High School Musical Begins in Chicago on July 25

Broadway In Chicago will present a new touring stage version of High School Musical, which will play Chicago's LaSalle Bank Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.), July 25 - September 2, 2007.  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. 

This new touring stage adaptation of the movie will be directed by Jeff Calhoun (Big River). The 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 includes a live orchestra and a cast of 35 talented theatrical performers.  

The tour, as previously announced, will star John Jeffrey Martin as Troy Bolton, Arielle Jacobs as Gabriella Montez, Shakiem Evans as Chad Danforth, Shaullanda LaCombe as Taylor McKessie, Bobby List as Ryan Evans, Olivia Oguma as Kelsi Neilson, Chandra Lee Schwartz as Sharpay Evans, Ron Bohmer as Troy's father and Wildcat's basketball coach, Coach Bolton, and Ellen Harvey as the drama teacher Ms. Darbus.

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," as described in press materials.

The creative team, 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 U.S. on January 20, 2006 and posted the highest ratings for a Disney Channel Original Movie up until that time.  It went on to become a smash hit internationally and, in 2006, aired on 26 Disney Channels and free-to-air broadcasters worldwide, reaching over 100 million viewers in over 100 countries.   It was also the first TV movie to be offered on the iTunes Music Store.  "High School Musical" delivered the #1 album of 2006, the year's #1 TV movie on DVD, licensed amateur and professional touring stage productions, a best-selling junior novel, a popular consumer products franchise at mass retailers, a themed show at Disneyland Parks and Resorts in Anaheim, Orlando and soon, Paris, a sold-out 42 date arena concert tour in North America and soon, Latin America, starring most of the cast, and a touring ice show premiering in late 2007.  Adding to its success, it won the two Emmy Awards, a DGA Award, Television Critics Association Award, an Imagen Award, a Director's Guild of America Award and a Humanitas Prize nomination.  Its soundtrack received a Billboard Music Award (Soundtrack of the Year) and was nominated for an American Music Award in the Favorite Album (Pop/Rock) category.  Walt Disney Studios announced it will develop a feature film based on the movie for release in 2008.

The show will play Chicago's LaSalle Bank Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) July 25 through September 2, 2007.  The performance schedule is as follows:  Wednesdays at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Please note:  There will be added performances on Thursday, July 26 at 2 p.m. and on Tuesday, July 31, Tuesday August 7 and Tuesday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m.  There will NOT be a 2 p.m. performance on Wednesday, July 25 or Wednesday, August 8; or a 6:30 p.m. performance on Sunday, August 5 or Sunday, September 2. 

Tickets range in price from $20 - $78 and will be available at Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (18 W. Monroe St., 24 W. Randolph St. and 151 W. Randolph St.), through the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including Carson Pirie Scott stores, Hot Tix, select Coconuts and fye stores) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.  Groups of 20 or more may receive a discount by calling (312) 977-1710.  For more information, go to www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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