KayCee Stroh, who played Martha Cox in the Disney Channel trilogy High School Musical, has called for "more support" of child actors in the entertainment industry, describing it as a "brutal industry" that often "chews up young actors and spits them out." The 42-year-old actress found fame in her early twenties when the 2006 film became a runaway hit and multi-million dollar franchise.
The Pressures of Early Fame
Stroh, who also appeared opposite Dylan and Cole Sprouse in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, addressed the impact of early fame on young performers. While she praised Disney for being "very good at following all the rules" regarding safeguarding, she emphasized the need for more mental health support on set. "This profession is not for the weak of heart. It is a brutal industry and to have these young teens be thrown into that and into the fame and into pressure, it's a lot and it's no easy feat," she told The Mirror.
She added: "I do wish that there was more support for the mental health part of it. I feel like there should be access to therapists on set. I feel like a lot of things should be taken into account." The film launched the careers of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, and came just before Disney made Miley Cyrus, then 12, a global superstar with Hannah Montana. Similarly, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato got their big break in their early teens.
A Sisterly Approach
Stroh explained that she always tried to adopt a sisterly approach to her younger co-stars, reminding them to focus on their happiness rather than their next project. "When people see you it's not, 'Oh, how are you?' It's, 'Oh what are you up to next? What's next?' And I think that that's really unhealthy," she said. "So as the big sister kind of energy, I always really tried to focus on 'How are you doing?' And I'd be like, 'No, stop, really, how are you doing? And talk to me about what's going on in life. Don't tell me about your next project.'"
She stressed that this helps young performers realize that their self-worth is not connected to material things or their career. "I think in this generation, we are trying to focus on that a little bit more. Where that era, it was really heavy and they were hitting it hard. We were thrown into an adult world. So I hope that it continues to improve and we prioritise health and mental health and all of the things that will help with longevity, not only in a career."
Celebrating High School Musical on Stage
While no official reunion event has emerged for High School Musical, unlike the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary special, Stroh has found her own way to celebrate. She will star as eccentric drama teacher Ms Darbus in Hope Mill Theatre's stage revival of High School Musical, appearing alongside Jason Donovan as Coach Bolton. The production opens in Manchester in August and moves to London in October, where McFly star Harry Judd will join the cast.
Stroh said: "If I'm being honest, I think there's a lot of us from High School Musical that feel like it would have been really fun and really nice to have a kind of big shebang or a big reunion. But that's another reason why I'm so grateful for this opportunity to revisit it on stage and to play Miss Darbus because then my cup is at least getting filled."
Originally played by Alyson Reed, Stroh is determined to put her own spin on the role. "I feel like I have to still be very Darbus. I want to give ode to what Alyson Reed did and to what this character is. But I think for me, I want to add some of my own quirk into Miss Darbus and for me I feel that's a lot of physicality where growing up I have a heavy dance background. And, you know, so did Alison, but I really feel like when you take something to the stage, you get to use that physical comedy a little bit more and be a little more extreme. And so I'm hoping to add a little bit of the KayCee Stroh dancer fluidity to her."
KayCee Stroh stars as Ms Darbus in Disney's High School Musical at Lowry, Salford, from 22 August - 19 September & Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London, from 12 October - 3 January.
