High School Musical

Just like the big kids

Once in a while you get a great idea.  And such was the case with North Canton Playhouse director Lisa Payntor when she recognized the immediate potential (and success) of Disney's High School Musical.  Not only did she snatch up the rights, thus being the first community theatre to stage the production in NE Ohio, but she also used the famed show to launch the company's most successful (yes ... profitable) kids' camp in the summer of 2007.  Lisa's idea was to allow young thespians, to do the show as a mini production of Disney's original, which was playing almost simultaneously on the theatre's main stage.   The result was a double-billed cast and a three week run of sold out shows.

Thanks to a special projects grant from ArtsinStark, young actors were able to make it big and be in a high school musical -- even before turning the corner on eighth grade! 

Read about more Grants in Action.