The auditions for High School Musical SA are currently in full swing. They began in PE at the beginning of June, moved to Cape Town at the weekend and begin in Jo'burg as from today (Thursday, 18 June).
While the show moves across the country M-Net has announced that SA theatre producers Pieter Toerien and Hazel Feldman will be producing the stage version of the show once the two reality winners have been chosen.
The stage production High School Musical will premiere in Cape Town at the Artscape Opera House on 26 November 2008 and will move to Montecasino’s Il Teatro in Johannesburg in February 2009.
Pieter Toerien will also make appearances in the series in the role of The Producer. The names of the judges on The Creative Panel have also been released.
They are: theatre director Paul Warwick Griffin, musical director Charl-Johan Lingenfelder and choreographer
Lorcia Cooper.
At the regional auditions this panel, together with Pieter Toerien, is responsible for deciding who goes through to the Top 40 round. Later in the series, they will also guide the performers for the duration of the TV show and assess their progress with Toerien.
Their deliberations will help viewers - who have 100% say in who wins the competition - decide who to vote for each week. They'll also be working behind-the-scenes to put the stage production together.
“We are looking for performers with loads of energy, great voices, and presence on stage that can convincingly play the role of Troy or Gabriella,” says Paul Warwick Griffin.
“As we prepare for auditions in Johannesburg, we are looking forward to seeing a wide variety of performers. This is a chance for everyone who’s interested in winning the role of a lifetime, a role that could launch a spectacular career in the theatre. The beauty of this show is that the parts can be filled by complete unknowns or seasoned professionals.”
About the Creative Panel 
Paul Warwick Griffin is now based in London and his fifteen-year career has spanned virtually every aspect of South African theatre as actor, director and producer, including three separate productions of Jesus Christ Superstar in the role of Jesus.
Paul has directed the stage productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, HAIR and CHESS (which he also adapted, along with creator Sir Tim Rice) for producer Pieter Toerien.
His production of Jesus Christ Superstar has toured internationally, most recently to Seoul, Korea.
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Charl-Johan Lingenfelder is an award-winning performer, well-known musical director and is also known as the creator of highly innovative and controversial theatrical shows.
He has been musical director on more than 20 musicals, from Rocky Horror Picture Show to Cabaret.
2006 saw him musically direct and re-arrange Jesus Christ Superstar, for which he has received a Naledi Award Nomination.
This production subsequently toured to Athens and Korea in 2007.
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Lorcia Cooper is a South African dancer, dance teacher, choreographer and actress, most recently seen on kykNET’s
Dans! Dans! Dans! She won her first dance competition when she was five years old and won the title of provincial champion.
Later she became a student and a teacher at the North West Arts Council's Dance Academy where she danced in various productions.
At 19 Lorcia won the FNB Vita Best Female Dancer Award. She also played Charmaine Jacobs on e.tv's soapie
Backstage, presented SABC2's Travel Xplorer and played the lead role in the SA feature film Hey Boy.
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Keep a lookout for TVSA's coverage of the Cape Town auditions - coming soon!
Related info:High School Musical: Spotlight on SA - the show explained.Casting Calls - audition info, times and venues.Meet The High School Musical SA Presenter.
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