The production will open Lowry, Salford on 22 August 2026 running until 19 September 2026 before transferring to London’sTroubadour Wembley Park Theatre from 12 October 2026 – 3 January 2027
Hope Mill Theatre and Chris Harper Productions in association with Lowry has now announced complete casting for first UK non-replica production of Disney’s High School Musical.
Jason Donovan (starring until the 18th September) will star as Coach Bolton at Lowry with Harry Judd taking over the role in London. Starring in both venues will be Disney icon KayCee Stroh as Ms Darbus, Tobias Turley as Troy Bolton, Leonor Correia as Gabriella Montez, Caitlin Tipping as Sharpay Evans and Luke Bayer as Ryan Evans.
They will be joined by Char Burnett (Frozen; The Book of Mormon, West End) as Taylor McKessie, Jordan Benjamin (Hamilton; The Little Big Things, West End) as Chad Danforth, Simeon Beckett (Back to the Future, West End; Hamilton, UK & Ireland tour) as Zeke Baylor, Olivia O’Connor (Why Am I So Single?, West End) as Martha Cox, Yna Tresvalles (Ballad Lines, Southwark Playhouse Elephant; Six, UK & International tour)as Kelsi Nielson and Curtis Patrick (Thespians, UK tour; Young Frankenstein, Hope Mill Theatre/Liverpool Playhouse) as Jack Scott.
The company will be completed by Alexander Black (Grease, Independence of the Seas), Eleanor Bye (Nine, Hope Mill Theatre; Robin Hood, New Wimbledon Theatre), Harriet Caplan-Dean (&Juliet, UK & Ireland tour; Six, UK tour), Alison Driver (Singin’ In The Rain, Royal Exchange Theatre; The Frogs, Southwark Playhouse), Conor Luke Drury (Dick Whittington, Broadway Theatre, Catford), Mary Francis (professional debut), Sonia Gil-Lubeiro (professional debut), Tamsin January (Moulin Rouge, UK & Ireland tour; TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, West End), Joseph Lennox (Cats, International Tour), Lucas Morlotti (Robin Hood, The Capitol Horsham), Katie Mulligan (Beauty and the Beast, Churchill theatre, Bromley), André Phipps (MJ The Musical, West End), Meg Silsby (professional debut), Kade Stenson (Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury), Ethan Vijn (Choir of Man, West End; Hamilton, UK & Ireland tour) and Eddie Zickerman (professional debut).
Based on the hit Disney Channel Original Movie- join Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High as they navigate the highs and lows of first love, friendships, and self-discovery — all while juggling classes, basketball games, auditions and the expectations of their peers.
The stage adaptation will feature songs from the film including: Breaking Free, We’re All In This Together, Get’cha Head in the Game and Stick to the Status Quo. It features book by David Simpatico with music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle. It is co-directed by Hope Mill founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton.
The creative team also includes: choreography by Aaron Renfree, set design by Andrew Exeter, sound design by Matt Peploe, video design by George Reeve,lighting design by Rory Beaton, costume design by Sophia Pardon, musical supervision by Katy Richardson, musical direction by Audra Cramer, casting by Pearson Casting and production management by Ammonite Studios. General management by Chris Harper Productions.
For more information visit: https://highschoolmusicalonstage.com/