Disney's High School Musical Stage Tour Announces an Additional 25 Markets

Production To Return To Atlanta�s Fox Theatre as a "Homecoming"

 (January 8, 2008) Disney�s High School Musical National Tour, which has played in 17 cities to date since beginning in June 2007, announced today that it will play 25 additional markets before making its final stop at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta in August 2008.   The touring production was originally presented by Atlanta's Fox Theatre in January 2007 by Theatre of the Stars, run by Chris and Nick Manos.  By the time the stage tour of the Disney Channel Original Movie will have concluded, it will have played 42 cities over 60 weeks.

In response to overwhelming public demand for the show, Disney Theatricals mounted the touring production in Detroit at the Fisher Theatre, and it officially opened in Chicago at the LaSalle Bank Theatre on August 1, 2007.  Since then, the show has played 192 performances for a total audience of more than 350,000 people, grossing more than $17 million to date as reported in Variety.  "In fact, we are just about to play our best week yet in St. Louis, where we will gross over $1.3 million with attendance topping out at nearly 30,000 guests," says Jack Eldon, Vice President of Domestic Touring for Disney Theatrical Productions.

The stage adaptation has been received with great enthusiasm and critical acclaim since opening in Chicago.  The creative team for Disney's High School Musical National Tour includes director Jeff Calhoun (director of Tony-nominated Big River), choreographer Lisa Stevens, book writer David Simpatico, based on Peter Barsochinni�s original screenplay, Kenneth Foy (sets), Ken Billington (lighting), Wade Laboissiniere (costumes) and Bryan Louiselle (music adaptation, supervision and writer of two new songs for the stage production).

Cities announced to date include:  St. Louis (January 9-13), Memphis (January 15-20), Nashville (January 22-27), Raleigh (January 29 � February 3), Washington, DC (February 5-17), Baltimore (Feb. 19 � March 2), Cincinnati (March 4-9), Louisville (March 11-16), Indianapolis (March 18-23), Des Moines (March 25-30), Minneapolis (April 1-6), San Francisco (April 15-27), Spokane (April 29 � May 4), Vancouver (May 6-18), Seattle (May 20-25), Portland (May 27 � June 1), San Jose (June 10-15), Costa Mesa (June 17-22), Tempe (June 24-29), Dallas (July 1-13), Kansas City (July 15-20) and Salt Lake City (July 29-August 10).

Additional cities to be announced soon for Summer 2008.  For tickets and more information, visit highschoolmusicalontour.com

Truly a worldwide phenomenon, the stage adaptation has been performed in Japan and more than 2000 schools across the US.  Local touring stage productions are set to debut in the UK in January, Spain in February and Italy in March. Additional stage versions of Disney�s High School Musical are set to appear in the UK, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Hungary, Israel, China, and South Korea. 

The High School Musical story, however, continues strong. The premiere of "High School Musical 2" set ratings records around the world.  Its U.S. premiere in August 2007 was cable television's most-watched telecast of all time in Total Viewers (18.6 million) and the year's #1 cable telecast among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14.  Since then, it has reached more than 170 million viewers worldwide.  Its soundtrack was the #2 best-selling album of 2007 in the U.S. and when released on DVD in December, quickly rose to become the best-selling TV property on DVD for 2007. 

Shortly Troy and Gabriella will take to the stage in Disney Theatrical Production�s theatrical adaptation of High School Musical 2, available for school productions early this spring through MTI. High School Musical 2 will bow on the stage in Fall 2008, followed by the anticipated feature film High School Musical 3 (working title) which is scheduled to premiere in late Fall of 2008.

Additionally, Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour is touring the globe with three different casts featuring world-class skaters.  Since its World Premiere in New York City at Madison Square Garden on September 29, 2007, The Ice Tour has been bringing the celebration of both Disney Channel hit movies � High School Musical and High School Musical 2 � to nearly 1.4 million fans around the world with a truly unique, high-energy ice production.  Internationally, The Ice Tour has performed in 9 countries, including Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, and Canada and has sold out performances in Italy, Spain and the UK.  Upcoming tour stops will include New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Taiwan, as well numerous domestic markets which will have performances through May, 2009 with a brief break Summer 2008.  Information on The Ice Tour can be found at highschoolmusicalontour.com.

 "We couldn�t be more pleased with the response to all of the theatrical incarnations of High School Musical," said Steve Fickinger, VP Licensing for DTP.  "It demonstrates the power of the characters, music and stories � audiences of all ages have connected with Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan and the entire gang from East High. Because of the stage tour and Jeff Calhoun�s adept direction, Disney has introduced a new generation to the magic of live professional theatre. It�s a wonderful achievement in itself."

-- January 8, 2008)