Even before the show opens Thursday, two of the young stars of Amarillo Little Theatre’s School of Rock are making plans to keep rolling.
Fourteen-year-olds Lane Donathan, who plays guitarist Zack Mooneyham, and Britain Pennington-Booher, who plays drummer Freddie Hamilton, feel so dialed in as band mates in the show that they’re already plotting their return to the stage after the musical closes. (Full disclosure: I’m an ALT board member but have no involvement in this show.)
“It’s gonna be pretty cool,” Britain told me backstage before the final week of rehearsals began.
Is there a name? I wondered.
“Um, not really,” Lane said.
His mom, Lindsy Donathan, who’s in the show’s ensemble, piped in: “Tentatively, ‘Bag of Sticks.’”
“That’s what me and my cousin want to do,” Lane said over his mother’s laughter. “My cousin’s the bass player.”
“We’re still figuring out a name,” Britain said.
Whatever the name, Britain told me they’ll play clean versions of punk and grunge rock songs at … whatever venues hire teenage garage bands. (And, in fact, they’re literally a garage band: The primary quartet of young musicians in School of Rock has been practicing in Britain’s garage since January, according to Hannah Moore, 12, who plays bassist Katie Travis, and Justus Roller, 17, who plays keyboardist Lawrence Turner.)
Until Bag of Sticks makes its own debut, you can see the teens starring in School of Rock, a stage adaptation of the Richard Linklater film from the unexpected combo of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber (Starlight Express) and Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey).
The show will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, then May 7 to 9 and May 14 to 16, plus 2:30 p.m. May 10 and 17, all in ALT’s Allen Shankles Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle.
Ticket prices vary. Call 806-355-9991.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
Tabletop Tea Party: 6 p.m. Tuesday; Tabletop Tavern Game Café, 410 15th St. in Canyon; cover; tabletoptavern24@gmail.com
West Texas A&M University Choirs: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall in Canyon; free; 806-651-2840
Go Johnson with Social Anxiety and Louse: 8 p.m. Wednesday; San Jacinto Community Center, 202 S. Louisiana St.; cover $10; 806-318-3014
Park Road 5 Pale Ale Release Party (Canyon): 5 p.m. Thursday; Pondaseta, 1001 Second Ave. in Canyon; 806-656-5100
Dale Smith: 7 p.m. Thursday; Georgia Street Taphouse, 2001 S. Georgia St.; 806-803-7000
Flatland Cavalry: 7 p.m. Thursday; The Lumberyard, 850 N. 23rd St. in Canyon; tickets $45 to $66; 806-804-3000
West Texas A&M University Horn Choir: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall in Canyon; free; 806-651-2840
Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Fajita Festival: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday; Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $48.80 and up; 806-379-8800
First Friday Art Walk: 5 p.m. Friday; Arts in the Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd.; free; 806-354-8802
Cinco de Mayo Celebration: 5 p.m. Friday; Courtyard by Marriott Amarillo Downtown, 724 S. Polk St.; 806-553-4500
Park Road 5 Pale Ale Release Party (Amarillo): 5 p.m. Friday; Pondaseta, 7500 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6282
Cameron James Smith: 7 p.m. Friday; The Food Park on 25ninety, 13130 Soncy Road; 806-420-0582
Dave 5thn: 7 p.m. Friday; Drunken Oyster, 7606 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6668
Dave McNeir and Bergundi Rose: 7 p.m. Friday; Beef O’Brady’s, 7306 S.W. 34th Ave.; 806-358-0997
Grrrizly with Texas Transplants, Polliiwog and Chlorine Bleach: 7 p.m. Friday; Rockwell Event Center, 16307 Interstate 27; tickets $10; 806-683-2156
El Salto with Tennessee Tuckness: 7 p.m. Friday; Old Tascosa Taproom and Brewery, 3100 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-681-4050
Showcase of Music: 7:30 p.m. Friday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.; free, reservations requested; 806-651-2840
