'High School Musical' Tour Pops into SF April 15-27, 2008

SHN is pleased to announce the national tour of Disney's High School Musical will play San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre April 15-27, 2008. This phenomenally popular stage production is based on the 2006 Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel Original Movie. High School Musical will be a special engagement of the 2007-2008 Citibank Best of Broadway season, under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Tickets go on sale December 17. 

This new touring stage adaptation of Disney's High School Musical is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Big River). High School Musical features a book by David Simpatico (adapted from the original movie script by Peter Barsocchini), and a score including all the songs from the original soundtrack plus two new songs.  The touring company includes a live orchestra and a cast of 34 professional performers.    

"Disney's High School Musical is a contemporary musical comedy about a popular high school basketball star and a shy, academically gifted newcomer who discover they share a secret passion for singing.  When they sign up together to audition for the lead roles in the school musical, it threatens East High's rigid social order and sends their peers into an uproar.  In a desperate effort to maintain the status quo, the "jocks," the "brainiacs" and even the drama club regulars are soon hatching convoluted plots to separate the pair and keep them offstage.  By defying expectations and taking a chance on their dreams, however, the couple inspires other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own," explain press notes.

The creative team for this new touring stage production of High School Musical, in addition to aforementioned director Calhoun, are choreographer Lisa Stevens, scenic designer Kenneth Foy, costume designer Wade Laboissonniere, lighting designer Kenneth Billington, sound designer Duncan Robert Edwards and music supervisor Bryan Louiselle. 

High School Musical premiered on Disney Channel U.S. on January 20, 2006 and posted the highest ratings for a Disney Channel Original Movie up until that time.  It went on to become a smash hit internationally and, in 2006, aired on 26 Disney Channels and free-to-air broadcasters worldwide, reaching over 100 million viewers in over 100 countries.   It was also the first TV movie to be offered on the iTunes Music Store. 

High School Musical delivered the #1 album of 2006, the year's #1 TV movie on DVD, licensed amateur and professional touring stage productions, a best-selling junior novel, a popular consumer products franchise at mass retailers, a themed show at Disneyland Parks and Resorts in Anaheim, Orlando and Paris, a sold-out 42 date arena concert tour in North America and Latin America, starring most of the cast, and a touring ice show.  Adding to its success, it won the two Emmy Awards, a DGA Award, Television Critics Association Award, an Imagen Award, a Director's Guild of America Award and a Humanitas Prize nomination.  Its soundtrack received a Billboard Music Award (Soundtrack of the Year) and was nominated for an American Music Award in the Favorite Album (Pop/Rock) category.  Walt Disney Studios announced it will develop a feature film based on the movie for release in 2008.

Tickets for High School Musical will range in price from $23 to $85 and beginning Monday, December 17 tickets can be purchased online at www.shnsf.com, through Ticketmaster by calling (415) 512-7770, at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers and the Orpheum Theatre Box Office (1192 Market at 8th St., Mon-Sat 10am – 6pm). Groups of 15 or more may order now by calling Group Sales at (415) 551-2020.  To learn more about High School Musical and other SHN shows, please visit www.shnsf.com

Performances are April 15-27: Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30PM; Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2PM; Sunday matinees at 1PM.