1st national tour of High School Musical

[salamanderjoe]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 1:32am

Well...Ive been waiting to hear about the 1st national Tour of High School musical. And finally I got to see it last night in Chicago! Here's a review...Ill try to keep it short...but I would love to hear what everyone else has to think.

THe show opened with the Wildcat Cheet. Very impressive.....the crowd was sooo excited to see such a great amount of energy on the stage. We were introduced to the characters and immediately I could tell that this production would surpass the movie! My friends and I were shocked at the amount of talent up on that stage. Yes...the cast might not be in high school but they all posessed the youthful energy and look that this production needs. There are soo many future stars in the production. Arielle Jacobs as Gabriella posesses such poise and a beautiful voice. She is a great find! As we continued to meet the cast, one of the funniest parts was the detention scene. An ensemble member, Dante Russo has created one of the funniest earthworms known in the world!!! It was so good they even put his pictures of the earthworm in the souvenir program (which is a good buy and well worth the 20 bucks). John Jeffrey Martin as Troy is great. He looks like a basketball player and sings like a rock star! The Gabriella and Troy Duets are beautiful. Sharpay and Ryan Evans are amaaazing and the comic relief of the play. Bobby List as Ryan dances the night away with his fosse moves and great voice! One thing that impressed me about the production was the scene changes. The cast members are constantly pushing locker units to create the new scenes....but these changes were so sharp that it was as if you were watching a movie. I was also impressed with the cast member they found for Status Quo. Lizzie Weiss was especially funny as the popping and locking Martha Cox. Boy can she sing! Ellen Harvey as Ms Darbus was also delicious! Overall the show was Broadway caliber. I suggest everyone goes and sees it.....even if you are surrounded by young kids....you will see the magic in this disney show! Anyone else see it?

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 1:44am

Overall the show was Broadway caliber

oh dear.

[antonijan]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 2:19am

Any info on the list of cities for the tour? I checked the Disney site and didn't find any.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 3:18am

"oh dear."

Don't worry, it's not (yes I saw it).

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 2:30pm

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 2:50pm

I can't decide if I want to take my nephew to this. He's seen Equity tours of Hairspray, Big River, Little Shop, and Phantom. I don't want to take him to a bad show.

[TOTSFAN2]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 5:55pm

Take your nephew to see it...Theres a reason that children truely love this show. It is clean and teaches that you can be who you are and be accepted! My Nephews havent stoped talking about it for weeks!

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 6:20pm

I posted my review
HERE!!!

[BwayMania]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 6:27pm

That is awesome. I have met John Jeffery Martin personally 2 times, since his mom was the choreographer for 2 high school productions I was in. I am really glad to see him working on such a big project. As for the earthworm guy, I remember going to an acting camp with a Dante Russo. I bet that is him. Nice to see people I know make it to big, theatrical projects.

[sesot]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 6:36pm

Anyone who has kids that love the movie, will enjoy the show. Just make sure they understand it isn't the same cast as the movie. i saw it in Atlanta, and several kids were disappointed that it wasn't the movie cast. Apparently Disney had a concert tour witht he cast, and some parent bought tickets to the show, thinking it was that. Anyways, the audience was significantly younger than most shows you will see. I have never seen a group get into a show so much, the kids were all singing along and at the end when they sing "we're all in this together" they all stood up and danced with the cast. They kept the basic choreography from the movie for this number so all the kids knew it. It was crazy. I personally preferd the stage version, the voices of ths cast were significantly stronger and more mature (not played by young teenagers). Is it an award winning musical- no; but it is fun and entertaining.

[sesot]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 6:36pm

Anyone who has kids that love the movie, will enjoy the show. Just make sure they understand it isn't the same cast as the movie. i saw it in Atlanta, and several kids were disappointed that it wasn't the movie cast. Apparently Disney had a concert tour witht he cast, and some parent bought tickets to the show, thinking it was that. Anyways, the audience was significantly younger than most shows you will see. I have never seen a group get into a show so much, the kids were all singing along and at the end when they sing "we're all in this together" they all stood up and danced with the cast. They kept the basic choreography from the movie for this number so all the kids knew it. It was crazy. I personally preferd the stage version, the voices of ths cast were significantly stronger and more mature (not played by young teenagers). Is it an award winning musical- no; but it is fun and entertaining.

[wickedlover52741]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 11:47pm

Awesome...I saw Ellen Harvey in Mamma Mia a few years ago...she was great!

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 11:47am

John Jeffrey Martin is in it? It's coming to the Bushnell in Hartford...now I may have to see it. I have been a fan of his ever since I saw him in ROCKY HORROR back in 2001. Have been wondering what he's been up to...