School Of Rock – musical 2003
School of Rock is a 2003 comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, produced by Scott Rudin, and written by Mike White. The film stars Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, and Sarah Silverman. Black plays struggling rock guitarist Dewey Finn, who is kicked out of his band and subsequently disguises himself as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. After witnessing the musical talent of his students, Dewey forms a band of fifth-graders to attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands and pay off his rent.
School of Rock was released on October 3, 2003, by Paramount Pictures, grossing $131 million worldwide on a $35 million budget. The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for Black’s performance. It was the highest grossing music-themed comedy of all time, until it was overtaken in 2015 by Pitch Perfect 2. A stage musical adaptation opened on Broadway in December 2015, and a television adaptation for Nickelodeon premiered on March 12, 2016.
Rock band No Vacancy performs at a nightclub three weeks before auditioning for a Battle of the Bands competition. Guitarist Dewey Finn creates on-stage antics, including a stage dive that abruptly ends the performance. The next morning, Dewey wakes up in the apartment he lives in with his friend, Ned Schneebly, and Ned’s girlfriend, Patty Di Marco. They inform Dewey that he is overdue on his share of the rent, and that he must make up for it within one week or move out. When Dewey meets No Vacancy at a rehearsal session, he finds out that he has been replaced by another guitarist named Spider. Later, while attempting to sell some of his equipment for rent money, Dewey answers a phone call from Rosalie Mullins, the principal of the Horace Green prep school, inquiring for Ned about a short-term position as a substitute teacher. Desperate for his rent money, Dewey impersonates Ned and gets the position. On his first day at school, “Mr. S” (the name Dewey adopts when realizing he doesn’t know how to spell Schneebly) spends it behaving erratically, much to the class’ confusion.
The next day, Dewey overhears the students playing their instruments in music class and devises a plan to form them into a new band to audition for Battle of the Bands. He casts classical guitarist Zack Mooneyham as lead guitarist, percussionist Freddy Jones as drummer, cellist Katie on bass, pianist Lawrence on keyboard, and himself as lead vocalist and guitarist. He assigns the rest of the class to various roles of backup singers, groupies, roadies, with Summer Hathaway as band manager. The project replaces normal lessons, but helps the students to embrace their talents and gain confidence. He reassures Lawrence, who is worried about not being cool enough for the band; Zack, whose father personally disapproves of rock music; and Tomika, an overweight girl who is too self-conscious to audition for backup singer despite having a powerful singing voice. During one eloquent lesson, Dewey teaches the kids that rock and roll is the way to “Stick it to the Man” and stand up for themselves. Band “groupies” Michelle and Eleni, with Summer’s approval, pitch the band name “The School of Rock.”
Two weeks into his hiring, Dewey sneaks some of his students out of school to audition for a spot in the competition, while the rest of the class stay behind to maintain cover. When Freddy wanders off, Dewey retrieves him, but the group is rejected because the bill is full. After Summer tricks the staff into thinking that the students all have a terminal illness, the band is added to the bill. The next day, Mullins decides to check on Dewey’s teaching progress, forcing Dewey to teach the actual material. Mullins explains that a parents’ night will take place at the school the day before Battle of the Bands.
As Dewey prepares for the parents’ night, Ned receives a paycheck from the school via mail, and eventually learns of Dewey’s treachery. During the parents’ meeting, the parents inquire about what Dewey was teaching the kids. The meeting is halted when Ned, Patty, Mullins, and a police officer arrive. Dewey then confesses that he is not a licensed teacher, reveals his real name, and abruptly leaves after the parents misinterpret his statement about “touching” the kids. Back at the apartment, Dewey and Patty clash, while Ned intervenes and informs Dewey that he should move out.
The next morning, the parents cause an uproar in front of Mullins at her office, while the kids decide not to let their hard work go to waste. When the new substitute discovers that the kids are missing, she informs Mullins, and Mullins and the parents race to the competition. Ned, constantly bossed around by Patty up to this point, finally stands up for himself by breaking up with Patty and leaves to see the band perform. A school bus comes to pick up Dewey, who leads the kids to the Battle of the Bands, and decides that they should play a song written by Zack. Initially dismissed as a gimmick, the band wins over the entire crowd. Much to Dewey’s dismay, No Vacancy wins, but the audience chant for School of Rock and demand an encore. Mullins and the parents, while upset at the deception, admit to being impressed by the children’s talent and confidence on stage.
Some time later, an after-school program known as the School of Rock has opened as Dewey continues to coach the students he played with before, while Ned teaches beginners.
Cast
Jack Black as Dewey Finn (lead singer, guitar) an energetic, down-on-his-luck guitarist slacker
Joan Cusack as Principal Rosalie “Roz” Mullins
Mike White as Ned Schneebly, Dewey’s responsible but submissive roommate and best friend
Sarah Silverman as Patty Di Marco, Ned’s domineering girlfriend
Miranda Cosgrove as Summer “Tinkerbell” Hathaway (band manager), the class factotum
Joey Gaydos Jr. as Zack “Zack-Attack” Mooneyham (lead guitar)
Kevin Clark as Freddy “Spazzy McGee” Jones (drums)
Rebecca Brown as Katie “Posh Spice” (bass)
Robert Tsai as Lawrence “Mr. Cool” (keyboards)
Maryam Hassan as Tomika “Turkey Sub” (second singer, lead choir)
Aleisha Allen as Alicia “Brace Face” (choir)
Caitlin Hale as Marta “Blondie” (choir)
Brian Falduto as Billy “Fancy Pants” (band stylist)
Zachary Infante as Gordon “Roadrunner” (assistant, lights)
James Hosey as Marco “Carrot Top” (assistant, special effects)
Angelo Massagli as Frankie “Tough Guy” (security)
Cole Hawkins as Leonard “Short Stop” (security)
Jordan-Claire Green as Michelle (groupie)
Veronica Afflerbach as Eleni (groupie)
Adam Pascal as Theo (lead singer, guitar)
Lucas Babin as Spider (lead guitar)
Lucas Papaelias as Neil (bass)
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