High school musicals

(My colleague, Tom Weber, who probably can carry a tune, sent me this entry)

This Friday marks the theatrical release of the third “High School Musical” movie. This sequel focuses on the teens’ senior year, which would suggest this will be the last of the “High School Musical” series – but if anyone can finagle another sequel, it’s Disney.

I truly don’t understand the draw of this phenom, but that proves nothing except how far removed I am from the target audience. Still, I used the opportunity of the movie’s opening to find out what some schools around the metro (and one outstate) are performing this year.

A few notes:

– One high school (Eagan) is doing “High School Musical.”

– Centennial is doing “Sweeney Todd,” the school edition. Me wonders if the ‘school’ edition has dulled the show’s murderous undertones – but if you take out those themes, what’s left?

– Rumors that I portrayed Nathan Detroit in “Guys and Dolls” when I was a senior are actually quite true.

– This was never an attempt to be a complete list of all schools, so if yours isn’t listed but know which show they’re doing, please join the discussion of this blog entry.

High School musicals, 2008-2009 year
High School Show Date(s)
Blaine Seussical Spring 2009
The Blake School Once on this Island March 2009
Centennial (Circle Pines) Sweeney Todd – School Edition Nov. 13-15
Chaska West Side Story Nov. 15-16, 20-22
Concordia Academy-Roseville Big, the Musical March 2009
Eagan High School Musical Nov. 11-12, 17-19, 23-25
East Central (Finlayson) Annie Get Your Gun Nov. 20-23
Eastview The Music Man Dec. 5, 7, 11-13
Edina Godspell April 2009
Forest Lake Urinetown Nov. 6-8, 13-15
Fridley Cinderella Nov. 14-15, 20-22
Hill-Murray (St. Paul) Aida April 2009
Hopkins A Wonderful Life Nov. 7-9, 13-15
Jefferson (Bloomington) Fiddler on the Roof Oct. 1-5
Kennedy (Bloomington) The Secret Garden Oct. 23-26
Lakeville North Beauty and the Beast Nov. 7-8, 14-15
MSSPA (Hopkins) RENT: the school edition Feb. 2009
Maple Grove The Will Rogers Follies Nov. 7-8, 14-16
Mound Westonka Into the Woods Nov. 13-16
Park (Cottage Grove) Jesus Christ Superstar April 2009
Robbinsdale Cooper Cabaret Nov. 14-15, 20-22
Rosemount Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Dec. 6-7, 11-13
Shakopee Little Shop of Horrors Nov. 14-15, 22-24
South St. Paul The Sound of Music Jan. 2009
St. Francis Smokey Joe’s Cafe April 2009
Totino-Grace Oklahoma! Oct 29-31, Nov. 1-2
Visitation/St. Thomas Academy Aida April, May 2009
Washburn The Wiz March 2009
Wayzata My Fair Lady Nov. 13-15, 19-22