The stage is set, the Wildcats are ready, and the curtain is about to rise on a production that’s sure to have audiences singing and dancing in their seats. Windsor Light Music Theatre (WLMT) is bringing the beloved Disney Channel movie High School Musical to life with their upcoming production of High School Musical Jr., directed by Rod Turton. The show runs this weekend at École secondaire l’Essor in Tecumseh.
“Our production takes all of the magic from the beloved Disney Channel movie, combines it with the iconic songs and dance numbers from the stage show, and brings it all to life with the energy of our performers,” Turton explains. “It truly delivers everything the audience (especially our millennial audience members) love about the movie, and sprinkles in the theatre spectacle that people come to expect from WLMT productions.”
High School Musical Jr. follows the story of Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, and the other students of East High as they navigate the challenges of love, friendship, and balancing their academic and extracurricular activities. The show features infectious, danceable songs that are sure to engage audiences of all ages.
“Regardless of where or when you attended high school, or to what ‘clique’ you may have conformed, the long-reaching lessons we all experience in high school are universal – find who you are, and be yourself,” Turton says. “These are precisely the lessons that are illustrated in High School Musical. It’s amazing to me how the lessons and relatability of High School Musical are as pure and as resonating with the young cast members today as they were when I first saw the original Disney channel movie when I was in high school.”
The production showcases the talented members of WLMT’s Youth Performance Program, a skill-based program aimed at inspiring and training the next generation of Windsor Light’s performers. Turton, who has been building the program for the past 8 years, takes great pride in nurturing young talent in the Windsor community.
“The Youth Performance Program offers a challenging, but well-rounded approach to nurturing the WLMT membership of tomorrow,” Turton explains. “By deliberately tailoring the experience of each cast member, we are able to foster individualized growth, while working towards a collective goal.”
Bringing High School Musical Jr. to the stage has been a collaborative effort among the creative team, which includes choreographer Roger Wellington and music director Mackenzie Walsh. Together, they have worked to bring the iconic musical numbers to life and showcase the talents of the young performers.
“From a technical perspective, audiences can expect to be transported to East High from the very first note to the final buzzer,” Turton says. “It took our team of approximately 30 adult volunteers to construct each facet of our show from lights, to paint, to costumes, and I am immensely grateful for their tireless dedication to making sure our Wildcats are ready for game day.”
The production also features standout performances from Logan Payne as Troy Bolton and Natalie Introcaso as Gabriella Montez, two young actors who Turton has worked with since they were very young. “Seeing their growth as they gear up to take on these main roles is proof that theatre is life-changing,” he says.
“I hope that, 18 years after its release, our production can inspire audiences to think back to their own magical high school days, just like its predecessors Grease, Hairspray, and others, have before it,” Turton notes. “Whether the audience members know the story and the characters or not, they are sure to fall in love with the lessons that we present, and be captivated by the timeless phenomenon that is High School Musical.”
High School Musical Jr. will be performed at École secondaire l’Essor in Tecumseh on April 13th at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, and on April 14th at 2:00 pm. The show runs approximately 75 minutes and is suitable for audiences of all ages.
