Children's Theatre gives Disney its own special twist

Broadway show tunes are less than cool for most tweens and teens.

But when Disney created the film High School Musical, it tapped an audience of mostly young girls that gave it a thumbs-up and turned it into a money-spinning franchise.

Almost every American school has mounted their version. Now in its 30th season, St. Albert Children's Theatre (SACT) is bringing Disney's High School Musical north to the Arden Theatre from Nov. 25 to Dec. 5.

While SACT has a solid track record for producing classics and Broadway shows, much of its Mickey Mouse-lovin' audience who savoured the delights of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2005), Beauty and the Beast (2005), Aladdin (2007) and Disney's Alice in Wonderland (2008) will be already primed for this extravaganza.

The set up for this boy-meets-girl story is basically Grease minus an unwanted pregnancy. Set at East High School, Troy is the cool Wildcat basketball jock and Gabriella is a math geek. Under high school clique rules, they would never meet.

But they share a love of singing and try out for the school musical. Their unexpected actions upset the rigid social order and they alienate both jocks and geeks. When the romantic duo is requested to return for a callback, drama diva Sharpay and her brother Ryan stop at nothing to sabotage Troy and Gabriella's budding romance and musical aspirations.

Reviewers had a field day writing critiques about the original 2006 film, often describing it as “cheesy.” But SACT artistic director Janice Flower staunchly believes there's a powerful underlying message.

“Many think of it as fluffy. But the message is kind of pretty good and timely — not to be afraid of being yourself. At the end of the day, the show is about acceptance. You can be a basketball star or be in a play without being judged. Now with the bullying being such a hot topic, especially with teen suicides, this is a good reminder.”

An easy musical in terms of character development, Disney's High School Musical is layered with 15 catchy songs written by about a dozen songwriters that highlight the students' deepest thoughts, emotions and feelings. “It's very contemporary music. It's very rock and roll, but very poppy and the kids really relate to it.”

The dynamic pop-rock music demands full-body expressiveness and choreographer Jackie Herbst started rehearsing with the 37 actors in August. With vastly different ability levels, Herbst has developed a dance language of street moves that comes from within.

In one of the showstoppers, Stick to the Status Quo, Herbst has kids “dancing on tables doing their own thing and throwing their body around. It's very natural. It feels as if the kids are rockin' out for whatever their passion is.”

And in Get'cha Head in the Game, the choreography taxes the basketball players to the limit. “The boys have to dribble the ball, do weaves around their legs while singing. It's quite physical,” says Herbst.

She compares the energy required in this production to that of the pop musical Footloose. “And when we get on stage and do the Wildcat cheer, it's pretty spectacular.”

For about six decades Disney has entertained families and in that time it's learned a thing or two. SACT is about to take that formula and give it their special twist.