The 'West of Broadway' Podcast Chats about the SCHOOL OF ROCK National Tour
By: West of Broadway May. 22, 2018
On this episode of West of Broadway, Lara and Will sit down to discuss the national tour of School of Rock on stage now at the Pantages Theater. Lara raves about her opening night experience and Will shares his one on one interviews with the cast along with a very special audio clip of an acoustic performance from the ensemble.
SCHOOL OF ROCK at the Pantages Theater from May 3 to May 27, 2018.
After blowing out the speakers on Broadway, School of Rock hits the road. Based on the classic movie starring Jack Black, this blockbuster musical follows hilarious slacker Dewey Finn as he leads a classroom of nerdy misfits to rock stardom.
School of Rock was Andrew Lloyd Webber's first show to launch on Broadway since 1971, and it proved to be a monster hit for the legendary composer. Featuring a cast of uber-talented kids (who all play their instruments live), it includes songs from the movie, as well as a load of brand new compositions. Tony nominee Glenn Slater wrote the lyrics, while the book comes courtesy of Downtown Abbey scribe and Oscar winner Julian Fellowes. Bursting with energy and heart, School of Rock is a celebration of following your dreams and, of course, sticking it to the man!
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE:
WHAT IS SCHOOL OF ROCK ABOUT?
Rock star wannabe Dewey Finn is down on his luck. He's just been kicked out of own band No Vacancy for his over enthusiastic on-stage antics, and his landlord is threatening conviction unless he coughs up his overdue rent. Desperate for money, he disguises himself as a substitute music teacher to land a position at a well-to-do prep school.
When he meets his new class, a bunch of smart-talking kids who happen to be more than a little handy with their musical instruments, an idea begins to form. A local Battle of the Bands competition is looming, featuring none other than No Vacancy, and Dewey sees a chance for both revenge and a proper shot at rock stardom!
ABOUT: WEST OF BROADWAY
Theater veteran Will Armstrong and theater enthusiast Lara Scott discuss the vibrant musical theater scene on the West Coast, covering movie musicals, region productions, national tours, and more with the cast, crew, producers, and supporters who make it all happen. If you want a lighthearted celebration of musical theater, you can find it all West of Broadway!
West of Broadway Site: http://www.westofbroadwaypodcast.com/
Lara Scott | @RadioLara
When she's not co-hosting West of Broadway can be heard on the radio in Southern California on K-Earth 101. Lara is also the host of The World Chart Show, an internationally syndicated Top 40 countdown, and her voice has been used on programs for Bravo, VH-1, the Olympic Encore on Universal Sports, and in-flight programming for Delta Radio and Air Force 1. She is also a weekend lounge host on www.MartiniInTheMorning.com, where she plays Standards from The Great American Songbook.
Born in Southwest Florida, Lara headed to Oregon after high school. She got into radio in Bend, Oregon, after calling a local station on a dare from a friend, and then continued her broadcasting career in Portland. After graduating with a B.S. in Philosophy from Portland State University, she moved to San Francisco to become the music director and nighttime air personality at KZQZ/95.7. She then spent almost seven years as the midday host at KYSR/Star 98.7 in Los Angeles, followed by almost a decade in mornings and middays at KFSH/95.9 The Fish.
Her passion for preservation and history led her to Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, a historic theater that shows classic films on the big screen every weekend, and she now serves on their advisory board. The theater was also featured in her first book, From the Corner of Hollywood and diVine: Your Guide to 30 Old Hollywood-Inspired Spots in Southern California. She is the co-host, along with Oscar-winning filmmaker James Moll, of the Classic Movie Recall podcast, and reviews films from the Golden Age of Hollywood every week.
Lara was a 2008 President's Volunteer Service Award winner, which was presented by recording artist Michael W. Smith on behalf of President George W. Bush for her charity work. In her free time, she can be found hanging out with her young son and daughter, snowboarding, shopping at vintage and thrift stores, chanting at yoga class, and attending lots of concerts and films.
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Will Armstrong | @WillArmstrongPR
Will Armstrong started dancing at the age of 2. He started working professionally at Walt Disney World fresh out of High School. After several years in Orlando he set sail with Norwegian Cruise Lines performing in Will Rogers Follies, Greese, Crazy for You and 42nd Street.
When he returned to land, he joined the 1st national tour of Victor/Victoria with Toni Tennille of Captain and Tennille fame. At the end of his 52-week American tour, Will traveled east to perform at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea in various stage productions where he danced, sang and made wonderful friends.
Will's Broadway debut was in 2002 as a chorus member in the Broadway revival of 42nd Street with Tom Wopat of The Dukes of Hazard and Tony Award winner Beth Leavel from the Drowsey Chaperone. After 42nd Street closed, Will filmed Susan Stroman and Mel Brooks movie musical The Producers before taking his final performing job as an ensemble member of The World Famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular. After Will stepped away from performing he joined the support team of the 1st National tour of Wicked before bringing it to the Pantages Theater for a 5 year residency.
Will now owns his own public relations agency where he puts the skills he learned in the entertainment industry to work creating exciting and original strategies that put smiles on his clients faces.
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