Kids can get cast in the roles of Disney’s ‘High School Musical'
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Since 2006, there hasn’t been a bigger kids' movie than "High School Musical," with today’s youth relating to the tale of Troy and Gabriella, who can’t decide whether or not to break away from their cliques and tryout for their, well, high school musical.
Locally, the Sandusky State Theatre is hoping to capitalize on the nationwide mania– which led to the popular “High School Musical 2” and upcoming feature film “High School Musical 3” — in a special way.
The “High School Musical” Theatre Camp, which begins July 28 and culminates with live performances on Aug. 13 and 14, is geared toward 11 to 17-year-old aspiring actors and singers.
“It’s a process-geared camp so the kids have a good time,” said Sandusky State Theatre Executive Director Thomas Kazmierczak.
“So the kids can come, learn theater skills, play the roles and get cast in the roles of Disney’s ‘High School Musical.’
"It takes place at the State Theatre, so they can perform on a professional stage. Just like if you were on the basketball team where you go to a professional venue for a competition, you now get to perform on a professional stage. And being a processed camp, everyone – regardless of talent – is welcome to be in the theater.”
Hoping to have a cast of roughly 50 eager kids, the “High School Musical” Theatre Camp was the idea of Kazmierczak, who saw the sing-along movie as the perfect vehicle to bring kids into the theater.
It’s part of the five-year plan of the State Theatre to bring educational programs for youth to the theater,” Kazmierczak said.
“These kids will be the new audience in the future of the State Theatre. And you never know, some of these kids may be future stars and it would always be nice to have them come back to the State Theatre.”
So far the response has been positive, with Kazmierczak saying parents are signing up their kids for various reasons, including a youngster’s love of musical theater to simply the need for an extracurricular summertime activity.
As far as staging a children’s music theater production, the biggest challenge is already completed.
“The kids know the material,” Kazmierczak said.
“So we’re not teaching them something off the wall. We’re not teaching them how they experience ‘High School Musical.’ Most of them know it already.”
Already there is talk of staging another “High School Musical” Theatre Camp next year, with “High School Musical 2” being produced for teenagers, and other Disney shows (“Cinderella” or “Sleeping Beauty” are possibilities) for the younger kids.
When asked what message he’s hoping is being sent by the inaugural “High School Musical” Camp, Kazmierczak said, “If the theater is being accessible to the community, we’d like the community to be accessible to the theater with something for everyone.”
