Everyone knows the story of Troy Bolton, the basketball star and secret singer of East High, and Gabriella Montez, the new girl in school, seen on stage but not everyone knows what happens behind the scenes of a Lancer Productions Musical.

The stage is what the audience sees but there is a lot that goes into making a musical production. Auditions, call-backs, choreography, learning songs, rehearsing lines, costume fittings, and so much more. The behind the scenes magic helps the theater create the productions that the Lancers are proud to share with everyone.

This spring’s production of High School Musical not only involved these things backstage, but portrayed them in the spotlight. High School Musical centers on Troy Bolton, the superstar basketball captain, and Gabriella Montez, the science genius. The two meet on a ski trip where they expect to never run into each other again, that is until they get back from winter break. Troy and Gabriella, played by senior Dave Aliprandi and freshman Sophia Murillo, audition for the Drama Club’s Spring Musicale and unexpectedly get the lead parts, upsetting the typical leads Sharpay and Ryan Evans, played by sophomore Olivia Howell and freshman Nicholas Hunt.

The school is rocked when it comes out that Troy got a call back and everyone wants to embrace their inner talents. Jocks are bakers, Braniacs are dancers, and Skaters are cello-players. All chaos occurs between the Scholastic Decathlon, the Championship Basketball game, and Musical Call-Backs, not to mention feuding between Coach Bolton, played by senior Dan Ostmann, and Drama teacher Ms. Darbus, played by junior Amanda Spina.

Not only did the Lancers perform the well-known songs like Start of Something New, Bop to the Top, and We’re All in This Together, they brought in new songs like Cellular Fusion, I Can’t Take my Eyes off of You, and Counting on You.  It was closed off by the senior cast singing a High School Musical megamix.

What not everyone gets to see is probably the most fun. Behind closed doors, the cast is dancing and singing to their favorite songs, taking pictures, socializing, and putting the finishing touches on everything for the performance.

“Being Troy definitely impacted my acting career in making me consider doing something acting/drama related in my college career. And since High School Musical takes places in a high school, the characters are instantly relatable…so getting into the mindset of a jock as well as someone interested in theater changed my outlook on those two respective groups.” Aliprandi says. “Getting into Lancer Productions my senior year, I regret having not been a part of this amazing family for all four years. If I could go back, I would go back to the opening weeks of freshman year and sign up for the 2011 fall drama, and as an actor I have gained a massive amount of respect for the amount of talent and hard work that goes into creating these shows.” Prior to High School Musical, Aliprandi had played a dodo bird and a card in the queen’s army of his middle school performance of Alice in Wonderland.

James Neely, a senior here at SJV, played Troy’s best friend, Chad Danforth. “Playing a role like Chad Danforth was different for me, but definitely in a fun and exciting manner. Lancer Productions has truly made my high school experience what it is. Working with Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. Schmidt, and the rest of the cast and crew really was the highlight of high school for me.” Neely has played such characters as Papa Ge in Once on This Island, the King in Twelve Dancing Princesses, and a kindergartner named Sam in Boy Meets Girl. “The most memorable thing that will carry through with me all throughout my years was the final tribute to the fellow seniors and I and having our last bow together. These people have become my family.”

Senior Jenny Lewis, portrayed braniac Taylor McKessie, and senior Hayley Wojtaszek, cheerleader captain, not only starred in the performance but helped direct the musical alongside Rachel Ryan and Mary-Kate Schmidt. “I have wanted to be student director since I first knew about in freshman year. I really looked up to the student directors that I’ve had in my past three years. They have made such an impact on me and I hope that I have had the same effect on my peers this year. As student director, I was able to help others with anything that they needed. Whether it was working with lines or just giving advice, I loved being able to help my friends around me,” says Lewis. “Being a part of Lancer Productions has greatly impacted my life. I came into SJV as a shy freshman and now I stand here as a confident senior ready to take on college. Not only did I learn about myself, but I have also learned how to become a better actress and to put all you have out on the stage.”

