Random Farms Kids Theater in Tarrytown, New York who has helped churn out many young Broadway stars is currently staging this one with a mostly younger but talented crop of youth performers. The show is double-cast, and I was only able to catch their opening Cast A featuring Peej Mele and Emily Trias as Troy and Gabriella. Peej has a likeable, unassuming personality and does some serious soul searching in a well-staged Bet On It scene as Troy decides what’s most important to him. Emily is a younger Gabriella with a good nice girl personality and some strong vocals, combining with her Troy for some good musical numbers including I Gotta Go My Own Way.

Her nemesis is played by Brianna Gentilella with a million-dollar smile, and a priceless fake smile as well. Usually we see the latter as the amusingly conniving Sharpay tries to push her way past the others to get to Troy, brushing everyone else off as not worth her time and effort. She leads her snobby and ditzy Sharpettes (Maggie Brennan as Blossom, Erin Geary as Peaches, and Alexandra Digiacomo as an extra-ditzy Violet) in a fab rendition of Fabulous as they get themselves ready, and later as they get Troy ready. Her twin brother Ryan is played by David Barrett as a guy who is pretty much fed up with his sister Sharpay who leads the cast in a lively baseball game and rehearsal for the upcoming talent show.

Elsewhere, William Bailey shines as Troy’s best friend Chad Danforth who challenges Troy when he sees his friend going the wrong way, Taylor Williams is her charismatic namesake Taylor McKessie, and Brian Drittel is baking-obsessed Zeke Baylor, Alex Bradsell is hip-hop-obsessed friend Martha Cox, and Carly Maitlin is a sweet and reserved playwright Kelsi Nielsen who is the object of school radio personality Jack Scott’s affection (energetic Liam Lonegan). Recent college grad John Barbera is the “adult” in the show, the entertaining, unfortunate Mr. Fulton who tries to wrangle the battling high school students and appease Sharpay without giving himself an ulcer or nervous breakdown. Saleemah Sharpe, Elisha Andrade, Breyha Morgan, and Aanyse Chandler infuse the show with their dynamite and acrobatic cheerleading, and the ensemble shines in such numbers as Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, Swing, and the big finale.

It all takes place amongst Gary Tenenbaum’s impressive Lava Springs sets, and is both directed and choreographed by Kristin Madden whose work includes some good choreography for the cheerleaders (even Fulton gets into their act) and clever staging for the Fabulous number that ends with Sharpay lounging happily in Troy’s lap (before she gets unceremoniously dumped when Gabriela surprises her by walking in), as well as a nice way of handling the last conclusion of the talent show as Troy is set to perform and his leading lady makes her way onto the stage as they prepare to end their pre-High School Musical 3 summer on a high note.

Performs July 31 - August 9, 2009

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

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