Madison Junior School to Perform Disney's High School Musical

This November, Madison Junior School students rock out on stage in an energetic production of “Disney’s High School Musical Junior,” based on Disney Channel’s smash hit original movie.

Performances will take place on Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. in the MJS auditorium. Funds raised at the shows will be used to produce future MJS musicals. Tickets will be available at the door for $7 per adult and $5 per student.

“The 60 students who are performing and assisting with the musical are an incredibly talented and inspirational group,” MJS chorus teacher and musical director, Ariana Ciolino, expressed. “They grew up with the movie so they knew all of the songs before we started rehearsals. It’s been a thrill to watch them work so hard and have such fun in a production they love so much.”

“Disney’s High School Musical Junior” has something for everyone. From the Wildcats basketball team’s sporty “Get Your Head in the Game,” to Sharpay and Ryan’s over-the-top “Bop to the Top,” and Troy and Gabriella’s triumphant “Breaking Free,” there is truly a tune for everyone.

“It’s a great musical for the whole family,” Central Avenue music teacher and assistant musical director, Kiera Chiarino noted. “We are offering an earlier Friday performance and a Saturday matinee so that families with young children can attend, support the students in this family-friendly production, and get a glimpse of what our school district has to offer as their children advance in the public school system.”

Madison Junior School art teacher, Kate Gebstaedt, who designed the set, joins Chiarino and Ciolino in this effort. Local resident Jaime Conroy will design the lighting, and Derrick Chiarino for serve as the sound engineer.

About the Production

Come watch things unfold after the winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians, and Skater Dudes find their cliques, recount their vacations, and look forward to the New Year.

Basketball team captain and resident jock, Troy, discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High.

The couple causes an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical, led by Ms. Darbus. This is much to the dismay of drama department divas Sharpay and Ryan Evans, and the rest of East High, who do their best to make their classmates “stick to the status quo” and derail the audition process.

The book for “Disney’s High School Musical JUNIOR.” is written by David Simpatico and based on the Disney Channel. The original Movie written by Peter Barsocchini.

Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil, Ray Cham, Greg Cham, Andrew Seeley, Randy Petersen, Kevin Quinn, Andy Dodd, Adam Watts, Bryan Louiselle, David N. Lawrence, Faye Greenberg, and Jamie Houston wrote the musical numbers. The music was adapted, arranged, and produced by Bryan Louiselle.

About Madison Junior School

“At Madison Junior School strives to develop life-long learners who are informed, responsible and productive young citizens,” representatives from the Junior School said. “Faculty and administration try to achieve this by providing challenging and diverse programs that reflect high expectations of a caring environment. Opportunities abound to learn effectively, to think critically, and to participate wholeheartedly in the classroom, in clubs and in sports.”

For more information on the MJS Musical, please contact Ariana Ciolino at Madison Junior School, 160 Main Street, at 973-593-3149.