Class is in session as young artists Taylor Caldwell, Bobbi MacKenzie, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer and Shahadi Wright Joseph take the stage in the new Broadway show, School of Rock- The Musical.
While Joseph made history at 9 years old becoming the youngest actress ever to play “Young Nala” in Broadway’s The Lion King, School of Rock marks the Broadway debut for pre-teen powerhouses Caldwell, Mackenzie and Niederaruer. The crew make up a quarter of the junior cast who earned a coveted role in the Broadway show with the largest children’s ensemble since Matilda.
“Taz” is an expert guitarist who, since performing on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” at 10, has paired up with some of the most notable musicians in the game. And11 year old MacKenzie recently had “the best week of [her] life” when she sang for Michelle Obama at the White House just days after previews began for School of Rock.
Based on the hit 2003 film starring Jack Black, “School of Rock – The Musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. Completely disinterested in academic work, Dewey decides to create his own curriculum, turning his class into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band.”
The class of School of Rock has been having a blast since the cast was announced in September. The kids performed on the “Today Show” in October, received a spread in the November issue of “Vanity Fair” and recently announced they will be rocking out at the Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Alex Brightman leads the cast as Dewey Finn, alongside Sierra Boggess as Principal Rosalie Mullins. Sister Act’s Alan H. Green joins the ensemble. Directed by Laurence Connor, the musical features a score by legend Andrew Lloyd Webber and Glenn Slater and a book by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes.
Here at Broadway Black, we love to see our little ones achieving greatness! Congratulations to all of the young stars!
School of Rock is currently in previews and opens at the Winter Garden Theater on Dec. 6. The show will also offer a daily lottery ticket drawing for a limited number of $25 front row orchestra tickets. Visit SchoolofRockMusical
.com for more information.
