Cappies Review of Hayfield Secondary's 'School of Rock'

PHOTO (from left to right): William Pineda, Jackson Miller; photo by Dr. Thomas Kinder

Cappies review by HELEN MOREAU of Lake Braddock Secondary School

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- The great Neil Young once said "Rock and Roll is here to stay," and he sure was right. Rock seems to be making a resurgence in today's popular music, but not where one would expect. The new musical "School of Rock" with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes hit the Broadway stage in 2015 and began to spread elsewhere just this year.

Based on the 2003 movie starring Jack Black, "School of Rock" follows broke wannabe rock star Dewey Finn and his quest to win the battle of the bands. He and the class of unique and musically gifted young students he is illegally substitute teaching form an unconventional, yet sensational band that rocks everyone to their core.

Leading man, Jackson Miller (Dewey Finn) showed extraordinary energy throughout the entire show. Leaping onto school desks and power sliding on the floor, Miller showed no dip in energy or enthusiasm while performing the physically demanding role. His comedic timing was impeccable and his raw vocals, though not traditional for musical theatre, showed some impressive versatility.

Shannon Flack (Principal Rosalie Mullins) showed her versatile voice as well. From operatic aria to Stevie Nicks sing-along, Flack showcased a quirky and emotionally vulnerable character that engaged the audience the moment she stepped onstage through both vocals and physical characterization.

How could one discuss a show called School of Rock without mentioning the students? The students of Horace Green Prep followed their teachers' lead and showed remarkable enthusiasm. Songs "You're in the Band" and "Stick It to the Man" highlighted several talented musicians as well as high energy choreography. Some stand-out actors include Trish Hoang (Tomika) and Cara Bradley (Summer). Hoang's impressive vocals stunned the audience and brought them to a rousing state of applause after her rendition of "Amazing Grace." Bradley's sass and spunk recreated the unforgettable yet lovable band-manager perfectly.

Perhaps the most impressive element was the band members themselves (several of whom are still in middle school), who played their instruments live onstage all night. Despite some technical issues, the students Horace Green powered through and rocked all night!

Excellence did not stop at acting. Several technical elements of the show were deserving of high praise as well. The level of detail executed in the set and props (designed by Claire Hackney and Lauren Miller respectively) was astounding. Led Zeppelin posters and tie dye tapestries lined the walls of Dewey's room while trophies and thick encyclopedias lined the bookshelves of Horace Green. The set pieces were well thought out and functional as well as creative. Desks with wheels helped create a dynamic classroom setting as well as serve as a basis for some of the choreography in the song "Time to Play."

The lighting (designed by Aleyda Brown) displayed in this show held striking resemblance to that of a real rock concert. Several fun colors and textures along with moving lights were used during the concert scenes to create an immersive concert-like experience.

School of Rock is a big-budget Broadway hit, but Hayfield Secondary School showed that it can be done by people of all ages, including students! Actors, musicians, and designers came together to showcase an incredible story about those who believe that Rock and Roll is the way to go.