School of Rock. London production photos by Tristram Kenton
by Mark G. Auerbach
If you looking for a stage treatment of a popular movie with music, with an energetic production and some super-talented young people singing, dancing, and playing their own musical instruments, School of Rock is for you. There’s a loud untypical Andrew Lloyd Webber rock score and all the trappings of a rock concert, from outstanding lighting by Natasha Katz, fun sets and costumes by Anna Louizos, and frenetic choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. It’s also loud and full of strobe lights. Everything’s well staged by Laurence Connor, and there are two adult performances of note: Rob Colletti as Dewey, the role originated on screen by Jack Black, and Lexie Dorsett Sharp, as an uptight school principal who loosens up under the charms of Dewey.
Broadway’s Andrew Lloyd Webber has been having a banner year. At Tony Awards time, last June, he had four hit musicals running on Broadway: a revival of Cats which runs through the holidays, and features Westfield native Joshua Burrage; the long-running The Phantom of The Opera, Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard, and his most recent hit School of Rock, still a big box-office draw. School of Rock just launched a North American tour, and its visit to Hartford’s Bushnell this week is one of the first stops on its journey.
School of Rock. London production photos by Tristram Kenton
School of Rock is based on the 2003 film, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and book by Julian Fellowes, adapted rom Mike White’s screenplay, is still running on Broadway. The musical follows Dewey Finn, an out-of-work rock singer and guitarist who pretends to be a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. After identifying the musical talent in his students, Dewey forms a band of fifth-graders, in an attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands contest. Lloyd Webber contributed 14 new songs to the 11 already in the movie.
I’d not seen the movie, but my companion, who had, said that School of Rock is a faithful adaptation of the popular film. The audience, which included many younger people, was as ramped up as the performers onstage, and the cast received a well-deserved standing ovation. The kids were so superb, and they won me over.
School of Rock runs through Sunday. By the way, Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, a “sequel” to The Phantom Of The Opera, with Broadway aspirations, plays The Bushnell next May 29 through une 3..
—–
School of Rock. London production photos by Tristram Kenton
The Bushnell presents School of Rock, based on the Paramount movie written by Mike White. Book by Julian Fellowes. Lyrics by Glenn Slater. New music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Directed by Laurence Connor. Choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Scenic and costume design by Anna Louizos. Lighting desin by Natasha Katz. Sound design by Mick Potter. Through October 29, 2017 at The Bushnell, Hartford, CT. 860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org.
—
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat Radio on 89.5fm/WSKB Radio.
