Drew Lachey (Rent) hosts the dance competition show led by the judges of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. The hour-long show, which airs at 8 PM (ET), will feature the High School Musical company performing "We're All in This Together"; check local listings.
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The High School Musical tour launched from Detroit's Fisher Theatre in June 2007 and will make its final stop this August at Atlanta's Fox Theatre — where the stage musical was originally presented in January 2007 by Theatre of the Stars.
Disney Theatrical Productions presents the stage version of the Disney Channel original movie. Jeff Calhoun (Big River) — who originally staged the show at Atlanta's Theatre of the Stars — directs the touring production. (Full tour listings and venue details are available at highschoolmusicalontour.com.
High School Musical centers on the unlikely friendship that evolves between the jock Troy and brainiac Gabriella at a karaoke contest. Little did the two know that she would be transferring to his school. The duo decide — against their friends' wishes and to the dismay of school stars (a drama queen and her twin brother) — to audition for the high school musical. The company features John Jeffrey Martin (Broadway's Rocky Horror Show, Hairspray) as Troy, Arielle Jacobs as Gabriella(A Chorus Line), Shakiem Evans (Mamma Mia!, Fame) as Chad, Shaullanda LaCombe (The Lion King) as Taylor, Bobby List (The Human Comedy, The 60's Project) as Ryan, Olivia Oguma (Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables) as Kelsi and Chandra Lee Schwartz (Gypsy, Hairspray) as Sharpay. Michael Mahany (Spring Awakening) plays a new character in the stage show, Jack Scott. Ben Thompson (Big River Deaf West tour) plays Zeke Baylor, and Lizzie Weiss (original Theatre of the Stars High School Musical) plays Martha Cox.
Bohmer (The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Phantom of the Opera, The Woman in White) plays Coach Bolton opposite Harvey (Thou Shalt Not, The Music Man, tour of Mamma Mia!) as drama teacher Ms. Darbus.
The stage show features a book by David Simpatico, adapted from the original movie script by Peter Barsocchini. All the songs from the original soundtrack (written by numerous songwriters) are featured in the show along with two added songs.
Lisa Stevens choreographs. The design team for High School Musical includes Kenneth Foy (scenic), Wade Laboissonniere (costume), Kenneth Billington (lighting) and Duncan Robert Edwards (sound). Bryan Louiselle serves as music supervisor.
