Bailey Hanks to Star in Paper Mill's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) just announced Bailey Hanks of Broadway's Legally Blonde will star as ‘Sharpay' in Paper Mill's upcoming production of Disney's High School Musical. The rest of the cast will be announced later this week.

Bailey Hanks is the winner of the MTV reality series ‘Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods'. Ms. Hanks succeeded Tony® Award Nominee Laura Bell Bundy in the role of ‘Elle Woods' on Broadway in July. Ms. Hanks' theatre credits include: Seussical, Gypsy, Hello Dolly!, The Music Man, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, and Annie. In 2000 she sang the national anthem for President Bill Clinton. The South Carolina native and former Miss Liberty Teen 2005 studied musical theatre at Coastal Carolina University.

Disney's High School Musical is a contemporary Romeo and Juliet musical comedy. Troy, captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella, a shy academically gifted transfer student discover they share a secret passion for singing. When they audition together for the lead roles in the school musical, it threatens East High's rigid social order and sends their peers into an uproar. The "jocks", "brainiacs", and "thespians" hatch convoluted plots to separate the pair and keep them off the stage. However, by taking chances and defying expectations, the couple inspires other students to explore and showcase their own hidden talents.

Paper Mill's Artistic Director, Mark S. Hoebee will direct and Denis Jones (Associate Choreographer of Legally Blonde) will choreograph.

Disney's High School Musical will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 7:30PM, Thursdays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM and Sundays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM. Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92. Student rush tickets are $20 and are available the day of performance in person with current student ID. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office on Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 25% discount on tickets and should call 973-379-3636 ext. 2438.

Disney's High School Musical, is based on the Emmy Award winning and triple-platinum selling Disney Channel hit musical. Disney's High School Musical will run at the Millburn theatre from November 5 through December 7, 2008.

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres. Paper Mill's programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is provided by funding through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, and generous contributions from many corporations, foundations, and individuals. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Photo: Bailey Hanks by Peter James Zielinski