Theater News

New Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical School of Rock to Make Broadway Premiere

”Downton Abbey” scribe Julian Fellowes will adapt the Jack Black film for the stage.

A scene from the film version of School of Rock.
A scene from the film version of School of Rock.

School of Rock, a new musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Glenn Slater, and Julian Fellowes, will make its Broadway debut at the Winter Garden Theatre beginning November 2, 2015. The musical, which is directed by Laurence Connor, offically opens on December 6.

Inspired by the 2003 film that starred Jack Black, School of Rock — The Musical tells the story of a down-on-his-luck wannabe rock star named Dewey Finn, who poses as a substitute teacher at a prep school and enlists his fifth-graders to form a rock group and conquer Battle of the Bands. The film was directed by Richard Linklater and written by Mike White.

This will be Lloyd Webber's first musical to open cold on Broadway since 1971's Jesus Christ Superstar. He is also the coauthor of Cats, Evita, and The Phantom of the Opera. Slater wrote songs for the musicals Leap of Faith, The Little Mermaid, and Sister Act. Fellowes is an Academy Award winner for the screenplay of Gosford Park and is also the creator of the series Downton Abbey.

School of Rock will feature choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, scenic and costume design by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Mick Potter, and Rob Cavallo. The Really Useful Group, Warner Music Group & Access Industries, The Shubert Organization, and The Nederlander Organization serve as producers, with Nina Lannan as Executive Producer.

For more information, click here.