Show guide
School of Rock: The Musical
School of Rock: The Musical follows a failed rock guitarist who poses as a substitute teacher and turns his straitlaced students into a rock band, with a score by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
- Broadway premiere
- 2015
- Music by
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Genre
- Rock/Pop
- Setting
- 2010s
School of Rock: The Musical: quick answers
What is School of Rock: The Musical about?
- School of Rock follows Dewey Finn, a broke, fired rock guitarist who poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school, discovers his fifth-graders are gifted musicians, and secretly turns them into a band for a Battle of the Bands.
When did School of Rock: The Musical open on Broadway?
- School of Rock opened on Broadway on December 6, 2015, at the Winter Garden Theatre and played 1,309 performances before closing on January 20, 2019.
What kind of musical is School of Rock: The Musical?
- School of Rock is a rock musical comedy adapted from the 2003 film, with new songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Glenn Slater alongside songs from the film. The child cast plays their instruments live.
Where and when is School of Rock: The Musical set?
- School of Rock is set mostly at Horace Green, an exclusive prep school where Dewey poses as a substitute teacher.
Has School of Rock: The Musical played in London's West End?
- School of Rock opened in the West End on November 14, 2016, at the New London Theatre (now the Gillian Lynne Theatre) and ran until March 1, 2020. Its three children's bands shared the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
Is there a School of Rock: The Musical movie?
- The musical is based on Richard Linklater's 2003 film School of Rock, starring Jack Black and Joan Cusack. The story was also adapted as a Nickelodeon TV series in 2016.
The story of School of Rock: The Musical
School of Rock: The Musical centers on Dewey Finn, a washed up and broke rock musician who impersonates his roommate to take a substitute teaching job at a strict prep school. Instead of teaching the curriculum, Dewey secretly trains his class of gifted but buttoned up students to become a real rock band, setting his sights on a local Battle of the Bands contest.
Along the way Dewey clashes with, and eventually wins over, the school's uptight principal Rosalie Mullins, while students like guitarist Zack Mooneyham and band manager Summer Hathaway discover confidence and creativity they did not know they had. The show is ultimately about self expression and the way music can unlock kids who have been taught to color inside the lines.
The music and the makers
Andrew Lloyd Webber composed the score, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes, adapting the 2003 film comedy for the stage. It marked a notable change of pace for Lloyd Webber, known for lush romantic scores, as he wrote propulsive, guitar driven rock songs performed live by the young cast members themselves.
Songs like You're in the Band and Stick It to the Man capture the show's rebellious, high energy spirit, and the fact that the child performers play their own instruments live on stage became one of the production's signature selling points.
School of Rock: The Musical on Broadway
School of Rock: The Musical opened on Broadway on December 6, 2015 at the Winter Garden Theatre, with Alex Brightman starring as Dewey Finn and Sierra Boggess as Rosalie Mullins. Brightman earned a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical, and the show received four Tony nominations in total, including Best Musical.
The production ran for more than three years, closing on January 20, 2019, a solid run for a family friendly title in a competitive Broadway season. Its emphasis on live young performers playing their own instruments gave it a distinct identity among Broadway's film to stage adaptations.
School of Rock: The Musical: frequently asked questions
When did School of Rock: The Musical open on Broadway?
School of Rock: The Musical opened on Broadway on December 6, 2015 at the Winter Garden Theatre.
Who composed School of Rock: The Musical?
Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the music, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes.
What is School of Rock: The Musical about?
It follows Dewey Finn, a failed rock musician who poses as a substitute teacher and secretly trains his prep school students to become a rock band.
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