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Local star Elliott Scott Smith returns home in Virginia Musical Theatre’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock The Musical, at Sandler Center this weekend

InterviewByYiorgo

VirginiaMusicalTheatreisproudtopresentAndrewLloydWebber’sSchoolofRock the Musical for this weekend only, February 24th-26th at the Sandler Center for the PerformingArtsinVirginiaBeach,VA This kid-driven, extremely talented cast will warm your heart and leave you wanting more. For tickets and times, go to https:// www.ticketmaster.com/virginia-musical-theatre-school-of-rock-virginia-beach-virginia-02-24-2023/ event/01005D0B0A1097A6

Yiorgo: With us today is Elliott Scott Smith, a Hampton Roads Area native and one of the stars of the show. Elliott, why should people come see School of Rock, whatwilltheygettoseeandexperience?

Elliott Scott Smith: School Of Rock for mygenerationwasoneofthemoviesofour childhood. The show has big themes such as self expression and taking pride in who you are. The show also teaches people not tojudgeabookbyitscover.Justafewofthe reasons why people should come and see theshow.

Y: And this is an Andrew Lloyd Webber production

ESS: Yes, that is so awesome It’s such a fun show Half of the music already existed from the movie and then more were added anditworksverynicelytogether

Y: For those not familiar with it, what is thestoryabout?

ESS: The story is about this guy named Dewey Finn He was a part of a rock band. He got kicked out of the band. He is really, really in desperate need of money so he impersonates his best friend and becomes a substitute at a really prestigious school called Horace Green He realizes that his studentshavereallyspecialmusicalabilities thathewantstohelpthemcultivateanduse themtocompeteinabigbattleofthebands Whathappensnextisasighttobehold.

Y:Whatisitlikebeinginoneofyourfavorite movies as a musical and how different is themusicalfromthemovie?

ESS: It is so much fun being in one of my favorite movies as a musical It’s interesting in that the show is not that much different from the movie, other than the songs A favoritedirectorofminewhenheworkson aprojectalwaysasksifthestoryheisworking on “sings?” At first I did not think that the School Of Rock did, but once I started working onitIsee thatitreallydoes There are moments that the music lends itself to enhance the story It’s really cool that I get to experience that especially given that it is alsooneofmyfavorites

Y: Who do you play in it and what drew youtothisrole?

ESS: I get to play several different characters in it. I get to play Doug who is a member of Dewey’s band at the beginning of the show. Then I get to play Mr Spencer the father of Tomika, one of the children I also play Mr Noble, one of the teachers at Horace Green. What drew me to this play, besides giving me the opportunity to come backhome,isthatit’sbeenareallylongtime sinceIhaveplayedseveralcharactersinone show.TypicallyIplayonewholecharacterin ashow,soit’sreallycooltogettoinvestigate who these three people are and how I can lendmyselftothosethreecharacters.

Y: So how do you go about making a distinction in portraying the three characters?

ESS: I look at the characters’ specific circumstances and what they are going through in the script. For example, Doug the rock star would be acting and performing very different from Mr Noble who is a teacher at that private school I also like to bringalittlebitofmetoeachcharacterthat I portray For me, it’s difficult to act without including a little facet of my life into it, connected with those characters and helpingtobringthemtolifeabitmore.

Y: What has been the most fun for you rehearsinginthisshow?

ESS:Honestly gettingtoseethesekidsat work. The show really focuses on the kids that are at this school and the kids we are workingwitharesomeofthemosttalented humanbeingsIevermetinmylife.Extraordinaryactors singersandsomeofthemcan playtheseinstrumentslikeI’veneverheard before. It’s really so cool getting to watch the young generation of workers becoming superstars.Itreallyisincredible.Igetgoosebumpswatchingthemperform.

Y:HaveyouworkedwithVirginiaMusical Theatrebefore?

ESS: In my senior year of high school, I attended the Governor School of the Arts and they do a lot of work with the Virginia MusicalTheatre(VMT)withtheirstudents working in the ensemble with some of the shows. So in 2012 I got to be the Assistant Stage Manager in Hairspray and I got to work with our current stage manager Erin Hollis It’safullcirclemoment.Itwassofun getting to see her again Also in 2016, right outofcollegeIperformedinBeautyandthe Beast for VMT So it’s kind of like a homecomingformeeventhoughithasbeenseven yearssinceIhavebeenbackhere.

Y: Where were you born and what made youfallinlovewithmusicaltheatre?

ESS: I was born in Norfolk, VA and was raised in Chesapeake, VA I fell in love with musical theatre when I was eight years old and my mom had taken me to see Cher in concert at the Hampton Coliseum I would notstoptalkingaboutthewholeexperience. Iwasobsessedwiththelights,thecostumes, everythingandIwastellingmyteachers my