kids theater, The A.C.T. - The Acton Cooperative Theater Acton, MA HSM-General Info.
Fall 2013 Production 
Grades 4-9
Disney Channel's smash hit movie musical comes to life on stage! Troy, Gabriella, and the students of East High must deal with issues of first love, friends, and family while balancing their classes and extracurricular activities.
Scroll down for a full synopsis and character breakdown
 
General Information

 
 

Tuition

 

 $349

"Co-op" Option

(Requires Parent Volunteer Commitment and 

includes two general admission tickets to show of choice.)

-OR-

 

$549

"Non Co-op" Option

(Requires No Parent Volunteer Commitment)

 

 

Each Registered Child Receives A Cast T-shirt

 

 
 
Registration is on a first-come-first serve basis.  Registration is complete when both registration form and payment are received.
 
Times & Dates*

Auditions:
Acton Congregational Church
August 24, 2013
ACT One: 9:00am-12:00pm
ACT Two: 1:00pm-4:00pm
 
Rehearsals:
Acton Congregational Church
ACT One: Fridays 6:30-9:00pm
ACT Two: Fridays 4:00-6:30pm
August 30th - November 15th
 
Final Run-Through
Location TBD
ACT One: Nov. 13; 5:00-8:00pm
ACT Two: Nov. 14; 5:00-8:00pm


Tech Rehearsal:
RJ Grey Jr. High Auditorium
ACT One: Nov. 18; 4:30-8:00pm
ACT Two: Nov. 19; 4:30-8:00pm
 
Dress Rehearsal:
RJ Grey Jr. High Auditorium
ACT One: November 20; 4:30-8:00pm
ACT Two: November 21; 4:30-8:00pm
 
Performances:
RJ Grey Jr. High Auditorium

ACT One
Friday, Nov. 22; 7:00pm
Saturday, Nov. 23; 2:00pm

ACT Two
Saturday, Nov. 23; 6:00pm
Sunday, Nov. 24; 2:00pm

 

 

*All times and dates subject to change
Call Times:
Rehearsals will be broken down into call times. That is- your child will be required to attend when their character is called- which may be anytime during their scheduled rehearsal.  Every week an email will go out letting cast members know what time they will need to attend. Cast members may not be dropped off early.
 
 
 
Synopsis and Character Breakdown

Synopsis:

On the front steps of East High, it's the first day after winter break ("Wildcat Cheer"). The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes find their cliques, recount their vacations, and look forward to the new year ("Start of Something New"). In Ms. Darbus’ homeroom, basketball team captain discovers that Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. When he calls her, the eccentric drama teacher quickly confiscates all cell phones and assigns detention. Between classes, Gabriella and Troy look at the audition sign-up for the school musical, but the drama diva Sharpay discourages them. At basketball practice, Troy tries to shake his desire to sing at the urging of his best friend Chad ("Get'cha Head in the Game"). Taylor, the science club president, discovers Gabriella’s intelligence and encourages her to join the upcoming science decathlon.

While the students learn how to "act" at detention, Troy's dad, Coach Bolton, faces off with Ms. Darbus - his star players can't miss practice because Firday is the championship game! The next day, hopeful Thespians strut thier stuff for Ms. Darbus ("Auditions"), but they're no match for Sharpay and her twin brother Ryan ("What I've Been Looking For"). Troy and Gabriella arrive too late to audition, but Kelsi, the show's composer, plays the song her way and encourages them to sing ("What I've Been Looking For - Reprise"). Ms. Darbus overhears and gives them a callback, which turns the school order upside-down! Sharpay is furious, and some students try to break out of their cliques during lunch ("Stick to the Status Quo").  The Jocks and Brainiacs devise a plan to trick Troy and Gabriella into forgetting about the musical and committing to their respective competitions ("Counting on You"). Thinking each one has betrayed the other, Gabriella and Troy are crushed.

