Guest Review of School of Rock

Guest Review of School of Rock

Get schooled at Severna Park s legendary production of  School of Rock”! The show thrilled the audience with its ear-popping music and energetic cast.

 

School of Rock the Musical,  with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, hit Broadway in 2015 and was nominated for four Tony Awards, including best new musical.  It is based on the 2003 movie School of Rock about Dewey Finn (originated by Jack Black), a rock star wannabe.  When Dewey gets kicked out of his band, he is desperate to pay his rent.  So he pretends to be substitute teacher Ned Scheenbly at the preppy Horace Green private school.  Overcoming many conflicts along the way, Dewey teaches that life is not about winning; it s about rock.

 

Severna Park made the show its own by changing the students from elementary-school to middle-school-aged.  The cast had a blast jamming together.  During the songs  I m in the Band  and  Stick it to the Man,  the cast s strong dance moves and powerful voices captivated the audience.  The most extraordinary aspect of the show was the student orchestra conducted by Ryan Rendina.

 

Sam Hickman played the quirky yet loveable lead role, Dewey.  Hickman s stage presence and killer range made his character unforgettable.  He stood out as one of the few cast members who played his own instrument.  The romantic chemistry between Elena DeMajistre (Rosalie Mullins) and Hickman was natural.  DeMajistre s acting was dynamic.  In the first act, she played her character as intimidating and strict; in the second act, she let her hair down and began to loosen up.  DeMajistre also demonstrated incredible range and vocal control in  Queen of the Night  and  Where did the Rock Go? .  Michael Bateman s character (the real Ned Schneebly) evolved from dry yet humorous to confident.  Jason Bellanca (Max Mooneyham), another cast member who played his own instrument, shredded the guitar while roaring the lyrics.  Isabel Gonzalez (Summer Hathaway) played the sassy teacher s pet while showing the character s rocker side in  It s Time to Play.   Bianca Radice (Tomika) had a shy,  quiet presence before shocking the audience during  Amazing Grace  and  School of Rock  with her powerhouse belt and astonishing vocal agility.

 

The cast obviously loved performing this show.  Mary Fitzell (Sophie) and Xavier Simms-Jackson (Mason) were standout dancers, holding nothing back.  Matt Hall (Snake, Mr. Stanford, and Gabe Brown) played several personas yet made each unique.  The actors who played parents changed from strict and oblivious to supportive and loving.

 

Though the set changes were long, the set, props, and lighting were extraordinary.  The empty pizza boxes strewn around Dewey s messy room introduced character traits without words.  The lighting was spot-on during big numbers, especially,  Stick it to the Man.   The mics were controlled well, though it was sometimes hard to hear the singers over the instruments.  But the singers did an excellent job of projecting.

 

Severna Park’s “School of Rock” rocked the audience s socks off, and taught the lesson to always stay young at heart and to believe in your dreams.

 

 

by Shannon Sullivan of Indian Creek