CAIRO — Teenage social politics and relationships will take center stage with Washington Middle School Drama Club’s spring production of Disney’s “High School Musical.”

Join Troy, Gabriella, Ryan and Sharpay as they take on the trials, tribulations and cliques in high school to prove “We’re All in This Together.”

“A lot of kids watched the movie on the Disney Channel, so expectations are high,” Mitchell Thomas, 13, who plays Troy, said.

Logan Dinkins, 13, who plays Ryan, said their production is an up-to-date play of the popular film.

Students began rehearsing for the show in January.

“This was not our first choice, but the kids wanted to do it so badly,” Pat Orr, drama director, said. “I thought it would get killed because it cost a fortune — it belongs to Disney — but the kids raised the money. I’ve enjoyed seeing their enthusiasm for the project, but the music is very difficult. They’ve been working very hard. David Simpatico and Bryan Louiselle adapted it for the stage. One thing they did was create a character named Jack Scott, the school announcer, who bridges the scenes. At the end, they dedicated it to all the drama teachers in the world.”

Rachel Zipperer, 14, plays Gabriella.

“We really are all in this together and have put in a lot of effort to make this production great,” she said. “I really wanted this part because it’s my last year here and we have some of the same character traits.”

Students in the lower grades are involved in the production.

“We had some little girls who wanted to be in the show and didn’t have a place so we’ve created the Wildcat mascots,” Orr explained. “They are doing a couple of cheers and we’ve also incorporated our school’s cheerleading squad.”

Thomas said his favorite scene is the first basketball practice.

“We perform ‘Get Your Head in the Game,’ and it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “We get to show off with the basketballs.”

Zipperer likes “We’re All In This Together.”

“It sums up everyone can be anything they want to be and that your friends support you,” she explained. “It’s also very entertaining to dance.”

Thomas urged citizens to come see the show and thanked the community for its support and help in raising funds to put on the production.