Plantsbrook High School Musical: ‘We’re all in this together’ – that’s the best-known song from High School Musical… and dozens of talented youngsters from Plantsbrook School lived up to that motto when they staged the hit show to rapturous applause.
More than fifty pupils helped transform Plantsbrook, in Sutton Coldfield, into East High School in Albuquerque, for two sold-out performances of the all-American hit musical on Friday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11.
In the show, school basketball star Troy and smart cookie Gabriella hope to break out of their supposedly fixed roles and try something new – by playing the leads in a high school musical production of Juliet & Romeo.
It was the first big show since the pandemic to be staged at Plantsbrook, which is part of the Broadleaf Partnership Trust.
Drama Teacher Will Harris said: “The shows were fantastic, and it was so good to have a real audience to enjoy the results of the students’ work.
“After the disruption of COVID it’s been great for the children to discover the kind of dedication and work that’s needed to stage a show like this.
“A lot of the kids have never done a big school production before, because of the pandemic, so it’s been a learning curve for them, but they’ve really risen to the challenge.
“It all paid off in two sold-out shows which went down a storm with the audience.”
The students first began working on the show back in September, rehearsing after school twice a week and at lunch times.
Plantsbrook High School Musical follows months of rehearsal
Mr Harris said: “The kids have worked so hard, using the school’s music rooms and rehearsal space in their own time. They even choreographed dances that were included in the performance.
“It’s basically been 24-7 High School Musical since September, and in the last few weeks, in the final run-up to the shows, they’ve been out of lessons rehearsing and even coming in on Sundays. They’ve shown real dedication.”
Live music for the production was provided by the school’s highly-thought-of band, conducted by Head of Music Lisa Wilson.
Mr Harris said: “We’re so lucky to have really good musicians here at Plantsbrook, and Mrs Wilson has been working really hard with them since September to get ready for the show.
“Having live music for a musical makes a real difference – it’s not something you see very often with school productions.
“This kind of show asks a lot of the school community, and we’re very grateful for the support shown to us by staff and parents.
“Most of all, we are incredibly proud of how hard the students worked to put together this show, which they will remember for the rest of the lives.”