A MUSICAL focusing on the bold and brash world of competitive high school cheerleading is the latest offering from Black Box Performing Arts this February.

Directed by Katherine Freind at the Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, Bring It On: The Musical is the story of Campbell, cheer captain and most popular girl at the affluent Truman High School.

But before she can lead her award-winning squad to another win at the nationals, tragedy strikes – a re-zoning of the school district forces Campbell to transfer to the multi-ethnic Jackson High School.

Knocked off her throne as teen queen, Campbell tries to make sense of her new outsider status and soon discovers Eva, a plotting second-year student with delusions of grandeur, is responsible for taking her down from the top of the cheer pyramid.

With a national title on the line, Campbell has to convince Danielle, leader of a hip-hop dance troupe at her new high school, to start a cheerleading squad to help bring on some “sweet revenge”.

Originally a 2000 film starring Kirsten Dunst, Bring It On was adapted into a stage musical in 2011 with the Broadway version scoring two Tony Award nominations in 2013. 

“I have only ever seen the movie once and, from memory, it’s very different from the musical – I guess the common denominator is cheerleading,” Freind said.

“The musical is full of fantastic songs and packed with high-energy routines and the singing under the guidance of musical director Phoebe Jackson is sounding fantastic.

“I’m also lucky to have Shanice-Kalina Thompson as our choreographer without whom I doubt I would have even attempted this production.

“The world of cheerleading is all very new to me and I rely on her for expertise in this field, along with her awesome choreography skills.”

Learning dance as a three-year-old and performing at age seven, Freind has performed extensively in range of productions with highlights including Evita at His Majesty’s Theatre and Oliver, The King and I, The Mikado and Cruisin’ The Musical (with Glenn Shorrock), all at the Regal Theatre.

She studied at the WA Academy of Performing Arts and Trinity College of London and spent five years as part of the duo MUSE with Nat Ripepi, supporting numerous local, interstate and international acts while also releasing a CD. 

Freind has also been director or musical director of numerous shows including The Great Christmas Tree Robbery, The Wizard of Oz, Snow White, Annie, Beauty and The Beast,  Aladdin Jr, Looking Back,  Peter Pan and Camp Rock and currently co-owns Bel Canto Performing Arts, a company providing musical theatre training from February this year.

Most recently, her production of The Secret Garden at Melville Theatre was named runner-up best musical at the annual Finley Awards.

“Bring It On is Black Box Performing Arts’ second show, following on from Camp Rock at the beginning of 2017,” Freind said.

“I’m extremely passionate about fostering youth in musical theatre and the opportunities Black Box are providing are a wonderful way to do this.”

Bring It On plays at 7pm February 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10 and 1pm and 5pm February 11. Tickets are $25, $20 concessions and children – book at www.trybooking.com/SQJW.

The Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre is located at 48 Canning Road, Kalamunda.