Rave rapper MI, Celebrated actress Stella Damasus alongside other crew members of the High School Musical on Stage, Nigeria have come up with a total of 58 cast members for the production which will be premiered in May.

To ensure a successful search, renowned experts in different fields acted as judges at the Abuja and Lagos auditions. International promoter, Sheila Okonji Ashinze, First Bank’s Chief Marketing Officer, Celine Loader, Publisher, Leton Nwawuba, renowned director Tarila Thompson and rapper MI were the judges at the Abuja auditions while Nollywood’s celebrated act, Stella Damasus, Celine Loader, Sheila Okonji, Tarilla Thompson and Chorographer Kaffy were judges at the Lagos auditions.

The top finalists between the ages of 15 and 25 emerged after being tested in Singing, Dancing and Acting- Three skills the cast of the original High School Musical possessed.

For Most Nigerian teenagers and young adults, High School Musical is not unknown as many can tell the story of Troy and Gabrielle by heart, and it was with rare enthusiasm that many attended the auditions in Lagos and Abuja between March 4 and March 21, 2010.

“The good thing about what we are doing is that we are not just teaching these kids because of High School musical, Kidztrust is also trying to build a new group of entertainers who can act, sing and dance. It is going to be a process of drilling, training and fun” Actress Stella Damasus says.

And as they embark on a seven-week training with prolific Choreographer Kaffy, Celebrated actress Stella Damasus, Veteran director Tarilla Thompson and acting coach Emmanuel Ayalogu, it looks like after a lot of drilling, the search for the first black Troy and Gabrielle will be a tough one.

‘‘Training these kids will be so challenging. You need to divide them into groups, for this production, and that is because we are talking about people that are already entering the teenage years so there’s a special attention that they need. The kids need to be better than I am; I need to make them understand the values that guided me to staying’’ dance instructor Kaffy says.

The high octane Nigerian debut scheduled to hold between March and May 2010 will run through Auditions, callbacks, final selections, Rehearsals, training all the way to the show premier tentatively scheduled for May 27.

Full High School Musical Cast

1. Adebiyi Tosin Azaria
2. Omoghena Moses Onoshoze
3. Michael Esosa Osamwonyi
4. King Yusuf
5. Usifo Sally
6. Akinsola Olumide
7. Olamide Harold-Sodipo
8. Sharon Ezeamaka
9. Kukoyi Bukky
10. Awomolo-Kamga Olufunke
11. Ihezue Promise
12. Minjin Adewale Lawanson
13. Eledumo Olamide
14. Aham-Okehie Michael
15. Ebhohon Happiness
16. Adiele Oscar
17. Bisi Onadipe Davids
18. Ogan Joy Ajemina
19. Okparavero Stacey Ejiro
20. Omole Ifeoluwa
21. Chidinma Otobil
22. Rume Aghoghobia
23. Jemegbe Angel
24. Ochima Anita
25. Ezute Anthony Stephen
26. Sani Imonikh
27. Imoh Eboh
28. Nweze Cynthia
29. Adereti Olamide
30. Rasine Brown
31. Williams Ibukunowwa
32. Jeromes Chioma
33. Oyetola Smith
34. Candy Gabriel
35. Igiehon Uyimwen
36. Odinenu Karen-Happuch
37. Ahua Iwuese
38. Kabir Baba Farida
39. Obadike Susan
40. Jerome Hero
41. David Arebamen
42. Akoh Oche Moses
43. Agulebe Comfort
44. Odinenu Theodora
45. Matthew Arebamen
46. Femi Micheal Oloruntoba
47. Helen Kelvin
48. Goodness Paul
49. Ejere Ohio
50. Esther Ajuwa
51. Okoli Chima Ernest
52. Igbo Floyd Ekene
53. Chioma Idigo -Izundu
54. Ekeli Emmanuel Chuks
55. Deborah Ejeh
56. Ohia Michelle Obianuju
57. Samuel Yakubu
58. Anetor Sokei Kenneth

By Ayeni Adekunle Samuel