Notice that all of the characters do not have gender pronouns
because we will be doing gender blind casting.
Anyone can try out for any and all of the roles.
We use the word "actor" to include all gender preference identities.
Troy Bolton
The star of the basketball team who yearns to be more than what people want Troy to be. Troy discovers a love for music but refuses to admit it. Athletic, and a true leader. Becomes smitten with Gabriella.
Vocal range top: B5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Jack Scott
Jack Scott is the nerdy school announcer. Can portray a "gift of gab" radio voice. Jack can be quirky in all aspects: looks, dress and comportment. Most importantly, we are looking for a character actor with superior diction and good comic timing.
Does not need to be a singer.
Chad Danforth
Chad Danforth is second in command to Troy. Focused on winning his school's basketball championship, but is slowly understanding that there might be more to this world, including a crush on Taylor. We are looking for an actor that partners naturally with Troy, is a leader in their own accord, and can handle Chad's couple of solos and large number of acting scenes.
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Ryan Evans
Ryan Evans is Sharpay's fraternal twin and a star in the making. This character loves singing, dancing and lots of attention. Ryan follows Sharpay's orders, but wants to break free from Sharpay's shadow. We are looking for a "triple threat" for this actor: strong singer, dancer and actor. Everything Ryan does is calculated and executed impeccably. Voice must work well with Sharpay's.
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: F#3
Zeke Baylor
Zeke Baylor is a basketball player on the Wildcats Team. Zeke has two secrets: a crush on Sharpay and a love for baking! Zeke and Chad are the most prominent of Troy's friends, so we are looking for an actor that can work with them while being able to stand out in their own spotlight, especially when Zeke reveals his secrets! Zeke has solos, so we are looking to cast someone who sing as well as act.
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: G3
Coach Bolton
Coach Bolton is the stern basketball coach and Troy's parent. Coach Bolton lost the big game years ago and wants a second chance through Troy. We are looking to cast a student that can handle the demands of acting older than almost everyone else in the show. Coach Bolton is primarily an acting role, so we are focusing on finding a student who can convincingly spar with Ms. Darbus.
Does not need to be a singer.
Gabriella Montez
Gabriella Montez is the new kid in school. Gabriella is intelligent, pretty and shy. Gabriella possesses a fantastic voice when singing with Troy. Looking for an actor that can take positive risks with both acting and singing. Actor must be able to portray intelligence and independence and then easily switch over to shy and vulnerable side. We are looking to cast an actor with a strong sense of pitch and the ability to hold their own with a partner in order to make the most of this role.
Vocal range top: C#5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Taylor Mckessie
Taylor McKessie, the head Brainiac of the school, is the president of the Science Club. Taylor wants Gabriella to join the Science Decathlon team so they can finally win the competition. Taylor has a hidden soft spot for Chad, which might be why Taylor is always making fun of him. We are looking to cast an actor that can portray Taylor's assertiveness as well as sing a solid solo.
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Sharpay Evans
Sharpay Evans is the egocentric star of the school musicals. Sharpay is Ryan's older twin (and the alpha dog of the two) and has a mad crush on Troy. Sharpay loves to look in the mirror. We are looking for someone who can portray a diva and has solid acting chops and strong singing and dancing skills. Sharpay knows how to work a crowd. Sharpay is in a good number of scenes, so we are looking for an actor that can handle this sizable role.
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Martha Cox
Martha Cox is a proud member of the Science Club and is brainy with a secret love of dancing. Martha has a fun-loving sidekicky personality and becomes an adoring devotee of Gabriella. We are looking to cast an actor who can act kind and funny. The role has important featured solos but the voice quality is not as important as the character. This character should also be able to show off some crazy brake dancing moves.
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: G3
Kelsi Nielsen
Kelsi Nielsen is a thespian rehearsal pianist and student composer extraordinaire. Underneath the shy demeanor, Kelsi has no tolerance for people (read: Sharpay) who use their talent only to be number one. We are looking to cast an actor who can play the underdog but has the intelligence and ability to shoot the "zingers" at Sharpay with timing and accuracy. If the actor who plays Kelsi does not actually play the piano, Kelsi must be coached to look like a pianist as she continually accompanies onstage. Kelsi has a small solo in "We're All in This Together," but it is secondary to her acting importance.
