High School Musical CASTING SHOW
The High School Musial franchise has become a jack of all trade for The Walt Disney Company. It all started with an innocent, small made for tv musical movie on the Disney Channel which then become a ratings juggernaut around the globe, has seen a record breaking sequel, makes it’s move to the big screen with the third movie this fall, has occupied top spots in the download and CD charts around the globe with various CD and single releases, moved countless additional merchandise items and has resulted in concert, ice show and theatrical shows plus widely popular theme park streetaculars in Disney’s California Adventure, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Walt Disney Studios (at Disneyland Resort Paris). And now the next chapter is being prepared:
According to the VARIETY website ABC (also part of the Disney empire but so far not involved in the HSM franchise) is developing a concept for a “High School Musical” casting / reality show!
The show is to be based on the movie franchise and according to the current draft will consist of two different segments. In the first segments viewers will see the casting of aspiring young musical actors and actresses in a (US-)nation wide talent hunt (= the casting show element). Those passing the casting phase of the show will then study at a music conservatory, certainly closely followed by cameras all the time (= the reality show element). Once again during this phase contestants will be eliminated each week until a final winner is chosen. But what will the “winner” receive? What is he or she studying for at the music conservatory?? That is still under tight wraps … but maybe a major part in another sequel of the franchise as a new character? Or a leading part in one of the many productions of the show?? Right now only the creative minds at ABC know the answer…
At this point the planned number of episodes is not even known (but there will be severals, that’s for sure), so any guessing on the ultimate goal is extremly difficult. What is known according to VARIETY is that the concept will be emphasizing the connection to the HSM-franchise throughout the show by incorporating various guest participations by the original HSM-stars.
Got interested toto audition or just curious to watch the show on ABC? Well, at this point ABC is only in discussion with various production companies to produce the show. So no firm dates have been set. Still if you want to audition, better follow the developments closely, as VARIETY reports that the show is supposed to air sometime in the next summer! Also we will try to keep you updated…
A finale note: this is NOT the first reality treatment that the HSM-franchise receives. In fall 2007 there was already a documentary produced by the Disney Channel/Barbara Kopple titled “High School Musical: The Music in You”. The show followed a Texas theater group as they staged the play based on the original HSM movie.
March 4th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
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