Disney Theatrical Productions to Debut Touring Stage Version of Disney’s Phenomenally Popular High School Musical
March 27, 2007
A new touring stage version of the phenomenally popular High School Musical will arrive in Philadelphia for a two-week engagement at the Academy of Music beginning July 11 - 22, 2007 as part of the Cadillac Broadway Series. Presented by Disney Theatrical Productions, the division responsible for such smash Broadway hits as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins, High School Musical is based on the 2006 Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel Original Movie.
Priority seating for High School Musical is available for groups of 20 or more by calling (215) 790-5883, and to subscribers of the 2007-2008 Cadillac Broadway Series by calling (215) 893-1955. Tickets will range in price from $28 to $103. Individual ticket sale information will be announced at a later date.
This new touring stage adaptation of Disney’s High School Musical will be directed by Jeff Calhoun (Big River). High School Musical features a book by David Simpatico (adapted from the original movie script by Peter Barsocchini), and a score including all the songs from the original soundtrack plus two new songs. The touring company will include a live orchestra and a cast of 35 talented theatrical performers; casting will be announced shortly.
Commenting on the announcement, Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, said, "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 realized 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." Schumacher adds, "It is a great joy and privilege for us to be able to produce and present the Disney Channel’s enormously popular property on stage."
Rich Ross, president, Disney Channel Worldwide, said, "To have the great characters, movie and music from our Disney Channel Original Movie adapted for this professional theatre tour is an honor and we hope it will provide an opportunity to introduce kids to the arts."
Disney’s High School Musical is a contemporary musical comedy about a popular high school basketball star and 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 an uproar. In a desperate effort 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. By defying expectations and taking a chance on their dreams, however, the couple inspires other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own.
The creative team for this new touring stage production of High School Musical, in addition to aforementioned director Calhoun, will be choreographer Lisa Stevens, scenic designer Kenneth Foy, costume designer Wade Laboissonniere, lighting designer Kenneth Billington, sound designer Duncan Robert Edwards and music supervisor Bryan Louiselle.
High School Musical premiered on Disney Channel on January 20th, 2006, and became the highest rated original movie up until that time. It won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Children’s Programming, and received two Emmy Awards (of its total 6 nominations), a DGA Award, an Imagen Award for Best Children’s Program, and a Humanitas Prize nomination. The soundtrack received a Billboard Music Award for Soundtrack of the Year, and was nominated for an American Music Award in the Favorite Album (Pop/Rock) category. The film even earned an entry in the Guinness World Record Book as the first TV movie to deliver nine concurrent singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Subscription packages for the 2007-2008 Cadillac Broadway Series season are on sale now by visiting www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway or by calling (215) 893-1955. The new season will include: The Drowsy Chaperone (Nov. 27 – Dec. 2, 2007); My Fair Lady (March 11 – 16, 2008); Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple (June 17 – July 13 – 2008), all at the Academy of Music; and Avenue Q (Jan. 29 – Feb. 10, 2008) at the Forrest Theatre. Additional shows will include: WICKED (July 25 – Aug, 19, 2007); Gypsy (May 9 – 11, 2008) and Mamma Mia! (July 15 - 27, 2008). The new Cadillac Broadway Series marks the first full season of cooperation between Kimmel Center, Inc. and Shubert Organization, Inc., where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre.
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