It’s September and school is back in session. That means a brand new Broadway season at the Wharton Center, which kicked things off with a (head)bang with the arrival of “School of Rock.” The production’s East Lansing tour stop runs now through September 23, 2018.
Get your rock fingers ready and put on your best concert tee, because “School of Rock” will be one of the most fun Broadway shows you’ll experience. Yes, there are some ballads and vocal acrobatics that are a part of most musicals, but make no mistake about it: this show is also a rock concert, complete with guitar picks flying into the audience, smoke machines, and shredding solos.
Based on the 2003 film starring Jack Black, “School of Rock” features music from Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and a book by Julian Fellowes. The story centers on Dewey Finn, a jobless, shlubby guitarist who gets kicked out of his band before assuming the identity of his roommate in order to become a substitute teacher at the prestigious prep school Horace Green. Dewey has no interest in teaching the privileged fifth graders in his classroom until he realizes their musical talents; he secretly forms a band with his students in order to compete in a Battle of the Bands contest.
As Dewey Finn, Rob Colletti completely rises to the challenge of stepping into a role made famous by Jack Black and makes the part his very own. Colletti shines in his hilarious, sarcastic interactions with the students, as well as the quieter moments that show his growth as a teacher — fake or not. He and the show come alive in the Horace Green classroom. “You’re in the Band” is a highlight, as is a sequence that has Colletti acting out all of the singing and instrumental parts of a song before collapsing on the floor.
Rosalie Mullins, the straight-laced powersuit principal of Horace Green, is a perfect foil to the carefree, sweater vest-wearing Dewey. Played by the delightful Lexie Dorsett Sharp (read our interview here), Rosalie is poised on the surface, yet can’t contain her inner fun girl when the opening riff of “Edge of Seventeen” plays. Dorsett Sharp’s scene in the bar is particularly playful as she begins to expose Rosalie’s rocker ways with dialogue that perfectly lines up with Stevie Nicks’ lyrics. She also shows quite a vocal range, from operatic sequences in “Queen of the Night” to the rock ballad “Where Did the Rock Go?”
As the real Mr. Ned Schneebly, Layne Roate also appears to be the complete opposite of his roommate and longtime friend Dewey, but only on the surface. Roate’s string bean, nerdy facade is all an attempt to move beyond the black lipstick heyday of his former band with Dewey, Maggot Death. Ned’s overbearing and mouthy girlfriend Patty, played by Emily Borromeo, is thankfully unsuccessful in putting a damper on the rock party.
But really, the stars of the show are the all-star band of kids from Horace Green. The audience is alerted from the beginning that the kids are all playing their instruments live, if there was any question about it. As a group, the students are the perfect mix of “It’s the Hard Knock Life” from “Annie” and “Totally F—–” from “Spring Awakening” — there’s humor, angst, and of course, sticking it to the man.
From high-achiever Summer (Sami Bray) to unconfident keyboardist Lawrence (Theo Mitchell-Penner), stone-faced bassist Katie (Leanne Parks) to musical prodigy Zack (Mystic Inscho), each of the young actors show they are truly quadruple-threats, as Lexie Dorsett Sharp mentioned in our interview. Grier Burke as Tomika, the shy new girl at Horace Green, is a vocal standout in the reprise of “If Only You Would Listen.”
By the time the Battle of the Bands arrives, “School of Rock” becomes a full-on rock concert. As my own daughter is learning to play piano, it warmed my heart to watch the children break out of their shells and become bona fide rock stars in the span of the show. With several children in the audience on opening night, I can only imagine how many conversations there were on the way home about wanting to learn how to play an instrument.
Fifteen years later, “School of Rock” still feels fresh and new, with references to Taylor Swift and Kanye West helping to make the story current. As Dewey hands out CDs for homework to his students, he says “rest in peace” after mentioning Aretha Franklin’s name. You can’t get more topical than that.
The lessons learned in this “School” are also timeless, particularly when it comes to embracing our passions even when the man — our parents, our teachers, even our friends — aren’t being supportive. Tucked in between the flashing lights and foot stomping of the show is the heartbreaking “If Only You Would Listen,” which reveals vignettes of the students at home with their parents. In their own ways, the children are undermined and overworked, feeling the pressure to please.
It’s when the most unlikely of mentors comes into their lives that they’re able to shine, having their voices be heard. And that just rocks.
All I want to know is, when can I join the band?
Don’t miss “School of Rock” at the Wharton Center now through September 23, 2018. Click here for show and ticket information.