The principal roles of high school sweethearts Troy and Gabriella (made famous in the Disney Channel Original Movie by Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens) will be played by Chris Durling and Rebecca Tapia. Stage legend Donna Lee will perform the role of Mrs Darbus, the school’s passionate drama teacher. The cast were selected from the 500 actors, singers and dancers who auditioned during the nationwide selection process earlier this year.
Twenty-four year-old Chris Durling already has a following amongst young fans as an original member of Bindi Irwin’s world famous Crocmen. More recently he’s become known to older audiences for his roles in My Fair Lady (2005) and The Production Company’s 2008 productions of Follies and Damn Yankees (in Melbourne). Says Chris, “My high school years were so like Troy Bolton’s it’s not funny, so it’s really awesome to be selected to perform the role. With such a fresh young cast it will be a true ‘Wildcat’ team vibe and I cannot wait to get on stage and get my head in the game!”
Twenty-three year-old Rebecca Tapia’s big break was in the first Australian Idol series where she reached the semifinals. Since then she has appeared in four professional musicals, as one of the ‘The Naturelles’ in Human Nature’s Dancing in the Street national tour and as lead female vocalist for Burn The Floor’s spectacular dance production Floorplay, which has toured the world. “This is my first lead role and I’m so excited to be in a show that is such a big thing for the new generation of kids,” says Rebecca.The young performers can expect plenty of guidance from theatre, cabaret and television star Donna Lee. Over her distinguished career, Donna has appeared in 18 professional musicals, has won a Green Room Award, been nominated for a further two Green Room Awards, been awarded two MO Awards for her cabaret work, and was most recently seen in the 2007/8 Australian tour of Menopause the Musical. "I am looking forward to working with all these young performers. I always find their enthusiasm so infectious, and hope that my energy will do the same thing for them...tee hee..!!"
Back in February 2008, Casting Director Lynne Ruthven sent out the call for performers from all over Australia to audition for one of the most successful stage productions in the world. Over 800 actors, singers and dancers answered the call. After the daunting task of reducing that pool to 500, auditions were held in Sydney and Melbourne throughout March this year in front of the US Creative Team. Says Lynne, “Seeing the breadth of Australia’s talent is nothing new to me and after hours and hours of sifting through every application, it was heartbreaking to only be able to cast 32 people. However, I must confess I did quietly enjoy the US team’s genuine shock at how difficult it was to choose the cast – I don’t think they were expecting such fierce competition, or the sheer amount of new, young talent that is coming into our local industry. I believe we have a fresh, vibrant cast that will make the Australian production an exciting theatre experience.”
The Director of High School Musical - Live On Stage! Jeff Calhoun said in a recent interview, “Having auditioned people in America, in the UK and Australia, we found some of our best talent in Australia. Certainly in the dancing category, it [Australia] had by far the superior dancers – better than in the United States and better than in the UK.”
“We are so pleased to finally introduce Australia to their own cast of phenomenally talented, highly energetic performers who will entertain young fans from all over the country for over a year,” said joint Producers Kevin Jacobsen (Jacobsen Presents) and Tim McFarlane (The Really Useful Company Asia Pacific).
Disney’s High School Musical - Live On Stage! which is based on the smash-hit Disney Channel Original Movie, has captivated a legion of young fans since it premiered in Chicago in August 2007. Featuring all the characters and chart-topping songs from the movie, this spectacular musical expands on the original work and includes two new numbers and a huge mega-mix finale.
Disney’s High School Musical - Live On Stage! follows the story of basketball captain Troy and the brainy but shy Gabriella who discover they have a secret passion for singing. When they decide to audition for the student musical it sends shockwaves through the High School’s rigid social cliques. Troy’s basketball team, Gabriella’s fellow science clubbers, even the drama regulars, do all they can to keep the pair apart and off-stage. When Troy and Gabriella defy their friends and family they inadvertently inspire the other students to go public with their own secret talents and dreams.
High School Musical Live On Stage! starts rehearsals in October. It will open on 18 December 2008 at The Capitol Theatre (Sydney) before embarking on a national tour.
The Principal Cast:
Chris Durling as Troy Bolton - Captain of the Wildcat basketball team and the coolest guy at East High
Rebecca Tapia as Gabriella Montez - Shy but gorgeous Brainiac with the sweetest voice at school
Teagan Wouters as Sharpay Evans - The drama queen!
Liam McIlwain as Ryan Evans – The younger (by 6 minutes) brother of Sharpay
Turanga Merito as Chad Danforth -The Wildcat’s hard core No. 2 player
Elenoa Rokobaro as Taylor McKessie - Upfront Science Club president
Scott Irwin as Coach Bolton – Troy’s Dad and East High’s basketball coach
Donna Lee as Ms Darbus – East High’s drama teacher and passionate advocate of the performing arts
Caity Fowler as Kelsi Neilson – Composer and Drama Club stalwart
Andrew Hazzard as Zeke Baylor – Wild Cat and pastry lover
Phoebe Coupe as Martha Cox – Brainiac with a love of hip-hop
Nathan Derrick as Jack Scott – The Velvet Fog of East High’s PA system (new character for the musical)
AUSTRALIAN TOUR:
Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle, with dates to be announced for Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne and Perth.
Sydney
The Capitol Theatre On Sale Now Through Ticketmaster
Opening Night – 18 December, 2008
www.ticketmaster.com.au
Adelaide
Adelaide Entertainment Centre On Sale From 9am 22/09/08 Through Ticketek
From 28 February, 2009
www.ticketek.com.au
Canberra
AIS Arena On Sale From 9am 22/09/08 Through Ticketek
From 3 April, 2009
www.ticketek.com.au
Newcastle
Newcastle Entertainment Centre On Sale From 9am 22/09/08 Through Ticketek Or The Venue
From 18 April, 2009
www.ticketek.com.au
For all other cities, join the waitlist to be first to book when Disney’s High School Musical - Live On Stage! Is announced in your city. Visit www.hsmliveonstage.com.au
