School of Rock (musical)

School of Rock
220px Broadway promotional poster
Music	Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics	Glenn Slater
Book	Julian Fellowes
Basis	School of Rock by Mike White
Premiere	December 6, 2015: Winter Garden Theatre, New York
Productions	2015 Broadway 2016 West End

School of Rock is a rock musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes. Based on the 2003 film of the same name, with a screenplay by Mike White, the musical follows Dewey Finn, an out of work rock singer and guitarist who pretends to be a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. After identifying the musical talent in his students, Dewey forms a band of fifth-graders, in an attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands contest.

The musical was announced in December 2014 and opened just under a year later on December 6, 2015. Prior to School of Rock's debut staged concerts were held at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan in June 2015. It made its Broadway debut and world premiere at the Winter Garden Theatre on December 6, 2015 following previews that began on November 9, 2015, with direction by Laurence Connor and choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, and starring Alex Brightman and Sierra Boggess as Dewey Finn and Rosalie Mullins, respectively.

Background

The musical is based on the 2003 film School of Rock. That film was produced on a budget of $35 million, earning over $131 million in global box office receipts. The plot followed struggling rock singer and guitarist Dewey Finn, who is kicked out of the band No Vacancy and subsequently disguises himself as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. After witnessing the musical talent in his students, Dewey forms a band of fifth-graders to attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands.

In an April 2013 interview, Andrew Lloyd Webber first revealed that he had purchased the stage rights to Richard Linklater's film, and planned to make its adaptation into a musical his next project after completing the West End show Stephen Ward, centering on the 1963 Profumo affair. The composer stated, "There may be songs for me in it, but it's obviously got songs in it as it stands," and that he would be going from Stephen Ward, "sort of a chamber musical, to a musical about kids playing the guitar." In May 2014, it was revealed that the show was likely to receive its world premiere on Broadway rather than in London's West End due to more relaxed child labour laws in the United States and the fact that the American subject matter fitted Broadway. Webber also credits various locations of the original School of Rock that "...produce the sort of kids required who can actually perform in the show" and that Britain would need similar schools for the show to move to London.

On 18 December 2014, an official announcement was made of the musical, with a world premiere on Broadway to be in autumn 2015. This would be the first time since 1971 and Jesus Christ Superstar that a Lloyd Webber musical would premiere on Broadway rather than in the West End. It would also mark a return for the composer to the Winter Garden Theatre, where his Cats ran for 18 years.

Speaking of his vision for the musical, Lloyd Webber suggested that it would focus more on the stories of Dewey's young students than the film did, stating "It has to be a bit more rounded. I'd quite like to know more about the children and their parents." Speaking about the music he explained the need for additional music rather than simply using the film's full soundtrack: "you can't do heavy metal for hours and hours in the theatre – everyone would be screaming. So they have to be theatrical songs too. And we've obviously got to use the iconic songs from the original show. It would be a shame not to do a Stevie Nicks song."

School of Rock was given a book by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. and Laurence Connor was engaged as the initial director. JoAnn M. Hunter provided choreography, set and costume design was by Anna Louizos and lighting by Natasha Katz.

Synopsis

Act One

The musical begins with a performance by the band No Vacancy. The band's guitarist, Dewey Finn, repeatedly attempts to upstage the lead singer, both vocally and on the stage ("I'm Too Hot for You.") After the performance, Dewey is chastised for his antics by his bandmates, and is introduced to his replacement. Dewey argues that the band wouldn't exist without him, but the lead singer feels that Dewey does not fit the band's look or sound, noting that the other musicians are all physically attractive, and Dewey is not. In addition, with the prestigious Battle of the Bands coming up, they cannot afford to carry anyone who is not up to par.

