Talented local students prepare for Disney’s High School Musical At Hayes Center On May 3 - 6

On January 20, 2006 the Disney Channel debuted their newest made for television movie, High School Musical. Little did they know at the time the phenomenon they had created. The movie was an immediate hit and the music from the movie was the best selling CD of 2006.  Now the Rocket Players Youth Theatre will be presenting the new one-act stage version of High School Musical at the Mariam & Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center.
Starring talented local students (and a couple of adults) from Watauga and surrounding counties, this stage version licensed by the Walt Disney Company, adapts the movie into a fast paced stage show and includes all the music from the movie including “Start of Something New” and “Breaking Free”.
 This production of High School Musical as presented by the Rocket Players Youth Theatre, represents more then just a performance outlet for the many talented students in the area. The students involved get to work with professional directors, designers, and technicians that work for the Blowing Rock Stage Company and the Hayes Performing Arts Center. These are the same professionals that work on the Blowing Rock Stage Company Theatre Series and have worked in professional theatres all across the country. This gives the students an education and an opportunity that they wouldn’t receive elsewhere.
The Rocket Players Youth Theatre production will be directed and choreographed by Melvin Tunstall, a professional actor, dancer, director, & choreographer from Raleigh. Blowing Rock Stage Company Education Director Kim Cozort Kay is serving as the Musical Director for the show. The cast of High School Musical is as follows: Cameron Haas, Caleb Courtney, Dylan Russell, Jessica Presnell, Brian Gay, Ben Allen,  Hannah Fuller,  Millie Simmons, Kaitlin Felts, Sierra Wilson, Erin Parsons, Sarah Brown, Ben Allen, Cameron Greene, Loren Fitzpatrick, Lyle Sterne, Alise Blair, Katelyn Rondinaro, Jim Fitzpatrick, Kathryn Hodges, Ariel Nicastro, Jennifer Gray,  Melody Harmon, Erin Henry, Hannah Crittenden, Nicolette Gilbert, Aubrey Sciara, Meredith Condrey, Lauren  Hedrick, Julia O’Connor, Morgan Lloyd,  Rebekah Fuller, CG Andrews, Jordan Rucker, Matt Wysor, Tom Vance, Teresa Smith,  & Callie Mosher
Disney’s High School Musical opens at the Mariam & Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center on Thursday May 3rd. Performances will be May 3, 4, & 5 at 7:00pm with matinees on May 4 & 5 at 2:00pm. Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for Children and Students age 18 & under. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Hayes Center box office at 828-295-9627 or online at www.blowingrockstage.com. The production of High School Musical is sponsored by United Community Bank, located on Hwy 321 in Blowing Rock.