Disney's High School Musical Avail. for Local Productions in Fall

Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) announced today that it will release a version of Disney Channel's wildly successful HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL for local productions beginning this Fall through Music Theatre International (MTI).

Steve Fickinger, Disney Theatrical Productions Vice President responsible for the DTP/MTI relationship, said, "The response to HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL has been phenomenal. Television audiences are connecting with the show and its music on an unprecedented level. We wanted to make the rights available for local productions across the country."

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL set viewership records when it debuted on Disney Channel on January 20, 2006 and to date has been seen by over 30 million unique viewers.

The HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL platinum certified soundtrack from Walt Disney Records also made its mark topping the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and being the #1 selling album on iTunes for three weeks. The single "Breaking Free" made the largest jump in the 48-year history of the Billboard Hot 100, catapulting from #86 to #4 in just one week. Seven other singles from the soundtrack also debuted on the Hot 100. The soundtrack has also generated one platinum single ("Breaking Free"), and four gold singles (" What I've Been Looking For," " We're All in This Together," "Start of Something New," and "Get'cha Head in the Game").

Thomas Schumacher, President of Disney Theatrical Productions said, "I'm thrilled that we are able to have HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL join Beauty and the Beast, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, and our other Disney Collection titles available through MTI."

Developed through a unique collaboration with Disney Theatricals, MTI's Musicals from the Disney Collection also includes musicals developed especially for students. Aladdin Junior is a 60-minute show appropriate for middle-schoolers to perform. Cinderella Kids, 101 Dalmations Kids, and The Jungle Book Kids are 30-minute stage versions of classic Disney films aimed to introduce elementary school children to the joys of putting on a live musical.

"The response to The Disney Collection has been overwhelming," Schumacher said. "In fact, Disney's Beauty and the Beast was the most successful first-year licensing launch in history, and Disney's Aladdin Jr. has been performed by over 1,000 schools across the country."

More titles will be added to the Junior and Kids Collections in the coming year.

People interested in licensing HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL may pre-register at www.disney.com/hsm or contact MTI about other Disney titles for local productions at www.mtishows.com.