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2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 SEPTEMBER 2025 THEATRE Class is in session: Young talent rocks the MCC in School of Rock – The Musical JAM-PACKED with rock an- thems and laugh-out-loud com- edy, School of Rock – The Musi- cal is set to electrify the stage at the Mediterranean Conference Centre this October with the power of Malta's young perfor- mance talent. Based on the hit Paramount film written by Mike White and starring Jack Black, the To- ny-nominated musical follows wannabe rock star Dewey Finn as he bluffs his way into a teaching job at a prestigious prep school. Dewey inspires his students to form a rock band and compete in the Battle of the Bands – all while discovering that they have just as much to teach him about friendship, courage and staying true to yourself. Among Dewey's students is the bright and determined Summer Hathaway – a role shared in Re- vamp MT's production by two of Malta's brightest young per- formers, Michela Caruana and Leah Grech. "Summer has always been a dream role of mine," shares Grech. "I've imagined myself in this role ever since I first listened to the cast recording, but I never thought the musical would ever be staged in Malta. Well," she grins, "I'm happy to say I was wrong." "It's always great fun to inter- pret a character who is confi- dent, determined and clever like Summer," Caruana adds. "It's rewarding to play someone who gets things done and contributes to the success of something." Beyond the riffs and the re- bel spirit, School of Rock packs an uplifting punch. "Summer's journey, as well as that of the other kids in class, is one of self-empowerment," Grech ex- plains. "With Dewey's help, they discover who they really are – and by the end, it turns out they are amazing at what they do. This is such a valuable message, especially for us performers, as we so often doubt ourselves and our abilities." While the musical adaptation features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Julian Fellowes, Re- vamp MT's production includes direction from Dorothy Bezzina, as well as musical direction by Edward Mifsud and choreogra- phy by Samaria Bezzina. Sound and lighting designers Sergio Costa and Mohamed Ali 'Dali' Aguerbi ensure that the con- cert-level energy matches the heartfelt storytelling. For Caruana, it's also an op- portunity to learn from one of Malta's musical theatre veter- ans. "It's my first time working under the direction of Dorothy Bezzina, someone I truly ad- mire. As a female director and actress, she has encouraged me a lot throughout the rehearsal process." Sharing the stage with the young cast is a stellar lineup of adult performers, including James Ryder as Dewey Finn, Natassja Chapman as Rosalie Mullins, Alessio Buhagiar as Ned Schneebly, Bertha Farrugia as Patty Di Marco and Rachel Grech as Ms Sheinkopf. "I love working with both an adult and young cast," Caruana reflects. "There's always this exchange of learning, inspiration and growth from each other." School of Rock combines pow- erhouse vocals, live instruments and exciting staging, promising a theatre experience the whole family can enjoy. "This musical really has something for every- one," says Caruana. "Families will connect with the story in their own way and the humour makes it a fun experience to share. Andrew Lloyd Webber's music is so catchy – some songs are full of energy while others carry a lot of heart. Plus, seeing kids perform live on stage with real instruments makes it truly unique." Grech agrees: "I really hope that audiences will relate to these characters and appreciate all the work that's been put into this production, on and off the stage. And of course – I hope they'll have a good afternoon or night out at the theatre!" The Revamp MT production of School of Rock – The Musi- cal will run for one weekend only, with both matinee and evening performances between 10-12 October 2025 at the Med- iterranean Conference Centre, Valletta. Recommended for audiences aged six and over, with mild parental discretion advised. This production was made possible by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd. More information and tickets are available online at w w w . s h o w s h a p p e n i n g . c o m / mcc/schoolofrock. As Malta's top young talent gets set to take the spotlight in Revamp MT's production of School of Rock – The Musical this October, performers Michela Caruana and Leah Grech open up about sharing the role of ambitious student Summer Hathaway – and the high-octane experience awaiting audiences Photos by: Edward De Gabriele