Teens get some big city experience with musical

The adventures of Gabriella and Troy are taking center stage right now with the release this past Friday of "High School Musical 2," a sequel to the popular Disney movie "High School Musical."

"HSM" mania really hit home for 14 area young people, who recently took to the stage as extras in the Broadway in Chicago stage production of "High School Musical" at the LaSalle Bank Theatre in downtown Chicago.

"It was really amazing," said 14-year-old David Gotfryd of Batavia.

As the Broadway in Chicago Web site puts it, "HSM" tells the "tale of two teens --Troy Bolton, super-popular captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella Montez, super-smart transfer student and a genius in science class -- who try to navigate the tricky currents of peer pressure to follow their dream and score the leads in the big school show."

The local young actors appeared in the show's final scene as part of the high school's Wildcat Pep Squad, sitting in the bleachers during a basketball game and cheering on the players.

"They were able to interact with the actors. There was a lot of improv and ad libbing, and dance and sing-along," said Tracy Whiteside, education coordinator at Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run in St. Charles.

Noble Fool provided the vital connection between the Fox Valley and the Chicago stage. The young actors all had been associated with either a production or camp/workshop at Noble Fool Theatricals, which put on a successful run of "HSM" in late 2006.

Officials at Disney (who licensed the show) knew of Noble Fool's production and worked through Broadway in Chicago to see if young Noble Fool thespians would like to participate in being in the stage version for a week of shows, Whiteside said.

The teens had to commit to be in all eight shows for the week.

What was the best thing about being in a mainstream, downtown Chicago show? Gotfryd had a hard time selecting just one aspect of the experience.

"Maybe just being on stage, seeing the professional actors, seeing the whole audience and how big the crowd was ... the experience was amazing," he said.

"It was really fun," agreed Rachel Whiteside, 15, a student at St. Charles East High School.

The students interacted with the pros backstage, as well as onstage.

"We got to help out and clap and get into it," Rachel said.

The teens I talked to all specifically mentioned that the professional actors were warm and welcoming to the local extras.

"Everyone was really nice and friendly. They made us all feel important and welcome, and that we were doing something really important for the show there," said Nadia Pelletier of Winfield, who played a cheerleader in Noble Fool's "HSM" production.

"I learned a lot just watching them," she said. "I learned to always be high-energy while on stage and to keep smiling, because you never know who's out there watching you. And I learned to treat every show like it's the best one or the last one."

"I liked, personally, being on a professional stage and meeting all the actors," said Dan Velisek of Geneva, an incoming freshman at Geneva High School.

He also enjoyed being backstage and seeing how everything worked from that side of the curtain.

"It was a great experience for the kids," Tracy Whiteside said. "To be on stage with the national touring company is a very rare experience for any kid. Our kids were really able to experience theater in a huge venue with really amazing actors and singers, and feel what it's like to be in a Broadway show."

Noble Fool Theatricals was one of the first local theater groups in the metro area to stage "HSM."

The success of that show has led to the development of a full education program at Pheasant Run, including classes in a variety of areas, plus additional youth ensemble productions. More information is available at www.noblefool.org.

Other Noble Fool students who performed in Chicago were Alex Adams, Megan Gill and Sarah Beth Rabin of St. Charles; Hannah Krusinger, Emily Sanderson of Naperville; Carissa Gouskos and Sami Lauf of Carol Stream; Sonia El-Sherif, Wayne; and Mary Geraci and Victoria Geraci of South Barrington.

All four students I talked to have performed in various other theatrical venues, such as First Street Playhouse in Batavia and Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles. They're looking ahead to other opportunities, as well.

"I'm going to try out for every play at Batavia High School, especially the musicals. I love doing drama," said Gotfryd, who begins his freshman year at Batavia High School this week.

Velisek also hopes to perform in shows at Geneva High School, as well as with community theater groups. Pelletier just finished working this weekend on Noble Fool's "School House Rock Live."

And while looking ahead to other productions, other footlights, the students won't forget this dip into the world of professional theater.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Whiteside. Then she added with a laugh, "Well, hopefully not only once in a lifetime -- but for now."