Review of London Rocks at Busch Gardens® Williamsburg

London Rocks™ debuted May 16 at Busch Gardens® inside the park’s Globe Theatre. The show’s first public performance was one of several technical dress rehearsals held in advance of the show’s scheduled May 23 premiere. London Rocks tells a story about a young girl’s journey to adulthood and the music that influenced her life along the way.

The birth of professional theatre in the New World began in Williamsburg which is why "it is so special to celebrate live entertainment in a unique way that touches the audience through emotion, technology, and great performance," said Vice President of Entertainment at Busch Gardens®,  Scott Gasparich. 

London Rocks™ is a Broadway quality, lively, and highly entertaining show for the senses. It has the unique ability to engage and enlighten audiences of all ages. London Rocks also marks the permanent return of live entertainment to the Globe Theatre. 

“We’ve never produced a show of this magnitude here at Busch Gardens,” Gasparich said. “The state-of-the-art technology used for London Rocks offers production possibilities we never thought possible at the park.”

Review of the show:

Prior to the performance, I got to meet Jacob, one of the ensemble cast members.  He told me there are two casts for the production, and they have been rehearsing nonstop for the past month.  I asked him if the cast had a favorite number in the show, and he responded that even though every song is really great and visual, the finale is a cast favorite because it is "go big or go home."  

Upon entering the Globe Theatre, you are immediately awestruck with the new, giant multimedia stage.  While waiting in your seats, the audience is entertained with humorous, short clips of the "Queen of England" teaching proper tea etiquette (pinkies out please!) and giving an overview of theatre rules (silence your cell phones!) 

When the show starts, we meet a young girl, her yellow raincoat stands out on the dull London streets.  She rushes home to play her newest record, and the musical story begins on her sweet journey through adulthood in the 1960s and 70s.  The fun, familiar music bursts through nearly 2,000 audio speakers, and colorful set is glazed with custom video animation and concert-style lighting.  I loved the selection of songs. The score features hits from the glory days of the British Invasion, including the Queen, David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, and a very heavy emphasis on the Beatles. 

Younger audience members will love the musical bit with the puppets of the three children riding in the back of a 70s van that transforms into the psychedelic, imaginative "Octopus' Garden" and "I am the Walrus" mash-up, complete with floating bubbles. 

London Rocks was honestly the best show I have ever seen at Busch Gardens® and found the vibrant costumes, dancing, and vocals impressive.  As a New Yorker, I grew up on Broadway shows and have seen shows of such magnitude at other theme parks.  Although my children weren't familiar with all the songs as I was, they loved the performers and were memorized by the multimedia set. 


I highly recommend taking time out of your day at Busch Gardens® Williamsburg (or even PLANNING your day around) to see this newest production! The running time is approximately 30 minutes and  premieres to the public on May 23, 2014.  Although it is included with Busch Gardens admission, advance, complimentary tickets for specific performances are distributed throughout the day from a ticket booth next to the Globe Theatre on a first come, first served basic.  For more information, see the official website here. 

As one of the select members of the Busch Gardens Ambassador Blogger group, I was invited to attend the media preview of the show on May 16, 2014. In return for my honest written reviews and attending meetings, my family receives admission, travel discounts, and special perks at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA.  All opinions are my own.