School of Rock Review
Recently, I had the pleasure of checking out School of Rock – The Musical now playing at the Winter Garden Theatre.
School of Rock – The Musical is based on the smash hit 2003 film hit film. It follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. And music lessons, life lessons and comedy ensues. Impersonating his roommate Ned Schneebly, Finn gets a job as a substitute teacher at a ritzy private school. Rather than actually teaching them their daily lessons, he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. While teaching these pint-sized prodigies what it means to truly rock, Dewey falls for the school’s beautiful, but uptight headmistress, helping her rediscover the wild child within.
Without the super talented kids, this show would be pretty boring. The kids in the show are so unbelievably talented – they sing, they dance, they act and they play an instrument. Okay not everyone plays an instrument but I am pretty sure from the interview with the young cast after the show most of them can play one instrument but just not for the show.
Their enthusiasm was totally infectious especially during their signature song “Stick It to the Man” which is sung twice during the show. Trust me when they sing it the second time, you will be rocking with the kids who put their heart and soul into it.
All the principal kids are outstanding but when shy, never talks Tomika (Amadi Chapata) sings “Amazing Grace,” it will bring chills that this little girl can sing the song with such power and emotion. Who doesn’t root for the shy kid to be discovered and get his/her time in the spotlight?
As Dewey Finn (played by understudy Merritt David Janes), enthusiastically and convincingly brings his scruffy millennial persona to the stage interacting with the kids teaching them all about music and getting them to breakout of their little robotic lives.
One of the best parts of the show are the interactions between the high performing students and their Type A parents. I think every parent wants to provide the best education possible, wants their children to succeed no matter and thinks they always know what’s best for their child. (sounds pretty familiar to me). But the show’s messages teaches us that we need to listen to our kids, back off a little and allow them to pursue all their passions in addition to getting good grades.
This is a musical after all and we have Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber for the original score along with lyricist Glenn Slater for the pretty infectious songs that no matter your age you will love.
I highly recommend School of Rock – The Musical which offers a talented cast, a fun story with a happy and raucous ending and of course, an infectious musical score. My teen daughter gave it thumbs up and said she would recommend the show to her friends to see (high praise indeed.) The show is recommended for ages 8 and up – children under 4 not permitted in the theatre.
School of Rock Talk Back with the Cast
After the show, we were treated to talk back with the cast which is a great way for kids to ask questions of the cast about how they got started and performing on Broadway. It was so interesting to hear the kids talk about their audition process, about the guardians that watch them (the parents drop the kids off at the stage door and then the guardians take over and are responsible for staying with the kids inside the theater and then hand them off to the parents after the show) and their experiences in general. So talented and well spoken but at the end of the day, they are just kids.
School of Rock Tickets – See School of Rock for as low as $59 and Orchestra seats as low as $89!
Visit schoolofrockthemusical.c
Location: Winter Garden Theatre, 50th and Broadway
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom was provided with tickets to facilitate this review.
