In rehearsals with Harry Judd, KayCee Stroh and the cast of Disney’s High School Musical – full preview

WhatsOnStage was recently invited into the rehearsal room to get a sneak peek at the upcoming revival of Disney’s High School Musical.

There we were treated to a handful of fully choreographed numbers and also had the opportunity to chat to the stars of the show about this first-ever, non-replica UK production… and how it feels to be back in high school.

The cast includes KayCee Stroh (who played Martha Cox in the original movie and now takes on the role of Ms Darbus on stage) and McFly’s Harry Judd (making his musical theatre debut as Coach Bolton in London, while Jason Donovan covers the Salford run). They are joined by Tobias Turley, Leonor Correia, Caitlin Tipping, Luke Bayer, Jordan Benjamin and Char Burnett as Troy Bolton, Gabriella Montez, Sharpay Evans, Ryan Evans, Chad Danforth and Taylor McKessie, respectively.

Find out what they all had to say and see highlights of the performances in the video below:

Also in the company are  Simeon Beckett as Zeke Baylor, Olivia O’Connor as Martha Cox, Yna Tresvalles as Kelsi Nielson and Curtis Patrick as Jack Scott, alongside Alexander Black, Eleanor Bye, Harriet Caplan-Dean, Alison Driver, Conor Luke Drury, Mary Francis, Sonia Gil-Lubeiro, Tamsin January, Joseph Lennox, Lucas Morlotti, Katie Mulligan, André Phipps, Meg Silsby, Kade Stenson, Ethan Vijn and Eddie Zickerman.

Featuring a book by David Simpatico and music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle, the stage version includes songs such as “Breaking Free”, “We’re All In This Together”, “Get’cha Head in the Game” and “Stick to the Status Quo”.

Based on the Disney Channel original movie, High School Musical premiered on stage in 2006 at Stagedoor Manor before its first professional production in Atlanta and a US national tour in 2007. It later received its London premiere at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2008.

This UK revival is co-directed by Joseph Houston and William Whelton, with 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, wigs and hair design by Jackie Sweeney and Angie Carradus, make-up design by Dominic Skinner, costume supervision by Laura Rushton and Lisa Aitken, props supervision by Marcus Hall Props, wigs, hair and make up supervision by Jackie Sweeney and Angie Carradus, orchestral management by Rich Morris for Music Solutions Ltd, dialect coaching by Aundrea Fudge, associate set design by Ryan Webster and production management by Ammonite Studios with general management by Chris Harper Productions.

High School Musical is produced by Hope Mill Theatre and Chris Harper Productions in association with Lowry and co-produced by Winkler and Smalberg, Catherine Schrieber, Drew and Dane Productions, Kevin and Kate McGrath, Merritt Baer, Marc Levine, Andrei Cotocu for Seabright Live and Michael Watt Productions.

It will premiere at the Lowry in Salford from 22 August to 19 September and then at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre from 12 October 2026, with performances running until 3 January 2027 and a press night set for 20 October.