Aloha Performing Arts Company

"We're All In This Together" is one of the numbers in "Disney's High School Musical," currently in rehearsal at the Aloha Theatre, a production of Aloha Performing Arts Company's Aloha Teen Theatre. The phrase also describes the 30 member cast, which represents eleven local schools. The show will run December 12 through 21, and is headed up by first time director Caitlynne Johnson, assisted by Kirsten Hamar, and first time producer Jaquelynn Collier, with music direction by Delaney Ross and choreography by Miss Junior Teen Kona Coffee Katelyn Howard, assisted by Isaac Dwyer. The setting is East High School, in an unnamed state, where the school sports team is called the Wildcats and the school musical is called "Juliet and Romeo."

The starring roles of Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez are played by husband and wife team Diego and Cherish Rodriguez. Sharpay and Ryan Evans, the brother and sister act who head up the school's drama club, are played by APAC veteran BriAnna Johnson and newcomer Micah DeAguiar, respectively. Troy's basketball buddy Chad Danforth is played by Ryan Reynolds, and his romantic interest, the lead "brainiac" Taylor McKessie, is played by Delaney Ross. Kelsi Neilson, the composer of the school musical, is played by reigning Miss Teen Kona Coffee, Kaitlin Uemura. Zeke Baylor is played by Joshua Yong, and Martha Cox is played by Constance Zapataoliva. Tyler Wood plays Ripper, Alec Lugo plays the school DJ Jack Scott, Melissa Fenton plays the eccentric drama teacher Ms. Darbus, and Andrew Williamson plays Troy's father, Coach Bolton. Other jocks, cheerleaders, thespians, skaters, brainacs, and drama clubbers include Jason Fowler, Isaac Dwyer, Eden Hershberger, Ben Perreira, Levi Aguilera, Korey Tippins, Jenna Souther, Adora Omodt, Mia Kriebl-Bruno, Hero Wooching, Erin Zagorodney, Chamika Fujioka, Amanda Nelson, Raisa Klyne, Alexander Miyashiro, Katelyn Howard, and Jaquelynn Collier.

"Disney's High School Musical," by David Simpatico and Bryan Louiselle, with additional songs by Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil, Ray Cham, Greg Cham, Andrew Seeley, Randy Petersen, Kevin Quinn, Andy Dodd, Adam Watts, David N. Lawrence, Faye Greenberg, and Jamie Houston, is based on a Disney Channel Original Movie, written by Peter Barsocchini. APAC's Aloha Teen Theatre production is partially funded by a grant from the John M. Ross foundation, and will be presented at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu December 12 through 21. Thursday and Friday shows are at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays feature a "double header," with performances at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are reserved seating and are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors, with Thursday performances featuring all seats at $10. Tickets are available at the box office beginning one hour before curtain, by phone at 322-1648, or online at www.apachawaii.org. For more information, call the APAC office at 322-9924.

11/20/08