Auditions:

High School Musical Auditions will be held on Sept. 13 and 14th. Please email director@youthclusive.org or sign up on the form for more details. More details will be posted here and on our instagram in the coming days. In the mean time - get familiar with the show and start working on a song, 32 bar cut - that is about a minute to a minute and a half of the song - and the song should be in a similar style to the show or from the show. We can help with that! Recommended ages 10 to 18 years.

Crew:

We need you! Sets, costume, lights, sound, stage manager, front / back, PR / social media, and assistants! We know it takes many of you to make an actor shine on stage!

Remember we are a youth run company!

ReHEARSAL SCHEDULE & SHOW DATES:

High School Musical Rehearsals will be held on Sundays from 1 to 5 PM from September 25, 2025 through March 15, 2026 (holidays excluded). Some additional evenings may be added as needed and based on cast availability. All cast may not be called for all rehearsals. Rehearsals will be held at Youthclusive’s main office studio spaces, 4619 Sierra Madre Rd. Santa Barbara, and as needed some may be held at Santa Barbara Dance Arts, 531 East Cota St. Santa Barbara.

Show times are 7:00 PM March 20, 21 and March 22, and at 2:00 PM at Center Stage Theater at 751 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara. Tech is MANDATORY- all cast and crew are called March 18 and 19, 2026.

Character Breakdown

Open Casting. All identities and expressions, backgrounds, and abilities are encouraged to audition.

Gabriella Montez: Gabriella Montez is the new student who’s struggling to find her place at East High. She’s a Renaissance woman who doesn’t fully identify with any of the cliques, and so she’s taking her time – and realizing her confidence – along the way. Smart and independent, Gabriella can be shy and vulnerable at times. She comes into her own when she discovers her talent and love for singing with Troy, so look for a strong actor with a fantastic voice. Vocal range top: D5. Vocal range bottom: A3

Troy Bolton: Troy Bolton, the most popular student at East High, is the star of the basketball team who yearns to be more than what others – especially his dad, Coach Bolton – want him to be. A natural athlete and leader with charm to spare, Troy discovers he loves to sing, but is afraid to admit it to his basketball buddies. Look for a solid actor who can convey the full range of Troy’s emotions from sensitive to self-assured, and who can dance and sing very well. Consider auditioning your potential Troys and Gabriellas together to get a sense of the pair’s dynamic. Vocal range top: Bb3. Vocal range bottom: Eb2

Sharpay Evans: Sharpay Evans is the dramatic and self- centered star of the school musicals. Between her and Ryan, she’s the alpha twin – over-the-top, demanding, and always “on,” with a flair for the theatrical. This diva knows how to work a crowd, so cast a performer with solid acting chops and strong singing and dancing skills. Vocal range top: A4. Vocal range bottom: A3

Ryan Evans: Ryan Evans is Sharpay’s fraternal twin and, like her, he lives to sing, dance, and get loads of attention. Subordinate to his sister, Ryan generally follows Sharpay’s orders and lets her have the spotlight, but he longs to break free from her shadow and assert himself. Choose a “triple threat” for this actor – strong singer, dancer, and actor – because everything Ryan does is calculated and executed impeccably. Consider auditioning Ryan and Sharpay in pairs as the success of “Bop to the Top” depends on this dynamic duo performing perfectly – and with a ton of energy. Vocal range top: A3. Vocal range bottom: G2

Kelsi Nielsen: Kelsi Nielsen, the neo-feminist writer- composer of the winter musical, Juliet and Romeo, possesses a shy demeanor but no tolerance for the egocentric likes of Sharpay. With only one lyric to sing, focus on finding a strong actor who can play the compassionate underdog with intelligence and an uncanny ability to shoot zingers at Sharpay with timing and accuracy. Vocal range top: A4. Vocal range bottom: D4

Chad Danforth: Chad Danforth, one of Troy’s best friends, is a sports fanatic. Focused on winning the basketball championship, Chad slowly begins to understand that there might be more to life than ball – including his crush on Taylor. Look for an actor that partners naturally with Troy, is a leader of his own accord, and can handle a couple of short solos and acting scenes. Vocal range top: G3. Vocal range bottom: B2

Zeke Baylor: Zeke Baylor, Troy’s other best buddy, is a basketball player with a sweet side. He has two secrets: a crush on Sharpay and a love for baking! Look for an actor with some singing chops who can portray this Wildcat with no shame in his (basketball or baking) game. Zeke has some higher parts to sing, so if necessary, the actor you cast can speak-sing parts that may be out of his natural range. Vocal range top: G#3. Vocal range bottom: G2

Taylor Mckessie: Taylor McKessie, the very put-together president of the Science Club, is super-assertive and very intent on Gabriella joining the Science Decathlon team so they can (finally!) win the competition. Taylor has a hidden soft spot for Chad, but would never let it be known that she’s into a jock, so cast a performer who can portray confidence – and just a slight air of pretentiousness. Vocal range top: A3. Vocal range bottom: A2

Darbus: Darbus is East High’s eccentric drama teacher. Passionate and disciplined, they never stop trying to enrich the lives of their students through the wonders of live theater. Look for a performer who knows how to milk every line and gesture for this role, as the key to Darbus is in their killer comic timing. Be careful of making her too wacky, though; this educator genuinely loves the art and their students, so make sure their heart shines through.

Coach Bolton: Coach Bolton, the stern basketball coach and Troy’s sometimes overbearing dad, lost the big game years ago and wants a second chance through his basketball-star son. Cast an actor who can handle the demands of this mature role – and who can convincingly and comically spar with Ms. Darbus.

Martha Cox: Martha Cox, a proud member of the Science Club, possesses a private passion for break dancing. Look for a truly terrific dancer who can sing, or one who can comically approach the role as a super-enthusiastic, but talentless, dancer. Vocal range top: B4. Vocal range bottom: G3

JACK SCOTT, the school announcer with a larger-than-life personality, longs to be a D.J. Look for an actor who will have no problem making this role his own, creating a quirky radio personality with a unique sense of style. While this actor will primarily stay as Jack throughout, there are opportunities to join ensemble numbers such as “Stick to the Status Quo” and “Get’cha Head in the Game.”

Ensemble

The ensemble offers feature and named characters - some primary group of performers from which Youthclusive will pull the featured roles and other, perhaps smaller, ensembles. Some require strong singers – as all ensembles require group singing. Some strong dancing. The featured roles call for either solo singing or solo acting, or both:

• ●  Brainiacs

• ●  Jocks

• ●  Cheerleaders

• ●  Thespians (Cathy, Cyndra, James, Susan)

• ●  Party Kids

• ●  Rebels