Hip-hop “High School Musical” top notch at Broad Brook Opera House

EAST WINDSOR — Just in case the name doesn’t give it away “High School Musical,” playing at the Broad Brook Opera House, is geared towards teenagers and their ‘tween counter-parts.
Based on a Disney television movie by the same name, this show, with lots of songs, takes a good look at the high school clique scene, pitting jocks against artists against the brains, and asks that age-old question, “Why can’t we all just get along?”
“High School Musical” is an updated “Grease,” where the two leads, the high school basketball star Troy Bolton, played by the able Keith Leonhardt, meets Gabriella Montez, played on alternate performances by Mandie Hittleman and Chelsea Sic, during summer vacation.
Gabriella, a math wiz, moves to the same town as Troy and they meet again at the high school. Conflicts ensue when they hesitantly audition for the new high school musical, “Juliet and Romeo,” to the disapproval of the manipulative Drama Club President Sharpay Evans played alternately by Erin Fitzpatrick and Emilie Ferreira, and her brother Ryan Evans, played by Michael Dikegoros.
Drama teacher Ms. Darbus, played by Marianne Hebenstreit and Coach Bolton, played by Dallas Hosmer, accentuate the conflict of arts versus sports, when Bolton’s son Troy is not only the star of the basketball team, but also has talents on the theatrical stage and is pressured to choose between the two.
Both adults are passionate about their interests, with Darbus speaking of “the timeless allure of the greasepaint.” Hebenstreit brings sarcastic humor to the character when she says to the students, “This ain’t my first rodeo, kiddies.”
The singing is fine most of the time, with the leads possessing strong solo voices, but they don’t always blend together during the duets as well as they sing on their own.
The dancing across the board is top-notch, with funky and fabulous hip-hop moves, much of which comes straight from the movie, thanks to Daniel Otero and Leonhardt, who assisted choreographer Laura Salerno with their adaptation of the film’s choreography.
There are some good, wholesome messages in the show, such as, “you can’t let people keep you from being who you are,” “anything can happen when you take a chance,” and the need for parents to listen to their kids.
The youthful cast know their parts and their dance steps and have all the energy and enthusiasm one could ask for in this fun show with a positive message just in time for the start of another school year.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Three Stars
Theater: Opera House Players
Location: 107 Main Street, Broad Brook
Production: Written by David Simpatico from Disney Channel movie written by Peter Barsocchini. Songs by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil and others. Directed by Patrique Alton Hurd. Musical direction by Rebecca Francis. Choreographer Laura Salerno. Adapted film choreography by Daniel Otero and Keith Leonhardt. Stage manager Debra Caswell. Technical direction by George Fields. Lighting design and operation by Diane St. Amand.
Running time: 2 hours, plus a 15-minute intermission
Show Times: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. through August 30.
Tickets: $20, seniors over 60 and youth under 12 pay $16. Call 860-292-6068 or visit their website at www.operahouseplayers.org
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Keith Leonhardt … Troy Bolton
Mandie Hittleman and Chelsea Sic … Gabriella Montez
Erin Fitzpatrick and Emilie Ferreira … Sharpay Evans
Michael Dikegoros … Ryan Evans
Daniel Otero … Chad Danforth
Lexy Curtin … Taylor McKessie
Conor Ellis … Zeke Baylor
Joshua Pare … Jason Cross
Kathryn Suzanne Strempfer … Martha Cox
Deidra Jefferson … Kratnoff
Aslynn Brown … Jackee Scott
Hailey Brinnel … Kelsi Neilson
Nicholas Leahey … Ripper
Nicole Pare … Mongo
Nichole Giantonio, Caitlin Murphy, Kasey Rousseau … Skater Chicks
Marianne Hebenstreit … Ms. Darbus
Dallas Hosmer and Mark Wantroba (8/29)… Coach Bolton
Sheila Lehmann … Susan
Kristen Mary Fitzpatrick, Erin Fields, Sarah Ingraham, Kelsey Sobestanovich … Cheerleaders
Jillian Bower … Brainiac
John Fitzpatrick … John Brown