Renbrook School will present ‘School of Rock’ The Musical beginning March 3, 2017.

Renbrook students rehearse for the youth production of “The School of Rock”.” Submitted photo

Submitted by Stacy Routhier, Renbrook School

“School of Rock” The Musical is slated to hit the stage of Stedman Auditorium at Renbrook School on March 3, 4 and 5, 2017. 

Based on the hit 2003 movie of the same title, “School of Rock” boasts brand new music written by the Broadway legend Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater. The show is currently playing on Broadway, London and – for one weekend only – at Renbrook!  

The musical follows Dewey Finn, wannabe rock star, who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band and teaches these pint-sized prodigies what it means to truly rock (www.schoolofrockthemusical.com).

Director Joe DeSisto, a faculty member at Renbrook School, is working with 50-plus students both on stage, and behind the scenes and the show features three different bands, one made up entirely of Renbrook students.

This challenging show has only seen a Connecticut stage two other times. The way director Joe Desisto looks at it, “in theater the team supports the individual.”

As with previous Renbrook School theatrical productions, it has a stellar crew of veteran faculty volunteers serving as designers, costumers, and for this production of the “School of Rock,” even an alum in the engineering field. Michael Bogino of the class of 2000 ran into DeSisto over the summer and wanted to share his expertise. Little did he know that he would be designing a rotating stage for the actors to play out their Battle of the Bands, just one of the scenes where students play their songs 100 percent live.

“I expect the audience will be in awe of how hard these middle schools students worked on this show. It was no easy feat and with auditions starting back in October, it raises the bar unlike any show in Renbrook’s history,” says Director Joe DeSisto.

Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees start at 1 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door or can be bought in advance at https://www.renbrook.org/schoolofrock

Ticket cost is $10. Parking is free.

Renbrook students rehearse for the youth production of “The School of Rock”.” Submitted photo

Renbrook students rehearse for the youth production of “The School of Rock”.” Submitted photo