OREM — Based on the beloved 2003 comedy, School of Rock is an upbeat musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and book by Julian Fellowes. It follows Dewey Finn, a lovably deluded rock guitarist who gets unceremoniously booted from his own band and faces eviction if he can’t come up with the rent. His solution is to impersonate a substitute at the prestigious Horace Green Prep School. He rallies his overachieving and secretly rebellious students to “Stick it to the Man” as his classroom transforms into rock band practice and his students prepare to enter the local Battle of the Bands.
The scenic design by Garrett Roblyer grabs audience attention immediately. A huge electric guitar taking up the background, metal wires reminiscent of music staffs, and metal truss towers rising between platforms gives the whole space the look and feel of a rock concert venue. This rock concert seamlessly transforms into a variety of other locations: an apartment, the elite Horace Green Prep School, a classroom, a teacher’s lounge, a dive bar. All of them transform completely, while still carrying that rock concert feel. Lighting design by Elizabeth Griffiths helps to transform the space and allows for stunning visual storytelling.
Jacob Thompson carries the cast as a chaotic and lovable Dewey Finn. He manages to find the energy and comedy that made Jack Black’s character iconic in the original movie, however, Thompson finds his own rhythm. Still boundless, still gloriously unhinged, but with his own particular charm that makes the character his own. In addition, Thompson is a vocal powerhouse, belting through rock songs the entire evening and finding impressive falsetto moments without showing any signs of fatigue. His comedic timing is impeccable, his physical commitment is total, (he frequently jumps up on things, plays guitar on the floor, etc.), and he generates the kind of lovable, anarchic energy that immediately brings the audience to his side.
Other standouts in the adult cast include Camilla Curtis as Principal Rosalie Mullins, Felipe Larrocha as Ned Schneebly, and Sierra Palmer as Patty Di Marco. Curtis as Rosalie has charming chemistry with Thompson’s Dewey, they are dynamic, funny, and it is genuinely fun to watch the two of them find a believable and touching connection under all the chaos. However, the real standout is Curtis’ voice. She shows stunning vocal versatility as she moves between the crystalline precision of the operatic Queen of the Night aria, to the textured belting of her rock ballad, “Where Did the Rock Go?” Larrocha and Palmer as Ned and Patty are not on stage a lot, but they make every scene count. Their dynamic is funny and charming, and both of them bring excellent comedy and vocals to their parts. An impressive secret you’d only know from reading the program is that in addition to playing Ned, Larrocha is also playing live electric guitar offstage.
Now, to the real stars of the show: the kids! If there’s one thing that elevates this production from a good night of theatre into something genuinely special, it’s the incredible ensemble of child actors. Each one fully embodies a distinct and vibrant personality, you could look at any one of them at any time and find a new story. The featured soloists in songs like “If Only You Would Listen,” “You’re In the Band,” and “Time To Play” were all impressive and their group numbers had a vibrant and blended sound. This is thanks to the incredible music direction from Christian Wawro. Choreographer Rebecca Verney makes the dancing bold and fun, with one of the kids still committing to each moment even with an injured foot in a boot. The comedy and acting from this group of kids makes the show feel real. One specific child that stood out was Juniper Martin as Summer; her facial expressions alone could carry a scene. Her confidence and command of the stage is a joy to watch, and even though she is the smallest one on stage, her voice in the solo “Time To Play” proves huge!
The most impressive part of the show was the group of four students who play live music as part of the band. Noah Huber plays Zack on lead guitar, Miles Tanner plays Lawrence on the keyboard, Afton Largey plays Katie on the bass, and Simon Maxfield plays Freddie on the drums. The music they play would be impressive from any age and under any circumstance, and the fact that they are so young and performed it live all while singing, dancing, and acting, makes it all the more impressive.
The one genuine frustration of the evening was technical. Microphones drop out on a handful of occasions, and the sound mixing feels uneven in spots — some voices sitting oddly in the mix relative to the band, others popping unexpectedly. Thankfully, it is only an occasional problem and the cast projects excellently, so thankfully, no moments of the show are lost.
School of Rock is a notoriously difficult show to pull off, a dynamic multitalented cast and a strong director are necessary. Director Rex Kocherhans delivers, finding the delicate balance between the chaotic comedy and the emotional story of adults and children finding belonging and meaning through each other and through their music.
School of Rock is a genuinely great time at the theater; it’s raucous, warm, funny, and intermittently moving in ways you won’t see coming. It is family friendly, though parents should know there is mild crude language woven throughout. Children in the audience will love the kid performers and the energy. Adults will have a blast recognizing music references from their era. No matter who you are, you will find something you love at the Scera’s School of Rock.
School of Rock plays Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays April 10th – May 2nd at the SCERA Center for the Arts (745 S State St, Orem, UT). Tickets are $12 – $16. For more information, visit https://scera.org/events/school-of-rock-the-musical/