It’s ‘Rock’ not in Rio, but at the Rio when Broadway hit moves

The spoofy '80s jukebox musical "Rock of Ages" will relocate all fist-pumping and lighter-sparking activity to the Rio, reopening off-Strip on Jan. 25 after it ends three years at The Venetian on Jan. 3.

In a long-rumored move, the 2009 Broadway hit heads into the Rio's showroom, which will be renamed the Rock of Ages Theater. The venue received significant upgrades to its stage area for the short-lived "Duck Commander Musical" earlier this year.

"Rock of Ages" will continue to be produced by Base Entertainment, which brought it to The Venetian, in partnership with original Broadway producer S2BN Entertainment.

"Rock" defied a losing streak for Broadway musicals in Las Vegas casinos when it opened in late 2012, while still running on Broadway (it has since closed). The Venetian was all-in, naming a casino bar The Bourbon Room in honor of the play's fictional Sunset Strip rock club.

But "Rock" is part of an apparent entertainment housecleaning, which also cut free Bob Anderson's "Frank — The Man. The Music" tribute and has left the future of the Human Nature vocal group in question.

— Read more from Mike Weatherford at reviewjournal.com. Contact him at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com and follow @Mikeweatherford on Twitter.