Back-to-school time for Disney's tuner
'Musical' bows at performing arts camp
The first licensed amateur stage version of Disney Channel's hit telepic "High School Musical" bows this month at Stagedoor Manor, the New York state summer camp that was the basis for the 2003 cult hit "Camp."
So, to be clear: A high school musical about a high school musical, inspired by a movie, will preem at a performing arts camp that inspired another movie. Got that?
It's all, of course, just another step toward total world domination for "HSM." Multiple airings of the surprise smash telepic have garnered huge ratings for Disney Channel, the soundtrack is the top-selling album of the year so far, and the DVD has sold more than 2.3 million copies since its May 23 release.
And chances are that "High School Musical" will be coming soon to a high school near you: Licensers Disney Theatrical Prods. and Music Theater Intl. have already booked productions at schools in Henderson, Nev., Silver Spring, Md., Pittsburgh, Pa., and Austin, Texas, among others.
As for the inevitable telepic sequel, it's due next year.
