Kids like musicals! They really like them!

I went to see City Youth Players' production of Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL three times last week at the City Playhouse. It was awesome and my wildly talented daughter played Kelsi Neilson, the nerdy "sawed off Sondheim" (although this term was in the movie, it wasn't used in the stage production for some reason...) who writes Juliet and Romeo, the "winter musicale". She was absolutely fabulous! She delivered the show's best line, "Pianist on stage!", with wonderful nerdy enthusiasm.

It was great to be able to see the show a few times to get a good feel for how they transformed the movie onto the stage. They've added a couple of new songs and kept all the songs from the movie (smart choice). The Saturday night I saw the show there were three 9 or 10 year old boys in sports jerseys sitting behind me, and gosh darn it if they weren't singing along word for word to the songs. I heard an excited voice say "oooh, this is my favorite song" right before "Status Quo", and he then proceeded to sing through the entire song. I swear it brought tears to my eyes! Who says young people don't like musicals? Seriously. It wasn't just young girls stampeding for autographs after the show. The boys were elbowing their way in too. At each show they raffled off a Troy Bolton Basketball jersey and let me tell you that was one hot prize! And the mesmerized look on their faces when Troy does basketball-ography for "Get Your Head In The Game" was priceless.

On stage the show uses some familiar set ups. The opening number uses the Wildcats cheer to get everyone on stage, and talking about winter break. Then we meet Troy and Gabriella telling their "different" versions of how they met over winter break (karaoke versus snowboarding). Hmmm...sounds familiar? "Summer Nights" from GREASE anyone? Nicely done, I must say. Then they flash back to the actual karaoke night, and then back to school.

And there is a number called "Cellular Fusion" where everyone is talking on a cell phone about the scandal of Troy and Gabriella getting callbacks. Hmmmm..."The Telephone Hour" from BYE BYE BIRDIE anyone?

And the tryouts for the "winter musicale" used a slowed down version of "Bop To The Top" sung by the chorus a la "I Hope I Get It" from A CHORUS LINE.

It's like that saying, "there's no such thing as an old joke, just old people. To someone young, every joke is new." Brilliant.

One scene showed a particularly elegant transformation from screen to stage. Near the end of the show Troy is at the basketball playoffs, the auditions are taking place, and Gabriella is at the science decathalon, all at the same time. They bounce back and forth beautifully to show what's going on at the same time. And the use of Jack Scott "The velvet fog of East High" to do announcements between scenes was also genius. It helps everyone know what's going on, and gives time for scene changes. Sweet.

One thing I noticed about the show, that seems to appeal to kids, is that it is a very clearly message-oriented piece. It's like the show has no qualms whatsoever about be a tad "preachy" and teaching a lesson, and the kids love it. It's not a "subtle" message at all (we're all in this together, we're special in our own way). I think perhaps kids enjoy a straightforward message with clear parameters. Whodathunkit!

Way to go guys -- Slam Dunk Disney! And Nothin' But Net City Youth Players!

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