THE SCHOOL OF ROCK – Book by Jullian Fellowes; Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Glenn Slater; Directed by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Music Directed by Alec Steinhorn; Choreographed by Samantha Piel. Produced by Miners Alley Playhouse (1100 Miners Alley, Golden) through September 15. Tickets available at 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com.
If ever there was a musical written for both real children and adult children, this is it. Who among us has not wanted to “Stick It To The Man” or wished they could tell someone in their lives “If Only You Would Listen.” Even to equate a small success in your life or business to “You’re In The Band.” There were a large number of young people in a recent audience who could be seen playing the air guitar and head bobbing along with their parents. It’s a joyful recognition of childhood dreams that are never too late.
Dewey Finn (played on this night by highly qualified understudy Aaron Szindler) is a failed musician desperately needing money. An opportunity presents itself for him to assume the identity of his housemate and become a faux substitute teacher in a high-end private high school full of stuffy rules and bored teachers. Needless to say, the inventive Dewey by listening, ignoring the tendency to overlook the potential in kids, and sharing what he loves, ends up teaching the joy of music to his borrowed class. Along the way, he teaches self-confidence, determination, and how to advocate for themselves.
The nine child actors in this cast have resumes in shows that match those of their adult cast mates. One can only imagine the impact they will have on Denver theatre as they move into their teen years and beyond. What an amazing experience for them to perform in a full-blown hardcore rock ‘n’ roll musical like this. We had Beckham Hall on the keyboards, Peyton Moore on the bass guitar, Liam Dodge kept the beat on the drums, shy Emmalyn Garces with a little encouragement became the lead singer and Christopher Gawlikowski rocked out on the lead guitar. To include everyone in the class in the band, Dewey assigned each a job. Meika Qutub with her clipboard and Chairwoman of the Board attitude became the band manager. Evie Sickbert and Adella Weldon with their Janet Jackson moves were the backup singers. Radley Wright designed their costumes and moaned about not having enough sequins. Right in front of your eyes, the bored little cell phone game-players they were had become an excited successful band! Stick to the Man!!
Ably supported by the adults in the cast who took on the dual roles of the teachers at the Horace Green School and the uninvolved parents. Katie Jackson played the winsome principal of the high school. A stickler for a life made up of rules, regulations, and expectations from the parents and herself, Dewey manages to find her softer side with a Stevie Nicks song. Katie displays an amazing range as she brings an operatic voice to Queen of the Night and a rock persona to the finale. Dewey is crashing in the basement of his friend, the real Ned Schneebly, played by Matthew Murry who, so far, is known in Denver theatre circles as a quiet reliable gifted performer in straight plays. He just quietly blew the lid off that reputation by donning leather gear and rocking out with the rest of the crew. His overbearing girlfriend is given obnoxious life by Courtney Kofoed who is determined to get Dewey out of “her” basement. If you look in the dictionary for the definition of a “Karen,” you’ll see her picture.
Enough cannot be said about the all-important role of the understudy. The actor playing Dewey sings – mostly all-out rock ‘n’ roll – 20 of the 31 songs in the show. That can wreck a voice doing it night after night. John Hauser, an excellent actor and guitar player, normally sings the role. But needs to take a break once and awhile to let his vocal chords cool down. How lucky he and the theatre are that they have the talented Aaron Szindler to step in and go full Jack Black on Crack when that happens. Aaron sizzles in this role starting as a sloppy, lazy, disillusioned little-too-old rocker. But by the time the show has progressed to the end, he has become a beloved mentor, a cleaned-up suitor, and a bit of a romantic lead. That’s what exposure to the kids and the school environment did for him. A sweet transformation.
As usual, Miners Alley always presents an excellent tech team with an easily movable set designed by Jonathan Scott-McKean, appropriate school uniforms and teacher-y clothes by Crystal McKenzie, and concert lighting for the show numbers and visibility lighting for the school by Vance McKenzie. John Hauser, in addition to his duties on the stage, also worked in the background to make the hard-rocking music audible to the audience. The stage management crew of Lexi Holtzer and Samantha Piel were augmented by Brandon Brown and Keith Phillips to make the movement of set pieces off and on the stage quickly and smoothly. It all came together beautifully.
So, parents and grandparents, take your young ones to see this show to see the performances of their peers and to learn what it means to “stick it to the man.” You’ll love the results. Really.
A WOW factor of 8.5!!