The next morning, Dewey is awoken in his bedroom by his longtime friend, Ned Schneebly, and Ned's domineering girlfriend, Patty Di Marco. Patty demands rent from Dewey while Ned cowers behind her. They give Dewey thirty days to get the rent money. After they leave, Dewey dreams about getting his break and becoming a superstar ("When I Climb to the Top of Mount Rock.") Afterwards, Dewey receives a call from Rosalie Mullins, principal of the prestigious Horace Green School. She asks to speak to Ned, saying that the school has an open substitute teacher position that will pay over nine hundred dollars a week—enough to meet the rent. Dewey, pretending to be Ned, accepts.

At Horace Green, Rosalie does her best to keep everything running smoothly while greeting parents who come to drop off their children ("Horace Green Alma Mater.") Rosalie's assistant notes that the new substitute teacher has yet to arrive. Though Rosalie is upset, she assures her assistant that everything will be alright as long as the new hire arrives by ten o'clock. Dewey arrives both hung over (though Rosalie does not realise this) and unprepared for the day, and the principal warns that "Ned" will be expected to meet the school's high standards. ("Here at Horace Green.")

Dewey enters his classroom and introduces himself as Mr. Schneebly. His thirteen students are immediately wary of him, and one of them, uptight Summer Hathaway, attempts to explain to him how the classes run, and Dewey is disgusted by the rigid system. Still trying to get over his hangover, he points to Freddie and tells his student to buy him a sandwich, but Freddie responds that they are not allowed to leave school. Upset, Dewey asks if anyone has food. One of the students, Lawrence, attempts to give him a granola bar, but it's gluten free and Dewey spits it all over Lawrence's face. He spends the rest of the day sleeping off his hangover, leaving the students to run wild.

At the apartment, Patty asks Ned to go on a jog with her, but he declines, claiming he has a lot of papers to grade. Understanding, Patty goes. As soon as she's gone, however, Ned pulls out his Guitar Hero console and begins playing. When Dewey comes home, he joins Ned and they discuss various topics such as teaching and their old band ("Variation 7.") After their game, Dewey attempts to convince Ned to rejoin him in their music career, by reminding him of all the perks of being a rockstar ("Children of Rock.") However, Patty arrives and breaks the men's reminiscing session up. Angry at Dewey, Patty reminds him that he's nothing more than a dreamer who will never succeed in the rock business ("Mount Rock (Reprise.)")

The next day at school, Dewey arrives late again. Another teacher, Gabe, is annoyed with him because he had to teach Dewey's first period class. While they're speaking, Dewey hears music coming from one of the classrooms, and asks Gabe what it is. Gabe tells him that it's Dewey's students in music class with Rosalie ("Queen of the Night.") Amazed, Dewey ushers the students into his classroom, demanding to know why none of them told him that they play instruments. Lawrence responds that they didn't know it mattered, and Dewey is appalled, saying that their talent is their only redeeming quality.

Dewey then tells his students that they're now a part of his new band, and that they'll be competing in the Battle of the Bands with him. The students are initially hesitant, but instantly get on board when Dewey lies and says that The Battle of the Bands will look good on their college applications. He shows them the instruments that he brought into class, and begins assigning roles. First, he puts together the instrumentals of his band: Zack on electric guitar, Katie on bass, Lawrence on keyboard, and Freddy on drums. He also makes two of the girls—Shonelle and Marcy—backup singers, and two other girls—Madison and Sophie—roadies. Then he moves onto technical jobs. Mason is put in charge of lights, James is made the security officer, and an ecstatic Billy is made the band's stylist. Summer is angry that she hasn't been given a job, and Dewey dismisses her, saying she could be a groupie. However, Summer thinks that groupies are sluts, and Dewey relents and makes her the band's manager. The only student left without a job is Tomika, the new girl, who sits in the background and watches the others get their roles ("You're in the Band.")

After everyone has been assigned roles, Mason asks Dewey if he thinks they'll be good enough to compete in the Battle of the Bands, and Dewey responds that he thinks they could win. He then hands out famous CDs to the students to listen to as homework ("You're in the Band (Reprise.)")

