Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “School of Rock” was probably my favorite musical this season.Through all the highly anticipated musicals this Broadway season, “School of Rock" appropriately rocked. Based on the 2003 motion picture starring Jack Black, “School of Rock” tells a story about a washed-up musician named Dewey Finn who impersonates a substitute teacher and teaches kids all about music. I had never seen the movie, but the musical did not disappoint. Filled with energy, passion, and soul, the entire cast delivered an incredible performance.
The show opened up as if we were at a rock concert. There was a band on stage, the band that Dewey Finn (Alex Brightman) was a part of to be exact. As they sang their song, Dewey was rocking out on his guitar, and the rest of the band was clearly annoyed with him. The scene changed to Dewey at the apartment of his high school friend Ned Schneebly, who is a substitute teacher. Ned’s girlfriend, Patty, obviously hates Dewey, and forces him to pay rent (since it was overdue to begin with). She is constantly reminding Dewey that he will never get to where he wants to be, while also controlling every aspect of Ned’s life. Dewey is still determined to become a rock star, this is shown through the first actual musical number “When I Climb To The Top Of Mount Rock," which is all about proving everyone wrong and reaching those dreams that seem impossible.
Following this number, we are introduced to a few of the kids of Horace Green Academy, the hoity toity-est of hoity toity schools in the country; a private school in which the test scores of the children are the most important thing in the world. When the principal of Horace Green, Ms. Mullins (Sierra Boggess), calls Ned to offer him a substitute position, Dewey answers the phone and from that point he begins to impersonate Ned. When Dewey first meets the kids of Horace Green, they give him a bit of a hard time. One student, Summer, appears to be the ringleader of the class. She is the one telling Dewey about the classroom rules and such. It seems that the class and Dewey will not get along, but as soon as Dewey hears them making music in a class with Ms. Mullins, he gives them instruments and forms a band with them. The rest of their class time is spent preparing for the Battle of the Bands.
Through teaching the class about music, the kids loosen up and find that they really love the instruments and playing in a band. The other faculty members of Horace Green don’t like Dewey (who they believe is really, “Mr. Schneebly”), mostly because they know that the kids like him more than the rest of the teachers. Also, because he’s a bit more rebellious, and not exactly teaching the kids what they’re going to be tested on. “Stick It To The Man” is all about standing up for yourself and what you believe in, and it’s incredibly catchy. It’s the song that sums up the message of the show; going against the grain and doing your own thing.
Eventually, Dewey gets caught and confesses that he is not really Ned Schneebly, which pisses off the parents. They become upset that all their kids are doing is playing music, and doing things they actually love. Earlier in the show, we learn that the parents have planned out all of their kids’ lives, and it’s obvious the children do not want what their parents want. The song “If Only You Would Listen” explains the relationship that the students have with their parents, and what little say they have in their lives.
Once the Battle of the Bands rolls around, conveniently the same night Dewey is found out to be an imposter, the students come to his bedroom and thank him for the lessons he’s taught them. They share that they have been ignored by many adults, but Dewey did not ignore them at all, in fact, he gave them a voice. They eventually perform in the Battle of the Bands and show their parents how much they love to play music.
Everything about this musical was fantastic. It showed how important it is to let your kids have a say in what they do, and to incorporate music and the arts into a school curriculum. Keep the math and science, but don’t deprive students, especially young kids, the opportunity to express themselves through an art form. That was the absolute best thing to take away from this show, aside from the fact that it was high-energy and just fun to watch. If there is any show to see this Broadway season, “School of Rock” is definitely at the top of the list. Fingers crossed the show does well at the Tony's!Check out the complete Tony Nominees listed here
