Stage Version of Disney's High School Musical Set For 2008 U.K. Tour
The Show Poster
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A stage version of Disney’s popular 2006 TV feature
High School Musical will begin a U.K. national tour in January 2008 at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre. The show features all the songs from the original chart-topping film soundtrack, including the U.K. hit singles “Breaking Free” and “We’re All In This Together”, plus two new numbers. The stage version has a book by David Simpatico, which is adapted from the original movie script by Peter Barsocchini.
A contemporary musical comedy, it revolves around Troy, a popular high school basketball star, and Gabriella, a shy, academically gifted newcomer who discover they share a secret passion for singing. When they sign up together to audition for the lead roles in the school musical it threatens East High's rigid social order and sends their peers into uproar. In a desperate attempt to maintain the status quo, the ‘jocks’, the ‘brainiacs’, and even the drama club regulars, are soon hatching convoluted plots to separate the pair and keep them offstage. However, by defying expectations and taking a chance on their dreams, the couple inspires other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own.
Originally premiered in the US in January 2006 where it became the highest rated Disney Channel Original Movie at the time, it was first telecast in the UK in September 2006 and was the highest-rated Disney Channel Original movie ever seen on Disney Channel U.K.. The film has now been seen by 9.4 million television viewers. The soundtrack album has been certified Double Platinum in the U.K. alone, and it became the first TV movie to deliver nine concurrent singles on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
The stage version is directed by Jeff Calhoun, whose Broadway credits include directing revivals of Grease and Big River, and will feature a company of 34 actors and a live orchestra. No casting has yet been announced.
Produced by Stage Entertainment in co-operation with Disney Theatrical Productions, it brings together the London producers of
Fame and
Hairspray with the worldwide producers of
The Lion King and co-producer of
Mary Poppins. In a statement, Thomas Schumacher, president and producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, said, “It is a great joy and privilege for us to be able to produce and present Disney Channel’s enormously popular property on stage. Our stage version of this great property has been mounted as a direct response to overwhelming demand. As someone who has been passionate about theatre since I was a kid, I am thrilled that we will be touring this remarkably popular title as a fully realised stage production, and most certainly introducing countless young people to the world of theatre for the very first time. You can’t ask for more than that.”
The production will visit over 30 venues across the UK throughout the year. The first twelve dates so far announced will see it open at Bromley from 23 January to 2 February, then tour to Stoke-on-Trent’s Regent Theatre, Norwich Theatre Royal, Edinburgh Playhouse, Wolverhampton’s Grand, Woking’s New Victoria Theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Milton Keynes Theatre, the New Wimbledon Theatre in south west London, Manchester’s Palace Theatre, the Bristol Hippodrome and Glasgow’s King’s Theatre. A further set of tour dates will be announced in September 2007, with cities scheduled including Norwich, Bradford, Southampton, Hull and Newcastle.