THUNDER BAY — St. Patrick High School will be performing School of Rock at the Selkirk auditorium between May 5 and 10.
The musical has about 100 students involved between the actors, the pit band, backstage crew, and students in tech, constructions, hospitality and cosmetology classes.
All musicals put on by St. Patrick High School raise money for charity. This year the funds raised will go toward supporting the Underground Gym.
Carsyn Ongaro is a Grade 12 student who plays Rosalie Mullins in the musical.
“This was a super challenging role for me to take on. I've never really done anything like this, so it was a really big adjustment trying to kind of change how I am normally and adapt to the role,” she said.
Ongaro was in the Mamma Mia production at St. Patrick High School in 2023, and said that experience inspired her to join in on School of Rock.
Mamma Mia “was the best experience of my life honestly to date. If anybody were to ask me what has been something notable in (my) life, I would say 100 per cent anything to do with the drama program at Saint Pat's. I think everybody is so grateful to be a part of it because not a lot of people get to live out their dreams.
“When you're so passionate about theatre you want to be able to do it in a place that's safe and welcoming and so professional. Everything is just done with such grace and I feel so lucky to be a part of it,” she said.
Ongaro said she hopes people watching will be motivated to join a club, or do something they’re passionate about.
Samuel Giardino, Grade 11 student, plays Dewey Finn in School of Rock.
Giardino was also a member of the cast in the 2023 Mamma Mia production, and said that experience was like a domino effect.
“I still think about it almost every day. Once I saw that School of Rock, I was like, I had to go in that immediately. Even my mom came up to me and she was like, you got to do it.
“It's been nothing short of a blast. It's been so much fun coming to rehearsal and just getting it out there, you know. I've never really had a role like this, especially with being Jack Black. It's been a challenge, but it's been so much fun,” he said.
Alana Valente, production and music director, said the musical is based off the 2003 film starring Jack Black.
“It follows the movie almost exactly with a bunch of new hits by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
“It is about Dewey Finn. He impersonates a substitute teacher, comes in, thinks these kids are, you know, kind of nerdy, not too cool, and then he hears them play classical music one day and he turns them into rock stars. He opens their eyes to a whole new world that they never knew existed outside of their prep school,” she said.
The students have been working hard since September with the cast practicing four days a week, and the pit band once a week along with independent work, she said.
“Having those two bands, which has never been done before live, having two drummers play in tandem is very impressive. A lot of professionals can't do that, so these kids have really taken it to that next level and have really raised the bar in terms of our shows here at Saint Pat's,” Valente said.
Amanda Husiak, artistic director and choreographer, said this musical is unique due to the fact students are not only singing, acting and dancing but also playing instruments on stage.
“You'll see the students playing in the show actually play those instruments on stage.
The show will be presented each night between May 5 and 10 at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick High School. Tickets are available at St. Patrick High School’s main office between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays.