• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

The Official Student Paper of Riverside Poly High School

Casting decisions for High School Musical spark controversy

Mar 3, 2015

CONFLICT: Inexperienced students land lead roles in Poly’s upcoming play, causing contention in the theater community.

By Emily Hughes, Staff Writer

Since its release in 2006, the movie High School Musical has made a long-lasting impression on children and teens all over the world. The movie remains one of the most successful Disney movies ever produced, and since then, two more installments—High School Musical 2 and High School Musical 3—have been created. Poly High School is harnessing the power of that movie and will be putting on its play version this spring. Despite the excitement surrounding the production, the casting choices for this play have caused some unrest amongst Poly theater students.

One of the lead characters in this play, Gabriella Montez, is an intelligent transfer student who tries out for the lead part in her new school’s musical. In Poly’s production of this play, Gabriella will be played by both Amber Leigh Sands (12) and Caitlyn McCain (12). McCain is the president of Poly’s Drama Club and has participated in a total of ten Poly plays. “This is my last show and I get to portray a character that is well-known and loved; it is a fantastic opportunity,” McCain expressed. This will be Sands’ first production. Sands is excited for this role, mentioning, “I’ve always wanted to be Gabriella Montez as a character, and my dreams are actually coming true! I don’t think I can explain how excited I am!”

Some Poly theater students were unhappy with the choice to give Sands the lead role. A Poly theater student expressed her opinion on Sands’ motives, stating, “[Sands] went into it thinking that she would get the lead. She did work hard, but she only wants it for the title. She’s not doing it because she has a passion for theater.”

Sands is aware of the discontent amongst Poly theater students, but she isn’t allowing it to affect her positive attitude. “I’m sure there are people that are disappointed or upset that someone from the theater program didn’t get a lead and I did. And I totally understand why they may be upset, but I think everyone who auditioned gave it their all and worked really hard for it. I know I came in just trying to do my very best, and I’m just thankful to have earned a lead role,” Sands stated.

Not only were some Poly students upset with casting Sands as a lead, but many were also upset they did not receive larger parts. “I think everyone that didn’t get a lead is disappointed that they didn’t get one,” noted Poly theater student Ellie Walter (11). Walter explained that she was a little upset to have not gotten a lead, but she also mentioned that she believed the theater director Mr. Christopher MarkerMorse “made the choices he made for a reason, and the people that aren’t happy with it need to learn how to be happy with it.” Another passionate theater student, Hannahbelle Swartzel-Rausch (12), received the part of an interpretive dancer after trying out for Ms. Darbus, the theater director in High School Musical. Swartzel-Rausch explained that when she learned she did not get the part, she was at first a little disappointed, but she later noted that, “that’s just the nature of any audition.”

Swartzel-Rausch also mentioned that when it came to casting inexperienced students as lead roles, she understood both sides of the argument. “It’s good to bring in new students, but a lot of upperclassmen have worked really hard for the past four years and feel invalidated,” she said. Alexys Carrasco (12), who will be playing Ms. Darbus, said, “I know there was a lot of controversy over the casting, but people need to respect the decisions of the director. The people who got cast as leads earned those roles and they should be congratulated!” Another Poly theater student, James Gjurgevich (11), expressed that he didn’t mind casting inexperienced students. “Casting from a small pool of students can be limiting and difficult, so why not open it up to as many as possible?” he said.

Poly theater student Brandon Hardin (11) mentioned that he was aware of the controversy as well, but said, “People need to remember the whole plot of High School Musical.” Hardin explained that in the play and movie, Gabriella and Troy Bolton, the leading male character, were both inexperienced non-theater students who earned lead roles in their play. Therefore, it is somewhat fitting that inexperienced Poly students get lead roles in High School Musical as well, Hardin continued. Hardin also expressed that the dissatisfaction amongst theater students reminded him of Sharpay Evans, another character in High School Musical. Sharpay is depicted as an avid theater student with a love of singing, and in the play, she immediately becomes jealous when Gabriella receives that lead role, while Sharpay becomes the understudy. “People didn’t handle the cast the way they should have. It was like we were all Sharpay,” Hardin said.

MarkerMorse explained his decision-making process with the words, “With every big musical we do each year, no matter what it is, […] we try to cast our net much wider to bring in a bunch of people. There are so many people in our program that came in via the big musical we do, [people] that get hooked.”  MarkerMorse also commented on the unrest within the theater community, stating, “Many of the people who are saying those things about the outsiders were the outsiders themselves not too long ago and should have some sympathy and empathy [because of] that.”

Though some Poly theater members are upset about these decisions, others believe that MarkerMorse chose the best student for each role. “I put all of my faith in MarkerMorse because all of his shows are phenomenal and he is a great director,” Hardin said.

Translate »