The children go home, and a glimpse is seen into some of their home lives. Freddy tells his father about the music he was assigned to listen to, but his father belittles him, saying that he's not smart like the other children at Horace Green and that Freddy should focus on studying instead. Crestfallen, Freddy backs down from talking to him. In another part of town, Billy is reading a Vogue magazine disguised as Sports Illustrated in his living room. When his father comes downstairs, he is angry to find Billy reading the magazine, affirming that Billy is meant to play football like the rest of the family. Billy tries to go up to his room, but his father forces him to watch the game. Elsewhere, Tomika tells her fathers that she's not making friends or doing well in her new school, but her parents dismiss her since they love Horace Green. Finally, Zack attempts to talk to his father about his day, but his father is on a business call and shouts at Zack for trying to speak to him, telling him to go away. Frustrated, Zack, Tomika, Billy, Freddy, and the other students lament that they have so much to tell and offer their parents and the world, but they just won't listen to them yet ("If Only You Would Listen.")

Later, after the students have gathered a handle on their roles in the band, Shonelle and Marcy say that they should call the band School of Rock. Dewey loves it, and then he is asked about the song they're going to perform in Battle of the Bands. Clearly unprepared, Dewey makes up a song on the spot and explains it to the students ("In the End of Time (A Cappella Version.)")

In the Faculty Lounge, the other teachers complain that ever since Dewey has arrived, the children have begun to act happy and undisciplined, and that all of the kids like Dewey more than them. In addition, they complain about how Dewey doesn't fit into the mould of the school, but still accept the fact that whatever he's doing is working ("Faculty Quadrille.") In the classroom, the band continues practicing Dewey's new song ("In the End of Time (Practice Version.)") After playing, Dewey tells everyone they're doing great. However, Zack is playing in an uptight and rigid manner, and Dewey says that Zack needs to get angry at "the man" in order to really rock. He explains that the man is responsible for everything wrong with the world, and Dewey and the kids get angry and shout about how they're going to stick it to the man ("Stick it to the Man.")

After classes, the children and Dewey sneak out of the school to go to the qualifying auditions for Battle of the Bands. However, they're told that they are too late and that the auditions are over, and that they should try again next year. Summer, however, has an idea, and tells the Battle of the Bands manager that the School of Rock band won't exist next year, as all of the children are diagnosed with the fictitious stickittothemanis. The Battle of the Bands manager, heartbroken, lets the kids perform their song and qualify ("In the End of Time (The Audition.)")

Dewey and the kids, ecstatic, celebrate their qualification and how they're going to succeed at the Battle of the Bands ("Stick it to the Man (Reprise.)")

Act Two

Thirty-six hours before the Battle of the Bands, the students are hard at work preparing for the event while Dewey attends a faculty conference. Summer has taken control of the group as the manager, as she is still under the impression that winning the Battle will look good on her college application. She bosses the other students around while James makes sure that no one comes near the room. In addition, Mason works on the lighting for the show, Sophie and Madison show the other students the new dance moves for the song, the band works on their instruments, and Summer checks off everything else that needs to be done. However, the one outstanding issue is the costumes, which Billy has yet to show anybody. He argues that they aren't finished yet, but Summer makes him show them anyway. Billy, using Lawrence as an unwilling model, shows everyone, and they hate them. Billy, annoyed but not disheartened, goes back to the drawing board ("Time to Play.")

At the faculty meeting, Rosalie reminds the teachers that they need to have presentations including papers and projects that the students completed ready for parents' night, which is the next day. During the meeting, Dewey also discovers that Rosalie is secretly a rocker, and loves Stevie Nicks. When Rosalie gives her announcement about parents' night, however, Dewey is shocked and unprepared, spitting his drink all over the gym teacher. The meeting dismisses, and Dewey runs back to his classroom and tells the kids the predicament. They also point out that they'll miss the battle if they stay for parents night. Dewey promises that he'll figure it out, and then an upset Tomika goes to speak with him. She says that she's upset that Dewey never gave her a job in the band, and that she wants to sing. Dewey asks Tomika why she didn't raise her hand when he asked for backup singers, and she responds that she's not a backup singer, but a lead singer. However, when Dewey asks her to sing for the class, she gets nervous and turns away.

