Richfield Springs Central School students have been spending their afternoons practicing for this year’s musical, Disney’s “High School Musical.” From left is: Cassandra Collins, playing Ms. Darbus the drama teacher; Adrianna Mondore playing Kelsi, the drama student who is writing the school’s musical; Brittany Oakes, playing Gabriella Montez, the new brainiac girl at East High; and Adam Swartout playing Troy Bolton, East High’s basketball star. (Photo by Janine Giordano)

With a week jam packed full of last minute practices and dress rehearsals, local junior and senior high school students are just about ready for the limelight with the first of this school year’s productions.

In Richfield Springs, students will be performing Disney’s “High School Musical,” “the new fad for teenager kids,” as described by Kerryanne Kennedy, RSCS music teacher and director.

This year’s cast and crew totals 45 sixth through 12th grade students, Kennedy said, with Brittany Oakes and Adam Swartout filling the lead roles of Gabriella and Troy.

Christian Shaefer will play Ryan and Megan Ames will play Sharpay, the brother and sister vice president and president of the drama club who attempt to sabotage Gabriella and Troy’s attempt to try out for their school’s high school musical lead parts.

This year’s pit band providing music for the play includes Eric Gloo as the director and accompanist, Ike Cole on bass, Becky Gretton on flute, Jeremy Yaddaw and Tyler Steere on percussion, and Dan Fili as guitarist.

Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at 7:30 in the RSCS gymnasium. Prices are $7 per ticket until 3 p.m., Wednesday, and after that the cost per ticket will be $10.

The Mount Markham Senior High School Drama Club will be presenting the favorite classic, “Robin Hood,” Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., in the high school auditorium. Patrick Kotary has been selected for the lead of Robin Hood while Andrea Wrobel will be playing Marian Harper.

The sheriff of Nottingham will be played by Connor Barrett. Matt Allen will fill the role of Will Gamwell and Stephen Jones will be playing Little John.

Co-director Suzanne Colver described this year’s production as “a very fun play. We’ve got lots of physical action and even choreographed fight scenes, which is something new for us. We’ve got lots of senior actors and lots of new and upcoming actors and actresses, so it’s going to be good.”

Tickets for “Robin Hood” are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors.

The Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School Drama Club will be presenting “M*A*S*H” in the Donald A. Drake Auditorium Thursday and Saturday, at 7 p.m., then again Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased for $6 for adults, $4 for students or a group rate of $15 for 4-6 family members.

The Friday performance was replaced by Sunday’s matinee due to a scheduling conflict with the varsity boys soccer team.