Arielle Jacobs, who grew up in Half Moon Bay, began dancing at the age of three, acting and studying voice at seven, and has performed professionally since age 10. She attended Princeton High School in New Jersey and graduated Magna cum laude from New York University with a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance. Arielle originated the role of Gabriella Montez, the brainy and beautiful new girl in school, in the world premiere production of Disney’s High School Musical on Stage and has continued with the tour which opens at the Orpheum Theatre on April 15.

What was the best thing(s) about growing up in Half Moon Bay?
The annual Pumpkin Festival on Main Street. They would have a competition and weigh the largest pumpkin of the year, and there were also great baked good and gifts at the street fair. My family would go to pick out our pumpkins in the pumpkin fields across from the ocean, and we lived in Frenchman's Creek, which is directly across the street from a eucalyptus forest that leads to the beach. It was so beautiful, and the smell of eucalyptus still reminds me of my childhood paradise.

What was the hardest part about leaving the quaint Northern California beach community and moving 3,000 miles across the country? What was the best part?
Moving away from the beach and those beautiful sunsets. But, I love adventure and new experiences, so I was actually more excited than scared. I didn't know a soul when we moved to Princeton, NJ, but when I started high school I met some great friends and was introduced to the school's amazing theater department and one of the best choirs in the country.

With the move to New Jersey, you became the new girl in high school.
How does your real life experience inform your performance as Gabriella?
It was definitely scary to be "the new girl" in high school, but I felt free to be whoever I wanted to be—since nobody knew the girl I was before. I've always been nervous when meeting new people who all already know each other, so I understand what Gabriella experiences in High School Musical. I gradually made long-lasting friends, and chose to pursue things I loved, like music, my studies, track & field, theater, dance. But, it's hard to do everything because there's never enough time, so I chose to focus on theater and music instead of sports.

Of Disney's High School Musical, you've said, "it has a universal message. It's a great story about peer pressure and fighting to be who you are and following your passions even though they may be different from everyone else's." How did you manage to stay on message to follow your dreams? Did you have a mentor or special support group in high school?
When I was in high school, my mentors were my teachers, specifically my drama teacher Pat Wray and choir director Charles Sundquist. Both of these teachers were successful performers in their own careers, and were also passionate and supportive of each student's talents. I grew as an actor and singer because of their confidence in me.

So many of the young girls in the audiences across the country must relate to your character. Do they contact you for advice? What do you tell them?
I often get emails from young students who are struggling socially, and need advice on how to make friends or whether they should pursue their love of theater. I always tell them to "follow your bliss." I've always believed that every person has a special gift to offer the world, and it's usually something that makes you happy doing it. If you know what your gift is, don't be afraid to share it. If you love music and theater, then surround yourself with it.

Take voice lessons, dance and acting classes, participate in your school plays, audition for Community Theater. There is so much to learn by watching others, and your experience onstage will make your stage fright less and less scary. And if you're afraid to be yourself and make friends, then it's just as important to remember that each and every one of us is special and has a special gift to share.

What would you tell someone who has seen the High School Musical television movie to expect when they see the stage adaptation?
The stage version of HSM has two new songs and new arrangements of the song you already know. We've got a live orchestra and 34 cast-members, including a new character named Jack Scott, who serves as the school announcer/narrator. There are also new additions to the script, with new scenes between Ryan and Sharpay, and between Ms. Darbus and Coach Bolton. These additions highlight the real reason why Sharpay desires to star in the school musical, and shows more depth in the relationships between the twins, and the two adults.

What would you tell someone who knows nothing about the show but is thinking about buying a ticket to the touring production to see what all the fuss is about?
Come see the show and see for yourself why this show is such a hit! Don't judge HSM or label it as a "kid's show", because it's not. You'll understand Troy and Gabriella's struggle to pursue their passions, you'll relive your high school experiences; you'll fall in love with these characters, and fight for their success alongside them. Plus, you'll enjoy all the little kids around you who are singing and dancing along with us onstage. It's an experience you don't want to miss.

You've said if you hadn't become an actress, you would have pursued Environmental Science. You do, in fact, devote much of your free time to Environmentalism and Animal Rights. Tell us how you got involved with your pet projects.
I'd been thinking for a long time about how to use my influence to promote an awareness and appreciation for Nature among our young fans. I contacted some non-profits to see if they needed help promoting their kids' divisions by handing out stickers or information... but they didn't respond. Meanwhile, I was getting irritated by several theatres where we performed that only provided plastic drinking cups backstage for actors, instead of little paper Dixie cups that are more disposable and don't add more plastic to landfills. One day, I had an epiphany, and I decided that the only way to share knowledge about the environment is to gather the information and create a website where kids can read about it themselves. I created www.helpHEALtheEarth.com so that children and teenagers can learn about their role in saving the planet, and that recycling and living an eco-friendly lifestyle is actually cool!

Besides scuba diving and hula hooping, you've mentioned that your hobbies include Reiki, the Japanese technique for stress reduction and healing. Tell us when and how you received your training and how you integrate it into your life.
I received my training in Reiki from two Reiki Masters in Los Angeles and New York City. I've always had an interest in energy therapy, and believe that all physical disturbance and sickness can be treated in your energy body before it manifests in your physical body. I use Reiki as a tool for healing myself and others who are experiencing emotional or physical unbalance. By conducting and transferring Reiki, or universal love energy, it's possible to help someone rebalance their energy and promote a feeling of calm. In a sense, the Reiki practitioner is simply giving them the energy to help heal themselves, and bring their energy bodies back into balance.

If you weren't playing Gabriella Montez in Disney's High School Musical what would your dream Broadway role be (past or present)?
I would love the opportunity to play Maria in West Side Story and Kim in Miss Saigon. These musicals have such gorgeous music, and the characters have challenging journeys. As an actress, it is always great when I get to play a character who experiences a huge traumatic upset, and must go through an intense transformation. Those are the roles that have so much juice, and so much to discover in every performance.

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