The East Central Community College Players will present their spring musical selection, “High School Musical,” at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 25-27, in the Vickers Fine Arts Center Auditorium on the Decatur campus. Matinee performances are scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, March 23-24. Tickets are $10 for the night performances and $5 for the matinees and may be purchased by calling the College switchboard at 601-635-2111 or toll free 1-877-462-3222.
In this stage version of the hit Disney television movie, basketball player Troy Bolton (Drew Harrison of Little Rock) and braniac Gabriella Montez (Casey Rowzee of Newton) sing their way into the lead roles of the East High musical, much to the dismay of drama diva Sharpay Evans (Jessie Harrison of Little Rock) and her brother, Ryan (Colton Amis of Decatur).
Additional cast members include Jared Mullins (Chad Danforth), Tupelo; Zack Hutson (Zeke Baylor), McComb; Polly Vaughn (Taylor McKessie), Monica Vincent (Martha Cox) and Gunnar Gentry (Mongo), all of Decatur; Lance Goodin (Ripper) and Kelsey Hill (Kelsi Neilson), both of Nanih Waiya; J’Markus Dubose (Jack Scott), Union; and Cody Walters (Coach Bolton) and Holly Webb (Ms. Darbus), both of Forest.
Chorus members include Ashley Amis and Celia Boggan, both of Decatur; Lindsey Bishop, Sebastopol; Brandon Boulton, Hickory; Carla Cook, Jackson; Danielle Eiland, Louisville; Sami Elkins, Marissa Gordy and Jennifer Moore, all of Forest; Will Emmons, Lake; Brennan Graves, Lena; Josh Jarriel, Meredith McKee, D’Angelo Stribling and Liz Withers, all of Philadelphia; Courtney Lanier, Little Rock; Adrienne McDill, Newton; Tamara McPhail, Pelahatchie; and Brandy Talbert, House.
Also assisting with the production are crew members Ryan Gillis, Little Rock; Jesus Martinez and Ben Stewart, both of Grenada; and Alejandro Chavez, New Albany.
Serving her third year as theater director is Joan Grimes of Union, who also serves as Director of Tech Prep Education. Vicki Blaylock of Newton, ECCC choral director/music instructor, serves as vocal director. The band includes ECCC music keyboard instructors Natalie Emmons (piano) of Lake and Len Bobo (piano) of Meridian; assistant band director Jared Brownlee (percussion) of Meridian; and ABE/GED Examiner Ryan Clarke (bass guitar) and Fine Arts Division Chairperson and Director of Bands Tom Carson (guitar), both of Decatur. Set designer is art instructor Chris Brady.