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School of Rock Film Stars Meet Their Broadway Counterparts

The movie’s beloved alums visit the Broadway cast after the first performance at the Winter Garden Theatre.

| Broadway |

November 10, 2015

School of Rock star Alex Brightman poses with the film's original cast outside the Winter Garden Theatre. — *School of Rock* star Alex Brightman poses with the film's original cast outside the Winter Garden Theatre.
(© Timmy Blupe)

Stars of the original School of Rock film came to Broadway last night to celebrate the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical's first performance at the Winter Garden Theatre. The production officially opens December 6.

Broadway's Bobbi MacKenzie with Maryam Hassan, who originated the role of soul singer Tomika.
(© Timmy Blupe)

The 2003 film, written by Mike White, directed by Richard Linklater, and starring Jack Black, 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 brand-new stage version features a book by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey, Mary Poppins), a score by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera) and Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid), and direction by Laurence Connor (Les Misérables).

Luca Padovan (left) takes on the role of Billy, originated by Brian Falduto in the film.
(© Timmy Blupe)

Alex Brightman leads the cast as Dewey Finn, with Sierra Boggess (It Shoulda Been You) as the stern school principal Rosalie Mullins. The supporting cast also features Spencer Moses as Ned, Mamie Parris as Patty, Evie Dolan as Katie, Carly Gendell as Marcy, Ethan Khusidman as Mason, Bobbi MacKenzie as Tomika, Dante Melucci as Freddy, Brandon Niederauer as Zack, Luca Padovan as Billy, Jared Parker as Lawrence, and Isabella Russo as Summer.