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Music has definite pop influences and is all sung by the composer, C. Rainey Lewis. The show premiered October 1998 at the King Cat Theater in Seattle.
Comment: Man, can this lady sing, with both voice and music sounding like Tina Turner. She's written some top notch songs. The songs tend to sound a little the same after a while, however, and one wonders how well the songs will work without a virtuoso giving them voice. The Web page is professionally done and is definitely worth the visit.

Description: Rock musical based on Charles Dickens' "Tale of Two Cities." Sounding somewhat like rockified traditional broadway songs, the music mixes upbeat pop-driven tunes with generous libretto. The composer, Desmond Flannery, appears to be influenced by his experiences in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Comment: Though apparently not yet fully staged (as of 11/1/00), this show looks to be a winner. A nice Web page provides good information and a nice cross sampling of music clips of just the right length.

Description: 1991 album by the rock group Savatage, depicting the life of a rock star borne of the street and struggling with his addiction to drugs.
Comment: Get ready to rock! If you like Metallica, you need to check this out. The Savatage Web page does not provide much information about the rock opera, but there are a few samples.

Description: Closely based on Bram Stoker's Dracula, this musical provides an eclectic mix of rock, ballad and orchestral compositions. The show was originated by the Milwaukee Rock Opera Company and first performed in 1997.
Comment: This is a complete work with catchy, distinctive tunes. It has now been performed in four countries and three different languages, receiving positive critical review.

Description: Songs are loosely related to the story of Alice in Wonderland, with an alternative sound, similar to Rent.
Comment: This show has solid songs that are engaging and fun (and very tight!). The name aptly conveys the tenor of this piece, with alternative music giving an interesting twist to an old tale.

Description: As explained on the CD cover, "Bombast is a fugitive from the Assolian Empire, where he was imprisoned for crimes of creativity. He escaped and fled to Earth where his talents could be fully appreciated and purchased."
Comment: Don't let the cheesy CD cover and lame premise fool you, this CD contains some serious stuff. It makes a statement about creative individuals and the society that feeds upon them, and does it with music that is distinctive and developed. The CD presents a unique voice (in both the literal and figurative sense).

Description: Very professionally done project by working modern composer. This rock-based musical pulls together various songs to depict our modern (and somewhat dark) existence.
Comment: I couldn't quite follow the story from the songs, but the music is very good and should be well liked by a wide audience. Previews of the show have received critical praise.

Description: Based on London's most notorious resident, this historical rock opera presents a mix of musical styles. It's hard to categorize this music-- some techno-pop, some reminiscent of The Doors, none of it guitar driven.
Comment: Though sound quality is not the best, the selections demonstrate a well-rounded show with solid, distinct and structured songs that capture the essence of the story. Vocals seem well suited to the songs. Excellent CD cover!

Description: This 45-minute CD recounts the mythical story of Atlantis. The musical style is very akin to Pink Floyd, with straightforward melodies and elegant guitar work.
Comment: Chris Salvatore (and friend) have put together a very nice CD with good sound quality and fine musicianship. Though it could use some work before staging to flesh out a discernible story line, this piece has much potential and should have broad appeal.

Criteria for Listing

This list is meant to be a comprehensive list of all original rock musicals available on the Internet (that provide audio samples for review). An attempt has been made to place them in order with the best at the top. Please keep in mind that this is an inherently subjective process with many considerations involved. Factors include the following:

-- quality of the Web site
-- accessibility of the audio format (RealAudio preferred)
-- sound quality
-- amount of music for review
-- adaptability of the music for the stage
-- whether or not it is true rock music

Please inform me of any additional rock musical Web sites by sending an email here: