FROM 2007
KAYCEE STROH
talks about "High School Musical" rehearsals and some favorite memories

by Scott Wolf

KayCee Stroh is an amazing person. It's easy to see why "High School Musical" Director Kenny Ortega told her, "You're a star" at her audition. She is an all-around performer, but has a certain charisma with an enchanting personality, complete humility and a heart of gold. I'm just delighted to share our conversations with you.

Scott Wolf: I loved seeing all the dance rehearsal footage on the "High School Musical 2" DVD.

KayCee Stroh: And I thought that was fun. There were moments when you were thinking, “Oh my gosh, I’m screwing up… why is there a camera here?”

SW: Was it nerve-racking?

KS: Just a little bit. For me, being a dancer it didn’t bother me that much but I know that some of my co-stars were a little stressed out. They come to me and it was great. My boys… they call me Wendy and my lost boys…Chris and Ryne and Corbin… Corbin’s a fabulous dancer but the other two were like, “Help!”

SW: Corbin was a dancer before, right?

KS: Yes, Corbin was always a dancer, we kind of have the same background.

SW: Do you do all of the rehearsals and then film or rehearse a song at a time and then film it?

KS: We rehearse them all, we learn them all and then later on we go film them. It’s funny to see the behind the scenes on the DVD because they’re all out of order.

We learned “Work This Out” first, that was the first number in “High School Musical 2” that we learned and it ended up being the first number we shot which is ironic because in the movie it’s smack dab in the middle.

We go into the studio, we slam it out for three weeks of hard rehearsal, and learn all the songs, all the dances, and in the process we’re still recording the songs ourselves.

A lot of times when we’re rehearsing we’re rehearsing to the track singers doing it.

SW: The track singers are the singers that record it before the final version?

KS: Yes, before the final version.

SW: It comes across on the video looking like it was a ton of fun. I imagine it’s a lot of hard work, too.

KS: It is a lot of hard work in there, I tell you. But, it really is overall a great experience because we’re like a family and we get to play around with each other and joke with each other. In the second movie it was great, but it was a new challenge for us because there was a lot more partner dancing. It was good for all of our chemistry, too, to really connect with each other. At one point we were all each others dance partners and helping out in rehearsals, so we got even closer as a cast and I think it shows on camera.

SW: In my opinion, the choreography in the second one is so much better and really pays tribute to the old films and so many types of dancing, and Esther Williams and the aquacade and all.

KS: That’s exactly what Kenny wanted and what we wanted. It’s fun when we’re rehearsing because Kenny will notice us playing around, like the tap section in “Work this Out,” that was just Corbin and I playing around in rehearsal and Kenny saw it and said, “That has to be in the movie!” Even though it’s just a tiny little snip of Corbin and I tapping together that completely came out of us playing around in rehearsal.

SW: Do you think that’s typical or do you think Kenny’s atypical?

KS: I think Kenny is definitely atypical. He’s a very special Director. He will take the little things that we’re doing and he’ll tweak them and make them even better and he’s just very open-minded. We can make suggestions. I like that in a Director. All Directors should be open minded and it shouldn’t be their way or the highway.

Take that snake thing that we ended up doing in the hallway… that came out of us giving back massages to each other. We were in a big train doing back massages. Kenny saw that and said, “Wait a minute here…” There’s just so many opportunities that other Directors would miss out on if they’re not open-minded.

SW: Do you have any favorite memories from your “High School Musical” experiences so far that you have already talked about?

KayCee Stroh: We had a lot of fun in Saint George, Utah, filming the second movie. It’s such a small town and everyone knew we were there and we were local town heroes. Most every night once we would finish filming we’d go to the local Denny’s. It was the only thing open late at night so I’d say a lot of my best memories happened at Denny’s with all the cast. The waitresses would save tables for us just in case we were coming and they all knew us by name and knew what we wanted. We did so many late night filmings there we’d all bring our own video cameras and make our own mini documentaries. I just had so much fun.

