Sam Jones stars in School of Rock The Musical

It all started when Sam Jones got caught watching the movie School of Rock past his bedtime, and now the 11-year-old is rocking out with the band in the hit musical.

Erina's Sam Jones stars in School of Rock The Musical

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Erina’s Sam Jones is having a ball making friends, travelling overseas, signing autographs and most importantly … rocking out.

The 11-year-old is in the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway and London smash hit musical School of Rock.

He was selected in the final cast of 20 to embark on an 18 month journey with the show which has travelled to Melbourne, China, Brisbane, and will soon head to New Zealand before coming to Sydney in November.

School of Rock the Musical

“It’s been such an awesome experience, the show is amazing,” Sam said.

“I’ve loved meeting new people. All the kids on the show are best friends and we do stuff on our days off together. I really loved China.”

Sam plays the character of Mason, which he described as the “cheeky tech kid”. He also understudies for the character of Zack and has had to learn electric guitar for the role.

“I had to learn the role of Mason as well as a new instrument,” he said.

“It’s a great challenge.”

Mum Angela Bradley said when he was successful in last year’s audition, they were so excited to commit to the 18 month adventure.

“They wanted Sam to sign for the whole tour,” she said. “He was really lucky, so we decided to turn our lives upside down and it’s been the best adventure.”
“Sam had never done theatre before at this level so we were thrilled. He does tutoring at the theatre with the other kids and he’s going really well.”

Sam is a guitarist who has been busking since he was six, and performing across the coast market scene as well as Laycock Street Theatre.

The show is based on the hit movie School of Rock starring Jack Black, and opened on Broadway in 2015. The storyline follows a wannabe rock star who turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band.

Sam said he first tried to watch the movie a few years ago when it was on past his bedtime.

“I really wanted to watch it so I hid under a blanket and watched it through the gap in the door,” he said.

“My dad caught me and sent me back to bed.”

School of Rock is coming to the Capitol Theatre in Sydney from November to January.