New cast for West End’s School of Rock

Stephen Leask will step into the lead role of Dewey Finn

Rehearsals have begun for the new West End cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Olivier Award-winning School of Rock – The Musical.

Due to take to the stage at the New London Theatre from 15 November, the new line-up will be headed by Stephen Leask (One Man, Two Guvnors) who will step into the leading role of Dewey Finn after playing the alternate Dewey from May this year.

Leask will be joined by Alan Pearson (One Man, Two Guvnors) as Ned Schneebly and current ensemble member Michelle Francis (Mack & Mabel) who will step into the role of Patty Di Marco, and Craig Gallivan (Billy Elliot The Musical) will be the new alternate Dewey. Florence Andrews (The Wizard of Oz) will continue in the role of Rosalie Mullins alongside the three teams of 13 youngsters who make up Dewey’s band.

The ‘grown up’ cast is completed by ensemble members Nick Butcher, Cassandra McCowan, Jessica Louise Parkinson, Andy Rees, Cameron Sharp, Jake Sharp, James Smoker, Wendy Somerville, Andrew Spillett, Hannah Stratton and Alex Tomkins, with swings: Paul Kemble, Laura Medforth, Billy Mitchell, Tasha Sheridan and Joshua St. Clair.

Michelle Francis will play Patti Di Marco

The search for new young classmates to join the show at a later date is ongoing with further open auditions scheduled for to take place on 8, 10, 20 and 22 November in London.

Now booking until 13 January 2019, the show features music from the hit 2003 film as well as new works written by Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater and a book by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes.

Best seats for £10 are available every Wednesday evening an hour before curtain to purchase as part of the School of Rock – The Musical Student Rush scheme. These tickets are only available in person from the New London Theatre box office.

A hit with audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, the record smashing show was the first new musical from a British composer and producer to make its debut on Broadway.

The world premiere Broadway production opened in November 2015 and continues to play to packed houses while the West End production was similarly well received when it opened last year. The winner of the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music, the production has been nominated for the 2017 Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical. Voting closes on 29 October and the winner will be announced at the ceremony on 3 December.

School of Rock – The Musical is directed by Laurence Connor with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, set and costume designs by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Mick Potter and music supervision by John Rigby with Matt Smith as musical director.

School of Rock – The Musical is produced in the West End by Lloyd Webber for The Really Useful Group, Warner Music Group & Access Industries with Madeleine Lloyd Webber serving as executive producer.

Angela Thomas

Tickets for School of Rock – The Musical are available HERE.