HSM Cast Favorites
As of Saturday, February 12th, 2022, Dakota’s production of High School Musical came to a close. The talented group put on eight astounding performances, blowing everyone away. They put an immense amount of work and dedication into the production, and built strong family-like bonds with the cast. In honor of a great show, here are some of their favorite moments.
Interviewees: Bianca Cabarios (Gabriella Montez), Rachel Cushard (Gabriella Montez) Kristina Fusco (Ms. Darbus), Jeff Garrant (Jack Scott), Amanda Harvey (Ensemble), Brendan Hindle (James), Nya Jones (Taylor), Chris Laubach (Troy Bolton), Adalyna Mislevy (Sharpay Evans), and Andrew Palmer (Ryan Evans).
1.) Favorite Moment on/off Stage?
Brendan Hindle: “Just spending time with the people. It was so fun with them.”
Rachel Cushard: “My favorite moment was when we were running our first full dress rehearsal and we got to see the confetti fall for the first time. It made everything feel real. It hit me in that moment how special this show is and how hard the whole cast worked for this.”
Nya Jones: “Learning the mega mix. It was so much fun!”
Amanda Harvey: “I loved our pre-show pep talks. Also, during the finale, we’d put our hand out, thanking the band and the tech crew. Tech would flash the auditorium lights, which made me smile.”
Adalyna Mislevy: “During Stick to the Status Quo when I was on the balcony. It was always such a surreal moment, you know, with the lights and everything.”
Bianca Cabarios: “Singing with my best friends. Any time I get to sing with my friends I love it.”
Jeff Garrant: “Hanging out with everyone everyday.”
Chris Laubach: “Getcha Head in the Game”
Andrew Palmer: “Learning that I got the part of Ryan Evans. That was very exciting for me.”
Kristina Fusco: “I loved singing backstage with my friends. I miss that.”
2.) Favorite Scene or Song?
Brendan: “The Ball of Noise. We drew it out a few times, but it was always so fun.”
Rachel: “Stick to the Status Quo was super fun to sing and perform!”
Nya: “My favorite song was Auditions! My favorite scene would have to be the Coach Bolton and Troy Bolton fight scene!
Amanda: “I loved the first scene in Ms. Darbus’ homeroom! And my favorite song was the mega mix.”
Adalyna: “Stick to the Status Quo”
Bianca: “Start of Something New (Reprise)”
Jeff: “Bop to the Top”
Chris: “The Troy and Coach fight scene!”
Andrew: “What I’ve Been Looking For” (Sharpay and Ryan)
Kristina: “What I’ve Been Looking For (Reprise)”
3.) Favorite Line from the Show?
Brendan: “Troy boy Troy be cutting the net” (Getcha Head in the Game) or “Just like kindergarten”.
Rachel: “Remember in kindergarten, you’d meet a kid, know nothing about them, then ten seconds later you’re best friends because you didn’t have to be anything but yourself?” (Gabriella to Troy)
Nya: “Be gone! You have no power here!” (Taylor to Sharpay)
Amanda: “I know this year that something has changed.” (Start of Something New)
Adalyna: “You know the world can see us in a way that’s different than who we are.” (Breaking Free)
Bianca: “At my other school, I was the freaky math girl.” (Gabriella)
Jeff: “Red-hot composer babe, Kelsi Nielson” (Jack Scott)
Chris: “Ball up boo-ya boo-ya”
Andrew: “Somebody in this room better chill out sister, and it ain’t me.” (Ryan to Sharpay)
Kristina: “Dunk-a-delic”
4.) Favorite HSM Character?
Brendan: “Ryan Evans.”
Rachel: “Zeke. He provides lightheartedness during heavy moments in the show and has a passion for baking!”
Nya: “Jack Scott”
Amanda: “Ms. Darbus.”
Adalyna: “Ms. Darbus.”
Bianca: “Ms. Darbus and Coach Bolton.”
Jeff: “Ryan Evans.”
Chris: “Ryan Evans.”
Andrew: “Kelsi Nielson.”
Kristina: “Ryan Evans.”
5.) If you could be in any stage show or musical, which would it be?
Brendan: “Hairspray”
Rachel: “I would play Sophie in Mama Mia!”
Nya: “In The Heights”
Amanda: “Phantom of the Opera as Christine.”
Adalyna: “Legally Blonde as Elle Woods. It’s always been a dream role!”
Bianca: “I’d want to be Vanessa in In the Heights.”
Jeff: “I’d do Something Rotten as Nigel.”
Chris: “Dan in Next to Normal.”
Andrew: “Javert in Les Mis“
6.) What will you miss most about the show?
Brendan: “The people. They made it everything.”
Rachel: “I’ll miss the special feeling that you get on opening night, when you finally perform the show you’ve been working on for months with your best friends, in front of a live audience for the first time.”
Nya: “I’ll miss the rehearsals a lot. It was so fun to put everything together.”
Amanda: “The cast family!”
Adalyna:“The rush of show biz. You’re always running around. I never had a chance to sit down back stage. But it was all so exciting.”
Bianca: “Being in a musical. This was probably my last time, like ever.”
Jeff: “I miss performing with everyone.”
Chris: “The time with the friends that I had made.”
Andrew: “Dancing and performing for the last time.”
Kristina: “Seeing the cast everyday.”
Thank you to the wonderful cast members, and everyone else who helped put on the show! Congratulations on an extraordinary production! Much love to you guys!
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Ella Pulst is a senior at Dakota High School. This is her first year on staff for the Dakota Planet. Her interests include writing, reading, and creating. ...
Barb Schiller • Feb 19, 2022 at 9:43 pm
It was a fantastic musical performance by all. And I loved the interviews of the cast.
Ella Pulst • Feb 28, 2022 at 1:56 pm
They put on such an amazing performance! This article was so much fun to create, and I was so glad to showcase some of the most talented people at Dakota! (and thank you for reading gramma <3)