School of Rock hits Sudbury stage

Sudbury Performance Group’s ‘School of Rock’ show features 32 cast members ages 9–50 and two live bands on stage.

An adaptation of the hit film School of Rock from the early 2000s has hit the theatrical stage in Sudbury.

The Sudbury Performance Group production kicked off Thursday.

“This is a monster of a production,” said Mark Mannisto, School of Rock director.

“It’s Andrew Lloyd Webber’s newest hit.”

Thirty-two cast members are taking part, ranging in ages from nine to their 50s and for the first time in the theatre troupe’s history, the production will have two live bands.

“We have our adult band and we (have) four absolutely incredible young band members,” Mannisto said.

“Bass guitar, drums and (keyboards) that they play live on stage all throughout the show. How incredible is that?”

School of Rock tells the story of a failed rock star, Dewey Finn, who poses as a substitute teacher and transforms a class of prep school students into a rock band.

Keagen Durocher, who plays Dewey Finn, said he’s thrilled to play one of Jack Black’s most iconic roles.

“Who doesn’t want to embody that manic energy that Jack Black has?” Durocher said.

“He made it really well known with that movie and, of course, with his other projects. But it’s really fun to get that out on stage. And I love performing.”

Simon Guillemette, who turns 14 this weekend, plays Freddie, a drummer.

“He starts off as a percussionist in the music room, but then, Dewey or Ned Schneebly, gets him to play drums,” Guillemette said.

“He’s instantly better and I feel like this is a great show to show off how I’ve really developed as an actor and a drummer.”

Guillemette, who started drumming lessons three years ago, said the role is a good opportunity to showcase what he’s learned.

“I got more into (drumming) because of this,” he said.

“It feels like a great opportunity to open up and show like what I’ve been practising.”

Lydia Desjardins, 12, plays Summer Hathaway, a perfectionist who gets promoted to be the group’s band manager.

“It just looked like a really fun show in general,” Desjardins said.

“I had been in the show here before, and I really liked the community here, so I thought I’d just give it a go and audition.”

Desjardins said people often tell her she looks like Miranda Cosgrove, the actress who played Summer.

“A lot of people tell me I’m very similar to her,” she said.

“She’s very (much) a perfectionist. And once she’s in the band, she is the band manager. And she really plays to that by bossing everyone around and making sure everything’s in order.”

Durocher said the level of talent the youth bring to the show is impressive.

“These kids are blowing me out of the water,” he said.

“It’s funny because I’m the only one in the show who doesn’t actually play the instrument that I have. I’m not a musician. I am much more of a vocalist, an actor. They came in, and I was instantly like, this is going to be a great show.”

Mannisto said the show speaks to the depth of talent in Greater Sudbury.

“Some of these young performers started off during summer camps for the past number of years and for some of them, that was the very first time ever trying any type of performing arts,” he said.

“And then all of a sudden, now they’re on stage.”

School of Rock runs until May 23 at Thorneloe University.