Spina also helped choreograph dances alongside Wojtaszek. “Mrs. Darbus has been my kookiest role, and I have loved every minute of it. She is absolutely nuts! The thing I learned most from this process is how to be someone I didn’t think I had anything in common with. Now I know that Mrs. Darbus and I are strangely similar but starting out, I was so worried. I really admire Mrs. Darbus actually. She calls it like she sees it and her passion for “the the-a-ter” never waivers,” says Spina. Previously Spina played Brenda in Getting an Education, Boylan Sisiter/Harold Ickes/Ensemble in Annie, Brenda in Invisible, Storyteller in Once on This Island, Ashley in Twelve Dancing Princesses, and Actor in I Don’t Want to Talk About It.

Ostmann, opposite Spina, provides comic relief through the rivalry between eccentric drama teacher and serious sports coach. “Well this is the first play that I have done since third grade so I feel maybe that doing this play has reintroduced me into doing acting and maybe I will [continue] acting in college or at another point in my life. It made me look at SJV differently, because it showed me a different part of SJV that I wasn’t a part of since I only used to play sports. It shaped my experience at SJV because it made me become friends with people that I probably would have never talked to if it wasn’t for doing the play. It shaped my experience as an actor, because it made me revisit my roots as an actor.”

“Martha is such a fun character to play she’s spunky and bubbly and she’s got a little sass going on. Playing this character really allowed me to let loose on stage which is something that I at times struggle with.  Martha’s also a “rebel.” She dared to go against the crowd and do her own thing. Martha’s a girl of my own heart. You know, it’s tough at times to not follow the crowd, especially in high school. Playing Martha will always remind me that sometimes it’s okay to not ‘stick to the status quo,’” senior Amanda Hunt tells Lancers Point. Hunt has been a part of Lancer Productions since freshman year. Her previous roles have included Margot in Legally Blonde, Storyteller in Once on this Island, Chelsea in Twelve Dancing Princesses, and an Actor in I Don’t Want to Talk About It.

Sophomore Ava Valentino said “This musical production for me overall meant a lot and it will always have a special place in my heart not only because of receiving a role I hoped to play but also because of the amazing people I met, worked, and became close with throughout the show. I was so honored and beyond excited to play the role of Kelsi, and yes, it’s impacted me greatly. I felt as if playing her role marked a big point in my musical/theater career because I was finally able to portray talents and abilities that I wasn’t given much of a chance to on stage before. I really enjoyed being this amazing character; having people refer to me as her gave me chills and smiles! The moments I made there on stage the past four nights will always be cherished and never forgotten.” She has been a part of all the theater productions at SJV including Invisible and Once on this Island. This year she also played Jill in The Twelve Dancing Princesses. “All these roles have helped me improve and expand in being a better performer as well as bringing out the best in myself and my identity.”

Overall the senior cast unanimously thinks it will be bittersweet leaving the Little Theatre and moving on to the big world. “We have a saying in the drama club that goes “Little Theater. Big Moments.”  I’ve had my share of Big Moments and memories with my current cast and casts of the past that I know I will definitely carry with me for the rest of my life. As an actress I am so blessed to have been mentored by such incredible people. If not for the guidance of Mrs. Ryan and Mrs. Schmidt I would not be the actress I am today. My experience at Lancer Productions has led my decision to continue my theater career in college and hopefully beyond that (fingers crossed of course),” says Hunt.

Aliprandi added, “Knowing that this was the last time that I performed on the SJV was definitely bittersweet and as soon as the curtains closed everyone was in tears hugging and congratulating each other. Of all my years at SJV, this show was definitely my most memorable moment of performing.”

Over the course of four sold out nights, months of rehearsals, and just a few moments in the spotlight Lancer Productions was very successful in their creation of Disney’s High School Musical.

To read the cast’s final goodbyes click on the link here: http://lancerspoint.sjvhs.com/?p=5190