Disney’s High School Musical Breaks Free at Lowry this month

A brand-new musical adaptation of Disney’s pop culture phenomenon, High School Musical, is coming to Lowry this August.

The show will open with a bumper four-week stint at the iconic Salford venue, with performances running from Sat 22 Aug – Sat 19 Sep, before heading to London’s Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.

Co-created by Hope Mill Theatre founders Joseph Houston and Willia Whelton, the first UK non-replica production stars Jason Donovan as Coach Bolton for the Salford shows, with Harry Judd taking over the role in London.

High School Musical will transform the Lowry’s Lyric Theatre into an immersive East High experience, with extended staging and on-stage seating that immerses the audience right in the middle of the game.

Starring in both venues will be Disney icon KayCee Stroh as Ms Darbus, Tobias Turley as Troy Bolton, Leonor Correia as Gabriella Montez, Caitlin Tipping as Sharpay Evans and Luke Bayer as Ryan Evans.

Celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the iconic film, Disney’s High School Musical has a book by David Simpatico, with music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle. Audiences can expect an array of nostalgic hits, including Breaking Free, We’re All In This Together, Get’cha Head in the Game, Stick to the Status Quo and more.

Also joining the cast will be Char Burnett (Frozen; The Book of Mormon, West End) as Taylor McKessie, Jordan Benjamin (Hamilton; The Little Big Things, West End) as Chad Danforth, Simeon Beckett (Back to the Future, West End; Hamilton, UK & Ireland tour) as Zeke Baylor, Olivia O’Connor (Why Am I So Single?, West End) as Martha Cox, Yna Tresvalles (Ballad Lines, Southwark Playhouse Elephant; Six, UK & International tour) as Kelsi Nielson and Curtis Patrick (Thespians, UK tour; Young Frankenstein, Hope Mill Theatre/Liverpool Playhouse) as Jack Scott.

Speaking about the show, Jason Donovan says: “High School Musical was such a massive part of my kids early childhood. As a parent and as a musical fan the film was family entertainment at its best. Magical! Loved it. Popular culture has a cycle and I’m delighted to be joining this new reimagined High School Musical theatrical experience 20 years on from when I first discovered the film. Looking forward to seeing all in Salford.”

Disney’s High School Musical is co-produced by Hope Mill Theatre and Chris Harper Productions with Lowry. Tickets are on sale now. Book yours below.