If it’s high energy music lovers want, that’s exactly what they’ll find at Spring Cabaret Night “Shoulda Coulda Wanna.” High Voltage, El Dorado Musical Theatre’s renowned traveling performance group, is geared up to put on a show filled with musical theater lovers’ favorites. According to Debbie Wilson, the group’s choreographer and director, the show is also subtitled Musical Theatre Outside the Box, because the group will perform songs that EDMT wouldn’t necessarily do in a musical play. “‘Shoulda Coulda Wanna — Musical Theatre Outside the Box,’ is titled just that because there are so many plays that wouldn’t work for us, as full performances, but we would love to do just one or two beautiful songs,” Wilson said. “Maybe the musical play wouldn’t be appropriate, or we wouldn’t have the right cast for it.” More likely, the musical isn’t yet available, as the shows’ rights haven’t been released. This would be the case for “Shrek, the Musical,” for example — a show that has amazing music, and the High Voltage team is ready to show their singing and dancing acumen with songs like “Freak Flag” and “I Know it’s Today.” Vocal Director Jennifer Martin agrees that although some shows are unavailable or not quite right for her teen cast, pieces and parts of the shows are filled with music that thrills. “We’re doing the first song in ‘Spring Awakening’ (called) ‘Mama Who Bore Me,’ with the older girls, and ‘21 Guns’ from ‘American Idiot’ by Green day. These are phenomenal shows, and have really difficult harmonies,” Martin said. Difficult harmonies are nothing unusual for this cast of 33, which ranges in age from 11 to 21. “The cast is really amazing, vocally,” Martin said. “We’re going to show all kinds of amazing things.” Dedication may be the key to High Voltage’s success. Cast members are selected by an audition process, which includes singing an up-tempo song, a ballad and a choreographed dance. “Kids make a year-long commitment, and they tour for the entire year,” said Martin. High Voltage kids tour locally, performing at various events in Sacramento, Fair Oaks and Folsom, but have also performed in Disneyland and even on a Carnival cruise ship. “There’s always a lot of dance involved,” Wilson said. “Everything from a little tap, to musical theater, to jazz — even ballet.” Wilson is proud of the dancer’s quality performances. “Choreography is second nature to me — I’ve been doing it since the ’70s. I feel lucky to be able to work with these great kids,” Wilson said. “We work hard. It can get stressful, but it’s really fun and rewarding.” It’s obvious the performers have fun, as well. “We do some gender switching in solo roles,” Martin said. “We do a lot of duets, a lot of trios. It’s fun to do so many different things, and for the kids to help select the music.” * * * KNOW AND GO What: Spring Cabaret Night: Shoulda Coulda Wanna Who: High Voltage Tour Group, El Dorado Musical Theater When: 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, March 25-26 Where: Oak Hills Church, 1100 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom Cost: $15 general, $12 children 12 and under Info: Learn more at www.edmthighvoltage.info * * * Cast List Julia Adams Ireland Bonds David Bryant Karissa Carleton Quintin Casl Heather Clark Jonathan Cranmer Jillian Curry Cierra Diaz Asher Dubin Brian Farmer Isabella Fay Allison Frew Terry Hicks Olivia Kaufmann Madeline Kramer Jon Leadbetter Alex Levy Jordan Maxey Chris Meissner Caroline Mixon Kali Ostermann Helen Regula Jenna Sharp Jordan Sharp Katherine Sorgea Carly Speno Haley Tangen Kaileen Teter Braiden Wells Andrew Wilson Anjie Rose Wilson Zach Wilson