Teacher at home on stage with students in ‘School of Rock’

Jamie McAteer and the character of Dewey Finn share a few common threads.

Both teach at private schools – sort of.

McAteer is in his 19^th year of teaching theater at Augusta Preparatory Day School, where he’s surrounded by talented students. And Dewey Finn in “School of Rock” stumbles into a teaching job he’s not qualified for at a private school and is surrounded by talented students.

Also, McAteer is often told just how much he looks like the actor who originally brought the character of Finn to life on screen more than 20 years ago.

“I’ve gotten a lot of ‘you remind me of Jack Black; you look like Jack Black,’” said McAteer, who doesn’t mind the comparison because he likes the actor.  

The Augusta Players will bring the show to the Imperial Theatre stage May 3-5.

Most of McAteer’s association with the stage in recent years has been directing his own students. He hasn’t performed with the Augusta Players since he was 17, but this musical drew him in.

“I haven’t been in a show since I started teaching,” he said. “This was the role, well, if I’m going to try something again, it would be this.”

And he’s having a blast with it.

One of the things that makes it so special for him “is the fact that this is a show with kids and my job is with kids,” he said.

McAteer isn’t the only high school drama teacher affiliated with “School of Rock.” Rebecca Brune, who teaches at John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, is the show’s associate director. She feels in her element as well.

“This is literally what I started out Augusta doing, working with kids,” said Brune, who was the Augusta Junior Players director for several years. “This is my jam. Scott’s really awesome to work with. Jamie is killing it, and the whole production team is amazing. It’s not really work. We come here every night and rock out.”

While McAteer has a huge role, the young performers are destined to steal this show as the band Finn puts together.

“They are incredibly talented…Those kids are treated just like adults, and they are up for the task. That’s what’s so impressive. It was a pretty thorough audition, and they are up for it,” said McAteer, who has enjoyed the rehearsal process so far. “It was kind of refreshing to be an actor again, and having the kids still makes it feel like home.”               

“School of Rock” will be performed at 8 p.m., May 3, 2 and 8 p.m., May 4 and at 3 p.m. May 5. For tickets, go here.

Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.