High School Musical on Stage!

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High School Musical on Stage! is a stage adaptation of the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical. It follows the same basic plot but some things have been changed to make it more 'stage friendly' such as the order of some songs being swapped or added compared to the film. The show is available for schools, community groups and professional theatre companies to perform. There have been more than 2,000 school productions across the U.S.

Plot & Scenes

Act I

Act I opens at East High School (In Albuquerque, New Mexico) (Wildcat Cheer- Troy, Chad, Zeke,Taylor,Gabriella, Martha, Kelsi, and Cast). The story begins with Troy Bolton telling his Jock friends, Chad Danforth and Zeke Baylor, about meeting Gabriella Montez on New Year's Eve during winter vacation on a ski trip. Gabriella, who has just moved to Albuquerque, tells Taylor McKessie and Martha Cox (her new found Braniac friends) of her vacation, as does Troy with his friends. We also meet Sharpay and Ryan Evans, the two drama stars of the school. Sharpay is selfish, and Ryan follows her orders but tries to be friends with everyone. Troy and Gabriella have a flashback to New Year's Eve when they met. (Start of Something New- Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay, Kelsi, Chad, Taylor, Zeke, Martha and Cast). One-half of the song is during the flashback, then we return to East High where Chad, Taylor,Kelsi, Ryan, Sharpay, and other students sing of their New Year's Resolutions.

In homeroom, Mrs. Darbus tells her class of the upcoming Winter Musical, "Juliet and Romeo", a new version of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", written by Kelsi Neilsen, a shy East High student. When Ryan, Sharpay, Troy, and Gabriella start using their cell phones, Mrs. Darbus gives them all detention. Chad interferes, telling Mrs. Darbus Troy cannot go because they have basketball practice after school and that they have an upcoming championship game. Mrs. Darbus gives him detention for 30 minutes, as well as Taylor when she remarks that Chad can't even count that high. At Gabriella's locker, Troy runs into her and they show their amazement of how they found each other again. Sharpay walks by and tries to flirt with Troy, but he shows no interest in her. Sharpay observes that he is interested in Gabriella and she is interested in him. Later, in a Science class, Gabriella shows her smarts by pointing out a flaw in the teacher's equation. Taylor is impressed and asks, on behalf of her Science Club, if Gabriella could join their team to win the upcoming Scholastic Decathlon, although Gabriella refuses. Sharpay overhears and has Ryan investigate by Googling her. She sees that Gabriella was a very intelligent Brainiac at her old school and puts the printouts in Taylor's locker. Meanwhile, the Jocks have basketball practice (Get'cha Head in the Game-Troy, Jocks), and later the students head to the theater for detention, where Taylor asks Gabriella to join the Scholastic Decathlon team based on the printouts Sharpay planted in her locker.

Thespians audition for the play (Auditions-Kelsi, Mrs.Darbus and Thespians). Sharpay and Ryan audition as well (What I've Been Looking For-Ryan, Kelsi and Sharpay). After the auditions have been declared closed, Gabriella and Troy sing the song as Kelsi intended it - much slower (What I've Been Looking For (Reprise-Troy/Gabriella)). Although Troy and Gabriella did not intend it to be an audition they are called back for a second audition. When their friends hear the news they spread it via cell phones (Cellular Fusion- Ryan, Sharpay, Kelsi, Martha ,Chad, Zeke, Taylor and Cast). Meanwhile, Sharpay is furious as she believes that they've stolen the lead roles and broken the 'rules' of East High. Most of the school agrees, and lyrical chaos erupts during a lunch break with students telling their secret obsessions out side of their cliques (Stick To The Status Quo- Gabriella,Troy,Martha, Zeke, Kelsi and Cast), which culminates in Sharpay getting caked by Zeke, who secretly likes her.

Act II

Act II begins with a recap of events by Jack Scott, followed by Troy and Gabriella dancing on the rooftop garden (I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You-Gabriella,Troy and Cast). Meanwhile, the Jocks and Brainiacs plot against the infuriated duo during study hall. Mrs. Darbus, who Sharpay lied to about Troy and his father, Coach Bolton, storms in during practice. After being screamed at by Mrs. Darbus, Coach Bolton turns around and yells at his son, who, for the first time, stands up to his dad.

The Jocks and Brainiacs put their plan to work, pushing at Troy and Gabriella to 'split up'. Eventually, Troy gives in and pretends that he doesn't like Gabriella, completely oblivious to the phone in Zeke's hand, transmitting Troy's words directly to Gabriella (Counting on You-Martha , Chad, Taylor , Kelsi,Jocks/Braniacs). Troy and Gabriella, lonely and upset, sing (When There Was Me and You-Troy, Gabriella & Cast.)

Eventually, Troy explains that they were set-up and he didn't mean what he said and sings to remind her of New Year's (Start Of Something New (Reprise)-Troy. Gabriella & Kelsi) Hearing that the callback date has been moved up by request of Sharpay to the same time as the big game and the Scholastic Decathlon, Troy and Gabriella announce to the Jocks and Brainiacs that they are going to not do the callback, but instead help their respective teams for their events. The Jocks and Brainiacs say they should do the callbacks. Troy and Gabriella refuse, but the teams decide to lend a helping hand anyway (We're All in this Together-Kelsi, Jack Scott, Jocks & Braniacs).

