In School of Rock the Musical, students don’t just act, dance, and sing…they play their instruments live onstage! The show asks young performers to bring musicianship and storytelling together, and for Iss Howard, who plays the bass player Katie, that challenge has been a big part of the experience. 

Iss has been involved in theatre for most of their life. “My mom started putting me in theatre camps when I was probably five or six.” Theatre had always been something Iss did, but a moment during GREAT Theatre’s summer camp production of The Little Mermaid Jr. shifted how it felt to be onstage.

“I remember it felt so freeing to be able to be up on stage and pretend to be someone I’m not,” they said. “I’ve been hooked ever since!”

That sense of freedom and play carries into School of Rock, a show built around young people expressing themselves through music.

Wyatt Allen, who plays Zack, came to theatre more recently. He first got involved in 2023 after someone encouraged him to join the spring musical at his school.

“Someone just asked me to be a part of the spring musical and I was like, ‘sure, why not,’” Wyatt said. “And then I fell in love with it.”

Like Iss, Wyatt’s journey in School of Rock blends acting with musicianship as his role is the lead guitar player.

The Gift of Music
Iss has been playing bass for about a year. They first started thinking seriously about learning the instrument in late 2024. Around the same time, friends were talking about starting a band and realized they needed a bassist. “I had somewhat looked into learning bass already,” Iss said. “That was the push I needed to actually do it.” They received their bass as a birthday gift in January of 2025 and began lessons the following month.

Wyatt has been playing guitar for about five or six years. Similarly to Iss, Wyatt received his first guitar as a gift. “It was a birthday gift from my uncle Troy,” he said.

School of Rock gives both performers the opportunity to bring their instruments directly onto the stage. Playing live has become one of Iss’s favorite parts of being involved in the arts.

“It’s really exhilarating for me.” For Wyatt, playing live in School of Rock feels like something he once imagined finally coming true. “I tried to start a band a couple years ago and it didn’t work out,” he said. “So this is like a reality of that vision.”

Performing music in real time, surrounded by peers who care deeply about what they’re doing, has made the experience especially meaningful.

“Getting to meet and play with other people my age who also have a strong passion for their instruments has been such an amazing experience,” Iss shared. “It’s made me feel so much more connected with the people in this community that GREAT has helped to build.”

As part of the show’s licensing requirements, the student musicians and Dewey are required to play their instruments live onstage, making the music an essential part of the storytelling.

The Power of Stickin’ With It
When it comes to encouraging other students, both performers emphasize persistence. To those who may be considering theatre or learning an instrument, Iss encourages them to try it, even if it feels intimidating at first.

“Do it!” they said. “Even if it ends up not being for you, I think it’s worth it to at least give it a shot.” Iss also acknowledges that learning an instrument, in particular, can be challenging. “It can be hard,” they said. “But it can also be incredibly rewarding.” 

Wyatt agrees, especially when it comes to pushing through setbacks.

“I gave up on guitar for like a year,” he said. “But once I started again, I was able to really grow.”

He credits School of Rock with helping him build those skills.

“This show has done a lot for me,” Wyatt added, “including helping me improve my guitar playing.”

Iss shared that the impact of participating in the arts has gone far beyond the stage.

“I’ve become friends with multiple people who I never would have met if I hadn’t auditioned for this show. Participating in the arts has helped me find out who I am, make friends, build my confidence, and given me a creative outlet to express myself, and I think that that’s really cool.”

See them rock out!
There are three more chances to catch Iss, Wyatt, and the rest of the cast in GREAT Theatre’s production of School of Rock the Musical, playing February 6th, 7th, and 8th at the Paramount Center for the Arts. Tickets are available now at greattheatre.org.