Celebrating 20 years since Disney’s High School Musical became a global phenomenon, the Wildcats are heading back to East High in a major new stage production at Lowry in Salford.
This brand-new production is the first UK non-replica production of Disney’s High School Musical, bringing a fresh theatrical interpretation to the much-loved story while retaining the characters, songs and infectious energy that made the original film an international success.
The Lyric Theatre at Lowry will be transformed into an immersive basketball court, complete with on-stage seating and an extended stage that brings audiences closer to the students of East High and the action unfolding around them.
The story follows basketball star Troy Bolton and academically gifted newcomer Gabriella Montez, who unexpectedly discover a shared passion for singing. When the pair decide to audition for their school musical, they challenge the expectations of their friends and classmates and begin to disrupt East High’s established social groups.
As Troy and Gabriella navigate friendship, first love and self-discovery while balancing classes, basketball games and auditions, they begin to realise that they do not have to be defined by the expectations other people place upon them.
The production features the songs that helped turn High School Musical into a worldwide sensation, including Breaking Free, We’re All In This Together, Get’cha Head in the Game and Stick to the Status Quo.
Leading the Salford production is Jason Donovan as Coach Bolton, alongside original Disney High School Musical film cast member KayCee Stroh as Ms Darbus. Tobias Turley takes on the role of Troy Bolton, with Leonor Correia as Gabriella Montez, Caitlin Tipping as Sharpay Evans and Luke Bayer as Ryan Evans.
The company also features Char Burnett, Jordan Benjamin, Simeon Beckett, Mary Francis, André Phipps and Kade Stenson, alongside an exciting company of performers bringing a new generation of Wildcats to the stage.
Co-directed by Joseph Houston and William Whelton, founders of Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre, the production celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the original Disney Channel film while introducing its story and music to a new generation.
Since its premiere in 2006, High School Musical has become an enduring part of popular culture. Its message about challenging stereotypes, pursuing your ambitions and having the confidence to be yourself resonated with millions of young people around the world.
Twenty years later, the message at the heart of the story remains just as relevant: young people should have the freedom to explore who they are rather than simply conforming to the expectations placed upon them.
With an immersive staging, a diverse new company and some of the most recognisable songs from the original film, Disney’s High School Musical at Lowry promises a joyful celebration of friendship, individuality, ambition and finding the confidence to step outside the box.
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