WASHINGTON TERRACE — The musical School of Rock, based on the movie of the same name, opened on Broadway in December of 2015. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and a book by Julian Fellows, I have gone on record before stating that though I do not really enjoy the works of ALW, I find School of Rock to be an absolute gem. So when I found out that Terrace Plaza Playhouse was mounting a production, directed by Carol Madsen, I knew I needed to attend opening night.
For those who have not seen the original movie (what’s wrong with you?! It’s a Jack Black movie!) the story follows washed-up musician Dewey Finn (played by Brandon Gardside) as he steals a substitute teaching position from his roommate Ned (played by James Booth) to try and make rent money, and pretends to be Ned, fooling the other teachers and principal Rosalie Mullins (played by Lindsea Gardside). While he starts out not caring about the position at all, wanting to just make a few bucks and get back to his rock and roll, he finds a bunch of “soul brothers and soul sisters” among the students, who in turn finally find someone who actually see them for who they really are.
There are a lot of things to smile about with Terrace’s undertaking of this ambitious show. The set and projections designed by JD Madsen, were a whole lot of fun. I really liked how the projects looked like a bunch of different album covers, so when each scene changed, we got to see an album like vision on the projection. It gave the show the proper rock feel that was needed to transport me to the correct mood.
Gardside as Finn was exactly what one would expect an arrogant, washed-up musician to act like. If a person goes into the production not knowing what to expect, it can be easy to start to dislike Finn within the first fifteen minutes of the show. While all the adults played their parts well, with a particularly strong vocal showing from L. Gardside, what truly makes this show shine and rock is the kids.
The first time I saw a production there was a recording of Sir Lloyd-Webber saying he often gets asked if the kids actually play the instruments themselves, and he can assure you that they do. I was really glad to see that at Terrace Plaza, director Madsen and music director Whitney Cahoon had taken the extra effort to find cast members that could do the same. With the amount of talent that we have in Utah, it would have been a shame to not have this showcased. These kids, Brody Davis as Zack Mooneyham, lead guitarist whose father does not think he is smart enough, Lillian Logan as the cellist turned bassist with the best bass face in the business, Molly Davis as Laurie at the keys who is afraid that she is not cool enough to be in the band, and Charlotte Booth as Winnifred “Freddie” Hamilton, the percussionist keeping it all together. Of course there are other kids, Amauree Mack, as the excellent stylist Billy, Grayson Farr as Tommy with the unexpected voice of gold, and Daphne Dixon as Summer, the girl with all the management skills. Each of the times the kids sing, from the beginning “You’re In the Band” where we start to see their skills, to the bringing down the house of “Stick it to the Man”, to the rock battle “School of Rock”, it is impossible not to get lost in the music and just be thrilled at the immense talent and joy showcased on stage.
However, there is one song that has always stood out to me in this show, and Madsen’s direction did not disappoint. As a therapist that spends a lot of time with youth, the challenges of not feeling heard or understood are real. Before the song began, Madsen had a few different scenes spread out over the stage, and each child and their families showcase how much they are not understood. It makes the words “I’ve got so much to say, if only you would listen” so much more powerful. When all the kids in the ensemble stood and sang those words with the strong harmonies Cahoon had worked with them to perfect, it reminded me why I feel this is Webber’s best show and song. In the second act, when the kids sing to Finn that he was the one that listened, it brings the whole production full circle. Those kids made me hear.
