At this school, they will rock you.
School of Rock is arriving at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre this month but ahead of its opening night I got a chance to talk to some of the cast of the show to find out the behind the scene goss and how excited they are to perform in Ireland.
Just to start off with, could you each introduce yourself?
I’m Jack Sharp, and I play Dewey Finn.
I’m Rebecca Locke and I play Rosalie Mullins.
I’m Joanna O’Hare, and I play some teachers and some parents and a big mix of everything.
How long have you guys been on the road with the show?
Well we started, it’s kind of since August, really, isn’t it? We started in September, actually. But we were started kind of properly rehearsals in August, so yeah.
I mean, you starting to think you are the characters and I figured out that because this character is so exhausting. I don’t say a lot during the day. And I realized 90% of what I say in a day is as Finn.
I knew that the show would of course be very musical, but it seemed very physical as well as a lot of choreography. I’m just kind of like, choreograph stones as well. Especially for characters like Finn who have to jump off the tables.Â
Jack:
I took one of my knees out today because my knee pads slipped. Yeah, it’s very physical actually and kind of tough. I’m trying to match the kids energy too, you know. When they do it, it doesn’t look physical, but then when I do it does.
Speaking of the kids what is it like working with them because I feel very inadequate after watching that show. Like they’re so good at like singing, dancing, the acting everything.
The thing I love is that you go from rehearsal to rehearsal and you see how much they’ve grown visit.
Also, talent wise, I mean, they just get better and better and better. They blew my head off from day one. And I was like, Oh my gosh, yeah.
And then I reckon if you watch that back they just keep improving. What kind of always blows my mind and I find really frustratingly annoying, is that they will also be improving other things behind the scenes.
So there’ll be like learning other instruments. So what happened to us when we were doing in the West End was the one of the kids just, he came in as the drummer, he was tiny, like you couldn’t see I couldn’t get up on the store. And then he was the drummer for six months. He was amazing.
And then he was like, Oh, I’m gonna audition for Zach, the guitarist, and we were like, Oh, that’s really sweet. Yeah, give it a go. Unbelievable. And he’d only been learning while he was offstage. Like that’s how he learned it. And then he came back as the keyboard player. Just ridiculous. Yeah, I find it. It blows my mind how how talented they are.
Yeah, they have such a lack of fear. I don’t know, as adults were like, Oh, I couldn’t do that. I don’t think I could do that. They’re just like, Yeah, I can do that. Yes.
And did you each take a little bit of inspiration from the characters in the film? For your portrayals?
Rebecca
It’s really hard, isn’t it when it’s a film, but then the script is quite similar, but also quite different.
And I think for my character for Miss Miss Mullins, I think it’s written quite differently. I don’t think I could really give a Joan Cusack I mean, I love her so much. And her kookiness, and there’s a couple of moments that I kind of try but for me, I tried to keep it from what I could read from the script, rather than what I saw on a movie.
Jack
Jack Black, I mean, he’s amazing. He’s the best thing ever. So obviously I’ve stolen bits because why wouldn’t you you know, he’s made it so iconic.
I had the kid sitting right behind me. And they were screaming like they were at a rock concert. They were losing their mind. Is that the reaction every night?
You can relate to any child that a child can relate to any of the children in the show and say that’s me.
I’m a Summer or I’m a Zach. And so you’re going on that journey with the with the band.
And it’s just I can imagine as a kid watching it, you’re just elated by the end, you want to be up there with them. And it’s just for the best.
But I love hearing reactions like that. Because I think yes, hopefully we’ve inspired a couple of kids to pick up a guitar
And finally, the all important question… are you guys excited to perform at the Bord Gais?
Rebecca
Gosh, yes. A couple of us have performed there before and we can’t wait to come back.
We’ll be there for two weeks so it will be a bit of a holiday.
Jack
It’s one that I’ve been most excited.
Joanna
I’m from outside Belfast and my family are coming down. I can’t wait!
School of Rock opens at the Bord Gais on Wednesday June 22nd.
