HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL JR Principal Cast GR 6-12 

Disney Channel's smash hit movie musical comes to life on your stage in Disney’s High School Musical JR. Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extra curricular activities. 

Director: Savannah Knight Meigs
Tuition: $475 includes souvenir cast t-shirt - tuition assistance available - APPLY ONLINE
Payment plans are available for High School Musical JR tuition during checkout. Tuition for High School Musical JR must be paid in full by June 30, 2025.
Rehearsals: Mon-Fri July 14-18 and 21-25, 9:00am-4:00pm
Performances: Friday, July 25th 8pm, Saturday, July 26th 2pm and 7pm, Sunday, July 27th 2pm. 
Cast members must be available for ALL performances to be cast in this production.
Min age: Entering 6th grade Fall 2025.
Max age: Students can participate until they turn 19. Seniors graduating June 2025 ARE eligible for this production.

It’s the first day after winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes all find their cliques. Basketball team captain and resident jock, Troy, discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. The couple cause an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical. Although many students resent the threat posed to the "status quo," Troy and Gabriella’s alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well.
 

Principal Cast:
All registered students will be cast in this production. Prior theatre experience is not required! Individual auditions for new and returning students will be held July 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 8th. Group auditions will be held July 9th. Students who are unable to attend in-person auditions will be asked to submit a video audition. No matter what role they play in this production, all students will have a great time in this intense, jam-packed, two-week musical theatre camp experience! Sign up early, as space is limited!
 

Rehearsal Conflicts:
Cast members must submit any conflicts with the rehearsal schedule. In this condensed rehearsal format, attendance is critical for a successful theatre experience. Rehearsal conflicts must be submitted via the Conflicts Survey Form no later than July 9th. Rehearsal conflicts will not be accepted for Wed-Fri, July 23, 24, 25. Students must also be available for ALL performances. Students will NOT be included in the cast list if they have not responded to the Conflicts Survey Form.

Additional absences not submitted via the Conflicts Survey BEFORE CASTING will be considered unexcused. If a cast member has any unexcused absences, they jeopardize their participation in a scene, their role in the cast, or their participation in the production. Illness and/or family emergencies are considered excused if advance notice is provided. However, an excessive number of excused absences (may include a prolonged illness) may also affect a cast member's role or level of participation in the production, at the sole discretion of the artistic director.

Parent Volunteer Hours:
Families are required to volunteer at least 8 hours per cast member for this production or to buy out the required volunteer hours at $15 per hour. Volunteer opportunities include helping make costumes, set painting, set building, costume or prop shopping, providing supervision at dress rehearsals and performances, ushering at performances, etc.

Show tickets: $15 adult $12 students and seniors available online beginning Sunday, July 13th.

Audition Information: Students may sign up for their Individual audition appointments after they have registered for the production. A Google Doc with all of the audition information, including a link to sign up for individual auditions and group auditions will be included in the registration confirmation email.  

UCYT Summer Stock Refund Policy 
UCYT Casting Policy

Is everyone required to audition?

Answer: This depends on a few things.

1. Is this your first UCYT production? If yes, you are encouraged but not required to prepare an individual audition. However, you must attend the group audition.
 

2. Have you been in the principal cast of a UCYT production before? If so, you are required to prepare an individual audition AND attend the group auditions

3. Would you like to be considered for a specific role? If so, you are required to prepare an individual audition and attend group auditions. This requirement is the same whether this is your first UCYT production or you have been in the principal cast of a previous production at UCYT.

Character Breakdown

Gabriella Montez

Gabriella Montez is the new student who’s struggling to find her place at East High. She’s a Renaissance woman who doesn’t fully identify with any of the cliques, and so she’s taking her time – and realizing her confidence – along the way. Smart and independent, Gabriella can be shy and vulnerable at times. She comes into her own when she discovers her talent and love for singing with Troy, so look for a strong actor with a fantastic voice.
 

Troy Bolton

Troy Bolton, the most popular student at East High, is the star of the basketball team who yearns to be more than what others – especially his dad, Coach Bolton – want him to be. A natural athlete and leader with charm to spare, Troy discovers he loves to sing, but is afraid to admit it to his basketball buddies. Look for a solid actor who can convey the full range of Troy’s emotions from sensitive to self-assured, and who can dance and sing very well. Consider auditioning your potential Troys and Gabriellas together to get a sense of the pair’s dynamic.
 

