Students ready to Bring it On

Alex Thach and Laura Sturch are rivals in the new stage production of musical Bring it On. Photo / Supplied

Pom poms and cheerleaders are part and parcel of a sassy new production.

Students from Hastings Girls' and Hastings Boys' High Schools are in full rehearsal mode as they count down to opening night for the first ever New Zealand creation of acclaimed musical Bring it On - based on the original teenage movie.

"We are very excited to be the first school in the country to put on this production," producer Alan Powdrell of Hastings Girls' High School said.

The plot, involving intense rivalry between two secondary schools - Jackson High on the wrong side of town and the affluent Truman High - is carried at a frenetic pace by dance-offs between the rival groups, acrobatics and 22 different songs.

Choreographer Jillian Andrew included lifts and tumbles all performed by more than 50 students from the two schools.

Costumes for the show are being whipped up by teacher, Jo Pearson at Hastings Girls' High School and her team of Years 11, 12 and 13 textile students.

Together they are responsible for making more than 60 different outfits.

Not only will the efforts of these students be a huge part of the show, but they can also gain NCEA credits for their respective level qualifications.

"Over two terms, they have worked diligently on these costumes and the audience will be wowed by the colourful garments on display,' Ms Pearson said.

Experienced local director Carol Della Barca is in charge of this ambitious work, following her contribution to the joint schools' production of Fiddler on the Roof in 2013.

Musical direction falls to Chris Atkinson of Hastings Girls' High School.

Ms Della Barca described Bring it On as a huge challenge for the pupils because of the diversity of the score and the intensity of choreography.

"They have taken this challenge and grown from strength to strength, delivering performances beyond their years," she said.

-Bring it On will be staged at Hastings Boys' High School for four performances from June 29 to July 3.