Dewey tries to help her, but is taken aside by Lawrence, who is once again worried that he isn't cool enough to be a part of the band. After a short heart-to-heart, Dewey restores Lawrence's confidence, and the two jump back into the chaos of preparing for tomorrow. While no one is listening, Tomika begins to sing, and, slowly, the others stop talking and listen to her, amazed ("Amazing Grace.") Dewey is shocked and promises her that she can sing, but before they can talk for long, James announces that Rosalie is coming. Instantly, the students pull out disguises and cover the instruments with Thanksgiving themed items, and Dewey pretends to be giving a lesson on the holiday.

Rosalie mentions that one of the other teachers swore they heard music coming from the classroom again, and Dewey tries to convince Rosalie that the teacher must be on crack—to no avail—and then explains that he uses music to teach "boring" subjects. After arguing that there are no boring subjects, Rosalie announces that she'll be sitting in for the rest of Dewey's lesson. Nervous, Dewey pulls out his guitar and improvises a song about math ("Math Is a Wonderful Thing.") Rosalie is unimpressed, but Dewey decides to ask her out to a bar regardless.

Later that night, Rosalie and Dewey meet at the bar, and, after having a few drinks, Dewey plays a Stevie Nicks' song on the jukebox, causing Rosalie to let loose somewhat. Rosalie admits to him that it's the pressure that makes her act so uptight, and that she hates it. After their conversation goes on for a while, Rosalie laments about how she feels she's lost her inner music, but Dewey has reminded her about it. She also promises that if the parents' meeting goes well the next day, she'll help Dewey and School of Rock go to The Battle of the Bands ("Where Did the Rock Go?") Dewey impulsively kisses Rosalie, and they part ways.

Dewey arrives home just as Patty and Ned are going through the mail, and an excited Patty shows Ned that he received a letter from Horace Green—but, in reality, its Dewey's in-cash paycheck under Ned's name—Patty and Ned are confused, but figure they'll decipher it later. Patty leaves, and Dewey tries to take the money from Ned, who demands why he's so interested in it. Dewey, realizing he can't lie to Ned any longer, explains that he's been impersonating Ned at Horace Green. Ned goes into a panic attack, but Dewey manages to calm him down. Dewey then makes Ned promise not to tell Patty, which he agrees to.

The next day, the students go to rehearse their song, but then Zack reveals that he wrote his own song for the band in his free time. Dewey is floored by Zack's talent, and has Zack teach the song to the rest of the band ("School of Rock (Band Practice.)") However, in the middle of the practice, Rosalie unwittingly brings the students' parents into the classroom, and they are appalled by what is going on. Dewey manages to calm them down enough to explain to the parents how the band has brought the students together, then Zack's father shouts that Zack isn't smart enough to be wasting his time in a band. His words anger Dewey, and Dewey sets off explaining each of the children's merits to their parents, who slowly begin to see the band as a good thing.

However, just as Dewey has begun to sway them, Patty and Ned burst in, Ned apologizing and saying that Patty got the information out of him. Patty exposes that Dewey for who he really is—not Ned Schneebly—and the parents go ballistic. Dewey confesses everything, and somehow manages to anger the parents even further. They all begin shouting and screaming at Rosalie, and, in the midst of the craziness, Dewey and the children escape to go to The Battle ("Dewey's Confession.")

