High School Musical Stage Revival Releases First-Look Photos as Salford Run Continues
First-look rehearsal photos for Disney's High School Musical stage revival have been released, with images credited to Matt Crockett showing the company preparing for the production. WhatsOnStage
The revival began performances at the Lowry in Salford on 22 August 2026 and runs until 19 September. BroadwayWorld It is the first UK non-replica staging of the musical — meaning the production uses entirely original direction, design and choreography rather than recreating a previous version's look.
After Salford, the show transfers to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London from 12 October 2026, with performances booked through to 3 January 2027 and a national press night on 20 October. Tickets for the London run are on sale now. WestEndTheatre.com
The cast is led by Tobias Turley as Troy, Leonor Correia as Gabriella, Caitlin Tipping as Sharpay and Luke Bayer as Ryan. KayCee Stroh — who appeared in the original 2006 Disney Channel film as Martha Cox — plays Ms Darbus. Coach Bolton is played by Jason Donovan in Salford and Harry Judd in London. WhatsOnStage
The stage version features a book by David Simpatico and music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle. The score includes the songs familiar from the film: "Breaking Free," "We're All In This Together," "Get'cha Head in the Game" and "Stick to the Status Quo." WhatsOnStage
Joseph Houston and William Whelton co-direct. The production is presented by Hope Mill Theatre, a 140-seat venue in Manchester with a strong record of staging musical revivals, and Chris Harper Productions, in association with the Lowry. The co-producing team includes 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. WhatsOnStage
WhatsOnStage was invited into the rehearsal room in early August and published a full video preview of the production. YouTube
The High School Musical stage musical premiered in 2006 at Stagedoor Manor, a performing arts camp in New York, followed by a first professional production in Atlanta and a US national tour in 2007. Its London premiere came at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2008. WhatsOnStage
For fans who grew up with the original film, the chance to see a fully reimagined staging — rather than a copy of an earlier production — is the draw here. The casting of Stroh, returning to the material two decades on, connects the 2006 phenomenon directly to this 2026 stage version.
