This thang is unstoppable!

Given that HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL is probably already being "staged" by keen tweens in slumber parties all across North America, it's not a big surprise that Disney is creating a stage version of the TV movie musical HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, to be licensed by MTI.

So which part would I want to play? Sharpay all the way!

According to this article on Playbill:

Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) announced April 6 that it will release a stage version of the Disney Channel's wildly successful TV musical, "High School Musical," for local productions beginning this fall.

The script and score, borrowed from the wildly popular Disney Channel movie will be modified for the stage (no librettist has been announced), and licensed via Music Theatre International (MTI).

Steve Fickinger, Disney Theatrical Productions vice president responsible for the DTP/MTI relationship, said, "The response to 'High School Musical' has been phenomenal. Television audiences are connecting with the show and its music on an unprecedented level. We wanted to make the rights available for local productions across the country."

"High School Musical" set viewership records when it debuted on the Disney Channel Jan. 20, 2006 and to date has been seen by over 30 million unique viewers.

Thomas Schumacher, president of Disney Theatrical Productions said, "I'm thrilled that we are able to have High School Musical join Beauty and the Beast, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, and our other Disney Collection titles available through MTI."

Developed through "a unique collaboration with Disney Theatricals, MTI's Musicals from the Disney Collection also includes musicals developed especially for students," according to Disney.

Aladdin Junior is a 60-minute show appropriate for middle-schoolers to perform. Cinderella Kids, 101 Dalmations Kids and The Jungle Book Kids are 30-minute stage versions of classic Disney films "aimed to introduce elementary school children to the joys of putting on a live musical."

"The response to The Disney Collection has been overwhelming," Schumacher said. "In fact, Disney's Beauty and the Beast was the most successful first-year licensing launch in history, and Disney's Aladdin Jr. has been performed by over 1,000 schools across the country."

More titles will be added to the Junior and Kids Collections in the coming year.

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