High School Musical is Broadway Bound!

Broadway Bound Youth Musical Theatre Company has done a breathtaking performance once again! I recently attended a wonderful rendition of Broadway Bound Youth Musical Theatre Company's version of the Disney Channel High School Musical, the Emmy award winning American made-for-television musical film that was released on January 20, 2006. The Broadway Bound Youth Musical Theatre Company production that I attended was put on by the Junior Cast (ages 12 and under) on May 26th, 2007 at 8:00 pm. The production was at the notorious Fort Bend Theatre located in Stafford, Texas.

The cast was enchanting and the music was outstanding. I was very impressed by the adaptations that were made due to the lack of young men to fill certain parts. For instance, Coach Bolton was a female coach and she could not have done a better job. The story line varies slightly from the Disney Channel's Emmy award winning television musical, but I must say, all of the changes that I saw were a pleasant surprise. If you are not familiar with the Disney Channel High School Musical production, it is a sweet story of how three different "clicks" of children (thespians, brainiacs and jocks) come together for a common goal which is just "being themselves and not believing in stereotypes". The lead characters in the Disney Channel version are played by Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Monique Coleman, and Corbin Bleu.

It was very evident that the children and the staff of Broadway Bound Youth Musical Theatre Company worked very hard to make this a show something you do not want to miss. All of the cast members, lead characters and supporting characters, certainly put their whole effort into the show. It is a must see! In addition, I learned from their wonderful director, Connie Rudd, that this group of children had a very short time to actually rehearse at the Fort Bend Theater. The majority of rehearsals were held at the Allegro Academy of Dance located in Houston, Texas. Ms. Rudd could not have been prouder of these children and with good reason. You could see how much the children were enjoying themselves while they were performing. Connie Rudd is an award winning educator that has been teaching in the state of Texas for 13 years and has taught in the Fort Bend ISD for the past 8 years. In addition, Ms. Rudd is an active member of TETA, EDTA and is an active member of the International Thespian Society. Ms. Rudd has directed over 100 productions including Annie, Beauty & The Beast, The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie to name a few. With all of the dancing that goes along with a musical you must have a good choreographer and fortunately this group had a terrific one by the name of Tyrone Moore. Tyrone Moore had these children dancing like pros to "Get'cha Head in the Game" and "Status Quo". I have the uppermost respect for the talents of Ms. Rudd and Mr. Moore. This was a job well done. Below is a list of the cast in alphabetical order by their last names.

Loren Aboumourad as Ms. Darbus
Kendria Baldwin as Cheerleader
Sydney Blackenship as Cathy/Thespian Ensemble
Domencia Caratagenova as Skater Ensemble
Ashley Chainani as Kelsie/Martha Cox
Jordan Coppens as Jordan/Jock Ensemble
Katlyn Coppens as Sharpay
Shyann Coppens as Skater Ensemble
Karim Farishta as Troy
Rabia Farishta as Brainiac Ensemble
Gabriella as Coach Bolton
Dara Hall as Kara/Brainiac Ensemble
Elena Karaytaneva as Mongo/Skater Ensemble
Erica Kesse as Taylor
David Lindley as Ryan
Madyson Mitschke as Cheerleader
Victor Okoroji as Chad
Brian Patel as Jack Scott/Ensemble
Yvonne Scisco as Zeke/Jessie/Brainiac Ensemble
Deja Spencer as Brainiac Ensemble
Tavy Svay as Gabriela
Blair Tillman as Ensemble
Ashley Vincent as Ensemble

As I have reported before, the Broadway Bound Youth Musical Theatre Company has a great reputation and Mr. Monroe Moore runs a phenomenal company. Broadway Bound Youth Musical Theatre Company provides comprehensive and structured multi-cultural musical theatre opportunities to children and teens ages five through eighteen, regardless of age, gender, religion, physical limitations, economic status or ethnic background. This truly is a wonderful thing for children of all ages. They encourage creativity, personal development, originality, confidence, team building, performance skills, and a sense of pride through achieving a quality finished product. I would suggest to anyone in the Houston, Texas area to visit Broadway Bound Youth Musical Theatre's Website to find summer camp opportunities in addition to up coming productions.

The Senior Cast will perform at the Fort Bend Theater this Friday night, June 1st, 2007t at 8:00 pm, Saturday, June 2nd, 2007 at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm. The Junior Cast will perform on Sunday, June 3rd, 2007 at 3:00 pm, which is their finale. The Senior Cast will perform their finale of High School Musical on June 3rd, 2007 at 8:00 pm. I will be attending the matinee production on Saturday, June 2nd, 2007 for the Senior Cast and will update you with a review at that time.

Bravo to junior cast for such great entertainment! Break a leg senior cast! I look for to seeing your show! Hope to see you all there.

Fort Bend Theatre
2815 N. Main
Stafford, Texas 77477
281-208-3333

Allegro Academy of Dance
12654 Goar Road #1
Houston, Texas 77077
281-496-4670

Broadway Bound Youth Musical Theatre