The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Middle school actors make it to ‘High School’ — via musical

Popular Disney film comes to life today and Friday at Vail.

Students at Stephen Vail Middle School rehearse their spring performance, “High School Musical Jr.,” which they will perform at 7 p.m. today and Friday, March 18-19.

Staff photo by Samantha Grier Students at Stephen Vail Middle School rehearse their spring performance, “High School Musical Jr.,” which they will perform at 7 p.m. today and Friday, March 18-19.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Bishops: New birth control rule ‘a first step’
2/11/12
Local reaction mixed on Obama’s switch on birth control provision
2/10/12
City revenue streams going in different directions
2/10/12
Police patrolling for overweight trucks
2/10/12
Mild winter helps improve health
2/10/12
> More headlines

By Marie Rossiter, Staff Writer 12:52 AM Thursday, March 18, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — For two nights, Vail Middle School will transform into East High School, when it presents “High School Musical Jr.” at 7 p.m. tonight and Friday, March 18-19.

The popular Disney movie musical will come to life on stage to tell the story of how two teenagers, Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, overcome cliques and peer pressure to follow their own theatrical dreams.

The junior version of the show runs approximately 70 minutes, but still has all the popular songs from the original movie.

The production’s lead actors agreed that the show’s message of friendship and teamwork carried over to the cast’s preparation and rehearsals for the show.

“What I’ve liked about this show is how we’ve all come together,” said eighth-grader Sally Current, who plays brainy but talented Gabriella. “When we started in January, we were so shy and unsure of each other. But, we worked really hard and there has been so much improvement. I think that’s one reason why I like the song ‘We’re All in This Together’ at the end.”

Co-star and fellow eighth-grader Milam Hartman, who plays jock-turned drama dude Troy, said the cast has overcome numerous obstacles to get the show ready. From multiple snow days to sets breaking, the delays started piling up.

“We were behind about four weeks for a while,” Milam said. “It was hard working in smaller rooms where it was hot and we were cramped, but we made it work.”

Eighth-grader Dajsha Snow plays Sharpay Evans, the drama diva who isn’t happy when newcomer Gabriella steals her spotlight. She said playing such a well-known character was fun, but she didn’t depend on the movie to prepare her for the role.

“I put my own little twists in there,” Dajsha said. “There is a lot of the original character there, but I’m having fun with it and making it my own. I dress a little differently; it’s definitely not the same.”

Seventh-grader Shaun Donohue, who plays Ryan Evans, Sharpay’s twin brother and reluctant “partner in crime,” said the best part of the show is when his character gives Sharpay a little surprise.

“I get to put cake in her face,” Shaun said with a laugh. “I mean, how can that not be my favorite?”

Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students and can be bought at the door.

Contact this report

er at (513) 705-2551 or mrossiter@coxohio.com.

Share this article