ACT
- San Diego Brings Disney’s High
School Musical
to
the Lyceum
Director
Leigh Scarritt
Turns Her Talent to the Young Actors of
San Diego
San
Diego, August 2008 --
It’s a musical rumble between the brainiacs, the thespians and the jocks
when ACT - San Diego presents Disney’s
High School Musical at the Lyceum Theatre, in Horton Plaza on August 22,
23 and 24 (Senior Cast) and August 28, 29,
30 and 31 (Junior Cast), 7:00 PM performances every evening and 2:00 PM
matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets
range from $12 to $21, with discounts for seniors, military and youth 17 and
under. Over 80 talented young actors from throughout
San Diego
County
will bring this foot tapping, fun loving new favorite to life.
Disney’s
High School Musical
chronicles the clash between brains, brawn and the urge to perform. Gabriella,
the multi-talented new girl, apparently fits well in all groups; while
Troy
, the heir apparent basketball star has a mean layup, but secretly yearns to
take to the stage. Sharpay, the drama diva, and her brother, Ryan, scheme to
dupe the duo’s attempt to attend callbacks for the high school musical. They
think the stage is their world. Along the way, a little romance, a few twists
and turns and lots of amazing vocals and choreography bring the play to a
rousing conclusion with the performance of “We’re All in This Together.”
Director
Leigh Scarritt
is an accomplished singer, actor, dancer, choreographer, composer, playwright
and musical director. As an actor, she has a resume filled with lead roles in
prestigious productions locally, nationally and internationally.
San Diego
audiences will remember her as Penelope Pennywise in Starlight’s 2007
production of Urinetown, and more
recently the powerful role of Nanalu in Diversionary Theatre’s Bluebonnet
Court. For the 2008 Starlight
season, Leigh will return as the witch in Into
the Woods. Leigh also teaches and mentors many
San Diego
youth who are passionate about performing. About her role as director of Disney’s
High School Musical Leigh says, “Our goal is to create a performing
arena where each young artist can discover their own personal excellence and
to encourage them to find more depth, inspire another artist and fully
experience the process. We want them to be proud of the work and the equation
that makes them the playmakers!”
Musical
Director/Choreographer Rayme Sciaroni has a served as musical director and
choreographer for youth productions throughout
San Diego
and
New York
. As a composer/lyricist he has
written numerous cabaret songs and musicals, including the critically
acclaimed The Daddy Machine.
“It
is a privilege to welcome
Leigh Scarritt
and Rayme Sciaroni as the directorial team for this project,” says Carina
Wheatley on behalf of ACT – San Diego Board of Directors. “They bring not
only considerable experience and expertise to the production, but they also
share their passion and insight with the cast.
It is exciting to see how positively the actors respond to this
professional mentoring. Leigh and Rayme demand much from these students, but
they rise to occasion every time – and enjoy the process along the way.
Talented kids and superb direction, what a perfect combination!”
In keeping with the tradition of teaching and training, ACT – San
Diego students also benefit from the support of Assistant Directors Jordanna
Hurwitz Rose (Scripps Ranch), accomplished vocalist currently working toward a
BFA in Opera Performance at University of British Columbia School of Music,
and Robby Hartson (Rancho Peňasquitos) pursuing a BFA in Acting at the
University of Arizona with many local and regional musical theater credits to
his name.
The
directorial team is outstanding. The cast is full of passionate young triple
threat actors—they sing, they act, they dance. The result is just what it
should be: a rousing good time for an audience of any age.
What better way to spend a summer evening or afternoon? For tickets
or more information about ACT -
San Diego
, please call the Lyceum Box office at 619-544-1000 or visit www.actsandiego.com.
About
ACT -
San Diego
ACT
-
San Diego
(Actors Conservatory Theatre) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that
offers an exciting new theatrical experience for young actors.
Our mission is to provide educational and artistic opportunities to
perform, act and learn the art of stagecraft in a fun, satisfying and yet
highly professional environment. Recent
ACT -
San Diego
productions include Annie, Once
on this Island, The Wiz and The
Secret Garden. For more information about ACT –
San Diego
visit www.actsandiego.com or call
858.777.9899.
DISNEY
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
421 West 54th
Street
,
New York
,
NY
10019
Phone:
212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com
Senior
Cast Leads --
Front Row (left to right): Darienne Orlansky (Rancho Penasquitos), Katie
Sapper (
El Cajon
)
Middle
Row (left to right): Torrey Mercer (
Solana
Beach
), Matt Maretz (
Carmel
Valley
), Taylor West (
Coronado
), Ben Silbert (Rancho Penasquitos), Christine Hillmann
Back
Row (left to right): Paul Williams (
San Diego
), Sarah Knapp (La Jolla), Lucas Brahme (
La Jolla
)
Not
pictured: Judy Mora (
San Diego
), Austin Potts (
La Mesa
), Jim Wheeler (
Lakeside
)
Junior
Cast Leads – Front
Row (left to right): Lucia Vecchio (Encinitas), Martina Lopez (Lemon Grove),
Timyra-Joi Beatty (
San Diego
), Angela Han (
Carmel
Valley
)
Back
Row (left to right): Mason Mercer (
Solana
Beach
), Cassidy Burwell (
El Cajon
), Spike Sommers (North Park), Cameron Elmore (
Poway
)
Not
pictured: Gemini Anderson (
Coronado
), Jason Marks (
Mission
Valley
), Dylan Mulvaney (
El Cajon
), Austin Potts (
La Mesa
), Julia Vanderwiel (
Carmel
Valley
)
Taylor
West (Senior Cast Gabriella) gets
into character with other cast members during rehearsal for ACT –
San Diego
’s production of Disney’s High
School Musical.
Photographs
by:
Jennifer McCreery
-
Please see below for a complete listing of all the cast members and the
neighborhoods they represent. -
The
Cast