After the parents leave after their children, Rosalie paces nervously in the halls. She sees Mason run by and stops him. Mason explains that he left his laptop with all of the lighting and special effect cues in the classroom in the madness, and that he needs to go and get it so that the bus containing the students could leave. Rosalie explains to Mason that Dewey isn't who the students think he is, but Mason rebuts that it doesn't matter—no matter what his name, Dewey has still helped each and every one of the students become better people. Rosalie, touched, tells Mason that she'll help them escape. Mason hugs her and tells her that she's "the best" before going off. Rosalie then steers the parents in the wrong direction to buy the children more time.

Regardless of their escape, Dewey is convinced that everything is ruined, and retreats to his bedroom. However, the children follow him, and some of them go into his room. Led by Tomika, they all explain how much Dewey has helped them and how he is the only one that would truly listen to them—above even their own parents—and how much they need him ("If Only You Would Listen (Reprise.)") Dewey regains his faith and confidence, and is about to go with them, when Patty and Ned enter, confused and angry. Patty begins shouting at Dewey, but Ned finally stands up to her and tells her to back off. With Ned's aid, the group goes to the battle.

The band arrives just as No Vacancy is finishing up their performance ("I'm Too Hot For You (Reprise.)") Dewey decides that they should play Zack's song, as it's better than his own and more their style.They get into the new costumes that Billy has made—which are modified versions of their school uniforms—and Billy gives Dewey his. Dewey rejects it, saying it's not his style, but Billy shouts at him and forces Dewey to change, saying that Dewey has no style to begin with. Right before they go on, the parents arrive, but are not allowed backstage by the security guards. As the students go to perform, Zack's father begins shouting at his son, telling him that School of Rock is ridiculous and stupid. Zack, finally having enough, stands up to his father and tells him that the band means more to him than he does, and then Zack goes to play.

They perform Zack's song and the crowd goes wild. Their parents watch on from an empty box seat, and each of them slowly fall in love with the band and how amazing their children are. Each of the instrumental students get a solo, and Tomika sings lead with Dewey as well. By the end, Zack's father is frozen with pride, and has to be pulled away by Summer's mother ("School of Rock (Teacher's Pet.)")

After the performance, Rosalie and the band's parents congratulate the group, as well as Ned who has decked out in full heavy metal gear for The Battle. Dewey watches the parents and their kids, and finally feels as though he has accomplished something worthwhile. The winner of the competition is announced as No Vacancy, but Dewey assures everyone that winning didn't really matter, because they did something even more special. Patty then enters with a police officer and tries to get Dewey arrested for fraud, but Rosalie convinces the officer that Patty must be confused, claiming that Dewey—under his real name: Mr. Finn—is Horace Green's official Band Coach, and is entirely qualified for his position. Ned escorts Patty home.

They prepare to go home, but then hear the crowd shouting for an encore from School of Rock. The announcer, overwhelmed, welcomes them back to the stage, and they perform another song ("Stick It to the Man (Encore.)")

After their song, Dewey and Rosalie kiss again, and Rosalie mixes her classical singing with the heavy rock music of School of Rock, implying that a change is coming to Horace Green and its curriculum because of the band and Dewey ("Finale.")

Characters

The Adults

• Dewey Finn: The main protagonist, Dewey is a struggling rockstar who is kicked out of his band, No Vacancy, at the beginning of the show. Forced to by a need of money, he impersonates Ned Schneebly and gets a substitute teacher job at the Horace Green School, where he founds the band School of Rock with the students, who are musical prodigies. Dewey is wild, crude, and somewhat more childish than his students.
• Rosalie Mullins: Rosalie is the principal of Horace Green, and is very uptight and traditional at school. However, she feels an intense amount of pressure from work, which is what causes her to be so high strung. She has a secret love of rock and roll music, and longs to be as carefree as she once was.
• Ned Schneebly: Dewey's longtime friend, former bandmate, and current roommate. Ned is very easily manipulated, and tends to let people walk all over him—especially his girlfriend, Patty. He still loves rock and roll music, but is held down by Patty. He is a substitute teacher and is impersonated by Dewey at Horace Green.
• Patty Di Marco: Ned's girlfriend. She is very demanding and domineering, and doesn't let Ned make any decisions for himself. She hates Dewey and wants him out of the apartment and out of her and Ned's lives.

