'High School Musical' features Disney magic

Way Off Broadway announces its production of ?High School Musical? will be on stage from Friday through July 26 at the Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts.

The 2 p.m. July 25 matinee show will include a special opening act. Students, ranging from ages 7-12, from The Art of Dance?s High School Musical Dance Camp will perform a choreographed routine which incorporates moves learned at camp from ?High School Musical,? jazz and theater dance. The two-week dance camp, now until July 24, also includes visits from professional cast members, a sit-in dance session from Broadway chorographer Adam Cates and complimentary tickets to ?High School Musical on Stage.?

The play is based on the 2006 Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel original movie and is a contemporary musical comedy about a popular high school basketball star, Troy Bolton, and a shy, academically-gifted newcomer, Gabriella. During winter break, they discover they share a secret passion for singing. Together they sign up to audition for the lead roles in the school musical, and 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, the couple inspires other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own.

This stage adaptation of Disney's ?High School Musical? is directed by Randall K. West and includes the movie music plus two new songs.

The creative team for this production of ?High School Musical,? in addition to West, is choreographer Cates, assistant choreographers Juliet Valle and Nura Awda, scenic designer Kelsey Henderson, costume designer Natalie Saunders, lighting designer Cevin Churchill, sound designer Ismel Ramos and music supervisor Justin Hill.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. July 17-18 and July 23-25 and 2 p.m. July 19 and July 26.