Theatre company students at Brooks Secondary School in Powell River are rehearsing to rock out in preparation for School of Rock – the Musical, which will be performed four times at the end of May.
Brooks theatre arts stagecraft and performance teacher Jen Didcott said that selection of the play was done in democratic fashion, with students having been given a selection of plays and the opportunity to vote.
“I try to select musicals and plays that our kids can really connect to, and that they see themselves in,” said Didcott. “I had a short list and invited students who potentially would sign up for the program to give their input, and then I put it to a vote. School of Rock had the most votes, so here we are.”
A motion picture called School of Rock came out in 2003, starring Jack Black, and featuring a number of rock ‘n’ roll songs performed by students he ended up teaching as a substitute teacher. School of Rock – the Musical is an adaptation, featuring new music from famed composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, although a couple of the rock ‘n’ roll standards from the movie remain.
Didcott said the play features classic Jack Black humour woven throughout, so there’s something for the grown-ups to chuckle about, but basically, the play is “just silly, fun and high energy.”
Didcott said the play centres around middle school students in a private school called Horace Green, so the musical is not so far in the past that secondary school actors can’t relate.
“It’s pretty easy for the actors to remember those middle school years where they are trying to find their footing and develop an identity about themselves,” said Didcott. “The characters in both the film and the musical are directed by their parents and teachers to act a certain way and to suppress a lot of their quirks and eccentricities. Then, along comes the Jack Black character, impersonating a substitute teacher, who really brings out the students’ creative, eccentric, wild sides. They get in touch with their true selves. A lot of our kids can really relate to that.
“Social pressures and pressures to conform don’t go away and a lot of our kids can really identify with trying to hold onto their creative selves and their true identities in a world that tries to buffer them into other areas.”
Didcott said there is about a month to go until the play runs, and the theatre team is pulling together all the elements, such as the props, the set, the instruments, plus tightening up the choreography and making sure the actors know their lines and songs.
“It’s a high-energy show with a lot of scene changes and a lot of great music played by our live pit band,” said Didcott. “It’s live rock ‘n’ roll music. It’s going to be awesome.”
Loving role
Elton Sutherland, a grade 12 student who plays the school’s principal, Rosalie Mullins, said Horace Green is a private school with a certain aura around it that doesn’t encourage creativity and fun. Sutherland said she is the opposite of Dewey, the musician-turned-substitute-teacher, who is a bit of a wild child.
“I come in and put down his dreams, but he questions me a bit, and then interesting things happen,” said Sutherland.
She said she has lots of lines to learn and also gets to sing. She said Rosalie has two sides to her – a super stuck-up, tightly wound side, but there’s also this loose rock side that comes out in the play.
Sutherland said she has done a bunch of singing leading up to the School of Rock. She sings at open mics at Cranberry Hall, and “writes songs and stuff.” She also sings vocal jazz at the high school.
“I love this kind of stuff,” said Sutherland. “I’m really excited about my role. Everyone here is so nice and it is like a little community. It’s really fun to work together.”
She said she was nervous, initially, but now, she is so used to staring at the script that she sees highlighted passages that are now ingrained in her memory. Now, she’s looking forward to performing.
After graduation, Sutherland said she wants to study theatre arts at college.
First musical
Another of the actors, Mia Girouard, a grade 10 student, plays a character named Zack Mooneyham, who is a guitarist.
“It’s super exciting,” said Girouard. “It’s just a very fun production. Zack is a really fun character to play.”
Girouard said although she is a guitarist in the play, she really isn’t very talented with stringed instruments, having tried to play bass.
“I’m not very coordinated,” said Girouard. “I can’t do the hand thing.”
She said she has been practising for the play since last fall, and is nervous about her performance, but is excited to bring it to the stage.
“I’ve been in other plays, and you’re always nervous leading up to it, but when you’re there, it’s just like a breeze,” said Girouard. “I started when I was in grade nine, so last year, I did two plays, and this is my first musical, which is going to be a lot different.”
Girouard said she plans to continue acting through the rest of her time in school.
School of Rock the Musical will run from May 22 to 24 at 7 pm, and on May 25 at 2 pm at Max Cameron Theatre. Tickets are available at Full Bug Records (4548 Marine Avenue in Westview), the Nutcracker Market (4741 Marine Avenue in Westview) and Brooks Secondary School (5400 Marine Avenue in Townsite).
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