The Students

• Tomika (Singer): Tomika transfers to Horace Green after being accepted off of the waiting list. She is shy and doesn't speak to anyone at school, and feels as though she's not as intelligent as the other students. However, it turns out that she is a highly gifted singer, and becomes the secondary singer in School of Rock, behind only Dewey.
• Summer (Manager): Summer is a high-achieving girl who hates nonsense. Initially, she absolutely despises Dewey, but comes to love the band—or, perhaps, the power that comes with it—and is willing to do anything to see it achieve. Summer is one of the brightest students at Horace Green, as shown by the fact that she has significantly more gold stars on the achievement board than any of her peers.
• Zack (Guitarist): Zack is the son of an uptight businessman with no time for his children. Because of that, Zack keeps a lot bottled inside and has issues with being too stiff with his guitar playing at first. However, Dewey discovers that Zack is actually a musical prodigy, as shown when Zack writes the band's anthem, Teacher's Pet, after only a month or so of playing rock music.
• Lawrence (Keyboardist): Lawrence is an unconfident boy, and is also gluten intolerant. He initially believes that he isn't cool enough to be a part of the band, but Dewey is able to convince him that he's amazing. At the beginning of the show, Lawrence's only friend is Tomika, but he doesn't think she counts because she never talks. He's a very imaginative keyboard player, and talented at improvising.
• Freddy (Drummer): Freddy is a rambunctious boy, as soon when he repeatedly slams cymbals together disruptively during music class. He is constantly told he isn't intelligent—by both his own father and Summer—but Freddy and Dewey both think that he's intelligent in a different way, and that Freddy's father just doesn't see that.
• Billy (Stylist): Billy is a flamboyant boy with a love of style and fashion magazines. He is disgusted with Dewey's outfit choices, and how no one else in the band shares is artistic vision, but is confident is his styling choices regardless. Billy comes from a long line of football players, and his father wants him to be one as well, but Billy has absolutely no interest in doing so.
• Katie (Bassist): Katie is a quiet, serious girl who keeps mostly to herself. She plays the cello at school, but is quick to pick up the bass at Dewey's encouragement. She is stone-faced when she plays, and takes her instrument and the band very seriously, however not as much as Summer takes managing.
• Mason (Lighting): Mason is a nerdy, tech-savvy boy who designs all of the lighting and special effects for School of Rock using his laptop. He's also very forgiving, as he's the first to accept Rosalie when she decides to drop her high-strung act, hugging her and telling her that she's the best. In addition, he also appears to have experience with pyrotechnics. His film counterpart is Gordon.
• James (Security): James is a gruff and tough boy that becomes the band's security guard. During rehearsals, Dewey has him stand near the door, and if James sees anyone potentially dangerous to blowing School of Rock's cover—like Rosalie or one of the teachers—he has the job of alerting the rest of the band, so that they could hide the instruments. His film counterpart is Frankie.
• Shonelle and Marcy (Backup Singers): Shonelle and Marcy are quieter girls who tend to blend into the background. They are School of Rock's backup singers, and also talented dancers. Dewey tells their parents that they have the voices of angels. Their film counterparts are Alicia and Marta.
• Sophie and Madison (Roadies): Sophie and Madison are School of Rock's roadies, but, since the band doesn't go on tour, they are essentially backup dancers. Each girl is a talented dancer and they could often be found together, much like Marcy and Shonelle. The roadies usually dance near Freddy and the drum set. Their film counterparts are Eleni and Michelle.

Production history

Auditions began on January 19, 2015 for children ages nine through fifteen. Some recruiting was done through the School of Rock after-school educational program (which predated the film by several years) and open calls were held in New York at the Winter Garden, in Chicago and in Los Angeles.

