Singing, dancing and dreaming big

Disney's popular 'High School Musical' is going from TV to the stage, and the area's youth have a chance to be a part of it

RALEIGH -- Amarachi Anakaraonye, an Enloe High School student, stares intently as choreographer Tito Hernandez demonstrates a series of dance moves on the stage of Fletcher Opera Theater.

She mimics Hernandez's movements over and over, her anxiety hidden behind a thousand-watt smile.

Amarachi needs to strike a balance between technical accuracy and pizazz if she hopes to land a role in the Triangle's first production of Disney's "High School Musical."

And as anyone in the know about school kids or theater can tell you, there's nothing hotter right now than "High School Musical." From its debut as a Disney Channel movie last year, it has sold scores of CDs and DVDs, made stars of its young cast and spawned a couple of sequels.

Now, "High School Musical" is coming to stages nationwide. Disney released the rights immediately to school groups and amateur theaters, bypassing the usual route of a Broadway run, tours and professional productions. On the first day the rights were available, Music Theatre International received about 3,000 applications, an unprecedented number.

As No. 34 among 155 hopefuls for the cast of the local production, Amarachi's chances are good. Fewer performers showed up at Sunday's auditions than co-producer William Jones had expected.

In the Triangle, the professional N.C. Theatre and Broadway Series South joined forces to stage this amateur production, which will run April 25 - 29 at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh.

Clustered in groups throughout the Fletcher lobby Sunday, the crowd of mostly teens and young adults stretches and giggles, hugs and sings the show's theme song over and over, sounding like a collection of broken records.

Many of those auditioning say they're big fans of the movie, about a female math whiz and a male basketball jock who join forces to oust the reigning drama king and queen and nab lead roles in their school musical. Sure, the plot is hokey, auditioners agree. But it captures well the politics of high school life.

"There is this whole thing where you stick to the status quo," says Amarachi, a sophomore. "You stick to your group, whether you're a jock or a prep or whatever. But as the musical shows, in the end we can all come together and be one and get away from the differences."

A role, any role

Most of the performers say they'd be thrilled with any role, including a small ensemble part. But when pushed to name favorites, the boys opt for the romantic lead, Troy, while the girls pick the mean drama queen, Sharpay, rather than sweet-natured heroine Gabriella.

"She's, like, amazing," says Kassy Edwards, 14, an eighth-grader at Centennial Campus Middle School in Raleigh. "She's witchy, and that's what's funny. She's not all innocent like Gabriella."

Sunday's auditions go on for hours, with performers dancing in large and then small groups, then singing alone and returning to dance again.

After each round, the tension rises. The lobby quiets to a whisper as N.C. Theatre general manager Carolee Baxter calls out the assigned numbers of those chosen to proceed to the next round. Scattered cheers punctuate her recitations.

"Yes!" yells the stocky Jeffrey Vizcaino, 20, after hearing his number called. "A fat kid made it!"

Those who made the final cuts Sunday will return for callbacks tonight.

Amarachi will be among them. Jessica Castillo isn't so lucky. The dance was hard, says the 13-year-old Exploris Middle School student, and there wasn't enough time to learn it. Jessica took it well, asking Baxter how she could improve.

Victoria Kite also made the callbacks. But she isn't as invested in the outcome as most. The Raleigh 18-year-old doesn't want to be a star. She only wants to impress her little sisters.

"If there's any way I can get in," she says, "I'll be the coolest person ever."