Special to 1812Blockhouse from St. Peter’s School
St. Peter’s School is excited to announce that its Department of Theater and Performing Arts will be returning to the stage with this year’s production of School of Rock.
The musical is based on the film School of Rock with music by Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber. The show invites the audience members to take a journey through the heart and soul of rock n’ roll. For the past several months, students, staff and members of the St. Peter’s community have been preparing for this performance.
This is the school’s first musical production since 2019. The 2020 production of Mary Poppins was in dress rehearsals when COVID-19 forced the cancellation of public gatherings.
When the curtain closes on opening night, it will be a huge relief for Jamie Stima, a 2012 graduate of St. Peter’s School and now the performing arts program director. Mary Poppins was to be her first musical at the program’s helm. Instead, it turned into a full year of hoping to find a way to make something work.
“We tried everything we could to produce some form of the musical,” Stima said. She said it was tough to see the set still on the stage several months later. “We just never had an opportunity where we could make a production of that size work with all the restrictions still in place. We had built a huge multi-level set, and never got to use it. We also could not recast key cast members who graduated.”
“I’ll be very excited and relieved when we finish our first performance…excited for our cast members, our volunteer leaders and the people who helped make this show a reality.”
St. Peter’s High School junior Adrian Allen Is excited to play the role of Principal Rosalie Mullins. “I like my character because she ends up letting her guard down and starts to have fun again,” says Allen. “I hope people come out to see the show … see the hard work and
determination we have put into this production.”
Natalie Tanchevski, a senior in her final musical at St. Peter’s, hopes for a good turnout. “I encourage everyone to come and see the show because it ROCKS; our cast has put in a great amount of work.”
Performances for the musical are the following dates and times:
- Friday, April 1, at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, April 2, at 7 p.m.
- Sunday, April 3, at 2 p.m.
- Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, April 9, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
This year’s performance will also be the first major theatrical event in the renovated High School Auditorium, which saw $350,000 in capital improvements in 2019, including new seats.
Tickets range from $12-15 per person. All seating is reserved and can be purchased through a link on St. Peter’s webpage: mansfieldstpeters.org. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Photos: St. Peter’s School
