Review: Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Posted by Curtain Up! on Sep 23, 2025

The Cast, left to right: E. Burkart, Z. Boswell, C. Jones, A. Rutherford, J. Hobson, D. Guerrasio,

PHOTO: RDGPhotography

🎶 Conjunction Junction, what’s your function? 🎶

If your Saturday mornings came with cereal and “Conjunction Junction,” the above lyric might strike a nostalgic chord. For those in Generation X, Schoolhouse Rock was likely part of your breakfast routine—broadcast straight from the ABC studios as you munched and learned. But fear not: the story lives on. The musical version of Schoolhouse Rock Live! brings cherished tunes to life onstage through October 18 at The Aurora Fox Arts Center, ready to charm audiences once again.

Under the nimble direction of Kelly Van Oosbree and the spirited guidance of musical director Boni McIntyre, Schoolhouse Rock Live! offers both a nostalgic trip down memory lane and a chance for parents to share a slice of their childhood with the next generation.

The story is straightforward: Mr. Morton (Clark Destin Jones) is getting ready for his first day of teaching. Not totally confident about the impending pedagogy and his first classroom experience, Mr. Morton elicits the help of a colorful group of curriculum companions to map out his day.

Helping bring the lessons to life are Dina (Andrea Rutherford), Dori (Jessie Mays Hobson), George (Damon Guerrasio), Joe (Zachary Lee Boswell), and Shulie (Emily Burkart)—a spirited ensemble who make learning enjoyable, even as the songs themselves begin to sound alike. The cast’s talent far exceeds the demands of the sometimes-clever material, lending nuance and vitality to a score that favors repetition over originality.

Schoolhouse Rock Live! is based on an idea by David McCall, with music and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Dave Frishberg, Bob Dorough, Kathy Mandry, George Newell, and Tom Yohe. The modest book is by Scott Ferguson, George Keating, and Kyle Hall. Overall, the writing is age-appropriate and never condescending.

Kelly Van Oosbre has again worked her directorial magic, bringing Schoolhouse Rock Live! to the stage. She has delivered an energetic and colorful rendition of this musical adaptation, conveying the material briskly and meaningfully, offering a winning package.

The scenery, lighting, and costumes are vivid and attractively executed by scenic designer Lexi Renfro, lighting designer Brett Maughan, and costume designer Susan Rahmsdorff-Terry. Rahmsdorff-Terry is up for the prize as the busiest person in show business, with multiple productions running simultaneously around town.

At just 80 minutes, Schoolhouse Rock Live! is a well-paced burst of educational whimsy, ideal for the ‘tween crowd and younger, and anyone older craving a dose of Saturday morning nostalgia. While the material may not always rise to meet the cast’s considerable talents, the spiffy production directed by Van Oosbree delivers precisely what it promises: a cheerful reminder that learning can be fun—and sometimes, that’s enough.

For information and tickets: https://www.aurorafoxartscenter.org/onstage

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