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: D4
Ms. Darbus
Ms. Darbus is the eccentric drama teacher. Really, nothing like Ms. Q. ! She is an amusing blend of Gertrude Stein and Ethel Merman (look it up!). Passionate and disciplined, is always trying to expose students to the enrichment and fun of theatre. We are looking to cast an actor who knows how to milk every word, phrase and gesture for this role. Must make eccentricities appear second nature. Ms. Darbus's acting skills and timing should be topnotch; singing voice is secondary as there are no solos. Ms. Darbus exudes wacky, yet it doesn't detract from Ms. Darbus' true love of theatre and the students.
Ensemble
The Ensemble makes up all the other characters who populate East High School: Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians, Skater Dudes, Cheerleaders, Ms. Tenny, Science Decathlon Moderator, etc., with a few featured solo parts further described below. The ensemble is present throughout the show and provides the vocal power for the group numbers. These roles vary in size and in vocal, acting and dance requirements, so we are looking to cast performers with a wide range of abilities.
Smaller Solos in the Ensemble:
Ripper
Ripper is a cool skater who is, lo and behold, a cello player! We are looking for an actor who can sell this fun "double personality" with one short but sweet air cello solo! (or maybe using the real cello, we will see!).
Vocal range top: G#4
Vocal range bottom: G#3
James
In the big Audition scene, James is the auditionee who sings so badly off key it would scare anyone! We are looking to cast a person who can confidently sound bad & this can be a challenge for a good musician.
Vocal range top: C#4
Vocal range bottom: A3
Susan
Susan is the "pop star wanna be" audition candidate. We are looking to cast someone who is not afraid to go over-the-top with this short yet humorous part.
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: F4
Cathy
Cathy is the auditionee who can belt like Ethel Merman! We are looking to cast a student that can fill the auditorium with their voice. It doesn't need to be pretty just loud and full of diva.
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: G4
Cyndra
Cyndra is the final auditionee and sounds like an opera audition for the Met. We are looking to cast a singer that can imitate a vibrato in a serious manner.
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Ab4
because we will be doing gender blind casting.
Anyone can try out for any and all of the roles.
We use the word "actor" to include all gender preference identities.
Troy Bolton
The star of the basketball team who yearns to be more than what people want Troy to be. Troy discovers a love for music but refuses to admit it. Athletic, and a true leader. Becomes smitten with Gabriella.
Vocal range top: B5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Jack Scott
Jack Scott is the nerdy school announcer. Can portray a "gift of gab" radio voice. Jack can be quirky in all aspects: looks, dress and comportment. Most importantly, we are looking for a character actor with superior diction and good comic timing.
Does not need to be a singer.
Chad Danforth
Chad Danforth is second in command to Troy. Focused on winning his school's basketball championship, but is slowly understanding that there might be more to this world, including a crush on Taylor. We are looking for an actor that partners naturally with Troy, is a leader in their own accord, and can handle Chad's couple of solos and large number of acting scenes.
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Ryan Evans
Ryan Evans is Sharpay's fraternal twin and a star in the making. This character loves singing, dancing and lots of attention. Ryan follows Sharpay's orders, but wants to break free from Sharpay's shadow. We are looking for a "triple threat" for this actor: strong singer, dancer and actor. Everything Ryan does is calculated and executed impeccably. Voice must work well with Sharpay's.
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: F#3
Zeke Baylor
Zeke Baylor is a basketball player on the Wildcats Team. Zeke has two secrets: a crush on Sharpay and a love for baking! Zeke and Chad are the most prominent of Troy's friends, so we are looking for an actor that can work with them while being able to stand out in their own spotlight, especially when Zeke reveals his secrets! Zeke has solos, so we are looking to cast someone who sing as well as act.
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: G3
Coach Bolton
Coach Bolton is the stern basketball coach and Troy's parent. Coach Bolton lost the big game years ago and wants a second chance through Troy. We are looking to cast a student that can handle the demands of acting older than almost everyone else in the show. Coach Bolton is primarily an acting role, so we are focusing on finding a student who can convincingly spar with Ms. Darbus.
Does not need to be a singer.
