‘High School’ takes the stage
Published 9:46 pm Thursday, June 13, 2013
Part of the cast of RPM Dance’s Disney’s “High School Musical Jr.” jumps for joy during a dress rehearsal. From left are Thomas Keltner as Chad, Hannah Maconaghy as Taylor, Brexdyn La Dieu as Troy Bolton, Caitlin Holst as Gabriella Montez, Ryan Horton as Sharpay and Logan Markley as Ryan. (Photography by Laura Solomon)
A North Suffolk dance school will take to the stage at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts this weekend for five shows celebrating good times in high school and the end of the dance school year.
RPM Dance will take the stage with Disney’s “High School Musical Jr.” Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m. It includes some of the movie’s most popular dance numbers, including “We’re All in this Together” and “Stick to the Status Quo.”
“It is the stage version of the movie that was so popular,” said Renee Perry Mitchell, a former Radio City Rockette and owner of RPM Dance. She said the costuming and choreography are based on the original.
The “High School Musical Jr.” cast takes a break during rehearsal. Top row, from left, are Thomas Keltner as Chad, Carter Holst as Zeke, Brexdyn La Dieu as Troy Bolton, Caitlin Holst as Gabriella Montez, Hannah Markley as Martha Cox and Hannah Maconaghy as Taylor. Bottom row, from left, are Noah Jump as Coach Bolton, Ryan Horton as Sharpay, Alyssa Overheim as Kelsi, Logan Markley as Ryan and Annie Lewis as Mrs. Darbus. (Photography by Laura Solomon)
“The sets are fantastic, and it’s a really high-energy show,” she said. “Kids and teens are going to love it, because they’re going to know it from the movie.”
The musical tells the story of Troy Bolton, who is looking to win East High’s first basketball championship and find true love along the way.
“It is a great family show with the message, ‘Have the courage to be yourself,’” Mitchell said.
The dance school’s annual concert, “Life in Color,” will come to the Suffolk Center on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
“It explores different shades of color that beautify our world,” Mitchell said, adding that the production includes “beautiful costuming” and many kinds of music.
All the school’s students, ages 3 to 17, will be performing in the production. It will end with a tap number, “One Short Day in the Emerald City,” from the Broadway musical “Wicked.”
Mitchell encouraged community members to come out, even if they do not have a child in the production.
“You’re going to see a high-caliber production for a very reasonable price,” she said. “I think they’ll be very entertained.”
Tickets for “High School Musical Jr.” are $10, and tickets for “Life in Color” are $15. They are available through the Suffolk Center’s box office, www.suffolkcenter.org or 923-2900.
