Take the kids to see "High School Musical 2" at Pheasant Run

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens won't be at the Pheasant Run Resort, but "High School Musical 2" will be performed there for the next few weekends.

The Noble Fool Theatricals youth ensemble has spent six weeks rehearsing for the series of performances, the first of which will be this Saturday, July 18.

"This was a show the kids came to us asking us to do, because they already knew all the words and the dance moves," Noble Fool Theatricals marketing manager Audra Sybert said.

This youth ensemble is an audition-only program for talented performers from the West and Northwest suburbs who have been working with theater professionals to improve their acting skills.

More than 75 people auditioned back in May for 50 possible spots in the show, the most that have ever auditioned for one of the Noble Fool Theatricals' youth ensemble performances.

Many of the kids who will perform in the "High School Musical 2" run of shows regularly perform with the group, including many home-schooled kids, Sybert noted.

Yes, it is somewhat ironic that many home-schooled kids will be performing in a musical based on high schools, but she said it's good for those home-schooled kids to perform with the group.

"For many home-schooled kids in our youth ensemble, this is most of the contact they have with kids their own age," Sybert said.

Darien resident and Glenbard West High School senior Bianca Minniti, 18, will play the lead female, Gabriella, the same role she played in the first High School Musical.

Gabriella's male counterpart, the athletic and popular Troy, will be played by Geneva resident Tyler Vaughn. He has been performing with the youth ensemble on a regular basis since it was founded three years ago as a branch of the professional Noble Fool Theatricals.

Chicago resident Shellee Frazee is directing and choreographing the show, her first experience with the group.

The hall that the main stage is in has 310 seats, all of which has been sold out for the first performance, and tickets for the other performances are selling at a rapid clip.

The show will be presented Saturdays, July 18 and August 8 at 10:30 a.m., July 25 at 1 p.m.; and Sundays, July 19 and 26 at 7 p.m. on the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage.

For details, call the Noble Fool Theatricals box office at (630) 584-6342, or go to the group's Web site at noblefool.org.

The cast

The leading character, Gabriella, will be played by Darien resident, Bianca Minniti, the same young actress that played her three years ago.

Her opposite, Troy, is played by Geneva resident Tyler Vaughn.

Other "High School Musical 2" cast members are from:

St. Charles: Alex Adams, Chase Buntrock, Kevin Chlapecka, Allison Cook, Michael Fairbanks, Amelia Kuhlman, Kat Macdonald, Gabriella Marzetta,

Geneva: Molly Carberry, Natalie Carberry, Ally Carrino, Connor Colbert, Brandon Damore, Krystina DiCristofano, Maddy Donatelli, Jordan Graber, Allison Grischow, Becca Grischow, Josh Harper, Jill Nigh, Becca Olear, Rachael Olear, Alice Paul, Rebecca Roy, Bianca Shaw, Jenna Soldati, Cassidy Van Cleve and Caroline Whittaker.

Batavia: Alison Cruz and Jackie Scheer.

Elgin: Arianna Nutile.

West Chicago: Maegan Daniels and Sara Monteleone.

Palatine: Kelly O'Brien.

Naperville: Hannah Krusinger and Karisa Zdanky.

Wheaton: Mallory Houser.

Winfield: Nadia Pelletier.

Lake Villa: Teaghan Callaway.

Carol Stream: Katie Brazier.

Woodstock: Joey Javan.

Sugar Grove: Leah Richards.

Elburn: Nicole DiSandro and McKenzie McMullan.

The director is Chicago resident, Shellee Frazee.

Musical director is Wayne resident Ken Jones.

  <p class="News"><b>If you go</b></p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>What:</b> Noble Fool Theatricals' youth ensemble performs "High School Musical 2"</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>When:</b> Saturdays, July 18 and August 8 at 10:30 a.m., July 25 at 1 p.m.; and Sundays, July 19 and 26 at 7 p.m.</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Where:</b> Main stage at Pheasant Run Resort, St. Charles</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>How much?</b> $15</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Details:</b> Call the Noble Fool Theatricals box office at (630) 584-6342, or visit <a href="http://noblefool.org" target="new">noblefool.org</a>.</p>