High School Musical @ Rancocas Valley Regional High School

The buzzer is about to sound on the scoreboard while the math team is feverishly finishing the equation, but wait...theatre callbacks are almost complete - how can one decide where they belong most? Last weekend, Rancocas Valley High School performed High School Musical and proved people can't be categorized into one stereotype.

The beloved Disney Channel movie, High School Musical, written by Peter Barsocchini was first produced in 2006. Bryan Louiselle later adapted the music and reproduced the musical where it debuted at Stagedoor Manor Theatre Camp. While it was never performed on Broadway, it quickly gained popularity among high schools' theatre programs. The plot revolves around Gabriella Montez and Troy Bolton, who fall in love with theatre; the only problem is they are supposed to stick to what they know. As Troy and Gabriella continue to discover new passions, others try to remind them what they believe is important.

Rancocas Valley High School's remarkable performance of High School Musical was anchored by thrilling choreography and phenomenal vocals that radiated around the theatre. The 41-person cast expertly conveyed the intense themes of self discovery, acceptance, and growth in the script throughout the night enthralling the crowd with every line and note.

The three leads were each played by exceptionally talented people. Bradley Fowler (Troy Bolton) and Lily Mount (Gabriella Montez) delivered a riveting performance demonstrating prodigious voices and enticing chemistry that simply enamored the audience. Both of their voices blended seamlessly in their duet "I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You". Chloe Swanson (Sharpay Evans) enlivened the stage with her commanding stage presence, monumental vocals, and character development. While she did not sing an entire song, her duets and solos fascinated the audience.

The entire cast performed superbly bringing energy, individuality, and emotions to the show, as was evident by the crowd's thunderous applause and heart-felt laughter. There were some actors who stood out more than others. Keira Dallos (Ms. Darbus) performed extraordinarily on stage displaying ranging emotions and astounding stage presence that alluded to her talent. Isaiah Bull (Jack Scott) provided the audience with a plethora of comedic lines which were well timed, added to the show's smooth transitions, and kept the crowd invested. Finally, Olivia Ellis, Ajiahna Ganney, Saniya Ganney, Serra Gundogdu, Jasmin Johnson, Rhome Knight, Thailyn Rivera Soto, Alexis Stewart, and Jaden Young (RV Cheerleaders) all beamed on stage with their vigorous spirit and impressive stunts.

The technical features, such as lighting and sound, were truly spectacular. Throughout each scene, the lighting team, consisting of Dalton Kimball and Vincent Negroni, lit the stage using natural lighting that highlighted the simplistic essence of the musical; furthermore, spotlights were used to create shadowed silhouettes of Gabrielle and Troy in a tender moment of the show. The sound crew, including Naomi-Rose Bowser and Isabel Johnson did a fantastic job with their cues, while making sure everyone was heard throughout the performance.

It felt so right to be at Rancocas Valley High School with the cast of High School Musical.