DAVID Fynn, as wannabe rock star Dewey Finn, will lead the London cast of School of Rock – The Musical, which opens at the New London Theatre on November 14, 2016, following preview performances from October 24.
Based on the iconic hit movie and with a rocking new score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, School of Rock – The Musical follows slacker and wannabe rock star Dewey Finn turn a class of straight-A students into an ear popping, riff scorching, all conquering rock band!
Dewey poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school to make ends meet, and when he discovers his fifth graders’ musical talents, he enlists his class to form a rock group and conquer the Battle of the Bands. As Dewey falls for the beautiful headmistress, can he and his students keep this special assignment secret as they learn to fully embrace the power of rock?
Comedy star David Fynn will star as Dewey Finn, the role made famous by Jack Black in the film. His television credits include The Inbetweeners, Sherlock, Game of Thrones, a series regular in Pete vs Life for Channel 4 and Undateable for NBC/Comedy Central. On stage, he has appeared at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and at the Donmar Warehouse in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Fynn is joined by Florence Andrews (Wicked, Annie Get Your Gun, Once The Musical, Trevor Nunn’s A Little Night Music) as Rosalie Mullins, Oliver Jackson (Mrs Henderson Presents, Jamie Lloyd’s She Stoops To Conquer, Les Miserables) as Ned Schneebly and Preeya Kalidas (Bend it Like Beckham The Musical, Bombay Dreams, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) as Patty Di Marco.
The ‘grown up’ cast is completed by Gary Trainor as the alternate Dewey, with ensemble members Jonathan Bourne, Nadeem Crowe, Michelle Francis, Rosanna Hyland, Cassandra McCowan, Joel Montague, Andy Rees, Cameron Sharp, Tasha Sheridan, Andrew Spillett and Lucy Vandi, plus swings, Charlotte Bradford, Jason Denton, Cellen Chugg James, Chris Jenkins, Alfie Parker and Charlotte Scott.
Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “I’m delighted to be bringing School of Rock – The Musical to the West End this October, following what has been a hugely exhilarating experience creating and opening the show on Broadway, where we’ll soon celebrate our first birthday. As many people know I’m passionate about children engaging with music from an early age, and to that end I cannot wait for UK audiences to see the remarkably talented group of young actor musicians we have found for our production. They’re currently blowing the roof off our rehearsal rooms working with our wonderful cast of grown-ups led by the hilarious David Fynn.”
The nationwide search to find the three teams of thirteen young performers took place earlier this year. The role of Zack will be alternated by Tom Abisgold, twelve years old from Ashton Hayes, Toby Lee, eleven years old from Priors Marston and Jake Slack, twelve years old from Chesham.
The role of Freddy will be alternated by Bailey Cassell, eleven years old from Dagenham, Jude Harper-Wrobel, ten years old from Kings Langley and Noah Key, twelve years old from Bridgnorth. Giles Carden, twelve years old from Cobham, Oscar Francisco, twelve years old from Coventry and James Lawson, twelve years old from Chiswick will alternative the role of Lawrence.
Selma Hansen, eleven years old from Willesden, Lois Jenkins eleven years old from Lewisham and Sophia Pettit, thirteen years old from Morden will alternate the role of Katie. Isabelle Methven, twelve years old from Harpenden, Lucy Simmonds, eleven years old from Waterlooville and Eva Trodd, eleven years old from Bromley, will alternate the role of Summer.
Madeleine Haynes, twelve years old from Barnet, Leah Levman, ten years old from Chiswick and Natasha Raphael, ten years old from Ealing, will alternate the role of Marcy. Alternating the role of Shonelle are Jaydah Bell-Ricketts, ten years old from New Cross, Shoshana Ezequiel, twelve years old from Watford and Amelia Poggenpoel, ten years old from Formby.
Alternating the role of Sophia are Lola Moxom, eleven years old from Rochester, Mia Roberts, eleven years old from Shoreditch and Grace Schnieder, eleven years old from Maida Vale. Alternating the role of Tomika are Nicole Dube, eleven years old from Colchester, Amma Ris, eleven years old from Haringey and Adithi Sujith, nine years old from Wembley.
Jobe Hart, nine years old from Edgware, Joshua Vaughan, ten years old from Birmingham and Logan Walmsley, ten years old from Buckingham will alternate the role of Billy. Presley Charman, nine years old from Teddington, Lucas Chow, twelve years old from Willesden and Ben Dawson, eleven years old from Portsmouth will alternate the role of Mason.
The role of James will be alternated by Bradley Bissett, eleven years old from Ramsgate, Denzel Eboji, twelve years old from Dagenham and Sonny Kirby, eleven years old from Welwyn Garden City. And the role of Madison will be alternated by Zachary Dowlatshahi, ten years old from Teddington, Harry Egerton, eleven years old from the Halesowen and Jacob Swann, eleven years old from Greenwich.
School of Rock is currently booking until February 12, 2017.
Read more about School of Rock.