Local performers, students excel in 'High School Musical'

SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 days, 19 hours AGO

Elena Haugen, Aaron Thomas and Jolee Holder performed Thursday, March 6, 2025, in 'High School Musical,' a production by Libby High School and the Kootenai Characters at the Memorial Center. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Fifteen-year-old Jake Stanton performed Thursday, March 6, 2025, in 'High School Musical,' a production by Libby High School and the Kootenai Characters at the Memorial Center. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Libby High School senior Maemae Pineda performed Thursday, March 6, 2025, in 'High School Musical,' a production by Libby High School and the Kootenai Characters at the Memorial Center. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Aaron Thomas, Sidnie Thompson, Reiley Love and Dayton Johnson performed Thursday, March 6, 2025, in 'High School Musical,' a production by Libby High School and the Kootenai Characters at the Memorial Center. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Sophia Gernaey and Atticus Lande performed Thursday, March 6, 2025, in 'High School Musical,' a production by Libby High School and the Kootenai Characters at the Memorial Center. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Local actresses Alyson Young, Riley Stoltz, Vivian Cole and Rylee Hutchings performed Thursday, March 6, 2025, in 'High School Musical,' a production by Libby High School and the Kootenai Characters at the Memorial Center. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Mariah Carlin, Linzie Willis and Jolee Holder performed Thursday, March 6, 2025, in 'High School Musical,' a production by Libby High School and the Kootenai Characters at the Memorial Center. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Lincoln County’s most talented put on a show to be remembered last week at the Memorial Center in Libby.

Laughter and smiles were frequent from patrons who attended three shows of Disney’s “High School Musical,” directed by Brooke Williams.

Libby’s famed Kootenai Karacters teamed up with students from junior and high schools to put on the production.

Karacters President Brian Bell decided the previous collaboration with Libby High School in the production of “Annie” deserved another collaboration was in order.

“We had initially planned on performing “Beauty and the Beast” and were one day into a two-day audition process when we learned we couldn’t get the rights to do it,” Bell said. “We needed a show that would accommodate the growing number of talented students we were encountering. High School Musical met that criteria.”

Brooke Williams directed the production.

“May I invite you to consider how we, like these East High students, are better and stronger when we work together with our differences rather than let those differences divide and isolate us,” Williams wrote in the program.

Bell expressed his feelings for what it takes to put on a production of this scale.

“It is truly a blessing to bring together students and adults of diverse backgrounds in this production,” Bell said. “I am certain our students will remember and benefit from this experience long after they have graduated. Theater truly is the ultimate endeavor and the Kootenai Karacters look forward to continued collaboration with Libby’s students and staff.”

Karacters board member Steve Lethrud appreciated the financial support from the community.

“These shows are expensive to produce and without contributions and sponsors, we simply could not do them,” Lethrud said. “And consider our amazing cast of students sharing their talents on stage for your enjoyment. Our community should be proud of their accomplishments and we are better off because of them.”

Here’s a look at the cast, stage crew and production members, many of whom did double duty, who made musical a success.

Cast members: Daunte Mesman, Aaron Thomas, Dayton Johnson, Atticus Lande, Sophia Gernaey, Rylee Hutchings, Hannah Guerra, Vivian Cole, Elena Haugen, Reiley Love, Jake Stanton, Jolee Holder, Brian Bell, Lucy DeShazer, Linzie Willis, Maemae Pineda, Mariah Carlin, Lillian Bailey, Sidnie Thompson, Rebecca Smith, Alyson Young, Riley Stoltz, Lily Lee and Ignacio Guerra.

Stage crew and production: Brooke Williams, Kim Lee, Lorraine Braun, Brian Bell, Cody Taylor, Briana Filler, Rich Burns, Morgan Bell, Steve Lethrud, Jolee Holder, Jenece Scheer, Terrey Pitcher, Cindy Curtiss, Kaylynn Amos, Ashley Cockerham, Koehler Holmes, Shae Hutchings, Kyle Lausen, Morgan Sanderson, Dimitria Totter and Ellyonna Wood.