School of Rock Melbourne: Behind the scenes of kids’ auditions

THE musical director of London’s West End production of School of Rock says has praised the “exceptional” talent of the youngsters vying for roles in the Melbourne cast. Watch the video.

One of the youngsters auditioning for School of Rock the Musical in Melbourne.

THE UK’s musical director of School of Rock says the pool of young talent vying for roles in the Melbourne run of the smash-hit musical has been “exceptional”.

The Herald Sun has been following young Victorians as they audition for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock the Musical, coming to Melbourne in October.

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Behind the scenes at auditions

Producers have been searching for their cast of knee-sliding, guitar-shredding, fist-pumping Australian kids to star on the Her Majesty’s Theatre stage.

As the real-life talent quest comes to a close, with the cast to be revealed at a media call this Friday, the Herald Sun captured some of the best head-thumping drummers, guitar shredders and fist-pumpers at the auditions.

Two minutes with School of Rock’s musical director

Matt Spencer-Smith, musical director of the production on London’s West End, said he’d seen some “real talent” at the Melbourne auditions.

“It’s quite a high standard that we require, and thankfully I’ve seen some kids that seem up to that … the guitarists have to shoe all of the traits that a professional guitarist needs to show,” he said.

Actor Jack Black, as lead character Dewey Finn, in a scene from 2003 film School Of Rock.

Based on the hit movie starring Jack Black, the musical follows dropout Dewey Finn, a failed rock star forced to earn some extra cash by posing as a teacher at a prestigious prep school teaching pint-sized prodigies.

With 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by three-time Tony nominee Glenn Slater and book by Downton Abbey’s Oscar-winning Julian Fellows - as well as all the original songs from the movie - the high-octane smash is set to uncover a new generation of musical theatre stars.

In this video, meet some of the incredible youngsters auditioning for a spot in the musical’s Melbourne cast.

School of Rock auditions

Stay tuned this week for more behind-the-scenes action from the auditions, as well as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s thoughts on the auditions.

The waitlist for tickets is now open for School of Rock the Musical.