Though the New York Times reported the casting in late May and Brightman has been performing the role in a New York showcase this week, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber confirmed the Broadway casting in a June 11 statement, saying, “I’ve come to consider the casting of an actor named ‘Brightman’ in a starring role something of a good luck charm for a long, healthy run on Broadway. Alex, lucky for us, also happens to be a remarkable Dewey Finn. The wonderful thing about seeing him play this role is that you get the sense that he’s having every bit as much fun performing as we are watching, and the result is positively infectious.”
Lloyd Webber's "Brightman" joke refers to Sarah Brightman, his ex-wife, who was the original Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera in London and New York. The show has become the longest running in Broadway history.
School of Rock also announced that previews will now start Nov. 9 at the Winter Garden Theatre, a week later than the initially announced Nov. 2 date. Opening night is still set for Dec. 6.
Ticket went on sale today at Schoolofrockthemusical.com/tickets.
The Really Useful Group, Warner Music Group and Access Industries, The Shubert Organization and The Nederlander Organization will present the musical, featuring music from the movie as well as new music written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater. The book is by Julian Fellowes. Laurence Connor, currently represented on Broadway with the re-imagined revival of Les Misérables, will direct.
In School of Rock — The Musical, according to producers, "down-on-his-luck wannabe rock star Dewey Finn poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school to make ends meet. When he discovers his students' musical talents, he enlists his fifth-graders to form a rock group and conquer the Battle of the Bands."
Produced by Paramount Pictures, the 2003 film was directed by Richard Linklater and starred Black in a career-defining performance. The film received universal critical acclaim and went on to gross more than $130 million worldwide.
Three-time Grammy Award winner Rob Cavallo is also part of the creative team. Cavallo is one of the top-selling record producers in the world, has been involved in albums that have sold more than 150 million units and has worked with Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Goo Goo Dolls, Phil Collins and Cary Clark Jr., among others.
School of Rock will feature choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, scenic and costume design by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz and sound design by Mick Potter. Nina Lannan serves as executive producer.
Visit SchoolOfRockTheMusical.com.
