Submitted photoDewey Finn, played by Jim Radloff, and Ned Schneebly, played by Bob Schwoch, get into a game of Guitar Hero in a scene from “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock.”
MARSHALL — Cast members of the Marshall Area Stage Company’s summer musical will be rocking out this week, as they bring “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock” to audiences.
It’s a show that should have something for everyone, director Georgette Jones said.
“It’s just a good time. There are some powerful vocals and fun personalities,” Jones said.
“School of Rock” opened this past weekend at the Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts. Showtimes will continue Thursday through Sunday.
“School of Rock” follows the same story as the movie starring Jack Black, Jones said. After struggling musician Dewey Finn finds himself kicked out of his band, he pretends to be a substitute teacher at a prestigious private school. Dewey recruits the students in his class to form a rock band, drawing out their talents in the process.
While the film version of “School of Rock” does feature some music, the play has been expanded with songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jones said. However, “It’s definitely still a rock show,” she said.
MASC’s production of “School of Rock” also has a double cast for the main adult roles, Jones said. For example, cast members Raxson Rax and Jim Radloff play the part of Dewey on different nights of the play. Having two different actors for some of the play’s main roles brought a lot of variety to the show, she said.
“For me, it was a treat to have that much talent to choose from,” Jones said.
Radloff said it was interesting trying to get into character as Dewey, especially after actors like Jack Black and Alex Brightman played the role in the movie and on Broadway, respectively. Radloff said he focused in on the positive parts of Dewey’s personality.
“He’s a trickster, he’s a con man, but he’s got a good heart,” Radloff said. While composing a rock song, Dewey finds a way to bring in each of his students. “He includes everybody.”
When they aren’t performing in a main role, the double cast actors each play a few different background parts instead, cast members said.
“It’s like doing two shows,” said Ross Holmberg. Holmberg and Bob Schwoch trade off playing Dewey’s friend Ned Schneebly, and a variety of ensemble parts when “off duty.”
“I’m busier when I’m the off-duty Ned,” Schwoch said.
The students in Dewey’s class are a big part of the show. Young cast members of “School of Rock” said they had fun getting to know each other through rehearsals and performing.
“These people are fun. I enjoy hanging out with them,” said Elizabeth Novak. Novak plays Madison, one of the students in the class.
The kid characters in “School of Rock” each have their own personalities that fit in as different roles in the band. Brinna Snider’s character, Summer Hathaway, becomes the band manager.
“She’s like the sassy teacher’s pet,” Snider said.
Abel Johnson plays Billy, who becomes the band’s costume designer.
“He’s more of an energetic character. He’s really big on fashion stuff,” even if he’s not great at it, Johnson said.
One of the fun things about the role was seeing cast members dress up in Billy’s “really bad designs,” he said.
Kaia Nowatzki, one of the two actors playing school principal Rosalie Mullins, said being part of the show for its opening weekend was a great experience, although she was a little nervous at first. She said her character “is a cool girl, under the guise of having to be a principal.”
“School of Rock” was a fun show to be part of, Nowatzki said.
“The songs are great, and working with the kids has been a lot of fun too,” she said. “They’re a talented group.”
“It’s been really exciting,” said Tina Snider, who will be playing Principal Mullins for the show’s second weekend. Snider said the play really shows the talent in area residents, both on the stage and in the band.
It’s also been fun to see families work together on the play, she said.
“We do have some parents on the stage with their kids,” Snider said.
Actually performing as the show opened was “pretty nerve-wracking,” Johnson said. “But it was pretty fun in the end.”
Performances of “School of Rock” will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $15 for adults, and $10 for students.
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