Photo Coverage: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Opens at Paper Mill

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is currently presenting Paper Mill's premiere of Disney High School Musical directed by Paper Mill's Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee. Denis Jones (Associate Choreographer of Legally Blonde) choreographs. Disney High School Musical is based on the Emmy Award® winning Disney Channel hit musical and triple-platinum selling soundtrack. Disney High School Musical began performances at the Millburn theatre on November 5 and will run through December 7, 2008. Disney High School Musical is sponsored by RBC Wealth Management.

Disney High School Musical is a contemporary Romeo and Juliet musical comedy. Troy, captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella, a shy academically gifted transfer student discover they share a secret passion for singing. When they audition together for the lead roles in the school musical, it threatens East High's rigid social order and sends their peers into an uproar. The "jocks", "brainiacs", and "thespians" hatch convoluted plots to separate the pair and keep them off the stage. However, by taking chances and defying expectations, the couple inspires other students to explore and showcase their own hidden talents.

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres. Paper Mill's programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is provided by funding through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, and generous contributions from many corporations, foundations, and individuals. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Photos by Genevieve Rafter Keddy

Paper Mill Playhouse

The Finale

Logan Hart (Ryan Evans) and Bailey Hanks (Sharpay Evans)

Bailey Hanks, Sydney Morton (Gabriella Montez), Chase Peacock (Troy Bolton)

Bailey Hanks

Bailey Hanks, Sydney Morton and Chase Peacock

Bailey Hanks, Krystal Joy Brown (Taylor McKessie) Justin Keyes (Chad Danforth), Sydney Morton, Chase Peacock

Krystal Joy Brown, Justin Keyes, Sydney Morton

Fianle

Finale

Patrick Boll (Coach Bolton) and Donna English (Ms. Darbus)

Stephanie Pam Roberts (Kelsi Neilson) and Joseph Morales (Jack Scott)

Finale

Joseph Morales, Christopher Messina, Stephanie Pam Roberts and Sean Samuels

Finale

Bailey Hanks

Sydney Morton and Chase Peacock

Sydney Morton

Chase Peacock

Sydney Morton

Chase Peacock

Bailey Hanks and Sydney Morton

Finale

Fianle

Finale

Sydney Morton and Justin Keyes

Krystal Joy Brown, Justin Keyes, Sydney Morton and Chase Peacock

Bailey Hanks and Krystal Joy Brown

Cast off to the party

Alison Franck (Casting Director) and Mark S. Hoebee (Director & Paper Mill Artistic Director

Matthew Rossoff (Associate Choreographer), Marco Antonio Santiago, Travis Greisler (Assistant Director)

Justin Keyes (Chad Danforth)

Patrick Boll (Coach Bolton) and his family Therese, Eamon and Brigit

Beth Crandall, Becca Tobin, and Deanna Aguinaga

Dante Russo and Sean Samuels (Zeke Taylor)

Brittany Conigatti and Adrian Arrieta

Spencer Kiely and Kristy Cavanaugh

Adrian Arrieta, Krista Pioppi, Spencer Kiely and Victoria Meade

Joseph Morales (Jack Scott)

Mark S. Hoebee and Larry Elardo

Krystal Joy Brown (Taylor McKessie) Charity Sharday De Loera, Mark S. Hoebee and Sydney Morton (Gabriella Montez)

Marissa Joy Ganz, Dean De Luna and Stephanie Pam Roberts (Kelsi Neilson)

Mark S. Hoebee, Bailey Hanks (Sharpay Evans) and Chase Peacock (Troy Bolton)

Members of the staff of The Paper Mill Playhouse Rebecca Fleming (Assistant Stage Manager), Jess Speaker (Production Stage Manager), Andrea Cibelli (Assistant Stage Manager), and Louise Ochart (Production Assistant)