High School Musical Hits the Civic Theatre Stage
The Disney Smash-hit movie ‘High School Musical’ is coming to Newcastle as a LIVE full-length musical this month, and you can catch all the action at the Civic Theatre from 24 to 26 June!
With a long tradition of award-winning musicals, St Philip’s Christian College Senior School is bringing the magic of Disney’s High School Musical to the Civic Theatre stage, with no effort being spared to give the audience the time of their life!
It's the first day back after their Winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skaters find their cliques, recount their vacations and look forward to the new year. Basketball team captain and resident jock, Troy, discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. They cause an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical that Ms Darbus is directing.
Although many students resent the threat posed to the "status quo," Troy and Gabriella's alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well.
Student Tim Davies, who plays Troy Bolton in the production, says, “playing the role has been a challenge as I have needed to learn new skills and adapt my acting to portray a role that’s different to my natural personality.
However, this reflects the overall message of the show, which encourages people to be true to themselves, whilst accepting others for who they are.”
Songs such as Getcha Head in the Game, Start of Something New and We’re All in this Together have been anthems sung by schools and theatre groups alike since Disney released the musical movie in 2006 where it became the most commercially successful Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced.
High School Musical generated 7.7 million viewers in its premiere broadcast in the USA, which is one of the highest the network has generated. Internationally, the film has also seen considerable success; as of 2019, over 225 million viewers have watched High School Musical. The film's soundtrack was also successful as it peaked at number one in the USA, with Breaking Free reaching number four on the music charts.
The most recent Senior School Musicals, Strictly Ballroom (2019) and Mary Poppins (2017), attracted over 6400 patrons each and have continued to cement St Philip’s reputation as one of the Hunter’s leading performing arts organisations.
Producer Michael Cooper says that “after the year we’ve had, we chose a show that will bring a really positive message and a great sense of joy to the community.”
High School Musical will be the tenth musical SPCC has staged at the Civic Theatre since deciding to move their main-stage shows to Newcastle’s most exquisite theatre venue in 2007.
“We love the Civic Theatre because it enhances the learning of both our performers and technicians, whilst providing access for school groups and families to come and see a big show in a big theatre at an affordable price,” says Michael.
“High School Musical already has over 5000 people booked, including school groups from a range of sectors who have filled the weekday matinees.”
Though theatre was all-but-cancelled in 2020, St Philip’s were able to stage three musicals with Seussical Kids at their own school theatre, Aladdin Jr at the Civic Theatre and a special Junior School musical which was filmed on stage and screened at the VMAX Cinema at Kotara. In 2021, St Philip’s are staging High School Musical, the onstage version at the Civic Theatre this month and have just announced their production of High School Musical 2 Jr through their theatre training arm, High Street Productions scheduled for October at the SPCC Theatre.
High School Musical will be playing at the Civic Theatre from 24–26 June with tickets from $19. A special preview performance is scheduled for 23 June with tickets all $17.50. Book online at www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au, in person or over the phone from the Civic Theatre.