Gabriella Montez
Gabriella Montez is the new kid in school. Gabriella is intelligent, pretty and shy. Gabriella possesses a fantastic voice when singing with Troy. Looking for an actor that can take positive risks with both acting and singing. Actor must be able to portray intelligence and independence and then easily switch over to shy and vulnerable side. We are looking to cast an actor with a strong sense of pitch and the ability to hold their own with a partner in order to make the most of this role.
Vocal range top: C#5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Taylor Mckessie
Taylor McKessie, the head Brainiac of the school, is the president of the Science Club. Taylor wants Gabriella to join the Science Decathlon team so they can finally win the competition. Taylor has a hidden soft spot for Chad, which might be why Taylor is always making fun of him. We are looking to cast an actor that can portray Taylor's assertiveness as well as sing a solid solo.
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Sharpay Evans
Sharpay Evans is the egocentric star of the school musicals. Sharpay is Ryan's older twin (and the alpha dog of the two) and has a mad crush on Troy. Sharpay loves to look in the mirror. We are looking for someone who can portray a diva and has solid acting chops and strong singing and dancing skills. Sharpay knows how to work a crowd. Sharpay is in a good number of scenes, so we are looking for an actor that can handle this sizable role.
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Martha Cox
Martha Cox is a proud member of the Science Club and is brainy with a secret love of dancing. Martha has a fun-loving sidekicky personality and becomes an adoring devotee of Gabriella. We are looking to cast an actor who can act kind and funny. The role has important featured solos but the voice quality is not as important as the character. This character should also be able to show off some crazy brake dancing moves.
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: G3
Kelsi Nielsen
Kelsi Nielsen is a thespian rehearsal pianist and student composer extraordinaire. Underneath the shy demeanor, Kelsi has no tolerance for people (read: Sharpay) who use their talent only to be number one. We are looking to cast an actor who can play the underdog but has the intelligence and ability to shoot the "zingers" at Sharpay with timing and accuracy. If the actor who plays Kelsi does not actually play the piano, Kelsi must be coached to look like a pianist as she continually accompanies onstage. Kelsi has a small solo in "We're All in This Together," but it is secondary to her acting importance.
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: D4
Ms. Darbus
Ms. Darbus is the eccentric drama teacher. Really, nothing like Ms. Q. ! She is an amusing blend of Gertrude Stein and Ethel Merman (look it up!). Passionate and disciplined, is always trying to expose students to the enrichment and fun of theatre. We are looking to cast an actor who knows how to milk every word, phrase and gesture for this role. Must make eccentricities appear second nature. Ms. Darbus's acting skills and timing should be topnotch; singing voice is secondary as there are no solos. Ms. Darbus exudes wacky, yet it doesn't detract from Ms. Darbus' true love of theatre and the students.
Ensemble
The Ensemble makes up all the other characters who populate East High School: Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians, Skater Dudes, Cheerleaders, Ms. Tenny, Science Decathlon Moderator, etc., with a few featured solo parts further described below. The ensemble is present throughout the show and provides the vocal power for the group numbers. These roles vary in size and in vocal, acting and dance requirements, so we are looking to cast performers with a wide range of abilities.
Smaller Solos in the Ensemble:
Ripper
Ripper is a cool skater who is, lo and behold, a cello player! We are looking for an actor who can sell this fun "double personality" with one short but sweet air cello solo! (or maybe using the real cello, we will see!).
Vocal range top: G#4
Vocal range bottom: G#3
James
In the big Audition scene, James is the auditionee who sings so badly off key it would scare anyone! We are looking to cast a person who can confidently sound bad & this can be a challenge for a good musician.
Vocal range top: C#4
Vocal range bottom: A3
Susan
Susan is the "pop star wanna be" audition candidate. We are looking to cast someone who is not afraid to go over-the-top with this short yet humorous part.
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: F4
Cathy
Cathy is the auditionee who can belt like Ethel Merman! We are looking to cast a student that can fill the auditorium with their voice. It doesn't need to be pretty just loud and full of diva.
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: G4
Cyndra
Cyndra is the final auditionee and sounds like an opera audition for the Met. We are looking to cast a singer that can imitate a vibrato in a serious manner.
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Ab4