High School Musical

High School Musical

• High School musical • David Simpatico

• Premiered on August 1st 2007 and ended on August 3rd 2008

Synopsis: Act 1 At East High School (in Albuquerque, New Mexico), 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. 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.

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

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. 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. 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

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. 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!"

Synopsis: Act 2 Jack Scott recaps events before Troy 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 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, 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. 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. 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 ruining Troy 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. 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.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 which Taylor engineers an electronic meltdown in the decathlon and light malfunctions in the game, which forces all the students to move to the theatre. 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.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 .

Musical numbersAct I• Wildcat Cheer - Cheerleaders• Start of Something New - Troy, Gabriella, Cast• Get'cha Head in the Game - Troy and Jocks• Get'cha Head in the Game (Reprise) - Troy and Jocks• Auditions - Thespians, Ms. Darbus• What I've Been Looking For - Ryan and Sharpay• What I've Been Looking For (Reprise) - Troy and Gabriella• Cellular Fusion - Taylor, Chad, Martha, Zeke, Kelsi, Sharpay, Ryan, Company• Stick to the Status Quo - Ryan, Sharpay, Zeke, Martha, Ripper, Company

Act II• I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - Troy and Gabriella• Wildcat Cheer (Reprise) - Cheerleaders• Counting on You - Chad, Taylor, Martha, Zeke, Jocks and Brainiacs, Troy, Gabriella• When There Was Me and You - Troy, Gabriella, and Company• Start of Something New (Reprise) - Troy and Gabriella• We're All in This Together - Kelsi, Jocks and Brainiacs• Bop to the Top - Ryan, Sharpay, Taylor, Moderator V.O., Coach Bolton, Jack Scott, Cast• Breaking Free - Troy, Gabriella & Cast• We're All in This Together (Reprise) - Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Cast• Mega mix - Company

Context

• Historical: Its set in the modern era. Its set in America 2007.

• Social: The play has many different groups. For example they are jocks and brianiacs

• Geographical: The play is set at east high school in Albuquerque in New Mexico

Main character analysisTroy Bolton - is the most popular male student at East High School, and the captain of the varsity

basketball team. On New Year's Eve after singing with Gabriella he finds himself having a crush on her.

Gabriella Montez - is one of the brainiacs on the scholastic decathlon team. She develops a love for Troy.Sharpay Evans –is an energetic student with a love of theatre. Enjoys being the centre of attention,

particularly Troy's.Ryan Evans - is Sharpay's twin brother.Chad Danforth - is Troy's best friend, and is very good friends with Jason and Zeke.Taylor McKessie - is Gabriella's best friend. She is captain of the school's scholastic decathlon team.Jack Bolton - is Troy's father and the coach of the basketball team.Ms. Darbus - is the stern drama teacher at East High. She despises sports and cell phones but takes her

job very seriously.Kelsi Nielsen - is a student at East High. She is a pianist and composer.Zeke Baylor - is friends with Troy and Chad, and plays for the basketball team. He also enjoys baking and

is an admirer of Sharpay.Jason Cross - is friends with Troy and Chad, and plays for the basketball team. He also tends to ask silly

questions in class.Martha Cox - is a peppy brainiac who enjoys hip-hop. She is good friends with Gabriella, Taylor, and Kelsi.

Initial ideas: Scenery

• Basket ball court • Garden on the roof

Initial ideas: props

• Basketballs • Textbooks • School bags • Science apparatus

Initial ideas: costume

• Basketball team

Initial ideas: scenic lighting

• Basketball court lights (floodlight)

Initial ideas: sound

• Basket ball bouncing• Shoes on the court • Crowd cheering/shouting