Jeff Calhoun to Direct Stage Premiere of 'High School Musical 2' in Atlanta; NSMT Presents New England Premiere

Variety is reporting that the world premiere of High School Musical 2 will be directed by Jeff Calhoun at Theater of the Stars in Atlanta, Georgia. The show will run from November 7th- 16th 2008. Casting has not yet been announced.

"What time is it?  Summer time!  School's out and the Wildcats are back for an all new adventure.  Join Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan and the rest of the East High gang as they dive into the enchanted world of Lava Springs Country Club and put their talent to the ultimate test!" describe press notes for the show.

Jeff Calhoun directed and choreographed the award-winning Deaf West production of Big River (Tony and Drama Desk nominations, Best Revival; Drama Desk nomination for Best Director of a Musical; Ovation and L.A. Drama Critics Circle awards for Direction and Choreography). He was a producer as well as director/choreographer for the Broadway production of Brooklyn the Musical. He directed and choreographed the 1994 Broadway revival of Grease! (Tony nomination, Best Choreography) and co-choreographed the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun (Tony Award, Best Revival). His Broadway directing debut was Tommy Tune Tonight, and his collaboration with Mr. Tune led to the 1991 Tony for Best Choreography for the Will Rogers Follies. He provided the musical staging for the hit Broadway musical Grey Gardens and developed the first original ASL musical, Sleeping Beauty Wakes, at the Kirk Douglas Theater. He is the director of both the national and international productions of Disney's High School Musical: On Tour. Jeff is currently directing High School Musical 2 for Theater of the Stars at The Fox Theatre in November and the Deaf West production of Pippin for Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum in January 2009. Jeff is an Associate Artist at Ford's Theatre.

Theater of the Stars celebrates their 56th Anniversary as one of the nation’s premier theater companies.  A civic not-for-profit cultural treasure, Theater of the Stars is "dedicated to presenting and producing the best in musical theater."  To learn more about their history, performance schedules and ticket purchase please visit  www.theaterofthestars.com

High School Musical 2 will also be receiving its New England Premiere at North Shore Music Theater in Beverly, MA.  Auditions are planned for this month and the show will debut on December 18th 2008 and run through January 11th 2009. Auditions will be run by NSMT Artistic Director and Executive Producer Barry Ivan, who will also direct and choreograph the show; Assistant Choreographer is Christopher Saunders; and NSMT Director of Dance is Myvonwyn Hopton. Musical director is Brian Usifer.

As of this moment, NSMT and Theater of the Stars are the only regional theater companies to be given rights to perform the musical, though more are expected to follow in coming months.

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