High School Musical

Unit 2:Production Workshop Jessica Collins

High School Musical, the

playwright is David Simpatico and the show premiered in

2007.

At East High School (in Albuquerque, New Mexico) ("Wildcat

Cheer"), 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 to Albuquerque, also tells her newfound Brainiac friends Taylor 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 New Year's Eve when they met. ("Start of Something New"). 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 New Year's Resolutions.

Synopsis: ACT 1

In homeroom, 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 that Troy 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 gives Taylor 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 with Troy, 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 ("Get'cha Head in the Game").

Pacific Repertory Theatre's School of Dramatic Arts High School Musical

Act 1 Finale. 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 in Taylor'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 get Troy and Chad for practice and then talks to Mrs. Darbus about it.

The next day, thespians audition for the play ("Auditions"). Sharpay

and Ryan audition as well ("What I've Been Looking For"). After the auditions have been declared closed, Gabriella and Troy sing the song as Kelsi intended it - much slower ("What I've Been Looking For (Reprise)"). Although Troy 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 ("Cellular Fusion").

Sharpay is furious, believing Troy 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 ("Stick to the Status Quo"). The scene culminates with Sharpay getting 'caked' by Zeke (who secretly likes her), after Gabriella spins into him. Act I ends with Sharpay angrily shouting "Someone is going to pay for this!"

Jack Scott recaps events before Troy and Gabriella dance on the

rooftop garden ("I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"). 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 help Troy and Gabriella. So Sharpay lies to Mrs. Darbus saying that Troy and his dad are trying to ruin the auditions because she gave Troy detention. Later at practice, ("Wildcat Cheer (Reprise)"), Mrs. Darbus talks to Troy's dad and then he talks to Troy. Gabriella comes to practice to see Troy while Martha comes and takes her to the lab. Troy's dad thinks Gabriella is the reason why Troy got detention. He tells Troy that he is a playmaker and not a singer. This infuriates Troy who angrily asks his father if he ever wondered if he could be both and storms off in a rage, leaving his father stunned.

ACT 2

The Jocks and Brainiacs put their plan to work, pushing at

Troy 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, transmitting Troy's words directly to Gabriella ("Counting on You"). Gabriella hears and becomes very upset. Troy and Gabriella, lonely and upset, sing ("When There Was Me and You"). The Jocks and Brainiacs then realize that they have gone too far and feel guilty for ruining Troy and Gabriella's relationship.

Act 2 Finale of Pacific Repertory Theatre's School of Dramatic Arts production of Disney's High School Musical.

The next day, Sharpay and Ryan are rehearsing for their callback

while Sharpay talks to Ryan about her role in the school. Then Troy 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 New Year's ("Start of Something New (reprise)").

Hearing that the callback 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 callback, but instead help their respective teams for their events. The Jocks and Brainiacs say they should do the callbacks. Troy and Gabriella refuse, but the teams decide to lend a helping hand anyway ("We're All In This Together").

On the day of the big game/Decathlon/callbacks, the

students are excited for the festivities. Sharpay and Ryan perform their callback song ("Bop to the Top"), which at the same time happens with the basketball championship and the science decathlon, during which Taylor engineers an electronic meltdown in the decathlon and light malfunctions in the game, which forces all the students to move to the theater. Chad and Taylor explain to Troy and Gabriella that this is their only chance. Mrs. Darbus, hesitant to allow Troy and Gabriella an audition due to their lateness, has no choice but to let them audition as the auditorium fills with students ("Breaking Free"). Mrs. Darbus gives Troy and Gabriella the parts on the spot with everyone watching.

The end of Act II brings us to the gym where

all the main characters wrap up their plots (Chad asks out Taylor, 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 and Troy). The Wildcats win the big game and the Decathlon. The students celebrate ("We're All in This Together (Reprise)") followed by a recap of all the major songs in the show ("Megamix").

High School Musical is based in modern times

and this is shown through the use of technology such as mobile phones used by Sharpay for example. Therefore it is also set in a time with no current apparent conflict or discrimination as there is a number of ethnics actively taking part in the show.

Historical Context

The show is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This is scene through the hot weather seen throughout the show through the use of set for example blue skies and sun and the choice of clothing for example the females wearing skirts and t-shirts whereas the males wear shorts and t-shirts.

Geographical Context

It is apparent throughout the show that the

characters are heavily shown as being in particular social groups and breaking out of these conformity's being a big deal. These groups include The Jocks, The Thespians, The Brainiacs, The Skater Dudes and The Adults.

Social Context

Troy Bolton - Captain of the Basketball team, Father is

the coach. Secretly has a talent for musical theatre. Has a close relationship with fellow basketball team member Chad Danforth. Main Lead.

Chad Danforth - Basketball team member, friend of Troy's. Initially doesn’t like the idea of Troy splitting himself between basketball and musicals. Throughout the show has a emerging relationship with Brainiac Taylor McKessie.

Zeke Baylor - Basketball team member. Passion for baking doesn’t want to break away from what he is known for and what is expected of him.

Main Character Analysis

Sharpay Evans - Lead in every school musical since

kindergarten. President of the drama club. And most popular student. Although she has a catty aggressive side that shows she will do anything to stay on top a sensitive side is shown. Has a close relationship with brother Ryan Evans.

Ryan Evans - Sharpay's brother. Performs with Sharpay in musicals. Vice president of the drama club, sometimes wishes Sharpay allowed him to have relationships with students from other social groups.

Kelsi Neilsen - Pianist for the drama club. Composer of the winter musical. Quiet and inteligient.

James Parker - An earthworm expression. Has the worst sense of pitch.

Gabriella Montez - The "New Girl" to East High School, met

Troy over winter break. Has a romanctic relationship that grows throughout with lead male Troy Bolton. Has a hidden talent for musical theatre and is the main persuasion for Troy to be involved in the School Musical.

Taylor McKessie - Head of the Brainiacs. Very smart. Has an emerging relationship with Jock Chad Danforth. At first isn’t supportive of the Brainiacs newest recruit Gabriella splitting her time with musical theatre.

Martha Cox - Brainiac, who has a passion for hip-hop dancing.

Kratnoff - Brainiac, who is very much against Martha Cox's dancing, and "knows everything about everything"

Ripper - Head of the skater dudes. Passion for the

cello Mongo - Skater dude. Rippers's "sidekick" Ms. Darbus - Drama Teacher. Dislikes the Jocks and

Coach Bolton. Thinks the whole world revolves around Musical Theatre and the annual School Musical.

Coach Bolton - Gym Teacher and coach of the basketball team, isn’t supportive of Troy wanting to do the musicals.

Ms Tenny- the Chemistry Teacher.

Scenery: Inside school, lockers, corridors, posters on

walls, canteen, large round tables, levels, ‘stage area’. Props: Microphones, basketballs, cutlery in canteen,

chairs, Sharpay’s dog. Costume: Cheerleader outfits, Basketball outfits in the

‘wildcat’ colours of red and white, casual clothes, glasses for braniacs, Sharpay and Ryan matching in pink and white.

Scenic Lighting: Natural lighting for most scenes as they take place in a school but stage lighting for when the show’s take place.

Sound: Musical Numbers.

Initial Creative Ideas: