Adapted from the movie of the same name, the Broadway production of School of Rock has a lock on a Tony nomination for Best Musical. Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber (Evita, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, to name just a few) joined forces to write the book and music for this new musical. Fellowes and Webber have done a terrific job taking the best elements of the movie and making them soar onstage. No one is pretending that the storyline is highbrow or cerebral. School of Rock is just plain fun from beginning to end for every generation. There are many parts of the show that feel like a rock concert, and the audience was completely enthralled at the concert in the finale. The audience was cheering for the kids as they rocked the stage.
There is an old adage that an actor does not want an animal or child as a co-star because they steal the show. Too bad for those guys because there’s a whole team of show-stealers on this stage. The kids in School of Rock are so unbelievably talented. Before the show begins, there is an announcement stating that the kids are actually playing the instruments.
It’s worth noting that many of these kids are making their Broadway debuts, and they absolutely nailed it. Brandon Niederauer was reminiscent of a young Jimi Hendrix. Isabella Russo (as Summer) was incredible. At one point, Dewey said that he would vote for Summer for president, and I have to say that I would vote for Isabella Russo for president because she was that believable as Summer. Evie Dolan was amazing on the bass as Katie, and it’s incredible that she is only in the 6th grade. Finally, 11-year-old Bobbi Mackenzie was phenomenal as Tomika singing “Amazing Grace.” Mackenzie has an incredible voice and will be seen in many shows for years to come — and not just for music, but for acting as well.
Alex Brightman (Matilda, Wicked) as Dewey Finn is a tour de force. He flies all over the stage with amazing energy. Brightman plays this loser character as someone who becomes lovable as he teaches his love of rock to these kids. He has a great rapport with the kids, and that give and take is the heart of the show.
The women in the show are the weakest link. Lloyd Webber-staple Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid) was miscast. She was not believable as an uptight principal, and she could not pull off the chemistry with Brightman in Act 2. Word is that Webber rewrote parts of the script for Boggess, and these changes did not strengthen the role. Mamie Parris (On the Twentieth Century) was shrill. There was a collective cringe when she walked onstage. She was easily ignored simply because she was so unlikable.
For the audience, there is a loud message in the show about the journey that the kids are on. In the reprise of “Make You Listen,” a lyric goes: “I was lost and alone. So much hurt bottled inside. You raised my voice and taught me not to fear.” The kids each sing a line that Dewey has given them about his or her own journey. Dewey empowers the kids through music while teaching them self-worth and self-respect. He listens to each of these kids and finds their value when their own parents would not.
The fun of this show is hard to resist. Dewey and the kids make you want to cheer for them at the Battle of the Bands. The audience was dancing during the standing ovation. It would be hard to exit the theatre without one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s songs playing in your head.