School of Rock: The Musical (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Dewey Gets Kicked Out of No Vacancy

During a live performance by the band No Vacancy, guitarist Dewey Finn repeatedly attempts to upstage the lead singer during 'I'm Too Hot for You.' After Dewey leaves the stage, the band members agree to kick him out for his antics. This moment sets Dewey's downward spiral into motion.

Where

concert stage

Dewey Hits Rock Bottom

The next morning, Dewey is awoken in his bedroom by his longtime friend Ned Schneebly and Ned's domineering girlfriend Patty Di Marco, who demands rent. After they leave, Dewey gets kicked out of his band and fired from his job at a record store. Despite it all, he dreams about getting his big break and becoming a superstar.

When

the next morning

Dewey Impersonates Ned

Dewey receives a call from Rosalie Mullins, principal of the prestigious Horace Green School, who is seeking Ned for an open substitute teacher position paying over nine hundred dollars a week. Pretending to be Ned, Dewey accepts the position. The salary is enough to cover the rent he owes.

First Day at Horace Green

Dewey arrives late to Horace Green, hungover and unprepared, and Rosalie warns that 'Ned' will be expected to meet the school's high standards. Introducing himself to the class as Mr. Schneebly, he meets thirteen wary students, including the uptight Summer Hathaway. Disgusted by the rigid system and unable to treat his hangover, Dewey spends most of the day sleeping and leaves the students to run wild.

Where

Horace Green School

Patty's Ultimatum

At the apartment, Ned secretly plays Guitar Hero and later reminisces with Dewey about their old band and the perks of being a rockstar. Patty arrives and breaks up the reminiscing, calling Dewey nothing more than a dreamer who will never succeed in the rock business. She gives him an ultimatum: pay the rent in thirty days, or he will be kicked out.

When

that evening

Where

Ned and Patty's apartment

Forming the Band

After overhearing his students in music class with Rosalie, Dewey learns what instruments they play and announces they are now part of his new band set to compete in the Battle of the Bands. He assigns Zack on guitar, Katie on bass, Lawrence on keyboards, and Freddy on drums, along with backup singers, roadies, a stylist, a security officer, and an angry Summer as band manager. Only the shy new girl Tomika is left without a job, and Dewey hands out famous CDs as homework.

Where

Horace Green School classroom

The Battle of the Bands Audition

While the students lament that their parents won't listen to them, Dewey improvises the first version of 'In the End of Time,' and the band's practices soon draw complaints from other teachers about the children becoming undisciplined. Stuck inside the school on audition day, Dewey and the kids sneak out of the building to make it in time. Arriving late, Summer convinces the manager to stay with a lie about a terminal illness, and the class qualifies for the competition.

Where

Battle of the Bands audition venue

Costume Trouble, a Secret Rocker, and Tomika's Voice

Thirty-six hours before the Battle of the Bands, Billy reluctantly reveals his unfinished costumes using Lawrence as an unwilling model, and the band hates them, sending him back to the drawing board. At a faculty meeting, Dewey discovers that Rosalie is secretly a rocker who loves Stevie Nicks, and he panics about keeping his cover intact. As Dewey scrambles for a cover story, Tomika summons the courage to tell him she wants to sing lead, revealing a voice like a perfect angel.

When

thirty-six hours before the Battle of the Bands

Where

Horace Green School

Rosalie Sits In on the Lesson

When Rosalie arrives at the classroom, the students quickly cover their instruments with Thanksgiving-themed items and Dewey breaks into a fake lesson. Challenged by Rosalie, Dewey admits he uses music to teach 'boring' subjects, and she announces she will sit in for the rest of the lesson. Nervous, Dewey improvises a song about math, 'Math Is a Wonderful Thing,' and then invites Rosalie to meet him at a bar.

Where

Horace Green School classroom

Drinks with Rosalie

At the bar, Dewey plays a Stevie Nicks song on the jukebox, causing Rosalie to let loose and lament that she has lost her inner music. Stating that Dewey has reminded her of it, she promises that if the parents' meeting goes well the next day, she will help School of Rock get to the Battle of the Bands. Dewey impulsively kisses Rosalie before they part ways.

When

that night

Where

a bar

Ned Learns the Truth

Dewey arrives home just as Patty and Ned are going through the mail, and Ned discovers Dewey's paycheck made out to Ned. After Ned spirals into a panic attack, Dewey calms him down and makes him promise not to tell Patty. The secret impersonation narrowly survives its first real threat.

Where

Ned and Patty's apartment

Zack's Song and Dewey Exposed

During rehearsal, Zack reveals that he wrote his own song for the band, and a floored Dewey has him teach it to the rest of the group. Mid-practice, Rosalie unwittingly brings the students' parents into the classroom, and Patty and Ned burst in with Patty revealing that Dewey is not Ned Schneebly. Dewey makes a heartfelt confession about each child's talent before he and the children escape in the commotion.

When

the next day

Where

Horace Green School classroom

The Kids Rally for Dewey

As Rosalie paces the halls, Mason argues that Dewey is a role model regardless of his name, touching her so deeply that she misleads the parents to buy the children more time. The kids find Dewey back in his room, having given up on his dream, and led by Tomika they explain how much they need him. When they steal the bus to head to the Battle, Dewey's dream is reignited, and Ned finally stands up to Patty and joins them.

Where

Dewey's apartment

The Battle of the Bands

The band arrives just as No Vacancy finishes their performance, and Zack stands up to his father, who shouts at him not to go onstage, telling him the band means more to him than he does. School of Rock performs Zack's song, with solos from each instrumentalist and Tomika singing lead alongside Dewey, and the crowd goes wild. Watching from a box seat, the parents slowly fall in love with the band, and Zack's father is frozen with pride.

Where

Battle of the Bands venue

Encore and a New Beginning

Patty enters with a police officer to have Dewey arrested for fraud, but Rosalie convinces him that Mr. Finn is Horace Green's official Band Coach. No Vacancy is announced as the winner, but Dewey assures everyone that winning didn't matter because they did something even more special, and the band plays an encore for the enthralled crowd. Dewey and Rosalie kiss again, and Rosalie mixing her classical singing with the band's rock implies a change is coming to Horace Green's curriculum.

Where

Battle of the Bands venue