Paul Johnson nails it down as the new Drew in ‘Rock of Ages’

By John Katsilometes

Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 | 7:30 p.m.

Paul Johnson can at once rock, and build, the house.

A man who hammers it down on and off the stage, Johnson has ascended the spiral staircase of “Rock of Ages.” Johnson is moving into the role of Drew in the 1980s-colored rock musical, which has just moved into the newly named Rock of Ages Theater at the Rio.

His is a cool little story that has become something significant over time. Johnson is a graduate of Las Vegas Academy who is dually, and uniquely, skilled as a singer and carpenter. (I know of one other Las Vegas singer, offhand, who shares those traits, one Joe DiNunzio.)

How this trait was discovered: I once told Johnson that I was moving into a new place, and he asked, “How’s your furniture situation?” This led to a protracted conversation about the construction of coffee tables, bookcases and whatnot.

“It’s a skill you can always use,” Johnson says today. “I still do it as kind of a side job, a hobby, but it’s kind of taken a backseat to everything else that’s been going on.”

Johnson had been an understudy, or swing, in “Rock of Ages” for about two years, having left the lounge act The Generation Band he’d been fronting. An adept swing in “Peepshow” for Josh Strickland and “Vegas! The Show” at Saxe Theater, Johnson had mastered the roles of Lonny, Drew, Stacee Jaxx, Franz and Joey Primo.

The Drew character is the musical’s most challenging among the male performers. It has recently been filled by Justin Mortelliti, who, along with co-lead Mark Shunock, is leaving the production at the end of the month (Shunock is establishing the entertainment company MARShun, and more about his grandiose career objectives in an upcoming column). A blazing live performer and recording artist, Mortelliti is continuing his soaring portrayal in the role until Feb. 28. Johnson takes over the role full-time Feb. 29.

“I look at these roles, and Lonny is the most fun, but it’s also mostly an acting role,” Johnson says. “Joey is more physical … they are all different, but for a singer, the Drew character is really the most demanding.”

The new theater at the Rio is far more reflective of the show’s Bourbon Room set than its original home at the Venetian. That theater was just that — a theater — where you couldn’t imagine cracking open a cold Stroh’s Light. But the Bourbon Room has that vibe, as it was built originally as Club Rio, and even a relatively small crowd of 200 can generate a rock-club energy.

“When we saw how we fit in there, we really got kind of excited about it,” Johnson says. “It’s smaller, more intimate, cooler and more rock ’n’ roll.”

Most important, the show continues to be staged, which can paper over such comparatively minor concerns as tight dressing quarters and storage areas.

“It’s definitely different,” Johnson says, “but the way the audience reacts is fantastic.”

Johnson is a natural vocalist who hardly needs to warm up before belting out a Steve Perry-styled take of “Oh, Sherry.” He was a cruise-ship performer for a time and also, in one of these only-in-Vegas twists of the plot, a Bevertainer at the Rio. Remember the Bevertainers? Some great young singers came out of that Rio program, including Johnson and his girlfriend, “Pin Up” singer Lisa Marie Smith, also an LVA grad.

“Yes, we both have that history,” Johnson says. “What’s great about being a Bevertainer is you get to learn to sing in public, and you get to make money while singing.”

On those stages now is an open-to-the-public karaoke area. Any hotel visitor can dial up a tune and start singing.

Maybe Johnson could return to that stage.

“That would be great,” Johnson says. “I’ll walk up as Drew, ‘Hey, guys! Remember me!’ ” As for a setlist, or even a set, he can hammer that out, on the spot.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.