A musical, start-to-finish, in 24 hours seems mad. Perhaps, it is. However, this does not stop Brandeisians from attempting this feat each year. Every year, hordes of students crowd into the Shapiro Campus Center’s theater to watch their peers present a musical they were cast in only the day before. This year’s show of choice was everyone’s ‘tween’ favorite — “High School Musical.” Produced by Tympanium Euphorium and Hillel Theater Group, Brandeis’ rendition of High School Musical was enjoyable to all, as it evoked nostalgia in the many show-goers crowded in the theater as well as in the actors in the show.

“High School Musical” is a Disney Channel Original Movie released in 2006 (making this year its ten-year anniversary — a fact many of us find quite scary). At the time, the majority of Brandeis students treated “High School Musical” as something to aspire to; many of us imagined this to be prophetic of our then-future high school careers. While I cannot speak for everyone, I know my high school experience was very different — unfortunately, dancing on tables and breaking cliques weren’t exactly the best methods to make friends. Despite the lies, “High School Musical’s” iconic songs remained integral to jam sessions throughout my and many others’ adolescence. This made the fact that Brandeis’ 24-Hour Musical was “High School Musical” all the more entertaining.

Despite the lack of sleep, the entire cast kept up an enviable amount of enthusiasm — enthusiasm reminiscent of the peppiness found in the original “High School Musical,” so unlike that of true high schoolers. Although all the actors are required a three-hour rest, one can only assume the majority of the actors’ enthusiasm was the product of an overindulgence in sugar and coffee. Namely, the show’s leads — Ben LoCascio ’20 as teen heartthrob Troy Bolton and Karina Wen ’20 as sweet, likable Gabriella Montez — imbued excitement throughout the theater, their singing and acting so evocative of the characters many current students hold close to their hearts. Another of the show’s standout characters was Mrs. Darbus, played by Julia Brown ’19. The flamboyant sweep of her scarf — a costume that proved surprisingly effective given its simplicity — accentuated her apt lyoverly dramatic voice, so similar to that of the original Mrs. Darbus, and to so many of our own theater professors and acting teachers. Another Brandeis-exclusive scene that was quite entertaining was one of the final scenes, during which a basketball game, an academic decathlon tournament and a musical sequence all occurred — side-by-side on a relatively small stage. Despite the small space, all three pieces worked quite well together.

It was also interesting watching “High School Musical” now that we’re all, well, not in high school. We can look back on a high school experience we once dreamed of, in the company of college friends and with the knowledge that “High School Musical” is exclusively farcical. These facts, coupled with the comedy guaranteed to ensue in a musical produced in only 24 hours, made this year’s show a delight to watch and take part in.

The musical was surprisingly professional given the time constraints, and when there were errors, they only served to further the atmosphere of the play — exciting, silly, a tad tongue-in-cheek. For example, at one point, Gabriella lost her page in her binder-bound script, but kept to the tune and let the crowd in on the fact that she was currently looking for page 76. These fumbles only served to remind us what these musicals are truly about — to create a more closely knit Brandeis community, to create a special show exclusive to Brandeis.

No one came to the 24 Hour Musical expecting a flawless copy of the 2006 Disney hit “High School Musical.” We came to support our friends and have a few laughs, all to the beats of songs we know and love.

—Editor’s Note: Lizzie Grossman ’18 participated in the 24-Hour musical and is the Arts Editor of the Justice.