They're Still Together! HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Cast at One Night Stand Cabaret

By Jared Echevarria

Manila, Philippines--Reunions are moments of nostalgic reminiscence that let you review what you have accomplished together with your friends and make you wonder in awe on the journey you started together years ago. This was the general feeling when the original cast of the 2007 Philippine production of Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL (HSM) took center stage once again in "Still in This Together: A 10th Anniversary Concert" at the monthly One Night Stand (ONS) cabaret series at 12 Monkeys Music Hall and Pub earlier this month.

For every millennial that is a fan of the Disney musical, this one-night-only gathering was a not-to-be-missed concert. Although it was raining that night, it as if all roads led to 12 Monkeys to hear familiar songs such as "We're All in This Together" and "Start of Something New." Everyone on stage and in the audience was prepared to sing HSM songs with their friends and school batchmates to celebrate the night that seemed enough to have taken away 10 years from your age!

For the cast, this concert bloomed from a simple Facebook group chat that was pitched to ONS co-founder Chinie Concepcion, who also co-choreographed the Philippine production of HSM. According to original cast member Kevin Concepcion, the cast has maintained their closeness ever since even though some have already ventured into different careers. Most of them attributed the discovery of their theatrical talents via HSM since the majority of the cast made their professional theater debut in the show.

During the rehearsals, most of them practiced the songs based on memory, which was one of the best signs that the 10th-anniversary concert was indeed a sentimental show. It is but natural for the cast to sing HSM songs because they did everything together for three months straight in 2007 and they have already grown accustomed to each and everyone like a family. This reunion concert was a celebration of their friendship. It was like being in high school all over again.

For those in the cast who stayed in the entertainment industry such as Sam Concepcion, who played the lead role of Troy Bolton, HSM was a foundation stone for him because he still uses the same performance techniques he learned while doing the show until today. The same is true with original cast member Jim Ferrer who recently made his UK theater debut in "Here Lies Love," a musical based on the life of former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos.

When asked about doing a reunion concert again in five or 10 years from now, the cast jubilantly shouted, "Yes!" For them, it is like going back to their roots paying respect to the musical production that started it all.

Catch ONS and 12 Monkeys Music Hall & Pub's next sit-down dinner show "I Miss Saigon," which features "Miss Saigon" alums Tanya Manalang, Tricia Canilao-Buser, Raul Montesa, Ariel Reonal, and Pinky Amador, on Tuesday, August 2, at 9 p.m. ONS co-founder Joaquin Valdes will direct the show, featuring the musical direction by Joseph Tolentino.

For tickets (door charge at P400), call 0917-570 3222.

Photos: Erickson Dela Cruz

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