High School Musical 2 at the Hayes Center April 30

By Jeff Eason

If you have kids in your life, then you probably know who they are talking about when they speak excitedly of Troy, Sharpay, Gabriella and the rest of the Wildcats. The Disney High School Musical phenomenon has been one of the biggest breakthrough television hits of the past decade, and kids tend to feel like they know the characters on a personal level.

The Blowing Rock Stage Company will present Disney’s High School Musical 2 at the Hayes Performing Arts Center from Thursday, April 30 through Saturday, May 9. Tickets are on sale now.

The BRSC production of Disney’s High School Musical 2 reunites two performers from one of last year’s biggest hits, Peter Pan. Chris Wright, who played Peter Pan, is directing the new show while Hannah Fuller, who played Wendy, is starring as Sharpay.

Both actors understand that the key to the success of the High School Musical series is that it doesn’t treat high school kids as adults à la Beverly Hills 90210 and it doesn’t treat them just as kids.

“I think it’s the fact that a lot of kids can relate to it,” said Fuller. “Even though it is a musical, it’s about what the kids are feeling. They’re at that stage of life where they can relate to the pretty guy or the girl who’s not wanted or the kids that are being bullied. You can relate to that.”

Added Wright, “The show is about the choices that teens are faced with on subjects such as ‘What does it mean to grow up?’ ‘What type of sacrifices do you have to make?’ and ‘What chances are you willing to take to get what you want?’”

Despite some intense themes, however, High School Musical 2 keeps the songs and dance numbers coming.
“It’s a one-act play, but the cool thing about it is it has every single song that the two-act version and the movie version have in them,” said Wright. “So they took the whole movie and jammed it into one act. It’s a non-stop music video from start to finish.”

The plotline of the musical involves the kids from East High School getting out for the summer and landing jobs at the Lava Springs Country Club, owned by Sharpay’s family.

“Troy has some conflicts in the show where he is offered a full basketball scholarship by some friends of Sharpay’s dad,” said Wright. “She kind of swindles him into singing with her at the talent show instead of singing with his friends so he can get in good with the scholarship people.”

The cast of HSM2 ranges in age from 12 to 22 and includes actors, singers and dancers from area elementary schools, Watauga High School, Appalachian State and Lees-McRae.

“Fans can look forward to all the great songs and production numbers, and a few unexpected surprises,” said Wright. “I love the musical numbers ‘HUMU-HUMU’ and ‘I Don’t Dance.’ And the scenes with Sharpay and Ryan spying on Troy and Gabriella.”

Disney’s High School Musical 2 stars Hannah Fuller as Sharpay, Matt Delaney as Troy, Zach Emerson as Ryan, Jenna Felice Smith as Gabriella, Julia O’Connor as Kelsi, Lyle Sterne as Chad, Catherine Ledford as Taylor, Ali Keirn as Martha, Ory Owen as Zeke, Freddy Lynn Wilson as Fulton, Dalton Jacob Hicks as Jack Scott, Karina Moran as Peaches, Katie Mebane as Blossom, Kaitlin Maria Felts as Violet, Heather Austin as Rosette Shimshank, Sidney Ginn as Theresa Templeton, Henry Raybould as Billy Flatley and Alexa Raybould as Janey Fire.

The High School Musical 2 ensemble includes Addi Berry, Zach Brown, Brian Gay, Priscilla Hoke, Katelyn Long, Megan McCarthy, Laura McKinney, India Roseman, Isabella Stollenmaier and Morgan Story.

Tickets & Times

Performance times for High School Musical 2 are April 30 at 7 p.m., May 1 at 7 p.m., May 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., May 3 at 2 p.m., May 7 at 7 p.m., May 8 at 7 p.m., and May 9 at noon and 5 p.m.

Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for students and are available now by calling the Hayes Center Box Office at (828) 295-9627, or online at www.hayescenter.org.