Paramount's terrific 'School of Rock' benefits from 21 young dynamos
“School of Rock” - ★ ★ ★ ½
To prepare the young actors for Paramount Theatre's “School of Rock,” director Trent Stork added three extra weeks of rehearsal and introduced some unusual incentives. Stork and the creative team established a system that awarded gold stars to young performers for their initiative and improvement. Youngsters who collected a certain number of stars received a reward, one of which was an opportunity to pie Stork in the face.
Unusual, yes. But Stork's methods worked. The 21 singer/actor/musicians who play the prep school students turned pint-size rockers in this tuner are among the most confident, practiced and joyful young performers I've seen.
Based on the 2003 film starring Jack Black, “School of Rock” is a breezy, escapist tuner about a group of uptight, overachieving, overscheduled, early adolescents struggling to be seen and heard by the adults in their lives and the blowzy, unemployed rock musician who empowers them to uncover their inner rock stars.
Nick Druzbanski plays rock guitarist Dewey Finn, an amiable slacker whose development arrested somewhere in his late teens or early 20s. Ousted from his band and wearing out his welcome at the home of best friend Ned (Jackson Evans) and Ned's prickly girlfriend Patty (Lucy Godinez), Dewey wrangles his way into a substitute teaching gig at the prestigious Horace Green Preparatory School run by no-nonsense principal Rosalie Mullins (Veronica Garza).
Dewey introduces his students to classic rock (listen for the Deep Purple, Rolling Stones and Lou Reed riffs) in the showstopping “You're in the Band,” a celebration of young people tapping into their unrealized potential. Zealously performed by Druzbanski and company, and featuring guitarist Zach (Julian Wanderer), bassist Katie (Julia Dale), keyboardist Lawrence (Leighton Tantillo) and drummer Freddy (David Mattle), it's a terrific number that showcases the young instrumentalists (who play live throughout the show, accompanied by conductor Kory Danielson's septet). But “You're in the Band” is also noteworthy for illustrating qualities the best teachers possess: the ability to spark interest, provide students tools to pursue those interests, encourage their efforts and let them soar.
Lead vocalist Tomika (Kayla Norris), backup singers Marcy (Maya Keane) and Shonelle (Meena Sood), manager Summer (Omi Lichtenstein) and other students serving as roadies, techies and security round out the band's lineup. High jinks ensue as the group prepares for a Battle of the Bands competition while keeping school administrators, including vice principal Ms. Sheinkopf (near scene-stealer Mary Robin Roth) in the dark.
The book by Julian Fellowes (who earned an Academy Award for “Gosford Park” and an Emmy for “Downton Abbey”) is amusing, as are Glen Slater's lyrics (“I'm Too Hot for You” is a spot-on sendup of vacuous frontmen). The score includes new rock-infused music by Andrew Lloyd Webber along with songs credited to Black, Warren Fitzgerald, Mike White and Samuel Buonagurio.
“School of Rock” is formulaic, as evidenced by its obedient youngsters learning to rebel, a ne'er-do-well reforming his ways and his buttoned-up antagonist recovering her youthful swagger. There's even a “To Sir, With Love”-style moment in the show, which sometimes feels like an after-school special. But it is well done.
Stork's revival - featuring arena concert-style effects courtesy of Michelle Lilly (set), Greg Hofmann (lights) and Mike Tutaj (projections) - is hugely entertaining.
Kudos to Druzbanski, a disarming, generous Dewey; Garza, who combines a coloratura soprano's trill with the belt voice that recalls rock royalty Ann Wilson; and 21 spirited young theater artists whose performances contain none of the cloying precociousness on which lesser child actors rely.
On opening night, in what may have been the most joyous, inclusive curtain call ever staged, Druzbanski recognized each one by name. And rightly so. They earned it.
Location: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-6666, paramountaurora.com
Showtimes: 1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday; 7 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday through June 4
Running time: About 2 hours, 40 minutes with intermission
Tickets: $28-$79
Parking: Limited street parking, paid lots nearby
Rating: For most audiences, some material might be over the heads of young children
COVID-19 precautions: Masks recommended