School of Rock Welcomes Two New Dewey Finns to Lead the Broadway Band
(© David Gordon)
It was announced today that Justin Collette and Conner John Gillooly will jointly take on the lead role of Dewey Finn in Broadway's School of Rock. They take over for Eric Petersen, who plays his final performance on September 24 to begin rehearsals for the Broadway-bound musical Escape to Margaritaville. Collette will play five performances weekly beginning September 25, while Gillooly will play matinee performances as the Dewey Finn alternate. Both actors were handpicked by producer and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Originally from Canada, Collette is the cofounder of the award-winning sketch comedy troupe "Get Some!" He also voices the role of Cupcake in the new Netflix animated series Cupcake and Dino: General Services. School of Rock marks his Broadway debut. Gillooly is a recent graduate of Point Park University and made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of School of Rock.
Now in performances at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre, School of Rock currently stars Eric Petersen as Dewey Finn, Jenn Gambatese as Rosalie Mullins, Steven Booth as Ned, Becky Gulsvig as Patty, Zachary Zwelling as Zach, Levi Buksbazen as Freddy, Rachel Katzke as Katie, Walden Sullivan as Lawrence, Olivia Chun as Summer, John Allyn as Billy, and Amadi Chapata as Tomika.
Based on the hit 2003 film of the same, School of Rock features music from the movie, as well as original music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, a book by Julian Fellowes, and direction by Laurence Connor. The story follows Dewey Finn, a failed, 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. While teaching these pint-sized prodigies what it means to truly rock, Dewey falls for the school's beautiful but uptight headmistress, helping her rediscover the wild child within.
(© David Gordon)
