MILFORD – The iconic movie “High School Musical” is being brought to the stage by The Riverbend Youth Co. this weekend – Aug. 18, 19 and 20 – at Amato Theater at the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley.

One of the biggest pop culture phenomena in recent memory, Disney Channel’s “High School Musical” topped the music charts and broke records within weeks of its 2006 premiere, becoming the most successful film the Disney Channel ever produced, according to a press release from the company. In this contemporary romantic musical comedy, the popular high school basketball star (Troy Bolton) and the shy, academically gifted newcomer (Gabriella Montez) discover they share a secret passion for singing. When they sign up together to audition for the lead roles in the school musical, it threatens East High’s rigid social order, as they question the status quo and send their peers into an uproar as they “bop to the top.”

East High’s students Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad, Taylor and the rest of the gang all are ready to come alive in this fun-tastic, family friendly show, the release states.

The Riverbend Youth Co. cast of “High School Musical” has been rehearsing since late June. The cast is led by Ryan Quinlan (Troy) and Evmorfia Alton (Gabriella), of Amherst. The cast also features MacKenzie Ozaroff (Sharpay), Garrett Robinson (Ryan), Casey Henry (Chad) and Adani Duguay-Webster (Taylor).

The rest of the company is rounded out with an energetic group of teens ranging from eighth grade to recent high school graduates from Milford, Hollis, Brookline, Pepperell, Lyndeborough, Merrimack, Nashua, Windham and other surrounding communities. It is directed by Anna Quinlan of Amherst, with Kacie Leach, of Milford, as musical director and Lily Ayotte, also of Milford, as choreographer. Shannon Quinlan is producer.

The Riverbend Youth Co. is a program of the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley, providing hundreds of kids a year with high-quality performance and technical theater opportunities, according to the release.

Tickets for “High School Musical” are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. They and are available online at www.amatocenter.org or at the door. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18 and 2:30 and 7:30p.m. Aug. 19-20.

– Submitted by Riverbend Youth Company