Stage West Rocks in “School of Rock”

For the next two weeks, Stage West Playhouse departs from the usual community.

theatre fare, such as “Sound of Music” and “The Odd Couple”−not that there’s anything wrong with these traditional types of plays. Their upcoming production, “School of Rock,” will certainly attract a younger audience who perhaps have never seen a live stage performance. The cast is mostly made up of the under-40 crowd, and, for some, this is their first time performing on stage.

“School of Rock” is about a wannabe rock musician, Dewey Finn, who takes a job as a substitute teacher at a posh private school. He immediately turns his classroom upside down and convinces the students that they can be rock singers and musicians.

Eric Vrtis takes on the lead role. He’s played bass guitar in a band for thirteen years, but this is his first acting gig since he was in middle school.
For Eric, the most rewarding part of the show was “working with the kids. Several of them didn’t play music at all, so it’s actually been a ‘school of rock.’”

The actors actually play drums, guitar and keyboard on stage, accompanied by a pit band composed of Lil Barcaski on drums, Charlie Gilmer and Tristan Horta on keyboards, Forrest Hartman on lead guitar, and Drake Middlebrook on bass.

The show has been a challenge technically because the pit band has to stay in time with the musicians on stage, but, with a lot of practice, they pulled it off.

For example, Tristan Horta has been playing the keyboard for ten years, but this is his first time playing in a musical production. In fact, it’s his first time performing in public.

“Getting out of that self-doubt bubble was a challenge,” Tristan commented. He overcame this by practicing “every single day for several hours” since before January, even before formal rehearsals began. Listening to the soundtrack also helped him.

After he overcame this self-doubt, Tristan was able to concentrate on making sure everyone else sounded good and that “you don’t overpower anyone else and everybody is staying in time.” “Playing with the band and everyone’s having the time of their life, and I’m doing my best and not feeling like an outsider because these people have been doing this a lot longer than me is just incredible!”

Forrest Hartman is a music teacher at a charter school and has been playing guitar for ten years. He’s never played in a musical production, but he has directed musicals at his school and has played on stage before.

One of his challenges was reading the music since most guitarists play by ear or use tablature.

Brian Brijbag plays four roles, which must be a challenge for someone who has been away from acting for fifteen years, having performed with Stage West when he was in middle school.

For Brian, acting is an “escape from the real world. Life is busy, but as busy as this [being in a play], it’s a different kind of busy.”

Being able to work with his daughter, Brooklyn, who’s in the show, has been rewarding for Brian. His daughter, Skylar, has also been involved in Stage West, so he’s been a cheerleader for both of them.

Playing four different parts has been a challenge for Brian. “I have a lot of quick changes, so I have to know where I have to be and when. Plus, each character is somewhat distinct in their mannerisms and how they speak.”

Brooke Gerbino portrays Patty DiMarco, Dewey’s nemesis. He has been freeloading off her and her boyfriend, Dewey’s pal, Ned. She’s constantly berating Dewey and telling him to get a job, which leads him to take the substitute teaching position.

Brooke is fairly new to theatre. Her first show was ”The Wizard of Oz” at Stage West last year, and she’ll be performing in “Carrie the Musical” next month. One of Brooke’s challenges in this role was playing someone whose personality is so different from hers. “It’s fun playing someone completely the opposite of myself. I’m a pretty nice person, but this character is really mean.”

Karmen Montoya is the choreographer. She’s been dancing since she was six years old, has taught dance, as well, and has done musical theater for eight years. However, this is her first time as a choreographer. “It’s been fun playing with all the elements that I’ve seen being used my whole life.”

However, there have been some challenges working with people with varied levels of experience. It’s a fairly large cast, and the age of the actors playing the students ranges from eight to seventeen. “I can’t make it too easy to the point where they [the actors] are bored, but I can’t make it too hard to where their heads are spinning. It’s finding that balance.”

Char Adams has been directing for more than twenty years, both musicals and comedies. “It’s fun watching the whole process, from the words on the page to the finished product.”

“School of Rock” is a fun play for everyone. The audience will enjoy the feel-good story of young people who are transformed from barely playing instruments to competing in a Battle of the Bands. Those over forty will chuckle at the references to Led Zeppelin and Ozzy Osbourne, just two of the musicians to which the students draw a blank when Dewey mentions them.

The play will “rock on” on March 21st—23rd. For show times and tickets, call 352-683-5113 or visit www.stagewestplayhouse.org.