School of Rock smashes Broadway box office record
(© Matthew Murphy )
The new musical School of Rock, which opened at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre in December, has broken the box office record at the theatre by grossing more than US$1.5 million dollars.
Created by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the musical is based on the hit 2003 film starring Jack Black and received rave reviews when it opened in New York earlier this month.
Lloyd Webber commented: "I had forgotten what it was to have this kind of hit. It is particularly great as we have no star names and we are witnessing personal triumphs for our brilliant kids and for Alex Brightman as Dewey, the role made famous by Jack Black.
"Now our team will begin searching across the UK for talented children to star in the West End transfer."
The adaptation is set to open at the London Palladium in spring 2017 with a nationwide search for the UK cast to commence in 2016. Due to UK performance regulations on child actors, School of Rock will need at least 39 children with each child being able to play their own instrument live on stage, as well as singing and dancing.
The show features music by Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes. The production is directed by Laurence Connor.
