Posted July 1, 2009

BSC YOUTH THEATRE CELEBRATES 10th YEAR!

(PITTSFIELD, MA) July 1, 2009. Get Ready! The East High Wildcats are back in an all-new adventure as Barrington Stage Company’s Youth Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Producing Director Richard M. Parison Jr., presents the Berkshire premiere of Disney’s High School Musical 2. Featuring a cast of 15 teenagers from Berkshire County , HSM2 will be presented July 15 through August 16 at St. Joseph High School , 22 Maplewood Avenue in Pittsfield .

Directed and choreographed by Christine O’Grady, with musical direction by Brian Usifer reunite for the second stage premiere of the Disney film franchise, having previously presented the SRO Berkshire premiere of High School Musical for Barrington Stage audiences in 2007.

We’re all in this together…again. High School Musical 2, the sequel to Disney’s popular High School Musical, reunites audiences with East High Wildcats, Troy , Gabriella and friends as they land summer jobs at a country club, where drama heats up after Troy agrees to sing with notorious mean girl Sharpay in the club’s annual talent show. This musical is fun, family-friendly and appropriate for children of all ages.

Reprising their roles of Troy and Gabriella in Disney’s High School Musical 2 are Christopher Herr (Lee) and Jesse Rothschild (NYC). Also in the cast are: Tory Berner (Greenwich, CT) as Sharpay, Kevin Escudero (Schenectady, NY) as Ryan, Sara Newman (Great Barrington) as Kelsi, Colin Mackey (Pittsfield ) as Zeke, Natalie Sala (Pittsfield) as Taylor, Mitchell Despain (Adams) as Jack, John Beshaw (Lee) as Chad, Will Carey (Glen Ridge, NJ) Ensemble, Jackie Duchette (Pittsfield) as Peaches, Kelsie Fairchild (Dalton) as Blossom, Evelyn Mahon (Williamstown) as Martha, Owen Marks (Pittsfield) as Ensemble, and McKenna Powell (Housatonic) as Violet.

The design team for HSM2 comprises Kelly Syring (scenic design), Krissy Sneshkoff (costume design), Ashley Mills (lighting design) and Luke Lytle (sound design).

This production of High School Musical 2 marks the 10th year of Barrington Stage’s Youth Theatre program. Since 2000, the Youth Theatre has hired over 150 high school students to work with industry professionals to mount a professional production. Each year Youth Theatre challenges local youth to develop the skills and discipline needed to work in the theater.

“We are thrill to have received the performance right to ‘High School Musical 2’. Our 2007 production of ‘High School Musical’ had close to 4,900 people attend, more than half under the age of 14,” said Julianne Boyd from her office. “What I love about ‘High School Musical 2’ is that it is a story with heart that has a large number of roles for teenagers”

The chart topping musical score incorporates songs from the movie soundtrack including What Time Is It, and You Are the Music in Me and more. The songs include "What Time Is It," "Fabulous," "Work This Out," "You Are the Music In Me," "I Don't Dance," "Gotta Go My Own Way," "Bet On It," "Everyday," "All for One" and "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a."

Performances of Barrington Stage Company’s Youth Theatre production of Disney’s HSM2 will take place at St. Joseph High School , 22 Maplewood Avenue , Pittsfield . Performance times are: Wednesdays at 7 pm, Thursdays at 2 pm & 7 pm, Fridays at 7 pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 7 pm, Sundays at 2 pm. General admission tickets are $15-adults, $10-students. Preview tickets on July 15 and 16 are $8. Group discounts are available. For tickets visit www.barringtonstageco.org, call (413) 236-8888, or purchase in person at 30 Union Street , Pittsfield , MA .

For more information on the award-winning BSC Education Program contact Education Director Cynthia Quinones at 413-499-5446 x114.

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