🎸 Rocking with the SCHOOL OF ROCK 🤩

Acting 🎭 (Katherine): 

The musical is one of the most awaited school events, where students from all age ranges collaborate to produce this yearly spectacle. This time, the school is producing the “School of Rock”: a comedy drama about an overly enthusiastic guitarist and unsuccessful musician Dewey Finn, who poses as a music teacher, teaching his pupils to play rock and rock instruments. 

However, the musical is not a fully student production, as it involves many teachers that work behind the scenes to create the final performance. In honor of the teachers’ hard work, it is time for an interview with the spectacular and fabulous Ms. James about her views on the musical. 

What are your hopes for the musical this year?  

It would be amazing for the cast to support each other and to bond across year groups. It would also be wonderful for older students with more experience to share earlier musical experiences and knowledge with younger students in the musical. 

Why audition for the musical? 

The musical is a valuable experience acting and learning lines, it is good to work as a team building up to something improved. It is also a good chance to do something fun, take a risk and to try something new. 

What are the benefits of taking part in the musical? 

 Joining the school musical can be a fantastic experience with many benefits. You can express your creativity through acting, singing, and dancing. Teamwork and collaboration are developed through working with a cast and crew teaches valuable teamwork and collaboration skills, as everyone works together to put on a successful show 

Music is an important part of the musical and makes it more fun. We will now hear from the lovely Ms. Nannery about how the cast and band work together. 

How do the band and the cast interact?  

For term one the band and cast work separately to their individual parts. Term two, we have extended rehearsals where we put parts of the music and act together, working on the whole thing. For the actors it is important to learn their cues and for the band they need to listen to each other and know what is happening on stage. So overall it is crucial for the band and cast to work together and the result is amazing, but the most important thing is for students to have fun. The students are also gaining experience such as working as a team and being a part of a big project. 

Have you ever thought about going to a school musical? If so, what role would you be interested in? 

Now it is time for us to see how the cast feel about the musical and the difficulties they might be facing. 

Dewey (Geri Szabo y11): What inspired you to join the musical ？My inspiration was the musical I was part of last year, as it was one of the most memorable experiences in my school life. I also love the School of Rock movie. 

How is your character like? My character is a bit of a zany and unorthodox person who gets himself into quite a few predicaments throughout the play. I am preparing to play him by trying to imitate how Jack Black portrayed him in the movie. 

What have you found challenging in the musical? The most challenging part of rehearsals are the song parts (as there are quite a few) about getting the timing right.  

Do you have a favorite scene or song in the musical? Why?  

I can’t reveal too much about my favorite scene/song in the musical, but let’s just say it’s towards the grand finale. 

Patty (Laura Marosi y9): How do you balance schoolwork and rehearsals? 

Well usually rehearsals are well balanced, so whenever I'm not needed, I don't have to go, but it is sometimes tricky especially when the performance is coming up, but when I'm not needed that's when I try to finish my work, even if it's at rehearsals while the others are working on a scene. 

What is your favorite part of the musical? 

Probably everyone there likes theatre, and we all have that in common, and how comfortable we are playing our role and there isn't this embarrassed feeling and we're able to give our most. But definitely the best part is when we get donuts before the show. 

How do you handle stage fright or nervousness before a performance? 

Usually for me, it's more excitement than fright, but usually I just try to focus on my performance and not on the people, or take deep breathes, but usually the whole community and my friends are all there to cheer me on and everyone supports each other, and I'm so grateful for that. 

What inspired you to join the musical? 

I first auditioned for beauty and the beast when I was in y7, because I had a few friends who were going two aswell ,also because I found a love for preforming arts in the year 6 production, i first just did it for fun, but I did not expect to come this far and find such a passion and love for preforming arts. I guess that's what continued to motivate me to audition, and it became such a bigger thing than just doing it for fun. 

Maddison (Laura Soos y8) 

What has been the most challenging part of the rehearsal process? Probably the audition process because of the competition and pressure to succeed. 

Do you have a favorite scene or song in the musical? Why? 

My favorite song is probably ‘Horror Scream” but it is going to be a spoiler so I can’t say more.   

Katie (Mia Russe y8): What have you found challenging in the musical? The tricky thing about the musical is usually memorizing the scenes and when we have come on and exit the stage. I would usually look at the team's chat which has all the dances, scenes and acting on to remember to help me. 

What do you enjoy most about being part of the cast? I really enjoy being part of this community, meeting new people and making new friends. But the absolute best part is getting donuts. 

Music 🎵 (Phoebe): 

Obviously, for a musical to be enjoyable it must have music. Without music, a musical, an incomplete soul, missing its other half. Having no music in the play would make it unbearably bare. Imagine watching a musical but with no music nor sound effects, would it not feel boring?  But no worries! In this year’s play (like every year) music is included! So please enjoy our interview with Ms. Nannery (She’s in charge of the music)! 

Who would be playing most of the parts? Oh, it is a year 11 boy called Geri; he plays Dewy. He is a genuinely nice person and an exceptionally good actor. 

How successful do you think this year’s musical is going to be?  

Ms. Nannery: It would be successful; there are many fun songs, and I like the theme this year. 

What type of music will be included?  

Ms. Nannery: Since it is called School of Rock, there will be a lot of rock and classical music. There would be a lot of guitars as well. 

What can students learn from being in the musical?  

Ms. Nannery: The people that play in the band learn how to think and improvise on the spot. Because sometimes accidents happen backstage. Actors learn lines and what their characters are like and how they feel. Backstage people learn how to handle props and be organized with things like microphones. 

What type of role do you cover in the musical?  

Ms. Nannery: In Term 1 I run band rehearsals and write music for clarinets and saxophones, in term 2 I play in the band. 

Is it possible to have a role and do music at the same time?  

Ms. Nannery: Ooh, that is a good question. Normally, no but this time there are some people who play and act at the same time. Because the theme this year is School of Rock the name already gave it away, it is all about rock music. So, if you can play a musical instrument and you act as well, sometimes you would play the actual thing but other times not. 

What would happen if one of the musicians got sick or injured? Would someone play their part?  

Ms. Nannery: If there is I would play it for them and normally I would play it on the keyboard and do my part as well. 

Now that you have read the interviews, and understand more about the school musical, we hope you decide to give it a try and have fun with us next year! Best wishes! 🍀