Seventeen students from eleven different high schools in the Nappanee area (not far from South Bend, Indiana) came together under the direction of Sue Frost-Mayse and Scott Saegesser to put on this show about high school students trying to overcome peer pressure from their cliques to do what they want to do. And what star basketball player Troy Bolton and math whiz Gabriella Montez want to do is have a romance. Tryouts for the upcoming school musical provide them with an opportunity for that romance to blossom, but doing so puts them on a collision course with the other school clique – the drama club and its prima donna leader Sharpay Evans (who wants Troy for herself).

Tanner Smale from Elkhart Memorial High School is Troy, and he gives a good performance as the good-guy jock who leads his fellow basketball-bouncing jocks in a strong version of Get Your Head in the Game, while delivering pretty solid vocals both there and in his duets with Gabriella. Emily Laudeman from Lakeville, Indiana is Gabriella – a triple-threat actress with fantastic stage presence. She makes the character of Gabriella feel real, and her outstanding vocals are soaring and flying.

The supporting cast includes Jackie Jerlecki as a hair-tossing, hips-swaying Sharpay Evans who sings well, bringing some comedy in her idolizing and mimicking of their drama teacher Mrs. Darbus (Kim McCutchan). Sharpay’s twin brother Ryan is her leading man in all the school plays. Usually a dynamic character, Thomas Reid portrays a sullen and moody Ryan, perhaps tired of being dominated by his sister. Nicole M. Tompkins is Gabriella’s brainiac friend Taylor, whose instant regret at interfering in Gabriella’s romance is palpable. Ann Thompson is a standout as Kelsi, the shy playwright of the upcoming high school musical, who comes bubbling out of her shy shell with hilarious enthusiasm when Troy and Gabriella help give her newfound confidence.

The ensemble is highlighted by nerdy jock James (Lance Mullins), a terrific character actor who amuses throughout. Tyler Miller does a nice job as Zeke Baylor, the jock with a passion for baking. The small cast of nineteen (including the two adult teachers) makes it difficult to generate the kind of energy that larger ensembles are able to create, without even enough cast members for a group of cheerleaders who usually get the big numbers going. But they do exceptionally well for their size, and by the closing number and their mega mix encore, you may not notice that it’s such a small class making such big music.

Performed May 12-13, 2007.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre