“High School Musical” hits London this summer, with the legit incarnation of Disney’s mega-popular property playing a limited stint at the Apollo Hammersmith Theater beginning June 30.
Meanwhile, back in the U.S., actual high schools -- and other stock and amateur groups -- will be able to stage their own versions of “High School Musical 2” beginning in October (probably as sequels to their own stagings of the original “HSM,” which has been a popular licensed property since it was made available in 2006.) The London production is separate from the U.K. tour, which opens Feb. 19 in Edinburgh and plays on the road through the end of the year.
It’s just the latest European outpost for the ever-expanding “HSM,” which launches a tour in Italy and another in Spain in March, plus a Dutch production in November. Licensed productions, meanwhile, are set for countries including Mexico, Indonesia and Japan.
Stateside, “HSM 2” will be available for license from Music Theater Intl. (which also licenses “HSM”) in either a full-length, two-act version or a 70-minute incarnation. MTI will begin taking requests immediately for performances after October.
A professional U.S. tour, produced by Disney Theatrical, continues to play the road through this year. And there’s also “High School Musical: The Ice Tour,” which has proved successful enough since it bowed last summer that it has extended through May 2009.
Contact Gordon Cox at
gordon.cox@variety.com