We did a lot of hiking, too. When we had any time off we’d go up to a place called Dixie Rock. Corbin and I decided we wanted to get all the extras together and a lot of the dancers and go up and cook s’mores up there, so we did. We hiked up Dixie Rock to the very top where you can look all over Saint George, Utah. It’s called Red Rock.

So I’d say those were the two memories, just going to Denny’s and going hiking and making s’mores with my buddies.

SW: Was the public in Denny’s when you went?

KS: That’s why we chose Denny’s, because it was so late at night and we’d hardly get recognized.

There were a few times when Corbin (Bleu), Chris (Warren), Ryne (Sanborn) and I ventured out. We went to Outback Steakhouse. That was an event. Every time Corbin and I would go to eat, someone would come up, so we thought, “Maybe we’ll just take this home.”

But, it’s great. Corbin and I have the same outlook and we love our fans. We definitely were recognized a lot, signed a lot of autographs when we’d went out, but that’s what it’s all about.

SW: Do you still get recognized often?

KS: It’s really funny. I’d say Costco is a thing of the past. (We laugh) I cannot go to Costco anymore. I get followed around Target… I love it. My favorite is like little kids stalking me in the aisles. It’s so cute. They always turn to their parents and like, “Mom… mom… it’s the girl from “High School Musical,” and she’s on “Suite Life,” too.” And the mom always turns and looks at me and it’s like, “No, honey, it’s not… no.” It’s an awkward moment because I feel bad for the kids because their right, so once in a while the kids will turn and say, “I know it is!” and I’ll wave and confirm it.

SW: Then at least the kids know.

KS: Yeah, then the parents feel horrible because they didn’t believe their child.

I definitely get recognized a lot more however I have a secret weapon. When my hair’s straight I can walk thru an airport and nobody even recognizes me. Corbin and I have that thing going with the curly hair. If we go out with our hair curly we’re just so obvious.

SW: Is your hair naturally curly?

KS: Yeah… I have to straighten it, I thought things would change after I wore my hair straight at the American Music Awards but so far so good.

You know, I really don’t mind being recognized but I sometimes feel bad for others like if I’m out to dinner with people, I don’t want it to annoy them. I’d sign autographs and talk to people all day, that’s just my type of personality.

SW: I can see how it can get old for your friends. This was such a quick change for you, but are they all supportive?

KS: Completely, and I love getting the phone calls or myspace messages from the past, like in the middle of the night after the American Music Awards… I’m laying in bed, it’s been a long day and I’m beat and my cell phone rings and I’m thinking, “Who in the world is this?” It was an old friend from high school and they were like, “Holy cow! KayCee Stroh! I just saw you on the American Music Awards!” It’s fun to watch other people’s reactions. Everyone always says, “You said you were going to do it, and you did it!”

SW: That is amazing because you said that from your earliest days.

What message would you give to kids who are trying to break in or be a performer?

KS: I think it’s real important is to stay humble… no matter what happens. People are going to watch the way you react and it’s going to spread… the type of person you are. Some people will want to work with you because you are a good person, because you’re not a diva, because they see how passionate you are about the work, but stay humble and be nice to everyone. You never know who’s watching.

The other bit of advice is to start young. You’re not going to get anywhere in this business by hanging out at the mall with your friends. It’s okay to do that once in a while but every single day after school you don’t need to be doing that. You need to throw yourself into what you want to do. If this is what you want to do, go sign up for your local theatre classes. Go take some dance classes and singing. If you really want this, you have to earn it.

SW: It’s a lot work?

KS: It’s a lot of work, but if you love it, just “keep your head in the game.” (We laugh since that's a line from a "High School Musical" song.)

SW: That’s appropriate! Have you used that line before?

KS: It’s funny, we always joke around because somehow phrases from “High School Musical” always get thrown into our conversations. We try not to do it and it just happens. Maybe it’s just been such a part of our lives for the last few years, but yes, all the time those little catch phrases get thrown into our conversation and then everyone laughs.

More from KayCee:
"High School Musical" auditions and its success
Her charity work and Kenny Ortega's yawn jar

See other interviews

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in the interviews are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mouse Clubhouse. Mouse Clubhouse accepts no legal liability or responsibility for any claims made or opinions expressed within.