Performers donned their impressive costumes and were put through their paces by director and co-producer Margaret O'Hanlon, while the seven-strong band practised on stage, when the Queenstown Times visited the company's first dress rehearsal with the musicians, in the Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall, this week.
When asked what the audience could expect, Ms O'Hanlon said they could "look forward to being surprised. It's not a conventional theatrical experience.
"It's still a musical, with wonderful singing and dancing, all done through the lyrics of David Bowie songs to tell a classic story."
Max Gunn plays young Joe Rockstar, who goes to London in 1969 to become a rock star, triumphs but discovers the dream is not all he hoped it would be. Shaun Vining plays Idol, Joe's role model, while Pearly McGrath, is Susie Diva, Joe's girlfriend.
Co-producer Martin Grounds plays Jupiter, the record producer, with Sam Hillman as The DJ, Joe's successor, and Ms O'Hanlon as Vex, the personification of evil and temptation, she said.
Max said he was "feeling good, but hectic" about his starring role, in the midst of studying for his exams.
He said the show was "high energy and exciting" and entertainment "by locals for locals".
Nicki Viggers is production manager, Kay Turner designed the costumes and Anna Stuart choreographed.
Ms Hanlon said a "dream band" had formed to play. They included guitarists Ben Lynch and Matt Anthony, saxophonist Nigel Hirst, keyboardists Mark Wilson and Nick Lynch, bass player Tom Lynch and drummer Reuben Pearce.
The troupe will tell the story of Joe Rockstar's rise and fall by performing live 24 Bowie classics, including Ziggy Stardust, Heroes, Changes, Life on Mars? and Fame.
• Queenstown-based Underground Productions presents Rock and Roll Suicide in the Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall, from Wednesday, to Friday next week. Doors open at 7.30pm and the shows begin at 8pm.
Tickets cost $35, available from the Lakes District Museum, in Arrowtown, and Post Office Cafe, in Queenstown.
