High school stages 'High School Musical'

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The Salt Lake City school where parts of "High School Musical" were filmed will stage its own version of the TV movie, it was reported Tuesday.

Kevin McClellan, East High School's drama instructor, said he initially hesitated to make the popular movie musical his department's fall stage production, The Salt Lake Tribune said. But once he realized how much attention the school was receiving, he changed his mind and thought, "This is a really great opportunity."

This summer, the school had 40 to 50 people stopping by daily to take pictures and get a first-hand look at the setting for the film. The PTA is even taking advantage of the exposure by selling T-shirts.

"It's quite the buzz," Principal Paul Sagers said. "The traffic has been unbelievable."

"We just kind of wanted to go with that kind of publicity and have people say, 'The real East High is doing the 'High School Musical,' " added Aaron Kramer, a senior.

McClellan said he hopes up to 200 students, whether they are in drama classes or not, will participate in the production.

The stage adaptation has more ensemble numbers than the movie, so more students can participate.