When the name "School Of Rock" is mentioned, the mind of most individuals shifts to the 2003 movie starring Jack Black and Joan Cusack. Teenagers might end up thinking about the 2015 television series on Nickelodeon. However, when the theater community hears that name, their brains switch to thoughts of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 2015 rock musical that recently closed on Broadway.
Tonight, we say farewell to @SoRmusical, but never goodbye.Thanks for everything. Thanks to everyone. Thanks, thanks, thanks!See you all tonight for one last trip to Mount Rock.#SchoolOfRockBway #ClosingNight— Alex Brightman (@ABrightMonster) January 20, 2019
Since the Broadway run is over, the average American musical theater enthusiast can't see the show at that level of production value. Sure, they could fly to London to catch the show at the Gillian Lynn Theatre, but avid theatergoers would wish to stay in the country and see local productions for cheap.
I would definitely recommend going that route. Currently, I have seen the "School Of Rock" musical twice, once at my high school and another time at the Schuster Center in Dayton, OH, and I am a huge fan of the show.
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| Valley View's Dewey Finn, Dan Noelker, and I following the show. |
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| Dewey Finn from the Schuster Center production, Merritt David Janes, and I after a fantastic production! |
"School Of Rock" is an electrifying, incredible show that is a blast to watch from start to finish. Listed below are three reasons why I would highly recommend checking it out.
From the opening guitar riffs of "I'm Too Hot For You" to the encore performance of "Stick It To The Man", every song on the "School Of Rock" soundtrack will have you tapping your feet to the beat.
Craig Wedren is the composer for the musical's various tunes, and he has done a marvelous job. Softer pieces such as "Here At Horace Green" and "If Only You Would Listen" pepper the soundtrack and help to balance the "school" and "rock" portions of "School Of Rock".
In terms of a personal favorite song from the musical, my recommendation is "Stick It To The Man". The lyrics scream of rebellion and wanting to rock out instead of being kept in the cage of society, and the whole song is a thrashing good time.
2. THE SOURCE MATERIAL
As mentioned earlier in this post, the "School Of Rock" musical is based off of the 2003 film of the same name. The movie was directed by Richard Linklater and stars Jack Black, Joan Cusack, and Sarah Silverman.
In the film, Black portrays Dewey Finn, a down-on-his-luck rock star who impersonates his friend/roommate Ned Schneebly (portrayed by the film's writer, Mike White) and teaches at an elementary school in order to pay rent.
After Dewey discovers the kids are talented musicians, he convinces them to form a band with him and compete in the local Battle Of The Bands against Dewey's former band, No Vacancy.
With smart and witty dialogue from White himself, great performances all around, and a fantastic soundtrack, the film has become a cult classic. Not surprisingly, it's also one of my favorite films of all time.
3. THE WRITING
The musical faithfully recreates most of the film, adding in details such as the beat-for-beat final song "Teacher's Pet" and Principal Rosalie Mullins (Cusack's character in the film) belting out Stevie Nicks' "Edge Of Seventeen" at a local dive bar. However, Webber, the musical's lyricist, is not afraid to add in new material to help strengthen the characters' motivations, and that is admirable.
Dewey is a rock aficionado who isn't afraid to drop a pop culture, especially one dealing with rock music, to his class of fourth graders.
For example, one pivotal scene early on shows Dewey explaining the concept of "the man" to the children, saying that "the man" was behind concepts such as global warming, racism, and fidget spinners and figures including the Kardashians and the "Star Wars" character Jar Jar Binks.
Dewey is an unlikeable protagonist in the musical, but a combination of Webber's creative writing and the various lead performances cement him as a character to root for. Though his methods are unconventional, the motivations behind Dewey's character are understandable and justify his actions.
FINAL THOUGHTS
"School Of Rock" is, in my opinion, an excellent musical full of wonderful performances, often brilliant sets, and an incredible soundtrack. The best part of the show is that it is a showcase for the talented child actors, as they often all play their own instruments. Combined with the orchestra, the musicians help make this rocking show even more impressive.
What are your thoughts on the "School Of Rock" musical? Does it live up to how you view the movie? Feel free to leave a comment below!
I love the memes!
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