MILLSTONE — A 60-member cast is “Counting on You” to come and see “High School Musical” performed at the Millstone Performing Arts Center, Dawson Court, at 7 p.m. March 27-28.
Tickets to the Millstone Township Middle School production may be purchased at www.millstoneperformingarts.com. Online ticket prices are $8 for students and $9 for adults, or they may can be purchased at the door for $10.
Director Lisa Marie Cappuzzo said Disney’s “High School Musical” is based on the Disney Channel original movie written by Peter Baroscchini, and adapted for the stage by Bryan Louiselle.
Cappuzzo said the play is suitable for all ages. “High School Musical” is a modernday “Romeo and Juliet,” but instead of romance among feuding families, love blossoms between basketball team captain Troy Bolton and brainiac Gabriella Montez.
They find a connection in an unexpected place — singing — but their love must overcome their rival cliques, not to mention the fury of Sharpay Evans, the “diva extraordinaire” and president of the Drama Club. Will Troy and Gabriella “stick to the status quo” or “break free?”
“Come see our production and find out,” Cappuzzo said, adding that she chose the show because it was upbeat, fun and different from previous productions at the middle school.
“I have to admit, at first I thought it was just going to be the cute Disney musical,” Cappuzzo said. “But as we get more and more into the story in rehearsals, I have come to see how much truth there is in this show — in the friendships, in the relationships between parent and child, and of course, in the story of young love.
“In ‘High School Musical,’ we see the struggle between wanting to please others and needing to follow your heart’s desire. Most of all, what the characters ultimately figure out is that although we are all unique, with our own special talents, we are all in this together. And it shows that when we stand hand in hand, we make our dreams come true.”
Eighth-grader Victor Cappuzzo will play Troy Bolton.
“I actually like being in a play with my mother as director,” Victor said. “I feel comfortable asking questions, acting and singing, and being a lead character.”
Eighth-grader Gianna Pallante will play Gabriella Montez.
“Gabriella is a shy, smart new girl who breaks out of her shell when she auditions for the play,” Gianna said. “I learned from playing Gabriella that you have to go out of your comfort zone and try new things.”
Eighth-grader Delaney Bogusz said she enjoys her role as Sharpay Evans, the president of the Drama Club.
“She is a mean diva, really mean,” Delaney said. “I like playing the role of Sharpay because I get to transform myself into a completely different person.”
Other cast members include Jack May, Christine DeLeon, Ben Hahn, Dana De- Vestern, Mike Ragosa and Julianna Conforti.
Understudies include Jamison Gould, Kaitlyn Bergen, Joe Pallante, Jacquelyn Conforti, Jacob Mendelsohn, Colette Wisniewski, Jared Skidmore and Angela Bernieri.
The assistant director is Vincent D’Aniello, who is a Spanish teacher at the middle school; the music director is Michael Gilch, who is a Millstone resident and an accompanist for Allentown High School productions.
Scenery was created by Frank Iglesias, an art teacher at the middle school; students in the Millstone Township Middle School Art Club; and Jamie Allaire, a Jackson resident.
Cappuzzo praised student stage managers Taylor Eng, Manny Papapertou, Andrew Raccuglia and Carlo Scibilia.
“Our amazing stage managers are at every rehearsal, helping to make sure everything runs smoothly,” she said.
Choreographers are Allentown High School seniors Rachel Masci and Katie Toth.
“I want to express a special thanks to all of the parents who are helping to add so many professional touches to this production — including costumes, props, the playbill and so much more,” Cappuzzo said. “We could not do it without them.”