In JPAS musical ‘School of Rock,’ the kids are the stars who teach grown-ups some lessons

At the prestigious Horace Green School, parents, teachers and school administrators expect nothing short of excellence from their students. But when a class of fifth grade overachievers encounter slacker extraordinaire Dewey Finn, a rock ‘n’ roll washout posing as a substitute teacher, the tightly wound pre-teens learn to loosen up and jam out.

“School of Rock,” the Broadway musical based on the affable Jack Black movie from 2003, injects the source material with a healthy dose of Andrew Lloyd Webber rock operatics for a fun, family-friendly screen-to-stage adaptation where the students teach the adults a lesson for a change.

In a local production by Jefferson Performing Arts Society, director Leslie Castay wrangles a cast of over 30 performers, most of them kids, to deliver an energetic and enthusiastic rock musical with a heart of gold.

At the center of “School of Rock” is Dewey Finn, a sweet and salty character recently booted from his band and behind on his rent. Desperate for a buck, he answers a fortuitous phone call from the Horace Green School and ends up with a substitute teaching gig intended for his roommate, Ned Schneebly. Dewey, as Ned, is hungover and chronically late, completely uninterested in his students until he overhears them in music class and hatches a plan to recruit them for a local battle of the bands, whether they like it or not.

At JPAS, Nathan Parrish settles into the role of Dewey as a loveable lunk, softening up Dewey’s rough edges. The character is written with a nod to Black’s on-screen performance, incorporating some of the comic actor’s signature mannerisms and phrasings, but Parrish still finds room for interpretation, holding the production together with his hangdog charm and genuine affection for his students.

The other grown-ups in the cast include the stern principal played by Rachel Looney, Daniel Rubio as roommate Ned Scneebly, and Melissa McKenzie as Ned’s overbearing love interest, all of whom do a fine job in their respective roles as foils for Dewey’s irresponsible shenanigans.

But the real stars of “School of Rock” are the kids, a strong cast of actors, musicians, singers and dancers who light up the stage every time they’re on. The production is a showcase for the talented tweens and teens, and the show’s best moments are the big rowdy song-and-dance numbers that fill the stage with exuberant young performers strutting their stuff.

At the head of the class is Olivia Yi as Summer Hathaway, the no-nonsense gold star student suspicious of Dewey’s scheme. The cast also features a quartet of real-life rock kids playing their instruments on stage: Andrew Letellier on electric guitar, Merah Benoit on bass, Drago Han on keys, and August Doussan on drums.

Parker Portera-Dufrene stands out as Billy, the classmate who prefers “Vogue” to “Sports Illustrated” and takes the role of fashion designer for the band. And Bailey Hall, as the quiet and shy Tomika, delivers an acapella rendition of “Amazing Grace” that literally stops the show.

“School of Rock” gets by with a breezy, predictable plot that nonetheless offers some moving moments. The show drags at times when attention lingers a little too long on the adults’ storylines, and a couple of second-act ballads slow down the production’s otherwise infectious momentum. Highlights include the song “School of Rock” taken from the movie and Lloyd Webber’s “You’re in the Band,” but most of the composer’s other contributions are more memorable for the performances than the tunes.

Ultimately, “School of Rock” is a sweet and steady crowd-pleaser. Beneath the comic gags and the thumping music, the show effectively delivers a message for kids about discovering their individual strengths outside of conventional expectations, and a message for parents about allowing their loved ones a little room to grow.

Brad Rhines writes about theater. Contact him at bradfordrhines@gmail.com.

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“SCHOOL OF ROCK THE MUSICAL”

WHEN: Friday-Sunday (Sept. 20-22)

WHERE: Jefferson Performing Arts Center

6400 Airline Drive

TICKETS AND INFO: jpas.org or (504) 885-2000