Sharpay Evans

Sharpay Evans is the dramatic and self- centered star of the school musicals. Between her and Ryan, she’s the alpha twin – over-the-top, demanding, and always “on,” with a flair for the theatrical. This diva knows how to work a crowd, so cast a performer with solid acting chops and strong singing and dancing skills.
 

Ryan Evans

Ryan Evans is Sharpay’s fraternal twin and, like her, he lives to sing, dance, and get loads of attention. Subordinate to his sister, Ryan generally follows Sharpay’s orders and lets her have the spotlight, but he longs to break free from her shadow and assert himself. Choose a “triple threat” for this actor – strong singer, dancer, and actor – because everything Ryan does is calculated and executed impeccably. Consider auditioning Ryan and Sharpay in pairs as the success of “Bop to the Top” depends on this dynamic duo performing perfectly – and with a ton of energy.
 

Kelsi Nielsen

Kelsi Nielsen, the neo-feminist writer- composer of the winter musical, Juliet and Romeo, possesses a shy demeanor but no tolerance for the egocentric likes of Sharpay. With only one lyric to sing, focus on finding a strong actor who can play the compassionate underdog with intelligence and an uncanny ability to shoot zingers at Sharpay with timing and accuracy.

Chad Danforth

Chad Danforth, one of Troy’s best friends, is a sports fanatic. Focused on winning the basketball championship, Chad slowly begins to understand that there might be more to life than ball – including his crush on Taylor. Look for an actor that partners naturally with Troy, is a leader of his own accord, and can handle a couple of short solos and acting scenes.
 

Zeke Baylor

Zeke Baylor, Troy’s other best buddy, is a basketball player with a sweet side. He has two secrets: a crush on Sharpay and a love for baking! Look for an actor with some singing chops who can portray this Wildcat with no shame in his (basketball or baking) game. Zeke has some higher parts to sing, so if necessary, the actor you cast can speak-sing parts that may be out of his natural range.

Taylor Mckessie

Taylor McKessie, the very put-together president of the Science Club, is super-assertive and very intent on Gabriella joining the Science Decathlon team so they can (finally!) win the competition. Taylor has a hidden soft spot for Chad, but would never let it be known that she’s into a jock, so cast a performer who can portray confidence – and just a slight air of pretentiousness.

Ms. Darbus

Ms. Darbus is East High’s eccentric drama teacher. Passionate and disciplined, she never stops trying to enrich the lives of her students through the wonders of live theater. Look for a performer who knows how to milk every line and gesture for this role, as the key to Darbus is in her killer comic timing. Be careful of making her too wacky, though; this educator genuinely loves her art and her students, so make sure her heart shines through.
 

Coach Bolton

Coach Bolton, the stern basketball coach and Troy’s sometimes overbearing dad, lost the big game years ago and wants a second chance through his basketball-star son. Cast an actor who can handle the demands of this mature role – and who can convincingly and comically spar with Ms. Darbus.
 

Martha Cox

Martha Cox, a proud member of the Science Club, possesses a private passion for break dancing. Look for a truly terrific dancer who can sing, or one who can comically approach the role as a super-enthusiastic, but talentless, dancer.
 

Ensemble

The BRAINIACS, headed by Taylor McKessie, are the smartest girls and boys in school, including Martha Cox and the change-adverse KRATNOFF.

The JOCKS and CHEERLEADERS are the East High athletes, including Troy, Chad, and Zeke.

The THESPIANS are the drama lovers, including Kelsi, Sharpay, and Ryan, as well as the following auditionees: CATHY, who belts like Ethel Merman, CYNDRA, the opera-lover, JAMES, who can’t sing on pitch and SUSAN, the wannabe pop star.

The PARTY KIDS are students in Troy and Gabriella’s karaoke flashback.

The REBELS, including Troy and Gabriella, don’t stick to the status quo, unlike the various school cliques.

Other featured performers include:

JACK SCOTT, the school announcer with a larger-than-life personality, longs to be a D.J. Look for an actor who will have no problem making this role his own, creating a quirky radio personality with a unique sense of style.
DRUM MAJOR, who cheers on the Wildcats.

MS. TENNY, East High’s chemistry teacher.
MODERATOR, for the Science Decathlon