Palos South entertains with High School Musical production

Palos South Middle School students charmed sold out crowds with songs including “We’re All in This Together,” and “Get’cha Head in the Game,” last Friday and Saturday night at Stagg High School with their performance of Disney’s “High School Musical, Jr.”

Headlining the cast of over 70 students were Hannah Jaglinski (Gabriella Montez), Liam McCarthy (Troy Bolton), Kaitlyn Kenney (Sharpay Evans), and Zach Richards (Ryan Evans).

Palos South language arts teacher Stephanie Hill directed a student cast and crew of over 110, with school psychologist Katie Djikas as assistant director. Musical direction was provided by Bill Hansen, and art direction by Randy Buvala; both teachers at Palos South.

In the popular contemporary musical comedy, a popular high school basketball star (Troy) and a shy, academically gifted newcomer (Gabriella) discover they share a secret love for singing. They sign up to audition for the lead roles in the school musical, and it threatens East High's social hierarchy and sends their classmates into an uproar.

High School Musical, Jr illustrates “that it is okay to not fit neatly into one label and to be unique individuals,” said Director Hill. “It can be hard to have great confidence in yourself at this age of confusion, but it’s nice to know that ‘we’re all in this together.’“

Production began in September with auditions, and by January the cast and crew were working three and four days a week bringing the musical to life. All proceeds from the musical benefit Palos South’s Drama Club, as well as purchasing rights to next year’s production.