This year’s musical is one that most of Gen Z knows by heart — making it a nostalgic classic for many and bringing students a show they’ve always wanted.
Eudora High School’s performance of “High School Musical” opens this week.
After years of students asking if the school would ever do this show, Director Allison Enneking decided to make their dreams come true. Although it’s a well-known movie, every cast brings a different attitude to the roles, making every performance unique, she said.
This year’s cast is not sticking to the status quo — rather they’re expanding their on-screen and off-screen characters by playing high schoolers who aren’t necessarily like themselves.
With the show focused on being yourself and making friends with those you wouldn’t expect to be friends with, the themes hit close to home for the cast.
Sophomore Aubrey Turner is newer to the district. She considers herself outgoing and opinionated but is playing the shy Gabriella. In some ways, she relates to her character, but in others she’s different, making it a fun role for her, she said.
Senior Isabella Luchsinger-Cuevas is playing Sharpay, meaning she gets to wear countless fun outfits and be her character’s snooty-self, she said. She’s looking forward to continuing to expand on her sassiness from last year’s musical when she was Lucy in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
Chad Bishop, playing Troy, said this musical presented new challenges since it’s a much larger cast than last year – but he also said that makes it a lot more fun.
“I’m excited to show people what I can do. Last year, I was Charlie Brown in the musical, so I also had a lot of fun being able to just show up to practice, sing and do what I like to do. And this year was just so much fun, especially since we got a bigger cast, there’s a lot, like, more factors that go into it,” he said.
Seeing students making connections also makes it special, Enneking said.
“It’s always interesting to see kids that I know from watching them at school during the day, kids that don’t normally interact totally in a typical school day, interacting here in musical rehearsal,” Enneking said. “Sometimes you see those relationships that are built here through musical rehearsal trickle into school, which always makes me really happy.”
The cast hopes to leave the audience, especially kids who are yet to go to high school, knowing that it’s okay to step out of your comfort zone and be “weird.”
“This show taught me that it’s okay to be weird sometimes. Like the premise of the word weird, it made me think more about it,” Bishop said. “The whole point of the show is just like stepping out of your box, and it’s definitely helped me kind of realize that I really shouldn’t care what other people think.”
Everyone has a different experience in high school, and Luchsinger-Cuevas said she hopes people realize they can do any activities the school offers even if it doesn’t fit their usual hobbies.
Shows will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 16, at the high school auditorium.
Tickers are $10 at the door and $5 for students K-12.
The annual final dress rehearsal following the senior citizen luncheon will be Thursday. Doors will open at 10 a.m. and the meal will follow at 11 a.m. in the cafeteria. The show will begin at noon. People need to RSVP by Monday, Nov. 11, to Nicole Parks at [email protected] or at 785-542-34987 ext. 1118. The lunch and show are free.
The cast hopes people come see the show, especially since so many love the movie and can share in the nostalgia.
“No matter what’s going on in your life, come enjoy the show,” Bishop said. “Just be there in the moment.”
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
