“Get’cha Head in the Game” With Local Rendition of High School Musical
Disney has always been seen as a global trendsetter for content on screens of all sizes, and in 2006 the network brought Broadway style singing and choreography to its cable network with High School Musical. Nearly 20 years later, teens and young adults are still falling in love with a story that Rotten Tomatoes’ critics call “brazenly saccharine,” and people who were surviving high school at that time can enjoy a heavy dose of nostalgia at the same time.
With Love Productions is showcasing High School Musical utilizing some of the county’s funniest and most spirited and talented high school schoolers and recent graduates with a total of four performances slated for July 25, 26 and 27 at Harrison School for the Arts. The Lakelander caught up with Harrison alum Alessandra Stillinger, the founder and creative director of With Love Productions, to go behind the stage and get you ready for a show that Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens should absolutely get on their calendar for next weekend.
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The Lakelander: How many times have you watched the TV movie High School Musical, and what's your favorite song?
Alessandra: A good amount of times at this point! My favorite song is probably “Status Quo.” It’s such a fun song, and the choreography that our amazing choreographers, Danielle Fudge and Daniel Smith, put together for it is so entertaining to watch.
The Lakelander: Have you ever seen High School Musical as a theatrical production? If so, what do you remember the most?
Alessandra: No, I haven’t. Our production would be the first one I’ve seen. It’s been great watching our Director/Music Director Nick Folkes let the kids have fun with their characters. He’s doing a fantastic job with them. I can already tell there are going to be a lot of things I will remember from our production.
The Lakelander: There is a lot of sass and high school drama in this show. How does this group of actors, actresses, production team, etc. embody the energy and personality necessary to pull it off?
Alessandra: Every single one of our cast members are either currently in high school or recently graduated, so they have that energy naturally. There are also so many different personalities among them. It’s been great watching the kids have fun with their cast mates and really lean into their cliques. Over half attend Harrison School for the Arts or are alumni. The principal of Harrison, and his wife, who is a teacher (Kevin and Mandy Levine) are playing the two adult roles of the basketball coach and drama teacher. So it pretty much feels like being in high school. I would say our production team would definitely be administration. When you have a cast of 42 kids, they keep you on your toes for sure.
The Lakelander: As a high schooler, which High School Musical character were you most like and why?
Alessandra: I wasn’t really like any of them honestly. If I had to choose one though, I would say Kelsi. I am a writer, so in high school I would have journals full of songs, poems, short stories, ideas, etc. I was also a chorus major at Harrison so I was always singing little ditties around house.
The Lakelander: For people who are considering checking out this production, what do you want them to know about it before they come to the theatre?
Alessandra: It’s a musical about high school. Two teens like each other from opposite cliques and want to not be boxed into said clique. It’s fun, the songs are catchy, the jokes cheesy, it’s Disney goodness. It’s a production that has been brought together by so many people in the community and has some of the most talented kids we’ve ever worked with. Being a
With Love Productions is putting on High School Musical at Harrison School for the Arts on July 25, 26 and 27. The cast is getting revved up for a big weekend by putting in long hours and perfecting the memorable show tunes.