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1 Disney's High School Musical'Phenom Hits North Vancouver èy Tirntrtj Mi fur "It is simultaneously a departure from what we've been doing and a return to what we do best." This is how Uncle Randy Productions' (URP) artistic director, Richard Berg, describes their fall production of Disney's High School Musical. So what separates this from recent URP shows? "Well," offers Berg with a laugh, "no one dies at the end of this one." He is, of course, referring to the tragic endings in URP's last few offerings of Jesus Christ Superstar. Cabaret and Godspell, all of which were critical successes and very well received by all that saw them. This brings us to the second difference that marks this show: "A lot more people are going to see it." As of the writing of this article, High School Musical had markedly higher advance sales than any show in URP's 13 year history and if Berg gets his wish, that trend will continue all the way to full houses throughout the run. "This show isn't a Broadway musical, it's a current pop phenomenon," says Berg. Those of you with kids between 7 and 17 already know that. The Disney Channel Original Movie first aired in January 2006 and became that channel's most Disney's High School Musicate. watched movie ever, garnering the eyeballs of 100 million people worldwide. The soundtrack also went on to become the best selling album of 2006. "Think about that," says Berg, "It wasn't just the best selling soundtrack. It was the best selling album, period." That kind of success doesn't stand still, especially not in the hands of Disney. It has been less than 2 years since the first airing of High School Musical. In that short time there has been a made-for-TV seguel, now seen by more viewers than the original, and spawned a second hugely successful soundtrack and a theatrical release is in the works. If your kids haven't got their Express yourself through distance education www.tru.ca/distance T h o m p s o n Rivers University, O p e n L e a r n i n g provides accessible d i s t a n c e a n d o n l i n e e d u c a t i o n o p t i o n s - w h e r e y o u c a n fast-track y o u r degree, d i p l o m a , or certificate. > > > > C h o o s e y o u r o w n start a n d c o m p l e t i o n t i m e s . G r a d u a t e f r o m a p r o g r a m or take o n e c o u r s e . Ladder previous e d u c a t i o n into TRU credits. Earn credit for life a n d w o r k e x p e r i e n c e u s i n g prior l e a r n i n g a s s e s s m e n t . > A c h i e v e a credible university e d u c a t i o n s o o n e r t h a n y o u think. For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , visit us o n l i n e or p h o n e 1 . 8 8 8 . 8 2 8 . 1 1 2 1 . Thompson OPEN LEARNING Rivers University 16 November|December