The J*Company Youth Theatre is kicking off its 2007′-08 Disney-themed season with “Disney’s High School Musical,” a show structured around the popular Disney Channel original movie.
The production will run Oct. 18 through 28 at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive.
J*Company Youth Theatre is a program of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture that gives students ages 7 to 18 the opportunity to study and display their theatrical talent.
This is the first time the theater has built a theme around a season, according to managing artistic director Aaron Huniu.
“Disney’s High School Musical” tells the tale of Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, two high-school students in different cliques who try out for lead roles in their high school play despite peer pressure and fierce competition.
“High School Musical” first aired in 2006 and instantly became a hit. The movie’s popularity spurred a sequel, released in August, and an ice show that is currently on tour.
” ‘High School Musical’ is really popular right now and we wanted to get kids excited about musical theater again, and that’s what the message for the show is,” Huniu said.
“Disney’s High School Musical,” which includes a cast of 71 students ages 10 to 18, is directed by Rayme Sciaroni, who has directed and choreographed several off-off-Broadway shows.
The cast and crew have gone through extensive auditions and rehearsals to partake in the production.
“They’ve been rehearsing since September,” Huniu explained. “They come in and rehearse two to four hours a day, four to five days a week.”
Organizers expect 4,000 for their regular shows and 1,000 for their school shows. Tickets are $12.50 for children and $16.50 for adults and may be ordered online at www.lfjcc.org or by calling (858) 362-1348. For show times, visit www.lfjcc.org/jcompany.