Civic: Pounding drums, thrashing guitars and heart-thumping bass – it's not quite a rock concert, especially given most of the musicians are yet to hit their teens – but it's a musical to make you sit up and take notice. First a film made famous by Jack Black, the story was enough to catch the eye – and ear – of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. So impressed was the musical maestro that he turned it into a Broadway musical following the triumphs and travails of Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star posing as a teacher at a prestigious prep school. Seeing a chance for fame, he turns his A-grade pupils into a mind-blowing rock band and proves music really can change the world.
School of Rock, the Civic, until Sunday, September 29.
SkyCity Theatre: Portlandia star Fred Armisen is touring NZ for the first time with his show Comedy For Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome. While Armisen started out as a musician in the Chicago-based punk band Trenchmouth, he transitioned to comedy and is now recognised as an actor, comedian, voice artist, screen writer, producer, singer and musician, best recognised from Saturday Night Live. So something for everyone.
Fred Armisen, Comedy For Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome, SkyCity Theatre, Friday.
Spark Arena: To call yourself "the greatest showman" is a bold claim; then again, when you've won Golden Globe, Grammy and Tony awards you might just deserve the moniker. Aucklanders get the chance to find out whether Hugh Jackman deserves it when the Australian superstar brings his The Man. The Music. The Show. to town this weekend. He'll perform hits from The Greatest Showman and Les Misérables as well as Broadway and film favourites all accompanied by a live orchestra. Breakout star Keala Settle joins him for special guest appearances.
Hugh Jackman, The Man. The Music. The Show. Spark Arena, Friday (8pm) and Saturday (2pm).
Basement Theatre: After selling out the NZ International Comedy Festival this year, Emma Newborn brings back her offbeat one-woman show Coral. Newborn has teamed up with director and award-winning clown Trygve Wakenshaw – currently starring in the brilliant Mr Red Light at the Herald Theatre – for the quirky comedy. When her long-absent boss fails to show for an important presentation Coral Kristofferson, office administrator from Swanson, grabs the opportunity with both hands. Expect something like Muriel's Wedding meets The Office.
Coral, Basement Theatre, until Saturday.
