- 1. By David Simpatico. PremieredAugust 1st 2006 High School
Musical on Stage
2. Contextual Background Set at East High School in Albuquerque,
New Mexico, USA. Set in January 2006 No major events during 2006
affected the storyline or characters surrounding it Story is set in
a high school of middle and working class children who are in
various stereotypical groups such as : Jocks Brainiacs Skaters and
so on 3. Synopsis Act 1 At East High School,Troy Bolton tells his
Jock friends, Chad Danforth and Zeke Baylor, about meeting
Gabriella Montez on New Year's Eve during winter vacation on a ski
trip. Gabriella, who has just moved toAlbuquerque, also tells her
newfound Brainiac friendsTaylor McKessie, Kelsi Nielsen and Martha
Cox of her vacation.We meet Sharpay and Ryan Evans, the two drama
stars of the school. Sharpay is selfish, and Ryan follows her
orders but tries to be friends with everyone.Troy and Gabriella
have a flashback to NewYear's Eve when they met. One-half of the
song is during the flashback, then we return to East High where
Chad,Taylor, Kelsi, Ryan, Sharpay, Zeke and other students sing of
their NewYear's Resolutions. In form, Mrs. Darbus tells her class
of the upcoming winter musical, "Juliet and Romeo", a new version
of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", written by Kelsi Nielsen, a
shy East High student.When Ryan, Sharpay,Troy, and Gabriella start
using their cell phones, Mrs. Darbus gives them all detention. Chad
interferes, telling Mrs. Darbus thatTroy cannot go because they
have basketball practice after school and that they have an
upcoming championship game. Mrs. Darbus then gives Chad a 30 minute
detention, and givesTaylor detention when she remarks that Chad
can't even count that high.At Gabriella's locker,Troy runs into her
and they show their amazement of how they found each other again.
Sharpay walks by and tries to flirt withTroy, but he shows no
interest in her. Sharpay observes that he is interested in
Gabriella and she is interested in him. Later, the Jocks have
basketball practice. In a Science class, Gabriella shows her smarts
by pointing out a flaw in the teacher's equation.Taylor is
impressed and asks, on behalf of her Science Club, if Gabriella
could join their team to win the upcoming Scholastic Decathlon,
although Gabriella refuses. Sharpay overhears and has Ryan
investigate by Googling her. Discovering that Gabriella was a very
intelligent Brainiac at her old school, Sharpay prints her newfound
information and puts it inTaylor's locker.The students later head
to the Mrs. Darbus's room for detention, and act like
animals.Taylor then asks Gabriella again to join the Scholastic
Decathlon team based on the printouts Sharpay planted in her
locker, and Gabriella agrees. Everyone does the 'ball of noise,'
and Coach Bolton comes to getTroy and Chad for practice and then
talks to Mrs. Darbus about it.The next day, thespians audition for
the play. Sharpay and Ryan audition as well.After the auditions
have been declared closed, Gabriella and Troy sing the song as
Kelsi intended it - much slower.AlthoughTroy and Gabriella did not
intend it to be an audition they are called back for a second
audition.When their friends hear the news they spread it via cell
phones. Sharpay is furious, believingTroy and Gabriella have stolen
the lead roles and broken the 'rules' of East High.Though most of
the school agrees, lyrical chaos erupts during a lunch break when
students begin telling their secret obsessions outside of their
cliques.The scene culminates with Sharpay getting 'caked' by Zeke,
after Gabriella spins into him.Act I ends with Sharpay angrily
shouting "Someone is going to pay for this!" 4. Synopsis Act 2 Jack
Scott recaps events beforeTroy and Gabriella dance on the rooftop
garden. Zeke comes to Sharpay's locker and tries to flirt with her.