Against Ryan's advice, Sharpay convinces Ms. Darbus to move the callbacks to conflict with the science decathlon and championship game. Chad and Taylor put their heads together ro make things right again ("We're All in This Together"). While the Brainiacs and Jocks compete, Sharpay and Ryan pull off a polished callback performance "Bop to the Top"). When Taylor's laptop shuts down the electricity, Troy and Gabriella rush to the theater, but are too late for their callback. When the East High students arrive to rally behind them, Ms. Darbus relents, and they sing their way into the lead roles ("Breaking Free"). Back at the gym, the Wildcats with the game and the whole school comes together as winners (We're All in This Together - Reprise; High School Musical Megamix - Bows").

Character Breakdown:


CATHY:  Cathy is the auditionee who can belt like Ethel Merman!  

 

CHAD DANFORTH:  Chad Danforth is a hot-wired jock, second in command to Troy. He is focused on winning his school's basketball championship, but is slowly understanding that there might be more to this world, including his sparring crush on Taylor.

 

COACH BOLTON:  Coach Bolton is the stern basketball coach and Troy's dad. He lost the big game years ago and wants a second chance through his son.

 

CYNDRA:  Cyndra is the final auditionee and she sounds like an opera audition for the Met.

 

ENSEMBLE:  The Ensemble makes up all the other characters who populate East High School: Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians, Skater Dudes, Cheerleaders, Ms. Tenny, Science Decathlon Moderator, etc., with a few featured solo parts further described below. The ensemble is present throughout the show and provides the vocal power for the group numbers.

 

GABRIELLA MONTEZ:  Gabriella Montez is the new girl in school. Gabriella is intelligent, pretty ("girl next door" type) and shy. She possesses a fantastic voice when she sings with Troy. Look for a girl that can take positive risks with both her acting and singing. 

 

JACK SCOTT:  Jack Scott is the nerdy school announcer who trips over his own feet. Think about casting a student who will make this role his own and can portray a "gift of gab" radio voice.

 

JAMES:  In the big Audition scene, James is the auditionee who sings so badly off key it would scare anyone!

 

KELSI NIELSEN:  Kelsi Nielsen is a thespian rehearsal pianist and student composer extraordinaire. Underneath her shy demeanor, Kelsi has no tolerance for people who use their talent only to be number one. 

 

MARTHA COX:  Martha Cox is a proud member of the Science Club and is brainy with a secret love of dancing. She has a fun-loving sidekicky personality and becomes an adoring devotee of Gabriella.

 

MONGO:  Has no clue

 

MS. DARBUS:  Ms. Darbus is the eccentric drama teacher. She is an amusing blend of Gertrude Stein and Ethel Merman. Passionate and disciplined, she is always trying to expose students to the enrichment and fun of theatre.

 

RIPPER:  Ripper is a cool skater dude who is, lo and behold, a cello player!

 

RYAN EVANS:  Ryan Evans is Sharpay's fraternal twin and a star in the making. This character loves singing, dancing and lots of attention. He follows Sharpay's orders, but wants to break free from her shadow.

 

SHARPAY EVANS:  Sharpay Evans is the egocentric star of the school musicals. She is Ryan's older twin (and the alpha dog of the two) and has a mad crush on Troy. Sharpay has never met a mirror she didn't like.

 

SUSAN:  Susan is the "pop star wanna be" audition candidate.

 

TAYLOR MCKESSIE:  Taylor McKessie, the head Brainiac of the school, is the president of the Science Club. She wants Gabriella to join the Science Decathlon team so they can finally win the competition. Taylor has a hidden soft spot for Chad, which might be why she is always making fun of him.

 

TROY BOLTON:  Troy Bolton, the most popular kid at East High, is the star of the basketball team who yearns to be more than what people want him to be. Troy discovers he loves to sing, but is afraid to admit it to his friends.

 

ZEKE BAYLOR:  Zeke Baylor is a basketball player on the Wildcats Team. He has two secrets: a crush on Sharpay and a love for baking!