Jack Black responds to students' request to attend 'School of Rock' musical production

Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read

The students of an Australian high school will have to wait for their lesson with Jack Black.

Students of a Melbourne high school requested the actor's presence during a Ringwood Secondary College production of "School of Rock: The Musical," based on the 2003 film of the same name starring Black.

The students began a campaign after seeing Black, 54, would be in town with his band Tenacious D while the show was in production. The school posted the plea in a viral TikTok last week, asking viewers to get the message to Black.

Black responded in a video shared by the Australian Broadcast Corporation, politely declining due to touring commitments.

Students from an Australian high school requested the presence of Jack Black to a production of "School of Rock: The Musical" in a viral video.
Students from an Australian high school requested the presence of Jack Black to a production of "School of Rock: The Musical" in a viral video.

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"Ringwood Secondary College, are you kidding me? You're doing 'School of Rock'? I love it — so touched," Black said. "And I wish I could come see it, but unfortunately I'm going to be rocking!"

Black noted that it has been two decades since the film came out, and that it is his "favorite movie that I ever did."

He did, however, leave the Australian students with some wise words.

"There's no way you can stop the School of Rock!" he sang.

Jack Black, back, with child cast members, left to right, Robert Tsei, Kevin Clark, Miranda Cosgrove, Joey Gaydos and Rebecca Brown, attend the gala screening for "School of Rock" during the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 10, 2003, in Toronto, Canada.
Jack Black, back, with child cast members, left to right, Robert Tsei, Kevin Clark, Miranda Cosgrove, Joey Gaydos and Rebecca Brown, attend the gala screening for "School of Rock" during the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 10, 2003, in Toronto, Canada.

In the film Black played Dewey Finn, a guitarist who gets fired from his band and, risking getting kicked out of the apartment he shares with roommate Ned Schneebly (Mike White), answers a phone call meant for Schneebly about a position as a substitute teacher. Black impersonates Schneebly and takes the job, later recognizing the students' musical talent and soon entering the students in a Battle of the Bands.

The film also starred Sarah Silverman, Joan Cusack and then-child stars Miranda Cosgrove, Brian Falduto and the late Kevin Clark.

The musical version follows the same plot by White, who wrote the original film, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes.

The musical made its Broadway debut in 2015 and its West End debut in 2016. A North American tour for the musical ran from 2017 to 2019, in addition to tours in Australia, China, the U.K., Japan and other countries.

Black's band Tenacious D is currently on the international Spicy Meatball Tour, playing music from their first three albums: "Tenacious D," "The Pick of Destiny" and "Rize of the Fenix." The comedy rock duo's latest album, "Post-Apocalypto," was released in 2018.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jack Black responds to students plea to visit 'School of Rock' show