One of the best shows playing right now is the new musical Rock & Roll Man. The musical tells of the rise and fall of the Alan Freed (Tony Award®-nominee Constantine Maroulis), the most influential DJ in history. Freed was the first radio disc jockey and concert producer who frequently played, promoted and coined the phrase”rock and roll”. Freed broke racial barriers, refused to play cover versions done by white artists stealing black artists music and was a major source of power within the record industry. Put on trial by J. Edgar Hoover (Bob Ari) for among other thins Payola, he is defended by Little Richard (Rodrick Covington).

Is this an alcoholic dream or the moments before death? We learn how Freed started as a Cleveland disc jockey to a radio sensation and concert producer in New York thanks to Leo Mintz a record shop where Black and white teenagers hung out together  to consorting with Morris Levy, who ran a record company and owned Birdland, the same Jazz Club there today. Levy helped Freed break into concert promoting but Levy’s mob ties meant his assistance came with strings. Both characters are played by Joe Pantoliano who almost steals the show.

The score includes “Tweedle Dee,” “Jim Dandy,” “Tutti Frutti,” “Sixty Minute Man,” “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,”“Maybellene,” “Peggy Sue,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Yakety Yak,” “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” and more. The artists who made them famous were made teen idols by Freed and include; Chuck Berry (Matthew S. Morgan), LaVern Baker (Valisia LeKae), Buddy Holly (Andy Christopher), Bo Diddley (Eric B. Turner), Jerry Lee Lewis (the multi talented Dominque Scott), Frankie Lyman (Jamonté) The Drifters, The Coasters, and The Platters (Autumn Guzzardi, Anna Hertel, Dominque Scott, Natalie Kaye Clater, Lawrence Dandridge, AJ Davis)

Constantine Maroulis makes Freed likable, as he opens doors and closes doors for himself by becoming an alcoholic. His descent into loving booze over his life sadly ends at age 43. Maroulis shines in this role and rocks the hell out of Gary Kupper’s original songs. Maroulis who starred in Rock of Ages, has come along way and is a welcome addition to musical theatre.

This whole cast should be singled out for the amazing performances, their unique talent and their terrific ensemble work.

The story, by Kupper, Larry Marshak, and Rose Caiola, gives us 2 hours of wonderful music, history and a time when rock was king and was considered a threat to society.

Randal Myler’s direction keeps this show at clip and makes us understand where we have come from. The choreography by Stephanie Klemons is infectious, fun and wonderful to watch.

The period costumes by Leon Dobkowski are a blast from the past and well done, as is Tim Mackabee’s two-level set. The lighting by Matthew Richards and Aja M. Jackson bring both a dream like feel and the harsh glare of reality.

To quote the press release “Freed’s passion for music inspired the generation that changed society forever.” Though Freed was hunted and humiliated in this life, he  inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Rock & Roll Man will get your head a booping, your feet to tapping and have you leaving the theatre humming those memorable songs. This nostalgic heaven.

Rock & Roll Man: New World Stages, 340 W 50th Street, until September 3.

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