‘High School Musical’ tickets still available
“Children, ‘tweens, teens and their parents alike have been anticipating the arrival of ‘High School Musical’ for months, and it is finally upon us,” said Kathleen O’Brien, TPAC’s president and chief executive officer. “In fact, Nashville audiences have been so excited about the Disney tour’s stop at TPAC that our public on-sale back in October was hugely successful. However, for those who do not yet have tickets, there’s still an opportunity for good seat selections ‘ particularly to the weeknight performances. We have even adjusted our usual Broadway show times to accommodate our younger audiences’ bed times. What an ideal evening to spend as a family, watching a top-notch production from Disney.”
The basketball team captain, “Troy Bolton,” will be played by John Jeffrey Martin, whose Broadway credits include ‘Rocky Horror Show,’ ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Good Vibrations.’ Starring opposite Martin as the shy, academic student “Gabriella Montez” will be Arielle Jacobs. Jacobs’ theatre credits include ‘Crazy for You,’ ‘A Chorus Line’ and ‘Cinderella.’
Veteran actor, Ron Bohmer, will portray Troy’s father and Wildcats’ basketball coach, “Coach Bolton.” Bohmer is known for his Broadway and National tour credits including ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel,’ ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’ ‘The Woman in White,’ ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and ‘Sunset Boulevard.’ Troy’s best friend, “Chad Danforth,” will be played by Shakiem Evans who most recently appeared as “Eddie” in Broadway’s ‘Mamma Mia!’ Ellen Harvey is the drama teacher “Ms. Darbus.” Harvey’s Broadway credits include ‘Thou Shalt Not’ and ‘The Music Man.’
Bobby List will play Drama Club enthusiast and brother of Sharpay, “Ryan Evans.” List, a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati ‘ Conservatory of Music, played opposite Debby Boone in The Human Comedy at Barrington Stage and in The 60’s Project at the Goodspeed Opera House. Michael Mahany will introduce audiences to a new character written specifically for the stage production, “Jack Scott,” the crooning voice of East High School.
The scheming Drama Club president, “Sharpay Evans,” will be played by Chandra Lee Schwartz, who appeared in the Broadway productions of ‘Gypsy’ and ‘Hairspray’ as well as the first national tour of ‘Hairspray.’ “Zeke Baylor,” the basketball player who loves to bake will be portrayed by Ben Thompson, who has appeared in the National Tour of Deaf West’s ‘Big River’ and was last seen in the new musical ‘The Molly Maguires.’
Disney’s ‘High School Musical’ is a contemporary musical comedy about a popular high school basketball star and a shy, academically gifted newcomer who discover they share a secret passion for singing. When they sign up together to audition for the lead roles in the school musical, 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, however, the couple inspires other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own.
Tickets for ‘High School Musical’ range from $23-69, depending on performance time and seat location. For tickets, visit www.tpac.org/disneyshighschoolmusical, the TPAC Box Office (Downtown or at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in The Mall at Green Hills), or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 615/255-ARTS (2787). Group discounts for 20 or more are available by calling 615/782-4060.