Live 'High School Musical' shows abound

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Theater and ice-dance productions of the U.S. "High School Musical" movie are being staged around the world, the Disney Theatrical Group has announced.

In addition to the previously announced U.K. stage tour that kicks off this month, Disney Theatrical Group said Stage Entertainment will mount a separate production of the show in London's Hammersmith Apollo Theatre for a limited summer season starting June 30.

Two major international tours are also set to begin their runs in March, a Dutch production is slated to open in November 2008 and additional licensed productions are planned in Denmark, Mexico, Argentina, Switzerland, Germany, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.

Meanwhile, "High School Musical: The Ice Tour" has been seen by 1.8 million people worldwide since its premiere on Aug. 31.

"We are overwhelmed by the success of 'High School Musical' in all its live incarnations," said Thomas Schumacher, president of Disney Theatrical Group. "The material is incredibly strong and lends itself perfectly to the live experience. Seeing these characters portrayed live allows our audiences to bond with the story in a completely new way. More importantly, this show has been responsible for introducing millions of children to the joys of theater and live performance."