“You’re in the Band” When You Attend School of Rock at The Ritz Theatre Company
by Lisa Palena
Based on the 2003 titular movie starring Jack Black, School of Rock is a lighthearted comedy musical which packs a punch for audiences of all ages. The story follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who has recently been kicked out of his band, No Vacancy, and is facing eviction from his friend’s apartment for failing to pay the rent. Desperate, he masquerades as friend Ned Schneebly to get a job as a substitute teacher at the prestigious Horace Green prep school. Having no teaching experience, Finn tries to fake his way through it, using permanent recess as his primary teaching tactic. It’s only after hearing his students shine in music class that he has the idea to use them to his advantage- he will enter them in the Battle of the Bands to get revenge on No Vacancy. From that moment on, his classroom becomes a full-time rock session where both Finn and his students learn lessons about confidence, potential, and the importance of living your dreams.
When I arrived at The Ritz, the stage was already set for a rocking (pun absolutely intended) good time. Neon lights were reflected onto the scenery, and there was a fog in the air, reminiscent of a nightclub atmosphere. The show’s logo was projected onto a large set of windows mounted high up on the stage (more to come about the projections later in this review). The excitement was palpable from the practically full audience who was anxiously waiting for those opening chords of music signaling the start of the show. When the music began, the crowd cheered and then promptly grew quiet in awe of the performance. The energy of the crowd never wavered, despite it being a weeknight.
Before the show began, it was announced that Wesley Don Hopkins (starring as Dewey Finn) was out due to illness and the role would be understudied by none other than the director himself, Ernie Jewell. While Jewell is not the person audiences will see at future performances, it’s important to note that he brought such life to the character of Dewey Finn. A few lines of improv from him about understudies and last minute changes to a production earned some well-deserved laughs from the crowd. It was commendable to see a director take a dutiful role in making sure the show went on (as it must). I was glad to have a chance to witness an extremely talented performance from the person who envisioned what the show should be from the beginning of the process.
Playing opposite Dewey’s character is the uptight principal of Horace Green, Rosalie Mullins (Julia Natoli in her Ritz Theatre Company Mainstage debut). Her performance, from her standout vocals to her ability to convey Rosalie’s layered personality, was more than impressive. Because Rosalie has multiple types of songs, Natoli was able to showcase her lovely vocal range, and her version of “Where Did the Rock Go?” was a show highlight to be sure!
Dewey’s friend Ned Schneebly (William Reid) and his pushy girlfriend Patty DiMarco (Rachel Redden) had great chemistry and vocals alike. I truly felt the confliction Ned had between Patty and Dewey, and the resolution, though I won’t spoil it for you, earned some gentle laughs and appreciation from the crowd.
The adult cast was rounded out with a talented ensemble (Mike Aquilino, Shaina Egan, Nikolas Francesconi, Evan Hairston, Jessica Hiltebrand, Jared Iafolla, Haley Melvin, and Megan Panter) who were double (and sometimes triple!) cast as teachers, parents, and No Vacancy band members. While the focus was not on the adults much, their given moments to shine were entertaining and they were believable in all roles.
The pure heart of this show, with some truly noteworthy performances, came from the amazing cast of children. The show hinges on the success of the students, and the twelve student actors didn’t disappoint. The casting was perfect. From gold-star overachiever Summer Hathaway (Emily Wynn), to shy Serena (Lola Klemash), to fashion-forward Billy Sandford (Noa McCarter), roles were magnificently and skillfully played across the board. Just as impressive is the fact that the four students playing instruments in the band, Zack Mooneyham (Dominick T. McNew, Jr.- guitar), Freddie Hamilton (Chase Duran- drums), Katie (Elle Griffiths- bass), and Lawrence (Landyn Pollard- piano/keyboard), all played live and onstage. This gifted student ensemble was rounded out with Marcy (Lucy Spiegel), Shannon (Rebecca Seligman), Sophie (Kyleigh Filippone), Madison (Charley Benedict), and James (Desmond Whitaker), who all had interesting and unique character traits. The brilliant young stars steal the show and deserve an A+ for an energetic and heartwarming performance.
In addition to the student artists, the musicians (Kev Nenkov, David Juro, Jon Herroon, Master Jones IV, and Aidan Reeves) were incredibly talented and their jams kept the energy at an all-time high consistently throughout the show. Having them onstage (craftily hidden behind the curtain) was a bonus, although at times it contributed to a slight overpowering of the vocalists.
The technical elements of the show were also integral to its success. The set, a series of rolling platforms, allowed for the appearance of multiple environments, and the scene changes were accomplished with ease from the backstage crew, led by stage manager Chrissy Wick and assistant stage manager Gabe Slimm. The stationary windows above the set were perfect for projection mapping, and said projections included everything from logos to place names to a game of Guitar Hero with Ned and Dewey. The lighting design by Jen Donsky was particularly done well- subtle shifts in lighting helped to highlight intimate moments with characters, and the full-on strobe-effect at the Battle of the Bands helped the audience members feel that they were at a true rock concert. Additionally, this was emphasized in the costume design by Meg Iafolla- the switch from the prep school uniforms to rock t-shirts added to the concert vibe and served as a symbolic “letting down the hair” for the uptight students. Rounding out the technical elements, sound engineer Matthew Gallagher and sound technician Meg Bryan overall did a great job making sure that sound was balanced and clear.
Kudos to director Ernie Jewell, music director Kev Nenkov, choreographer Courtney Daniels (who also portrayed teacher Mrs. Sheinkopf), and the rest of the production team for their hard work on this show. The amount of time, love, and energy put into this performance was clearly seen, and I left wanting to see it again, a testament of the excellence that is this show.
School’s in session at the Ritz Theatre Company, but not for much longer! School of Rock runs from now through May 28. You do not want to miss this show– you can purchase tickets online at www.ritztheatreco.org.
