High School Musical Jr

There is always something rather special about attending a company's first production, and I was delighted to have the opportunity to attend High School Musical JR., the first production from Artrix Youth Theatre. Equally, it gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone involved to NODA and I very much hope this will be the first of many visits over the years ahead.

The company comprises young people aged between 11 and 17 who rehearse for just two hours each Saturday.

There was a good-sized audience in attendance, primarily made up, I assume, of parents, grandparents and siblings, all clearly there to support the young people on stage. Youth theatre relies enormously on this support, and it was wonderful to see. My own visit started with a very warm welcome from the front-of-house team, and I was also pleased to have the opportunity to meet Suzanne, Co-Director, and Olivia, Choreographer and Singing Coach.

High School Musical began life as the hugely successful Disney Channel film in 2006 and quickly became something of a phenomenon. High School Musical JR. brings the familiar story of East High to the stage for younger performers.

For a youth company it provides plenty of opportunities. There are the principal characters of Troy and Gabriella, Sharpay and Ryan, alongside several supporting roles, but importantly this is also very much an ensemble production.

The production got off to an energetic start with Wildcat Cheer, immediately introducing us to East High and the enthusiasm of the company. An opening number needs to grab the audience and set the tone for what is to follow, and this certainly did that.

The set itself was minimal throughout, but this worked well and ensured attention remained firmly on the cast. Scene changes were efficiently handled and the production moved from one location to another without unnecessary delays. Olivia, as choreographer, had clearly worked hard with the company. The energy established with Wildcat Cheer was maintained throughout and was certainly still there for the Megamix at the end.

Good use was also made of the video wall, which helped establish the various locations and provided an effective visual backdrop to the action without the need for large amounts of physical scenery. Lighting was used effectively throughout and complemented both the staging and the different moods of the production.

Turning to the cast, Orla J as Gabriella shone throughout the show, both in voice and personality. She brought a warmth to the character which worked extremely well and was confident in her musical numbers.

Thomas L gave us a confident Troy. Troy's journey requires him to challenge the expectations placed upon him and discover the confidence to follow a different path, and Thomas brought this across well.

Orla and Thomas worked well together, particularly at the opening of Act Two when they were positioned downstage in front of the tabs. This was a simple but effective piece of staging.

Ellie C as Sharpay had the required attitude and stance from the moment she appeared, accompanied of course by her partner in crime, Isabella C as Ryan. Together they captured the larger-than-life theatrical personalities of the pair and provided a good contrast to those around them.

Bailey A as Chad proved to be a great mover and every opportunity to demonstrate his dancing skills was certainly taken. He brought plenty of energy to the role. This was especially evident during the Megamix at the end of the performance, where Bailey demonstrated his ability as a dancer and clearly relished the opportunity to do so.

Bea J as Kelsi clearly enjoyed 'playing the piano' and brought a likeable quality to the role. As the composer of the school musical Juliet and Romeo, it is Kelsi who encourages Troy and Gabriella to audition and gives them the opportunity to show what they can do.

Lily J as school announcer Jackie Scott delivered her lines clearly, ensuring those all-important East High announcements were heard and understood.

Also taking on the named student roles were Alice C as Taylor, Oscar P as Zeke and Lilly D as Martha, each contributing to the world of East High and the overall production.

The teaching staff at East High were represented by Catherine A as Ms Darbus, Megan J as Coach Bolton and Alice C as Ms Tenny.

Catherine's Ms Darbus was wonderfully theatrical. Dressed in a flowing, almost flower-power style outfit, she immediately gave us a clear sense of the character and her flamboyant personality. The use of a gong to gain everyone's attention during rehearsals was another nice touch and entirely in keeping with the character.

This contrasted well with Megan's much more direct Coach Bolton, giving us the other side of the ongoing battle between the arts and sport at East High. Both Catherine and Megan suited their respective roles extremely well. Alice C as science teacher Ms Tenny also suited the role well, completing the trio of East High staff.

The ensemble of Jaylen R, Lillia B, Martha W, Matilda C, Amber D, Felyzitee S and Isla K cannot go without mention. In a production such as High School Musical JR., the ensemble has a great deal to do and is essential in creating the energy and atmosphere of East High. Whether as Wildcats, students or supporting the larger musical numbers, they contributed enormously to the overall production.

Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this first Artrix Youth Theatre production to the stage, whether performing, working as part of the production team or supporting the show backstage. Every contribution plays its part in getting a production in front of an audience and everyone involved should be proud of what was achieved.

This may have been Artrix Youth Theatre's first production, but thankfully it is certainly not going to be their last. I already look forward to returning for A Night at the Musicals in January and then Trolls the Musical JR. in May 2027.

A very warm welcome to NODA, Artrix Youth Theatre. I look forward to seeing you all again very soon.

Andy Brown, Regional Councillor NODA West Midlands

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