On 29 May 2015, it was announced that Alex Brightman would play the role of Dewey Finn, a role performed in the film by Jack Black. and that staged concerts of the musical would be held before a select audience at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan, in June 2015. Also cast in the musical was Sierra Boggess as Rosalie.

The opening production began previews at the Winter Garden on 9 November 2015; with its official opening night coming on 6 December, tickets had been sold beginning on 11 June. The production had originally been slated to begin previews on 2 November.

On 7 December 2015, following the show's Broadway opening, it was announced by Andrew Lloyd Webber that the show will transfer to London's West End in autumn 2016, with performance dates to be announced in early 2016. On 20 May 2016 the musical was confirmed at the New London Theatre with previews starting on 24 October 2016, opening night on 14 November 2016, and public booking opening on 25 May 2016. A U.S. Tour was also announced which will start performances in late 2017. Youth production rights were opened for applications prior to the show opening on Broadway.

Music

The musical features an original score composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Glenn Slater, sound design by Mick Potter and musical supervision by Ethan Popp, in addition to music from the 2003 film. It features around twelve original songs, with three taken from the original film.

Musical numbers

Act I

• "I'm Too Hot for You" – No Vacancy and Dewey
• "When I Climb to the Top of Mount Rock" – Dewey
• "Horace Green Alma Mater" – Rosalie, Students and Teachers
• "Here at Horace Green" – Rosalie
• "Variation 7" – Dewey and Ned
• "Children of Rock" – Dewey and Ned
• "Mount Rock (Reprise)" – Patty
• "Queen of the Night" – Rosalie, Dewey and Gabe
• "You're in the Band" – Dewey and Students
• "You're in the Band (Reprise)" – Dewey and Students
• "If Only You Would Listen" – Students
• "In the End of Time (A Cappella Version)" – Dewey
• "Faculty Quadrille" – Teachers
• "In the End of Time (Band Practice)" – Dewey and Students
• "Stick It to the Man" – Dewey and Students
• "In the End of Time (The Audition)" – Dewey and Students
• "Stick It to the Man (Reprise)" – Dewey and Students

Act II

• "Time to Play" – Summer and Students
• "Amazing Grace" – Tomika
• "Math Is a Wonderful Thing" – Dewey and Students
• "Where Did the Rock Go?" – Rosalie
• "School of Rock (Band Practice)" – Dewey and Students
• "Dewey's Confession" – Dewey, Rosalie, Patty, Ned and Parents
• "If Only You Would Listen (Reprise)" – Tomika and Other Students
• "I'm Too Hot for You (Reprise)" – No Vacancy
• "School of Rock" – Dewey and Students
• "Stick It to the Man (Encore)" – Dewey and Students
• "Finale" – Full Company

Cast album

School of Rock the Musical Original Cast Recording
File:School of Rock (Cast Cd).jpg
Soundtrack album cast recording by Various
Released	4 December 2015 (2015-12-04)
Length	1:05:30
Label	Warner Bros. Records

On September 14, 2015, it was announced that a cast album would be recorded, prior to the show's Broadway opening. The album consists of 20 tracks, including three bonus tracks and the song "Give Up Your Dreams" which was cut from the production during previews. Distributed by Warner Bros. Records, the original cast recording was released on December 4, 2015, prior to the show's Broadway opening on December 6, 2015.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"When I Climb To The Top Of Mount Rock"	3.28
2.	"Horace Green Alma Mater"	2.47
3.	"Here at Horace Green"	2.04
4.	"Variation 7/Children Of Rock"	4.23
5.	"Give Up Your Dreams"	3.20
6.	"Queen Of The Night"	1.59
7.	"You're In The Band"	4.55
8.	"If Only You Would Listen"	3.12
9.	"In the End of Time (A Cappella Version)"	2.11
10.	"Faculty Quadrille"	2.24
11.	"Stick It to the Man"	3.12
12.	"Time To Play"	3.36
13.	"Where Did The Rock Go"	4.15
14.	"Dewey's Confession"	1.40
15.	"Act 2 Scene 8 Dewey's Bedroom"	5.08
16.	"School Of Rock (Teacher's Pet)"	4.17
17.	"Finale"	3.37
18.	"I'm Too Hot For You (Bonus Track)"	3.26
19.	"If Only You Would Listen (Bonus Track)"	3.35
20.	"In The End Of Time (Rock Version Bonus Track)"	2.01

