Denti elementary students present Disney’s ‘High School Musical’

Louis V. Denti Elementary School youngsters will perform Disney’s “High School Musical” at 6:30 pm. Thursday and Friday, March 23 and 24, in the Strough Junior High School auditorium, 801 Laurel St. The show is free with general admission.

Grades 4-6 have rehearsed since January for the show, said music director, producer and choreographer Sarah Anderson.

“They have made a great deal of progress since January,” Anderson complimented. “The students are working extra hard to make up for lost time due to snow days and after-school cancelations.”

Based on the Disney channel’s original movie “High School Musical,” the show features a book by David Simpatico and music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle.

“High School Musical” is the story of the happenings at East High School, where there is a clear divide between the jocks, the brainiacs, the skater dudes and the thespians. The students all stay with their own cliques ... until Gabriella Montez and Troy Bolton meet at a New Year’s Eve party. They sing together and their separate worlds merge through music.

They later reconnect when Gabriella transfers to East High School, but their lives pull them in different directions. Soon, Ms. Darbus decides to put on the play “Juliet and Romeo,” giving

Gabriella and Troy the chance to sing together again. But thespian Sharpay Evans will not allow that to happen and neither will the jocks, including Troy’s own dad, Coach Bolton.

The cast features Ryan Bush as Troy Bolton, Elayna Koor as Gabriella Montez, Jacob Vanderhoof as Chad Danforth, LIly Riolo as Taylor McKessie, Alexis Pape as Sharpay Evans, Logan Edick as Ryan Evans, Logan Delano as Jack Scott, Emmalise Hunley as Kelsi Neilson, Alora Woodlan as Ms. Darbus, Emmett Newton as Coach Bolton, Jason Tucker as Zeke Baylor, Annika Coriale as Martha Cox, Ashton Lewthwaite as Ripper, Mason Fox as Jason, Richard Meier as James, Estelle Previte as Susan, Adeena Adnan as Cathy, Ryla Kent as Cyndra, Lorenzo Rizzo as Kratnoff, Dylan Pietrowski as Mongo, Claire Hecox-Larribee as Ms. Tenny, Grace Knopka as Moderator and Raynee Butters as Drum Major.

The ensemble includes Jayna Blanchard, Leia Benko, Anthony Cowling, Peyton Crill, Alexandra Drake, Dominic DiPaolo, Skyla DelValle, Braylee Endel, Clairese Frankey, Rihanna Henderson, Averie Larsen, Nicadema Logan, Laurens Lopez-Cante, Ally Poole, Lucas Parker, Ruthie Previte, Brianna Rothrock, Evelyn Roux, Brianna Storms, Elianna Sanchez, Karli Sims, Kathryn Sims, Madalyn Selva, Marley Seymour and Mariah Tebbetts.

The stage crew and set design crew include Cameron Adams, Henry Colmey, Kylie Cullop, Nathon Cullop, Elizabeth Dietrich, Hayley Farr, Jessica Hart, Rachel Horowitz, Trenee Kirk, Steven Light, Morgan Pecord, Priscilla Previte, Julian Reynolds, RubyRae Rivera,

Grace Sabia, Olivia Seaton, Kayedyn Secor, Emma Smaldon, Nora Swan, Adrianne Thomas, Matthew Vescio, Delilah White and Ava Wright.

Joining Anderson on the production team are director Nicole Cary and assistant director and choreographer Patrick Anderson, plus Barbara Vacca, Ellie Vacca, Paris Freeman, Taylor Yerrick, Jessica Hart, Tara Karas and Jim Wilburn. Anderson said they are fortunate to have many parent and staff volunteers working on the production as well.

She said she especially enjoys watching the children master their lines and mature a bit during the rehearsals and performance.

“I personally love to watch the students’ growth throughout the entire process.” Anderson said. “It’s amazing to see them blossom into great actors, musicians and confident human beings. The pride and joy the students have in themselves when performing on stage make all the long hours worth it.”

Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information, visit their event page on Facebook.