DETROIT — Composer and Broadway legend, Andrew Lloyd Webber brings the School of Rock-The Musical to Detroit’s Fisher Theatre from April 10-22. This crowd-pleasing, upbeat musical is fun for all ages.
The Musical begins when Dewey Finn (Rob Colletti) gets kicked out of his rock band and struggles to find another job in order to pay his rent. He rents a room with Ned (Matt Bittner) and his wife Patty (Emily Borromeo). Even though I didn’t see the original movie with Jack Black, Colletti even looks like him. Colletti’s enthusiastic performance was fantastic.
Ned is the real schoolteacher but when this prestigious Horace Green Prep School calls, Dewey answers, and things get complicated. The school offers him $950 per week to be a substitute teacher. Dewey accepts the offer but pretends to be Ned.
Of course, the main stars are the children. Dewey, I mean Ned, finds out that these kids have talent. During class, they practice rock songs to compete at the Battle of the Bands contest. Rosalie, the principal, (Lexie Dorsett Sharp) checks in on the class periodically and Ned pretends to be teaching them Math.
The question most people ask is “Are the kids really playing their own instruments?” The answer is yes. Iconic songs from The Doors, The Clash and Led Zeppelin were featured. Practicing gave the kids confidence and made them cool. So did they go to the Battle of the Bands and if so, how did they do? To find out you will have to see the musical.
The School of Rock-The Musical lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes. Some fog and laser lights are included in this presentation. There was a 20-minute intermission between the two Acts.
I thought it was really great. It was very exciting to watch. I was quite surprised actually.
Performance times for School of Rock-The Musical at the Fisher Theatre, located at 3011 West Grand Blvd, in Detroit are:
- Tuesday through Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday matinee at 2:00 p.m.
- Sunday matinee at 1:00 p.m.
Tickets start at $39 (includes facility and parking fees) and are now available online at Broadway In Detroit or Ticketmaster and by phone at 800-982-2787. You can also stop by the Fisher Theatre box office.