Rocking-out with Crescendo's School of Rock

 

I am not quite the rock chick but I am familiar with rock anthems by Deep Purple, T-Rex and BonJovi in my playlist.

 

The cast and crew of School of Rock - The
Next Generation, taking a bow after the show

So when I received an invitation from the Arts Department of Crescendo HELP International School to their presentation of The Next Generation – School of Rock, the Musical, I was impressed that they were so bold and ambitious to stage an adaptation of the hit movie by the same name.

 

I am familiar with Crescendo HELP International School as I had the privilege to present My Johor Stories to the Primary and Secondary schools at their Book Week in 2018 and have been back to enjoy several productions by the Arts Department, including their interpretation of, The Legend of Mulan, in 2024.

 

I recall that in 2023, I had the pleasure to meet with former principal, Philip Brisley, again while he was visiting Johor Bahru after he had retired back to the UK.

 

I was deeply honoured to be
received as a VIP guest at this show

A team from Crescendo was taking him on a tour of the R&F building complex where the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House is located, while I was there with my pop-up store for My Johor Stories in the lobby, held in conjunction with the shows by Drum Up JB!

 

So I was more than happy to accept the invitation to another show staged by the Arts Department because I know that the School of Rock is not a typical coming-of-age story set to the backdrop of a prestigious school but was about a passionate and rebellious musician who impersonated his best friend as a substitute teacher.

 

While his unconventional ways were clearly unfit for the rules and regulations of an elite educational institution like Horace Green School, he introduced the students to the electrifying world of rock music and inspired them to break free from convention, find their voices and embrace creativity.

 

Abdullah Abu Bakar Younsi
as the lead character, Dewey Finn 

I learnt that as in previous Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) projects, this production was a collective effort of students, teachers and staff, who worked on various aspects including its promotion, acting on stage, playing the music, preparing the props, managing the multi-media, sound, lighting and every detail behind the scenes.

 

The project started some eight months ago when students were encouraged to attend auditions to discover their talents not only for acting or singing roles but also as musicians to form an orchestra as well as for skills in prop-making, stage backdrop designs and costumes.

 

Head of the Arts Department, Abdul Wafi, said that this CCA project involved some 40 people on stage while the backstage crew included another 40 people. The various components trained and worked separately for one hour during CCA every Thursday.

 

Dewey Finn [Right] impersonating his friend
Ned Schneebly, with Ms Mullins [Left]

What made this production extraordinary was that it was never the work of a few. In fact, it was a collective triumph, with every cast member, backstage crew, musician, costume designer, tech assistant and teacher, who each played an essential role.

 

The journey was not just about learning lines and tunes but it was about developing resilience, teamwork and pride with every brushstroke, music note and cue for the spotlight.

 

Week after week, as students and teachers worked together to overcome each hurdle to create something special on stage, this production turned out to be more than just a show presentation but a testament to the creativity and collaborative spirit of the school.

 

The band, School of Rock, took part in 
 in the Audition for Battle of the Bands

Then a week before the presentation date, all the teams came together for rehearsals with a full-dress rehearsal held just ahead of June 28, where two shows were staged at 11am and 2pm.

 

On my arrival at the entrance to the school hall, in addition to receiving my VIP Pass, I was given a memento for the show, designed in a shape that resembled a giant guitar pick with, School of Rock – The Next Generation, printed on it.

 

I had the pleasure to meet Principal, Myles Jackson, who was clearly very supportive of the collaborative effort of the Arts Department with other departments in the school who worked as a united school community and turned a vision into reality.

 

The school orchestra which played live
music to support the stage show

When the show opened, the School of Rock roared to life on stage as the story of Dewey Finn unfolded along with the school’s story of creativity, teamwork and an unforgettable lifelong experience for every student involved in this project.

 

As the scene kicked off with the band, No Vacancy, performing their hit single, “I’m Too Hot For You,” I was pleased to recognise some of the teachers who played the role of band members, including Abdul Wafi on lead vocals.

 

The script closely followed the plot of the stage adaptation of the movie with Year Nine student, Abdullah Abu Bakar Younsi, who gave a credible performance in his lead role as Dewey Finn who impersonated, his friend, Ned Schneebly.

 

Ms Mullins met Dewey at The Roadhouse where
he discovered she too enjoyed rock music

With the students’ effective portrayal of key characters like Zack, Freddy, Katie, Billy, Tomika, and Summer Hathaway, it was easy to follow the engaging and entertaining story.

 

The interaction between Ms Mullins and Dewey in Horace Green School, while he was posing as substitute teacher, Mr Schneebly, was the source of much amusement, especially when he discovered that she secretly enjoyed rock music.

 

While a substitute teacher did not have the school’s approval to take a class out on a field trip, Dewey managed to sneak the class out to the Audition for the Battle of the Bands.

 

No Vacancy was the winner at
the Battle of the Bands

Even after Dewey’s identity was found out and in spite of their parents’ objection, the students still wanted to take part in the Battle of the Bands and encouraged Dewey to lead them in the competition.

 

Although No Vacancy was declared the winner, their band, dubbed the School of Rock, won praise and the parents had to admit that their children had talent and confidence on stage.

 

Dewey Finn, as himself, rocking out with the
band, School of Rock, at the
Battle of the Bands

When they took a bow at the close of the performance, Mr Myles commended the cast and crew for their commitment and contributions in presenting a successful live show. He believed that co-curricular activities in music and stage shows improved the students’ social skills and helped them be more adept in forming friendships.

 

It was indeed, another resounding success for the Art Department and the entire school who worked in partnership at various levels to share the music and encouragement through the staging of this interesting and entertaining story.

 

Crescendo HELP International School is located at PTD 204446, Jalan Lebuh Cemerlang, Taman Desa Cemerlang, 81800 Ulu Tiram, Johor. For more info about the school and its curriculum, visit website: chis.edu.my