Meanwhile, the Jocks and Brainiacs plot against the infuriated duo
during study hall. Sharpay and Ryan see the Jocks and the Brainiacs
mingling together and imagine they are trying to helpTroy and
Gabriella. So Sharpay lies to Mrs. Darbus saying thatTroy and his
dad are trying to ruin the auditions because she gaveTroy
detention. Later at practice, Mrs. Darbus talks toTroy's dad and
then he talks toTroy. Gabriella comes to practice to seeTroy while
Martha comes and takes her to the lab.Troy's dad thinks Gabriella
is the reason whyTroy got detention. He tellsTroy that he is a
playmaker and not a singer.This infuriatesTroy who angrily asks his
father if he ever wondered if he could be both and storms off in a
rage, leaving his father stunned.The Jocks and Brainiacs put their
plan to work, pushing atTroy and Gabriella to 'split up'.
Eventually,Troy, furious with his friends for telling him the same
things his dad did, gives in and pretends that he doesn't like
Gabriella, completely oblivious to the phone in Zeke's hand,
transmittingTroy's words directly to Gabriella. Gabriella hears and
becomes very upset.Troy and Gabriella, lonely and upset, sing. The
Jocks and Brainiacs then realize that they have gone too far and
feel guilty for ruiningTroy and Gabriella's relationship.The next
day, Sharpay and Ryan are rehearsing for their call-back while
Sharpay talks to Ryan about her role in the school.ThenTroy comes
in looking for Gabriella and Ryan tells him that she is in the
theatre.Troy goes to the theatre and tells Gabriella that they were
set up and he didn't mean what he said and sings to remind her of
NewYear's. Hearing that the call-back date has been moved up by
request of Sharpay to the same time as the big game and the
Scholastic Decathlon,Troy and Gabriella announce to the Jocks and
Brainiacs that they are going to not do the call-back, but instead
help their respective teams for their events.The Jocks and
Brainiacs say they should do the call-backs.Troy and Gabriella
refuse, but the teams decide to lend a helping hand anyway. On the
day of the big game/Decathlon/call-backs, the students are excited
for the festivities. Sharpay and Ryan perform their call-back song,
which at the same time happens with the basketball championship and
the science decathlon, during whichTaylor engineers an electronic
meltdown in the decathlon and light malfunctions in the game, which
forces all the students to move to the theatre. Chad andTaylor
explain toTroy and Gabriella that this is their only chance. Mrs.
Darbus, hesitant to allowTroy and Gabriella an audition due to
their lateness, has no choice but to let them audition as the
auditorium fills with students. Mrs. Darbus givesTroy and Gabriella
the parts on the spot with everyone watching.The end ofAct II
brings us to the gym where all the main characters wrap up their
plots (Chad asks outTaylor, Zeke gets Sharpay to be nice to him,
Jack Scott and Kelsi literally fall head over heels for each other,
and Sharpay makes up with Gabriella andTroy).TheWildcats win the
big game and the Decathlon.The students celebrate followed by a
recap of all the major songs in the show 5. Main character Analysis
Troy Bolton, Male Most popular male student Captain of varsity
basketball team His best friend his Chad Danforth Falls for
Gabriella Montez Son of the basketball teams coach Gabriella
Montez, Female New girl She is a genius Befriends and becomes close
withTaylor McKessie Falls forTroy Bolton Joins school decathlon
team 6. Main character Analysis Sharpay Evans, Female Co-president
of the Drama club Twins with Ryan Evans Most popular female student
Wealthy family Victim of jokes by the jocks Zeke has a crush on her
Ryan Evans, Male Twins with Sharpay Evans Always seen wearing hats
Seen as second best and the right hand man to sister Sharpay
Wealthy family 7. Main character Analysis Chad Danforth, Male
Co-Captain of varsity basketball team Best friends with troy Bolton
Falls forTaylor McKessie Taylor McKessie, Female President of
science club A strong feminist Befriends and becomes close with
Gabriella Montez Also a brainiac Falls for Chad Danforth 8. Initial
Creative Ideas Lockers: such as Sharpays which is very similar to
her personality and appearance or the new girl Gabriella's locker
Science equipment or supporting equipment A hat for Ryan Posters
for upcoming events in the story