Principal roles and original cast

Character	Original Broadway Cast
Dewey Finn	Alex Brightman
Rosalie Mullins	Sierra Boggess
Ned Schneebly	Spencer Moses
Patty Di Marco	Mamie Parris
Shonelle	Taylor Caldwell
Katie	Evie Dolan
James	Jersey Sullivan
Sophie	Corinne Wilson
Marcy	Carly Gendell
Mason	Ethan Khusidman
Freddy	Dante Melucci
Tomika	Bobbi MacKenzie
Zack	Brandon Niederauer
Billy	Luca Padovan
Lawrence	Jared Parker
Summer	Isabella Russo
Madison	Shahadi Wright Joseph

Critical reception

Most reviews of School of Rock, as compiled by Broadway World.com, were positive. Many focused on the child performers. David Rooney, for The Hollywood Reporter, praised the young rockers, "the show knows full well that its prime asset is the cast of ridiculously talented kids, ranging in age from nine to 13. They supply a joyous blast of defiant analog vitality in a manufactured digital world." David Cote wrote for Time Out: New York, "We expect cute kids in uniform, a spastic Dewey and face-melting riffs—along with heart-tugging family stuff. It worked for the movie, and wow, does it work on Broadway ... For those about to love School of Rock: We salute you." Robert Kahn of WNBC television station in New York concurred, "The story doesn’t particularly resonate for me, but I won’t soon forget the feel-good vibe radiating off the talented young performers"

According to Rooney, "Boggess is lovely in the show's closest thing to a female lead". Brightman's performance was praised as well, with Cote writing, "the secret weapon and glue holding it all together is an insanely winning, supernova turn by Alex Brightman as Dewey". Matt Windman of AM: New York wrote, "Brightman comes off as a gentler version of Jack Black, though still loud and rambunctious and a genuine class clown". Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune noted, "What matters most — and what makes this show work — is that Brightman clearly has developed, and can show us he has developed, an emotional bond with his band."

Cote noted, "You’d have to have zero sense of humor about pop to not enjoy Webber’s jaunty pastiche score, which sneaks elegant melodies in among the boilerplate stadium stompers." But Jones suggested, "the ever-savvy Andrew Lloyd Webber has kept himself and his ditties more in the background". Marilyn Stasio of Variety noted, "Having written songs for alley cats and toy trains, Webber has the ideal sensibility to relate to children whose freakish talents might make them seem a little bit … peculiar, in a world of average Joes." Kahn stated, though: " I don’t imagine most of the big numbers here will enjoy an afterlife; they’re inferior to his earlier confections."

School of Rock evoked comparisons with other musicals, with Michael Dale of broadwayworld.com deeming it "The Sound of Music without the Nazis". Rooney suggested that Lloyd Webber was "revisiting his Jesus Christ Superstar rock roots" According to Cote, "School of Rock has absorbed the diverse lessons of Rent, Spring Awakening and Matilda and passes them on to a new generation."

Jack Black himself attended a Sunday performance, and afterwards told the cast backstage, "There were so many times I went, ‘I could not have done it that well.’ You made me laugh. You made me cry. You made me rock.’"

Awards and nominations

Broadway production

Year	Award Ceremony	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref
2016	Tony Awards	Best Musical		Pending
		Best Book of a Musical	Julian Fellowes	Pending
		Best Original Score	Andrew Lloyd Webber and Glenn Slater	Pending
		Best Actor in a Musical	Alex Brightman	Pending

External links

• Official website
• School of Rock on Twitter