'School of Rock': the new project from Andrew Lloyd Webber and how it's being promoted
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
The new musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber arrives on Broadway this December, and fans of actor Jack Black already know the show鈥檚 material pretty well.聽
The newest show by 鈥淭he Phantom of the Opera鈥� composer Webber is 鈥淪chool of Rock,鈥� which is based on the 2003 movie of the same name. The film version of 鈥淪chool鈥� stars Mr. Black as a substitute teacher who loves rock and roll and forms a band with his students.
The rock-based score echoes previous work by Webber like the 1970s musical 鈥淛esus Christ Superstar,鈥� which was also heavy on the electric guitar.
The upcoming musical is far from the first to be based on a film. Current Broadway productions that take their inspiration from the big screen include 鈥淔inding Neverland,鈥� which is based on the 2004 J.M. Barrie biopic of the same name; 鈥淎laddin,鈥� which is based on the 1992 Disney animated movie; 鈥淎n American in Paris,鈥� which takes its story from the 1951 movie with actor Gene Kelly; and the long-running 鈥淭he Lion King,鈥� which is based on the 1994 Disney movie.聽
Winners for the prestigious best musical Tony Award have been split between book-based properties, movie-based musicals, and original shows within the last several years, showing that a movie-based show can certainly succeed critically. This past summer saw the book-based musical 鈥淔un Home鈥� take the best musical Tony, while the 2014 best musical was 鈥淎 Gentleman鈥檚 Guide to Love and Murder,鈥� which is based on the novel 鈥淚srael Rank鈥� by Roy Horniman. But 2013 and 2012 saw two movie-based musicals, 鈥淜inky Boots鈥� and 鈥淥nce,鈥� taking the best musical prize. A little further back, 2009鈥檚 winner, 鈥淏illy Elliot,鈥� was also inspired by a film.聽
As for 鈥淪chool of Rock,鈥� a new video released by those behind the musical is an interesting one, depicting not only a musical number from the show titled 鈥淵ou鈥檙e in the Band鈥� but also offering a 360-degree visual so viewers can explore the stage set.
Those behind 鈥淪chool of Rock鈥� have already uploaded videos of musical numbers from 鈥淪chool鈥� and interviews to the show鈥檚 dedicated YouTube channel and the production has a Twitter account. This Internet and social media engagement is normal now for Broadway shows 鈥� almost all of the productions currently on Broadway have Twitter accounts and many musicals that recently debuted, like 鈥淔inding Neverland,鈥� 鈥淗amilton,鈥� and 鈥淔un Home,鈥� have also had YouTube channels. Other recent shows have taken it even further, like the recent Idina Menzel musical 鈥淚f/Then,鈥� which asked viewers to send in tales of a time when a moment influenced their life (an idea echoed in the musical).聽
