By Shawn Hogendorf, Staff Writer 

When Applause Community Theatre actors take the stage to perform the ever-popular “High School Musical” this weekend, two friends from Prior Lake will step into the spotlight to play arch enemies.

Applause Community Theatre will perform “High School Musical” at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave., in Lakeville for 12 performances running July 3 through July 20.Gabriella, played by Alix Engels,
left, and Sharpay, played by Emilie
Labonte, share the stage during a
dress rehearsal of “High School
Musical” at the Lakeville Area Arts
Center on Monday night. (Photos by
Shawn Hogendorf)

Prior Lake High School senior Emilie Labonte and sophomore Alix Engels first met while performing in the high school’s spring musical “Grease.” While in the dressing room, word spread throughout the “Grease” cast that Applause was holding auditions for “High School Musical.”

Both girls’ interest was piqued.

Engels has been involved in a variety of theater productions since fourth grade. She performed with Applause before and liked the music in “High School Musical,” so she decided to audition. Engels saw the movie once before auditioning, but she was nowhere near a fanatic. She said she was excited to perform the show because she likes the “entertainment value” as well as the message behind the show, which teaches people to be individuals and not follow the crowd, Engels said.

Labonte came to the audition from a slightly different background.

She has performed onstage numerous times, but never with Applause. Her main interest in the show was a result of being a “huge fan” of “High School Musical” since it came out.

“I held a countdown waiting for the movie,” Labonte said. “I’ve probably seen the movie like 40,000 times. I know every line from every movie. It’s actually a little pathetic.”

After practicing for 10 weeks with the 28-member cast, the Prior Lake duo’s friendship has grown, off the stage, anyway.

Labonte plays the role of Sharpay Evans, a girl who is used to being the star of East High School’s theatrical performances. Sharpay is a pushy, domineering and egotistical high school girl who believes the world revolves around her.

The role is a stretch from Labonte’s actual personality, but then again, “that’s acting,” she said.

“I’m not the mean girl in school, but I know the mean girls at school, and that’s what I try to bring to this role,” Labonte said.

On the other side of the spectrum, Engels plays the role of Gabriella, the shy, new girl at school who just wants to fit in.

Engels’ role is also different from things she has done in the past.

“I am generally cast into mean roles like Sharpay,” Engels said. “So, as challenging as the singing and dancing in this musical is, it’s been pretty easy to relate to my character because she is in high school, she is shy and her relationship with Troy is a classic high-school romance.

“This is my favorite role I have played so far,” Engels said.

Both Labonte and Engels said they went into the auditions hoping for the best but were just excited to be a part of the play. They both felt confident with their auditions and said they were flattered to be cast into their roles.

“When these girls read, sang and danced during auditions, they simply shined,” said director and choreographer Doug Dally. “During casting we looked for people who could bring the personalities of the characters to life. We looked for people who could be directed. And we looked for people who have potential. These two girls share all those qualities. They are just wonderful.”Alix Engels (Gabriella) auditions
for a part in the East High School
winter musical. “High School
Musical” opened July 3 and runs
through July 20.

“High School Musical” is described by playwright Peter Barsocchini as a modern adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet.” The musical is about trying new things despite the idea that others may try to thwart those dreams. Gabriella and Troy, the male protagonist, resist peer pressure and inter-school rivalries in an attempt to inspire others along the way not to stick to the status quo.

Nothing from the original script has changed with this production, Dally said. The play’s script is actually better than the movie, he added. There are a lot of things in the play that are missing from the movie. Some songs were added along the way to justify why the school is so excited about Troy and Gabriella when they get the call back. The script also does more with character development, Dally said.

“This has been a lot of fun because we get along in real life,” Engels said. “It’s great to get on stage and yell at each other and know that’s OK. We really have a great chemistry together onstage.”

The fact that the co-stars of the production are enemies onstage causes some good opportunities for joking in the dressing room as well, Labonte said. When the two share food in the dressing room, others can’t help but make comments about Sharpay and Gabriella getting along, she said.

“It seems that every kid in this age group has seen the show, and practically every one of them owns it,” Dally said. “Their enthusiasm for this project is far superior to if they were performing ‘My Fair Lady,’ because this is about them.”

Applause Community Theatre will perform matinees of “High School Musical” at 2 p.m. July 3, 6, 12, 13 and 20. Evening performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. July 5, 11, 17, 18 and 19 and special 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. performances will be held July 10.

Tickets cost $13 for adults, $11 for students and seniors and $10 for Applause Community Theatre members. Tickets will be available at the door and at www.applausecommunitytheatre.com.

 Shawn Hogendorf can be reached at (952) 345-6374 or shogendorf@swpub.com.