On the day of the big game/Decathlon/callbacks, the students are excited for the festivities. Sharpay and Ryan perform their callback song (Bop to the Top-Ryan, Sharpay,Chad, Taylor, Martha, Zeke,Kelsi and & Cast), during which Taylor engineers an electronic meltdown in the decathlon and light malfunctions in the game, which forces all the students to move to the theater. Chad and Taylor explain to Troy and Gabriella that this is their only chance. Mrs. Darbus, hesitant to allow Troy and Gabriella an audition due to their lateness, has no choice but to let them audition as the auditorium fills with students (Breaking Free-Troy, Gabriella,Kelsi,Chad, Taylor and Cast). Mrs. Darbus gives Troy and Gabriella the parts on the spot with everyone watching.

The end of Act II brings us to the gym where all the main characters wrap up their plots (Chad asks out Taylor, Zeke gets Sharpay to be nice to him, Jack Scott and Kelsi literally fall head over heels for each other, and Sharpay makes up with Gabriella and Troy.) the Wildcats win the big game and the Decathlon. The students celebrate (We're All in This Together (Reprise)-Cast) and there is a recap of all the major songs in the show (Megamix-Cast with Director). Finally, everyone takes their bows.


Differences between the movie and stage show

  • The stage musical includes two new songs: "Counting On You" and "Cellular Fusion".
  • There is a song during the auditions scene entitled "Auditions (Bop to the Top/What I've Been Looking For)", which combines those two songs in a large ensemble number with many solos.
  • There are two "Wildcat Cheer"s as well.
  • A megamix was also added at the finale which combined all of the songs.
  • Jack Scott, a school announcer, joins the cast of characters and acts as the play's narrator.
  • Former extra song "I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" has been added to the main repertoire, with slightly altered lyrics and without Sharpay and Ryan.

Jason's part is significantly smaller role in the play than in the movie. He has only one line, and does not end up with Kelsi, Jack Scott does.

  • Martha Cox, the brainiac who loves hip-hop, and Zeke, the basketball player who loves to bake, have slightly larger roles and multiple solos. Kelsi Nielsen's role is also slightly larger, and she also has solos.
  • Many of the songs have different tunes and different parts added to them. Many that were previously solos or duets are now large ensemble numbers.
  • "Start of Something New" now includes the entire cast, as the scene shifts away from the New Year's flashback and everyone sings about New Year's resolutions.
  • "Stick to the Status Quo" now includes Gabriella, Troy, Zeke, Martha, and the "rebels" singing their own backup part, saying "Don't stick to the status quo," etc.
  • "When There Was Me and You" is now a duet between Troy and Gabriella, with the ensemble singing backup.
  • "We're All in This Together" has a reprise, and the original features Chad, Taylor, Kelsi, Zeke and Martha.
  • "Bop to the Top" is no longer a duet, but a large ensemble number featuring the brainiacs, jocks, and Ryan and Sharpay. "Breaking Free" also becomes an ensemble number.
  • The balcony scene, as well as Mrs. Montez, were cut out of the plot, and the "Start of Something New" reprise now takes place at school.
  • Troy and Gabriella share a kiss at the end of the play.
  • Mrs. Darbus and Mr. Bolton have considerably more lines. In some plays, however, Mr. Bolton does sing.
  • Ryan and Sharpay are given a bit more depth.
  • Supporting characters Taylor McKessie and Chad Danforth are more prominent in songs, while in the movie neither character has any solos.
  • The name of the spring musical in the movie, "Twinkletown", changes to "Juliet and Romeo" in the stage adaptation.
  • Instead of opening at the New Year's eve party it opens at East High school the party is later shown during a flashback.

Authors

Professional stage tour

The first professional stage version was presented in Atlanta, Georgia in January, 2007, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. It was produced by Atlanta's Theater of the Stars, Christopher B. Manos, Producer. The show was directed by Jeff Calhoun, choreographed by Lisa Stevens and Musical Directed by Bryan Louiselle. Mr. Louiselle also wrote the two new songs in the show. After Disney Theatrical Productions, (the theatrical arm of the Disney Company) saw the production they decided to transfer the show from Atlanta and to create a tour. The production did a Summer Stock try out at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera before it was converted to the First National Tour of DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ON STAGE. The tour did tryouts starting during the summer of 2007 at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, and The LaSalle Bank Theatre in Chicago, as a preview. The official start date of the tour is August 1, starting from Chicago. Following Chicago the tour 2007 dates are Toronto, Buffalo, East Lansing, Hartford, Rochester, Columbus, Boston, Syracuse, Cleveland, Providence, Appleton, Little Rock, Los Angeles and San Diego. The tour is booked into Mid -2009

The DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ON STAGE does not feature any cast members from the movie.

A UK professional tour has been announced starting in January 2008[1] beginning in Bromley’s Churchill Theatre. It will be produced by Stage Entertainment in co-operation with Disney Theatrical Productions. 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. A professional group of children preformers called Class Act Productions premered the program for disney and disney also sent a disney star searcher to the opening night preformance.

References

  1. ^ http://www.theatre.com/story/id/3007990

External links

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