High School Musical On Stage! debuted last week Friday, drawing a full house to Keʻelikolani Auditorium. This adaptation of the play wasnʻt an exact reenactment of the movie version, as more songs are added to the theater version, but cast members agree that this adds to the appeal of the play as a whole.

Marie Richter, who plays Ms. Darbus, says, “There’s more depth to the characters. You get really attached to characters like Sharpay because you can see that they are just flawed high schoolers. Plot holes are also filled and the story flows a lot better.”

“When I’m getting dressed and putting on makeup, I really get into the role. Being Sharpay gives me so much confidence because I’m playing someone whos already so confident in themselves and inspires me to be confident in myself” says Anela Lee, who plays Sharpay Evans. She also played The Witch in Into The Woods and Maureen in Rent last year.

As for how this musical is different from past performances, Lee also said, “There’s so much pressure because people want to relive their childhoods but we [the cast] have to make it our own. It’s fun when the audience is reacting well to your character and it makes you want to keep them laughing and smiling”

There are  six performances total, with alternating casts for the roles of Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez.

“I just want the audience to keep in mind that every single person has put their heart and soul into the show and weʻve all worked really hard to make this the best that it can be,” says Lee.