'Abbey Road,' 'School of Rock,' 'Hedwig': rock musicals at the ready

Revealed this week, a musical is in the works based on the Beatles' recording sessions at Abbey Road Studios in London. Set to premiere on April at London's Royal Albert Hall, the "musical documentary" will span the band's recording career from 1962 to 1969 and will feature a to-scale recreation of Abbey Road's Studio Two in the theater.

More information can be found at www.thesessionsatabbeyroad.com.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Julian Fellowes are behind an upcoming Broadway musical based on the 2003 movie starring Jack Black, about a struggling rock musician turned substitute teacher who prepares his talented prep school students for a Battle of the Bands. Casting for two main roles has been revealed, with Alex Brightman taking Jack Black's role and Sierra Boggess as the school principal played by Joan Cusack.

Previews begin in November at the Winter Garden Theatre and an opening is set for December. Tickets are available via schoolofrockthemusical.com.

This musical about a rock band fronted by a transgender East German singer earned a Tony Award for its 2014 Broadway revival originally starring Neil Patrick Harris, who also won a Tony. It has just been revealed that TV, film and theater actor Taye Diggs will become the next actor to play Hedwig in a 12-week run beginning next month, becoming the first African-American actor to do so.