Wildcats strike in The Grove’s High School Musical

Grove Theatre’s Summer Musical Project has become a bit of an institution and their performances have impressed professional directors and producers who marvel at their break-neck production schedule.

High School Musical started life as a smash hit film starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens which first hit screens in 2006. Since its release HSM has became a world-wide phenomenon and the characters are now household names.

With a plot described as a modern adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, HSM is a story about two high school juniors from rival cliques – Troy Bolton, captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella Montez, a beautiful, shy and bookish transfer student. Together, they try out for the lead parts in their high school musical, and, as a result, divide the school.

Despite other students’ attempts to thwart their dreams, Troy and Gabriella resist peer pressure and rivalry, inspiring others along the way not to “stick to the status quo”. High school diva Sharpay Evans will do anything to sabotage the friendship between Troy and Gabriella and also get a lead in the school musical, assisted by her brother Ryan.

The soundtrack was released shortly after the film and includes a batch of catchy tunes including Start of Something New, Breaking Free and We’re All in this Together. It was a massive hit selling millions of copies world-wide and the success of both film and soundtrack made sure that 2006 was the year of the Wildcats!

The Summer Musical Project is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring young people from the area to make new friends and have a great time while learning from some of the best professional theatre practitioners in the performing arts industry. Previous hit shows include FAME, Oliver, The Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls and The Likes of Us.

Opening night is Thursday August 9 with further evening performances on August 10 and 11 plus a matinee on the last day.