Broadway's Gonna Get Schooled! Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock Confirms B'way Dates and Theater

Broadway's gonna rock next fall! Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest project, the stage adaptation of School of Rock will premiere at the Winter Garden Theatre. Based on the hit 2003 movie of the same name, School of Rock—The Musical will begin previews on November 2, 2015 and officially open on December 6. Directed by Les Miz's Laurence Connor, the tuner will feature music from the movie, as well as new music written by Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater, with a book by Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellowes.

The film was penned by Mike White, directed by Richard Linklater and starred Jack Black as wannabe rock star Dewey Finn, who poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. When he discovers his students’ musical talents, he enlists his fifth-graders to form a rock group and conquer the Battle of the Bands.

"It’s a wonderful movie about what the power of music can be for kids," Lloyd Webber told Broadway.com in an exclusive interview (see below) about why he was attracted to the story. The theater legend went on to emphasize "that it’s Jack Black’s movie and it’s Mike White’s movie and Mike’s a terrific writer and I do not want in any way to make it a kind of Andrew Lloyd Webber show—it has to be true to the original for it to work."

Three-time Grammy-winning record producer Rob Cavallo has also joined the creative team. The production will feature choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, scenic and costume design by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz and sound design by Mick Potter. Casting for the show will begin in January in cities across the U.S., including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

School of Rock—The Musical marks the first time Lloyd Webber has opened a show on Broadway before London since Jesus Christ Superstar in 1971.