Six nights a week Paul Johnson takes the stage as aspiring rocker Drew Boley in Rock of Ages, the long-running musical inspired by L.A.’s ’80s glam-metal scene. Drew saves the day when he fills in as singer of Arsenal for the fictional band’s final show at hallowed Sunset Strip club The Bourbon Room, but on New Year’s Day Johnson plays that role for the final time as Rock of Ages ends its yearlong run at The Rio and its 10-year relationship with Las Vegas. The show had to go on after the cast was informed of the closing, but the performers’ disappointment was quickly replaced by determination to enjoy the countdown to the final curtain call.

“It’s so much fun, and we all enjoy being there and with each other doing the show that I think we’d rather have fun with it rather than mope around too much,” says Johnson. “I think that’s exactly what happened.”

The enthusiasm comes across as the cast relates the tale of a small town girl who meets a city boy from South Detroit against the backdrop of the demolition of the Sunset Strip’s nightclub neighborhood. Woven into the narrative thread are as many hits from the hair-metal era as the creators could pack into two acts, from “Cum on Feel the Noize” to “Here I Go Again” to “We Built This City” and everything in between. The character of small town girl Sherrie Christian (Amanda Miller) herself is inspired by era classics “Oh Sherrie” and “Sister Christian.”

Johnson, a graduate of performing arts school Las Vegas Academy, was not with the cast for Rock of Ages’ brief run at the Flamingo in 2006, but he was a swing performer when the show was at The Venetian. He played both Drew and would-be rock god Stacee Jaxx, among other roles, before the show moved to the Rio. “It’s definitely one of the most challenging vocal roles I’ve had in my career,” says Johnson. “Singing this stuff every night is no joke. It’s definitely kept me on my toes as far as being careful about how I use my voice, and the stamina is takes to do this role is pretty intense.”

Johnson says in some ways he misses playing different characters, but there would be some performances when he played Drew followed by a night he played Stacee. “You’re kind of staring at who you were last night and saying the other words,” he says. “There were a couple of times where it got a little schizophrenic, but at the same time I think it’s really fun.”

While Johnson is unsure of what the future holds other than the chance to catch his breath and catch up on his passion for building furniture, he appreciates the environment the Rock of Ages Theater offers. “What I like about it at the Rio is the room we’re in is really more comfortable and it’s more like a bar scene,” he says. “And it kind of brings you into the show and lets you have a little bit more fun. We’re right up there on the stage, right in front of you. … It involves you in the show a lot more, and that’s something I enjoy about the space at The Rio—it’s brought our audience in with us, and made them part of the show.”

Rio, 8 p.m. Tues.-Sun, starting at $59 plus tax and fee. 702.777.2782