Students have long been asking Jennifer Harbott to perform Disney’s High School Musical and this was the year she gave in.
“This was something they’d been bugging me for five years to do,” says South Delta Secondary’s drama teacher.
The show was so popular it’s been double cast and crewed, she notes, describing the production as a “Disney-fied version of Grease.”
Approximately 150 students and staff are involved in bringing the show to the Equinox Theatre stage, says Harbott, who’s the director and choreographer.
The musical sees teenagers Troy and Gabriella meet at a karaoke night on vacation and then wind up going to the same school. Troy is torn between being a star athlete and singing with Gabriella in the school musical.
“There are all of these cliques at this school and nobody crosses over. Nobody can be an athlete and a singer at the same time,” explains Harbott.
The upcoming musical runs for about an hour and a half.
“It’s a fast-moving, fast-paced show,” she says.
Grade 9 student Eric Timuss plays Troy in one of the casts.
“This is my first year singing anything so I kind of relate to Troy in that way,” he says, adding he’s having a lot of fun with the role.
Laura Marenych, who’s in Grade 11, plays Sharpay Evans. She describes the character as a huge diva who’s aiming to be the star of the show.
Marenych says playing the role is a “dream come true” and that she grew up watching the High School Musical movies all the time.
A lot of effort is going into the production, she says.
“I’m really happy everybody has put so much work into it. Everybody loves the show.”
High School Musical: On Stageruns from Feb. 27 to March 3 at the Equinox Theatre at SDSS, 750-53rd St. Shows are at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students/seniors and $5 for kids five and under.
Contact equinoxboxoffice@gmail.com for tickets.
