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Urbana High School Production of High School Musical

Date: April 27, 2016 - 7:00pm to May 1, 2016 - 2:30pm

HSM PosterUrbana – Approximately 80 students are involved in Urbana High School’s upcoming production of High School Musical, one of that school’s largest theatre shows in recent years. The musical is set to be staged in UHS’s Cobb Auditorium April 27, 28, 29 and 30 at 7:00 pm, and May 1 at 2:30 pm.


Disney’s popular High School Musical has been performed on many a high school stage around the U.S. for nearly a decade, but the show’s message about avoiding stereotypes is not always one that’s easily lived out in actual school hallways. At Urbana High, however, theatre director Tim Broeker said he’s glad to see many students avoiding social boxes they might otherwise be put in.


“We have many different types of students at Urbana who like getting involved in theatre productions,” Broeker said. “It’s not just your stereotypical theatre kids—the students in the shows also play sports, excel at academics, and have a wide range of extracurricular interests.”


Broeker added that’s one of the great things about putting on a large, well-known show like High School Musical: A greater number of students come out to audition for the show and the large cast allows him to give many students parts. Bigger casts also call for more students working behind the scenes.


“One of the goals of the Urbana theatre program is to do a variety of shows to help a variety of students get involved. Often that’s how people discover they have a love and talent for theatre they didn’t realize before,” Broeker said.


For several UHS students—including three playing the lead roles of Gabriella, Zeke, and Chad—High School Musical is their first theatre experience at the school. Other lead roles, like Troy and Sharpay, are being played by students who have been involved in theatre throughout their high school careers.


Broeker is joined by UHS’s choir director Becky Park, who is director of vocal music for the show, and Blase Cermak, the UHS marching band director, who is leading the pit orchestra. Behind the scenes, the tech crew is led by UHS teacher Breanna Morton.


Disney’s High School Musical will be performed at 7:00 pm April 27 – 30 and at 2:30 pm on Sunday May 1. All performances will be in the Urbana High School Cobb Auditorium, 1002 S. Race Street. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults, and are available at the box office, which opens 30 minutes prior to each performance. For more information or to schedule interviews, contact Tim Broeker: tbroeker@usd116.org, 217.722.0690, or media contact Kristin Tennant, ktennant@gmail.com, 217.377.8090.


Information provided by the Urbana School District.

Last modified:Thursday, April 28, 2016 - 15:40
- Author: admin