 Jocks, brainiacs, and drama geeks – all the cliques of high
school converge when Gabriella and Troy decide to defy peer pressure from their
respective friends and try out for the high school show. The result: Disney’s
High School Musical, the hit movie turned into a stage production that over
the coming months will probably be the most-produced show in high schools and
youth theatres across the country. This one takes us to Scottsdale, Arizona and
Greasepaint Youtheatre.
Krystina Alabado is Gabriella Montez, a math whiz new
to East High. Which is where basketball star Troy Bolton (Devon Nickel
as an unassuming jock)
attends, the guy she met on vacation at a ski lodge. Gabriella has an
outstanding singing voice, and she and Devon share some fine duets together,
especially Breaking Free. But High School Musical is very much an
ensemble piece, and there are lots of colorful supporting characters.
Katie Wilson and Brian Wible star as the
hilariously prima donna twins Sharpay and Ryan Evans, and they are just as “fabulous”
as they claim to be. Katie Wilson is a triple threat with a terrific sense of
over-the-top comedy that she doles out while working to get what she wants –
the starring role and the starring basketball player. Brian Wible is equal to
the task of his dominating, minutes-older twin sister. Their Bop to the Top
is tops.
Other standouts include the highly talented Alexandra
Ncube as Gabriella’s brainiac best friend Taylor Mckessie who has a natural
feel for her character and is a dynamic dancer. Paul Thomson is a
charismatic school DJ, Olivia Manning is the humble playwright, and Brandon
Tewalt is Troy’s amusing best friend Chad Danforth.
The ensemble demonstrates great humor in rehearsal
impersonating various animals, a more serious tone in the anti-peer pressure Stick
to the Status Quo number, and an enormous amount of energy throughout –
especially in the finale We’re All in This Together. Mixed in are a
couple adult actors including Angela Yates as an amusingly eccentric but
devoted drama teacher and Jack Pauly as Troy’s father, an
ultra-determined basketball coach who gets the show started and finished with
the blow of his whistle, but runs into trouble when he tries to run his son’s
life the same way.
Performs February 9 - 25, 2007.
Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
Troy Bolton: Devon Nickel
Gabriella Montez: Krystina Alabado
Sharpay Evans: Katie Wilson
Ryan Evans: Brian Wible
Taylor Mckessie: Alexandra Ncube
Chad Danforth: Brandon Tewalt
Kelsi Neilson: Olivia Manning
Jack Scott: Paul Thomson
Zeke Baylor: Billy Nichols
Martha Cox: Rebecca Eileen Franz
Skater Dude: Matt Cordon
James/Thespian: David Buehrle
Susan: Caitlin Stegemoller
Cathy/Thespian: Lindsey Stegemoller
Alan: Sean Lynam
Cyndra: Courtney Barnes
Performance Art Kid #1/Thespian: Alex Aiken
Performance Art Kid #2/Thespian: Julian McCleary
Performance Art Kid #3: Jessica Berman
Jocks:
Sean Lynam
Nick Olsen
Stephen O'Brian Sullivan
Phil Walker
Cheerleader, Captain: Taylor Wible
Cheerleaders:
Jonnie Allen
Jessica Berman
Peyton Jordan
Kacey Miller
Gabriella Ncube
Shannon Pauly
Carolina Pena
Amanda Snyder
Caitlin Stegemoller
Allison Stranberg
Brainiacs:
Courtney Barnes
Nathan Hitchcock
Lexi Lewis
Kelly Marie Montoya
Rebecca Smith
Rafael Eduardo Valle
Nicole Warrington
Skaters:
Brookie Allen
Terri Cohen
Niki Damaso
Rosie De Queljoe
Carrie Dougher
Christoffer Robin Wagener
Ms. Darbus: Angela Yates
Coach Bolton: Jack Pauly
Ms. Tenny/Moderator: Cathy Cordon
Director: Toni Fioramonti
Choreographer: Kristina Nagaran
Musical Director: April De Luna
Set Designer: Douglas Clarke
Lighting Designer: Bob Nelson
Sound Designer: April De Luna
Costume and Properties Designer: Toni Fioramonti, Angela Yates
Stage Manager: Pete Bish
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