(Lewiston, ID) Get ready to rock out with the Lewiston Civic Theatre’s electrifying production of School of Rock the Musical, hitting the stage at the Normal Hill Campus from June 6 to June 23, 2024. Prepare to be blown away as this star-studded cast brings the classic movie to life and rocks your world. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, of Broadway and West End fame, wrote the music for School of Rock the Musical, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Julian Fellowes based on School of Rock by Mike White.
Caption: Deweys (left TJ Richardson, right Grant Benjamin) and their 2 bands in School of Rock the Musical
Directed by Amy Baker Stout, this production promises an exhilarating ride through the halls of Horace Green Prep School, where the rebellious Dewey Finn inspires his students to embrace the power of rock ‘n’ roll. With double casts for key roles, including Dewey Finn and the formidable Principal Rosalie Mullins, audiences are in for a dynamic showcase of talent that will leave them cheering for more and wanting to see it again and again! The role of Dewey Finn is shared by TJ Richardson and Grant Benjamin. LCT favorite divas, Monica Evans and Jennifer Opdahl, rule the school as Rosalie Mullins. By contract, all of the kids who play instruments live in the show must be 14 and under, so we have two outstanding young rock bands ready to compete in the Battle of the Bands. Joe Vogel and Anna Liedkie play Zack on guitar, Micah Grow and Lewis Fichter play Freddie on drums, Terra von Lindern and Averie Pierce are holding it down on bass as Katie, and Connor Stout and Raúl Delioth Boulton portray Lawrence on the keyboard. There’s a fantastic group of talented actors that are in both casts, but the actors playing, Dewey, Rosalie, the kids who play instruments and the role of Summer are double cast. The casts are designated as “Rockstars” or “Legends” and alternate performance nights. Contact the box office if you need to know which cast is playing on a given night, and just know, that each cast is equally out of this world! Two casts means double the rock – they are so good you have to see it twice!
Caption: Left to Right, Joe Vogal, Zack, and Grant Benjamin, Dewey Fin
Under the musical direction of Amy Baker Stout, assisted by Sarah Melissa Daniels, and with the exceptional choreography by Andrew Thompson, School of Rock the Musical delivers a high-energy performance that captures the essence of the beloved film while bringing its own unique flair to the stage that is going to be unforgettable. Adding to the excitement, Shelly Renzelman will be conducting the live pit orchestra with some of the Valley’s best rockers – 3 electric guitars, 2 keyboards, drums and bass – and 3 recorders, because after all, Horace Green is a prep school! From soulful ballads to epic rock anthems, the musical talent on display is set to captivate audiences and rock the valley like never before.
Caption: TJ Richardson as Dewey with the “Rockstars” cast of School of Rock
“This show has been a labor of love that began its journey almost a year ago. Everyone auditioned last August, and the cast was completed in November. In January, the kids in the band and the actors playing Dewey began practicing together, and the full cast joined them in April. What a privilege it has been to work with them, see them grow into their characters and tackle this material of epic proportions! This is a story about seeing talent in people that they never knew they had, and inspiring the confidence in them to achieve anything they set their minds to. A sense of pride just isn’t a big enough phrase to convey what I feel when I see this entire cast embracing these roles, and not just achieving, but absolutely slaying what might have seemed impossible a year ago – both onstage and off – every single day. That is what community theater can do for people of all ages. It just blows me away.”
Caption: Grant Benjamin as Dewey with some of the “Legends” cast of School of Rock.
Tickets for this epic production are on sale now at lctheatre.org, or by calling the Box Office at (208)746-3401 and, with the anticipation of sold-out crowds, securing your seats in advance is highly recommended. Whether you’re a fan of the original film starring Jack Black or simply craving an unforgettable theatrical experience School of Rock the Musical promises to deliver a night for the record books!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the rock ‘n’ roll revolution at the Lewiston Civic Theatre. Get your tickets today and prepare to unleash your inner rock star!