Students from Indian Peaks and Burlington Elementary Schools enjoyed a special performance of ‘High School Musical Jr.’ at Sunset Middle School on Thursday. The exciting blend of music and dance provided them with a glimpse into the world of performing arts while also offering insight into the middle school environment.
Under the direction of Vocal Music Teacher Anna Hansil and Language Arts Teacher Rich Johnston, Sunset’s talented cast of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders transported the audience to East High where students sang and danced their way through the challenges of love, friendship, and family, all while balancing their classes and extracurricular activities.
“We chose ‘High School Musical Jr.’ because of its popularity among our student population and our school community,” said Hansil. “Many students at Sunset participate in a wide variety of activities where they learn to follow their passions and work together, which corresponds with the themes of the show. ‘High School Musical Jr.’ was the first musical that I was in as a 7th grader, so it has been a blast from the past for me.”
Students were actively involved in all aspects of the production. Mr. Johnston collaborated with his drama class to paint the set and props, while three students assisted as part of the stage crew – two operated the lights, and one handled all of the costumes. “Mr. Johnston and I co-directed the show and helped the students with the music, blocking, dancing, and acting choices,” shared Hansil. “We started rehearsing in September and would usually rehearse every day during the school week. Students were responsible for practicing their music, lines, and choreography at rehearsal and at home in order to be prepared for the show.”
Participating in the musical offered numerous benefits for the middle school students. It served as a creative outlet for self-expression and helped boost their self-confidence as they took on various roles and performed in front of an audience. It also strengthened their ability to work as a team and communicate effectively, allowing them to bond with their peers. Because the musical is an extracurricular club, the experience also strengthened their time management and organizational abilities as they balanced rehearsals with academics. “The students invested a lot of time and poured their hearts into the production and I’m really proud of them,” said Johnston.
After the curtains closed, Principal Anthony Barella posed a simple question to the audience: “Who would like to participate in a musical when you’re in middle school?” Nearly two-thirds of the students raised their hands, illustrating the positive impact the performance had on them and their eagerness to get involved in performing arts in the future.