By Kate Webster Neeley
Gnarly tunes and music-savvy students grace the Ellen Eccles Theatre’s stage with Cache Theatre Company’s heartwarming production of School of Rock! This show is the Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway musical stage version of the popular Mike White film starring Jack Black as Dewey Finn (Chris Metz/Landon Weeks). Bringing this show to the stage is a longtime dream of director Whitney Metz. “I saw it on tour a couple of years ago and completely fell in love with it! It is, in my opinion, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best musical. I love the music and the message – but most especially the energy of the kids!” she relates.
About the kids. ‘Wow’ does not do them justice. Their talent sizzles, and it’s anything but vanilla. They’ve got attitude, heart, great comedic timing, vocals, dance moves–all of it. Not only that and the fact that they’re genuinely adorable – some of them even play REAL rock instruments onstage.
Director Metz was overwhelmed by the incredible volume of talent that showed up at auditions last fall. Her heart drove her to double cast this production to give more kids the chance to shine. This means all the things like choreography (Kat Newman), music (Trevor Teuscher and Karen Teuscher), costumes (Jessi Thomson), and scene blocking (directors Metzand assistant director Tanner Jackman) are done double. A challenge not many would be willing to undergo, but certainly one worthwhile. You won’t be disappointed by either cast. Each appropriately named for rock bands, the ten performances over eight days alternate between the AC/DC and Metallica casts, giving both of them five shows.
With two casts, there’s some playing ‘musical chairs’ between roles. At the forefront of this switcheroo are C Metz and Weeks as Dewey Finn, the wannabe rockstar and lovable goofball deadbeat roommate turned long-term substitute teacher at Horace Green Elementary School.
Then there are the versatile Sebrina Woodland and Celeste Baillio, who swap roles as principal Rosalie Mullins and Ms. Sheinkopf with each cast. It will blow your mind when either of these two ring the rafters with their ultra high register operatics during the song “Queen of the Night”.
Jenn Schmidt and Allison Lefler both slay as Ned Schneebly’s (Sam Teuscher/Mason Lefler) bossy girlfriend Patty Di Marco. Among the fun Adult Ensembleof rock band members, teachers and parents to the kids of Horace Green Elementary, there’s more moving around within roles – and whatever the arrangement, you get awesome vocals and expressive and engaging character choices.
The stunning set designed and built by Danny Rash and Lineset Design will pull you right into the halls and classroom of Horace Green Elementary, in Ned’s apartment or at a rock concert. It’s sleek, fun, and eye-catching to say the least. Throw in props and little details by props manager Christy Serr Thompson, and you’re ‘in the band.’
And what’s a rock concert without some roadies? Outside of the student cast, there are some kids interlaced within the story and although they don’t have center stage roles, they totally bring the energy and hype.
Have you stopped to realize how this show simply couldn’t rock without a band? And it’s no canned version – Trevor Teuscher and his exceptionally skilled live band in the pit bring the music that lifts and carries the story from start to finish. On the keyboard you get Kiersten Shelton and Zach Brown. Guitars are Keli Gibbons, Alex Schneider, Karl Gibbons and Patrick Clark on bass. And to tie it up you get drums that can’t be beat played by Michael Hylton.
Stage Manager Cyndi Ford and Assistant Ella Stevens might not be spotted onstage, but their collective dedication to keeping things rolling must not go unnoticed. Truly a collaborative effort, there’s just no shortage of creativity within the technical elements and stage crew on an exceptional level. All the lights and sound run successfully. Credited to these important supporting parts are a production team made up of these guys: Amy Critchfield, Kyle Sunderland, Jasper Ward, Carissa Mathews, Clara Baillio, Hatch, and Jonathan Olson.
Feeling uptight, getting schooled by responsibility? Ready to ‘stick it to the man,’ let loose, and rock? Take off your tie and trade the suit for some ripped jeans and a tee shirt and get over to Ellen Eccles Theatre for School of Rock to let go and find your inner kid. Or maybe you need a reminder to listen and truly see your kids for who they are. It’ll do that too.
Cache Theatre Company presents School of Rock by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Ellen Eccles Theatre, 43 S Main St., Logan, UT 84321
April 21-22, 24-29, 2023 7:30 PM, Saturday Matinee 1:30 pm April 29, 2023
Tickets: $25+
Contact: 435-752-0026, info@cachearts.org
Cache Theatre Company Facebook Page
Cache Theatre Company Instagram
0 Comments