2007-2008 SEASON SCHEDULE

(Due to the rights of High School Musical 2 not being released.)
July 31- August 24, 2008
Main Stage - Musical

THE STORY: Disney Channel's smash hit musical comes to life on your stage! On the front steps of East High, it’s the first day after winter break (Wildcat Cheer). The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes find their cliques, recount their vacations, and look forward to the new year (Start of Something New). In Ms. Darbus’s homeroom, basketball team captain Troy discovers that Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. When he calls her, the eccentric drama teacher quickly confiscates all cell phones and assigns detention. Between classes, Gabriella and Troy look at the audition sign-up for the school musical, but the drama diva Sharpay discourages them. At basketball practice, Troy tries to shake his desire to sing at the urging of his best friend Chad (Get'cha Head in the Game). Taylor, the science club president, discovers Gabriella’s intelligence and encourages her to join the upcoming science decathlon. While the students learn how to “act” at detention, Troy’s dad, Coach Bolton, faces off with Ms. Darbus – his star players can’t miss practice for Friday’s championship game! The next day, hopeful Thespians strut their stuff for Ms. Darbus (Auditions), but they’re no match for Sharpay and her twin brother Ryan (What I’ve Been Looking For). Troy and Gabriella arrive too late to audition, but Kelsi, the show's composer, plays the song her way and encourages them to sing (What I’ve Been Looking For – Reprise). Ms. Darbus overhears and gives them a callback. News spreads fast (Cellular Fusion), Sharpay is furious, and some students try to break out of their cliques during lunch (Stick to the Status Quo). Troy and Gabriella escape to the rooftop garden and share a little bit about their real selves (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You). The Jocks and Brainiacs devise a plan to trick Troy and Gabriella into forgetting about the musical and committing to their respective competitions (Counting on You). Thinking each one has betrayed the other, Gabriella and Troy are crushed (When There Was Me and You). Against Ryan’s advice, Sharpay convinces Ms. Darbus to move the callbacks to conflict with the science decathlon and championship game. Chad and Taylor put their heads together to make things right again (We’re All in This Together). While the Jocks and Brainiacs compete, Sharpay and Ryan pull off a polished callback performance (Bop to the Top). When Taylor’s laptop shuts down the electricity, Troy and Gabriella rush to the theater, but are too late. However, when the East High students arrive to rally behind them, Ms. Darbus relents, and they sing their way into the lead roles (Breaking Free). Back at the gym, the Wildcats win the game and the whole school comes together as winners (We’re All in This Together – Reprise).

2008-2009 SEASON SCHEDULE


September 19 - October 7, 2008
Studio - Drama
Directed by Marci Lynn Saling

THE STORY: In October 1998 a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. His bloody, bruised and battered body was not discovered until the next day, and he died several days later in an area hospital. His name was Matthew Shepard, and he was the victim of this assault because he was gay. Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie over the course of a year and a half in the aftermath of the beating and during the trial of the two young men accused of killing Shepard. They conducted more than 200 interviews with the people of the town. Some people interviewed were directly connected to the case, and others were citizens of Laramie, and the breadth of their reactions to the crime is fascinating. Kaufman and Tectonic Theater members have constructed a deeply moving theatrical experience from these interviews and their own experiences. THE LARAMIE PROJECT is a breathtaking theatrical collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable.

October 17 - 26, 2008
Mainstage - One Acts
Directors TBA

December 11 - 21, 2008
Mainstage - Musical Review
Directed by Lisa Paynter



January 16 - February 1, 2009
Studio - Comedy
Directed by Jay Spencer

THE STORY: The premise of the play focuses on the reunion of four television actresses at the home of their former producer. The four principle characters once starred in a hit television show together and have now gathered to discuss the possibility of planning a reunion special for a new network. Confessions from the Ladies Room was touted by the press as a "rollicking roller coaster ride where the fun is in the ups and downs of the journey." It has also been called by critics as "refreshing...amazing" and a "fun show and should be seen by everyone."

May 15 - 31, 2009
Mainstage - Comedy / Drama
Directed by Mary McManaway

THE STORY: This "turbulent and gutsy play" shows a group of American prisoners lodged in a German prison camp, trying to escape, to embarrass and irritate their captors. The plot revolves about the escape of an American who will face serious punishment for sabotaging a train, and his fellow prisoners who hide him. They at last learn which prisoner has been all the while a stooge for the Germans. Dominant tone of the play is lusty comedy, but this is ingeniously combined at all times with excitement and tension of the most holding sort of suspense.

August 7th - 30th, 2009
Mainstage - Summer Musical
Directed by Brenton Cochran

THE STORY: One of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory bursts onto the live stage with exhilarating results. When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn't prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, determined to exercise the control over the town's youth that he cannot command in his own home. When the reverend's rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren's reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid. The heartfelt story that emerges is of a father longing for the son he lost and of a young man aching for the father who walked out on him. To the rockin' rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score (the soundtrack album reached number one on the Billboard charts and has sold over 15 million copies!) and augmented with dynamic new songs for the stage musical, FOOTLOOSE celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind.

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YOUTH THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
(See Our Youth Theatre Page)

ALSO AT THE NORTH CANTON PLAYHOUSE:

WALSH UNIVERSITY SHOWS
(On NCP Mainstage)

TBA
November, 2008

 TBA
April, 2009