High School Musical
at Orange Lutheran

Reviewed on November 7, 2019

Emi Nishida
University
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies

Soaring Over Stereotypes In Orange Lutheran's "High School Musical"
written by Emi Nishida, a senior at University High School

In the halls of East High, theatre is drool, basketball is cool, and, most importantly, cliques don't mix. When basketball stud Troy Bolton and new student Gabriella Montez decide to challenge that rule by auditioning for the school's winter musical, the school's social hierarchy turns to confusion, and the pair must learn to break free of the status quo. The company of Orange Lutheran's "High School Musical" performs the iconic 2000s piece with passion.

Hands in his pockets and head in the game, Chase Liefeld portrays a laid-back yet dedicated Troy Bolton. Liefeld skillfully depicts Troy's nonchalant jock personality, twirling a basketball endlessly on his finger, while also presenting his true, more self-conscious self in his private moments with Gabriella (Katrina Reta). In the tender "What I've Been Looking For (Reprise)", the two trade shy glances and sing together in harmony, successfully creating a flirty dynamic emulative of that of a teenage love story.

Flamboyant and fabulous are Taylor Furlong and Connor Jones as Sharpay and Ryan Evans. Furlong struts with her nose to the sky and chest forward, communicating her dominating personality, while Jones imitates the same confident posture as he trails behind his sister. As they shimmy and shake their way through "Bop To The Top", the duo step in synchronization to effectively establish their identity as twins.

Meg Rocha shines as the timid pianist and "playmaker" of the theatre, Kelsi Neilson. When interacting with bossy Sharpay, she cowers and clutches her music, meekly burying her face beneath her hat and glasses. However, when rehearsing with Troy and Gabriella, she becomes more open and excited about her work, showing her giddiness by bouncing her feet and lifting her head with self-assuredness.

All company members come together as cliques form camaraderie in the energetic "We're All In This Together". Group choreography is executed smoothly as members of the brainiac, skater dude, cheerleader, thespian, and basketball player ensembles all bob to the beat and clap in unison.

Marketing and Publicity by Sydney Prebe, Meg Rocha, and Avery Warren impressively incorporates classic cliches of high school into a well-executed campaign. From notes left in lockers to a full-on pep assembly, the team creatively calls for widespread Wildcat support.

Full of pep and promise, Orange Lutheran delivers a harmonious High School Musical.

Nikki Ghaemi
University
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Orange Lutheran's High School Musical is an uplifting and dazzling production
written by Nikki Ghaemi, a junior at University High School

High School Musical features the story of science scholar Gabriella Montez (Katrina Reta) and basketball star Troy Bolton (Chase Liefeld). Gabriella and Troy are each torn between their expected roles in school, and following their hearts to perform in the spring musical. Orange Lutheran brilliantly portrays this heartwarming story of acceptance and inclusivity with lots of energy.

Katrina Reta is the soft-spoken, intelligent Gabriella Montez. When Gabriella is first introduced to the school, Reta stands with her arms shyly crossed, demonstrating Gabriella's timidness. By the end of the show, Reta beams with pride as she stands with a far more upright, confident posture; a brilliant demonstration of Gabriella's growth.

Troy Bolton, played by Chase Liefeld, is a basketball star plagued with choosing between his sport and musical theatre. He tenses up when he's surrounded by the pressures of basketball, and noticeably relaxes when he sings in the theater; particularly, when he sings with Gabriella.

Twins Sharpay (Taylor Furlong) and Ryan (Connor James) Evans are a sassy, talented duo. Furlong stands with her hand on her hips and speaks with a know-it-all tone when she speaks with Gabriella to demonstrate Sharpay's sass and competitive nature. James dances and brightly smiles with confidence when Ryan, much to Sharpay's dismay, performs jazz squares for their musical audition. Furlong and James provide a fantastic contrast to their somewhat similar characters.

Throughout the show, the cheerleader ensemble is dazzling. They perform with sharp movements and bring a familiar pep and high school energy. The cheerleaders do acrobatics across the stage and twirl their hair with sass during "Stick to the Status Quo".

"Stick to the Status Quo" provides opportunities for many characters to shine. Meu Iwamoto smiles and moves with loads of energy as Martha Cox, a braniac that reveals her love for hip-hop dance. Dancers walk around tables and look around sharply, creating a look of overall togetherness.

By using elements such as social media to get their school involved, the marketing and publicity team (Avery Warren, Sydney Prebe, Meg Rocha) did a great job advertising their show.

High School Musical at Orange Lutheran is a heartwarming spectacle that has the ability to resonate with many people.

Sage Lamott
University
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Bopping to the Top at OLU's "High School Musical"
written by Sage Lamott, a sophomore at University High School

A simmering group of cheerleaders flip and flutter across the stage. A lively chant breaks out sweeping us away to East High. Orange Lutheran's production of "High School Musical" chronicles the journey of breaking stereotype to pursue your dreams. Wide eyes and directed enthusiasm fashion the high school environment.

Portrayed by Katrina Reta, Gabriella Montez uses a coy stance and averting eyes to portray the bubbling brainiac. With a sheltered posture she avoids eye contact with Troy, shyly glancing away and wringing her hands. As the song "Start of Something New" progresses her posture widens and so does her smile. Effectively balancing power and hesitance as she creates Ms. Montez with accuracy.

A casual grin and long, nonchalant strides paint the basketball playing love interest of Troy Bolton (Chase Liefeld). Liefeld chats to teammates with a relaxed tone and less articulated syllables, in contrast to his ruler straight back and nervous cheekbones while interacting with Gabriella. Demonstrating a variety of character dynamic, he creatively highlights the inner softie.

Sydney Prebe clops her heels and strikes her stomp to command attention. As the saucy Ms. Darbus she swings her hips and smacks her lips to depict the artsy drama teacher. A shrewd voice is revealed in moments of anger. Energy and intention successfully emphasize the brash and bold manner of her character.

Flouncing with purpose and speaking with fury, Taylor Furlong is the fabulous and forward Sharpay Evans. Sharpay's turns and charming winks accentuate her deceitful and decadent presence. Evil shoves and nasty looks are exchanged with her brother Ryan (Connor Jones) after he makes the fateful decision to reveal her scheme. Over the top facial expressions and maniacal giggles naturally form her mean queen attitude.

Tossing her bright blonde hair, Avery Warren embodies the bossy genius of Taylor Mckessie. Eye rolls characterize a sassy leader. In the number, "We're All in This Together" she beams widely and sings with clarity and strength. Giddily bounding up to Gabriella, she shows her talkative side. With her unlikely crush Chad Danforth (Gabriel Sanders) she leans back and twists her hair, face flushed pink. Specific movement choices and a headstrong attitude work together productively.

Energetic steps and swishing ponytails, pushed back shoulders and fistbumps, nerdy girls and classic skater dudes all combine to fabricate Orange Lutheran's "High School Musical", a production with animation and ambition.