Live Version Of 'School House Rock' Comes To Chicago
(CBS) -- Before there were video games, MTV or even Nickelodeon, there was "School House Rock."
The educational Saturday morning cartoon series entertained and taught children of the 1970s. If you know the songs, it's a pretty good indication of how old you are.
It's how a generation of children learned how a bill became a law or what a noun was. From history to math, to science to the constitution, songs and cartoons were education tools.
Now, the fun and catchy tunes are being performed on the stage -- this time with a modern twist.
"Everybody has these fond memories of these songs and then we do these new arrangements of them that basically take the songs everyone remembers and puts a heavier rock spin on it," says Jed Fader, who plays George.
WBBM's Lisa Fielding
Fader says the production is geared toward kids, but it's the adults who really enjoy the tunes and the nostalgia.
"The parents go crazy for every song, because they grew up with it," he says, laughing.
"They are the ones when you look out, and the parents are the ones who are rocking out, singing along," agrees Ron King, who plays a teacher.
He says it's fun to be part of such a pop culture phenomenon.
"It's just great to see kids excited to A, see a theatrical piece and B, be a learning thing for them and to see the parents who come up to us and say, I remember all of those songs. Knowing people are getting something out of it," King says.
The rock and roll lesson plan transcends generations.
"Everyone knows 'Conjunction, Conjunction,' 'I'm Just a Bill.' Our primary focus is not to teach, it's to present something really fun but that's when kids learn by accident when they have fun with it."
"School House Rock Live" is at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place through Aug. 28.
For tickets go to broadwayinchicago.com.
