Young thespians get to play Thespians -- as well as Jocks, Skater Dudes, and Brainiacs in Disney High School Musical.
The story mixes the best parts of Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, and Grease as East High's top jock, basketball star Troy Bolton, and brainy Gabriella Montez meet at a holiday ski resort karaoke contest, then meet again when vacation is over and Gabriella transfers to Troy's school. It's love at first notes and "The Start of Something New" in the ski lodge, but at school they are quickly pushed into separate cliques and pressured to "Stick to the Status Quo." Despite the peer pressure, they try out for the school musical. All seems lost when their audition, Troy's championship game, and Gabriella's science decathlon are all scheduled at the same time, but the other kids decide "We're All in This Together" and conspire to save all three events.
WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR -- Troy Bolton (Patrick Joyce) and Gabriella Montez (Brittany Boivin) have found something special and Kelsi Neilson (Jacquie Jablanski) has found the right singers for her song.
The show is uber-popular with all ages, with music and dancing that young teens can especially enjoy. The plot touches on many high school situations, including having to make choices in what teens really want most to do: play basketball or be in the school musical, go with the "in" crowd or be themselves to play the cello or bake cakes. The score, which many teens can sing by heart, includes "Get'cha Head in the Game, Breaking Free, What I've Been Looking For " and "Bop to the Top."
THIS COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING NEW -- Troy Bolton (Patrick Joyce) and Gabriella Montez (Brittany Boivin) pair up in a karaoke contest, without knowing it is the start of a new friendship and more.
Area teens will share the stage with professional Mac-Haydn performers in the show, the first to be presented by the theatre's newly formed MHT II Productions.
Patrick Joyce and Brittany Boivin play Troy, the basketball star and leader of the Jocks, and Gabriella, a new student at Troy's school who is quickly brought into the Brainiacs group. Mr. Joyce is between bookings of the national tour of Footloose. Ms. Boivin most recently played Sandy in Grease at the Theatre Barn.
WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR -- Troy Bolton (Patrick Joyce) and Gabriella Montez (Brittany Boivin), left, have found something special, and Kelsi Neilson (Jacquie Jablanski), center, has found the right singers for her song, but Thespian stars Sharpay and Ryan Evans (Charles and Julia Franklin), right, are not at all pleased.
Mac-Haydn company members Peter Stoffan (Marcellus in last year's The Music Man) and Wesley Tunison (Stooie in Hairspray) play Jocks Zeke and Jason.
Lisa Franklin, who played Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music, and Shawn Morgan, General Waverly in last summer's White Christmas, play Ms. Darbus and Coach Bolton.
WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR -- Troy Bolton (Patrick Joyce) and Gabriella Montez (Brittany Boivin), left, have found something special, and Kelsi Neilson (Jacquie Jablanski), has found the right singers for her song and Ms. Darbus (Lisa Franklin) has found the new stars for her show, but Thespian stars Sharpay and Ryan Evans (Charles and Julia Franklin), right, are not at all pleased.
Jacquie Jablanski plays Kelsi Neilson, author of the school play Juliet and Romeo, and Adam Sax is Jack Scott, the school announcer. Julia and Charles Franklin are Sharpay and Ryan Evans. The Brainiacs who recruit Gabriella are led by Taylor, played by Samantha Visconti, recent winner of the Macy's Tony Aware talent contest.
STICKING TO THE STATUS QUO -- Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians, Skater Dudes, and more are sticking to their own groups. Left to right: Troy Bolton (Patrick Joyce) is the Jock's basketball star; Gabriella Montez (Brittany Boivin) is a Brainiac and the new star of the science decathlon team; Kelsi Neilson (Jacquie Jablanski) isn't part of a clique, but she's writing the school musical; Ms. Darbus (Lisa Franklin) just wants more attention paid to the arts; while Sharpay and Ryan Evan (Julia and Charles Franklin) are getting set to once again be the stars of the show.
We're All In This Together
HEY!!! All you Jocks and Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes ---
Get'cha Head in the Game and get ready for the Start of Something New at The Mac-Haydn Theatre, 'cause the show, the songs, the kids, the dancing, the fun that makes you give a Wildcat Cheer is headed your way!
September 4-7 and 11-14
Thursday, Friday: 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: 2 p.m.
$18 for all seats. $15 for seniors over 60 and teenagers (13 to 19).
$12 for children 12 and under.
Call 518-392-9292 for information and reservations.