Spring Awakening: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; continues through May 10; Amarillo College Experimental Theatre; tickets $10 adults, $8 students and seniors, $6 AC students, faculty and staff; 806-371-5358
Kat Hasty: 8 p.m. Friday; Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover
Touching Voodoo: 8 p.m. Friday; Crush, 627 S. Polk St.; 806-418-2011
Full Moon Hike: 8:30 p.m. Friday; Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 11450 Park Road 5; free with park admission; 806-488-2227
Jack Cryver & Bad Decisions: 9 p.m. Friday; Blind Pig, 609 S. Independence St.; no cover; 806-412-4251
Kickback 2: 9 p.m. Friday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Tristan Roberson: 9 p.m. Friday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Fiesta on the Square: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; The Shops at Wolflin Square, 1932 Civic Circle; 806-355-6131
Cinco de Mayo Celebration: 10 a.m. Saturday parade, party at noon; El Alamo Park, 1621 S. Houston St.; 806-410-5684
Hops ’n’ Shops: noon to 5 p.m. Saturday; Old Tascosa Taproom and Brewery, 3100 S.W. Sixth Ave.; 806-681-4050
Art Fest: 2 p.m. Saturday; downtown square in Canyon; 806-656-6833
Cinco de Mayo Car Show and Concert: 2 p.m. Saturday; Jorge’s Tacos Garcia, 1619 S. Kentucky St.; tickets $42.25 and up; 806-371-0411
Sunset Underground Music and Art Fest 3: 2 p.m. Saturday; 3701 Plains Blvd.; tickets $25, plus fees; atomicyellowict@gmail.com
Khiva Shrine Kentucky Derby Party: 3 p.m. Saturday; IDK Sports Bar & Grill, 1309 S.W. Sixth Ave.; tickets $75, tables available; 806-676-5008 or 806-373-2845
Wine Release Party: 3 p.m. Saturday; Bar Z Winery, 19290 Farm-to-Market Road 1541; 806-488-2214
Fill With Hope Benefit Concert with Logan Samford and Mike Chism & Hollow Point: 6 p.m. Saturday; The Lumberyard, 850 N. 23rd St. in Canyon; admission by donation; 806-804-3000
Jammin’ for Johnny Reverb fundraiser: 7 p.m. Saturday; Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; cover
Jaywalking: 7 p.m. Saturday; Teddy Jack’s, 5080 S. Coulter St.; 806-322-0113
Stephanie Brackett: 7 p.m. Saturday; 9th Inning Brews and Bites, 3130 S. Soncy Road; 806-358-2222
Jack Cryver & Bad Decisions: 9 p.m. Saturday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Lip Sync Battle: 9 p.m. Saturday; Blind Pig, 609 S. Independence St.; no cover; 806-412-4251
Vintage: 9 p.m. Saturday; Skooterz, 4100 Bushland Blvd.; no cover; 806-679-0122
Your Brother’s Uncle: 9 p.m. Saturday; Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover; 806-373-9149
Comedian John Crist: 7 p.m. Sunday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $42 to $63, plus fees; 806-378-3096
West Texas A&M University Brass Choir: 7:30 p.m. Sunday; Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall in Canyon; free; 806-651-2840
May the Fourth Movie Night: 7 p.m. Monday; Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive; tickets $10 to $25; 806-355-9547
Star Wars Trivia Night: 7 p.m. Monday; Pondaseta, 7500 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6282
West Texas A&M University Electronic Ensemble: 7:30 p.m. Monday; Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall in Canyon; free; 806-651-2840
Downtown Women’s Center Spring Luncheon: 11:30 a.m. May 5; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Grand Plaza, 401 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $40, sponsorships available; 806-372-3625
Amarillo Sod Poodles vs. Wichita Wind Surge: 7:05 p.m. May 5, continues through May 10; Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.; ticket prices vary; 806-803-9547
Email submissions to info@brickandelm.com.
Movie options:
Opening Thursday: High-fashion sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2, animated fascist parable Animal Farm, horror flick Hokum and anime film That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime The Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements: The Silence of the Lambs 35th anniversary screenings (Wednesday, Hollywood 16); Gran Turismo (Thursday, Cinergy); Secret Movie Series (Sunday, Hollywood 16)
