Disney Channel Preps First Musical Series
EXCLUSIVE: Call it High School Musical: the series. Or Glee with original music. Disney Channel is fast-tracking what is described as its most ambitious series yet. Tentatively titled Madison High, the single-camera comedy is still in development but preliminary casting has already begun and a formal pilot order is expected to follow. Just like HSM, Madison High employs the break-into-song-and-dance format to tell the stories about 11-16 year-olds navigating the school social hierarchy. It is set at Madison High, which is trying to build a revolutionary theatre program, and follows a pool of students who, by the end of the year, will have produced an original piece based on their lives. The Office alum Lester Lewis, who worked with Disney Channel on another music-driven single-camera comedy, Jonas L.A., is writing Madison High, which he is executive producing with Paul Hoen. Hoen, who has directed about a dozen Disney Channel original movies, most recently Camp Rock 2, as well as episodes for that many series, is set to direct the pilot when it is greenlit. Disney Channel introduced the contemporary musical genre to a new generation of kids and tweens with the 2006 smash High School Musical, which spawned two sequels, one on TV and one on the big screen. HSM4 is in the works, and next year, spinoff Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure starring and executive produced by Ashley Tisdale, will premiere on the channel. Fox’s Glee applied the break-into-song contemporary musical concept to the series format to huge success. Now Madison High is taking it one step further. Unlike Glee, which only features cover songs, it will stick to the HSM model with all-original music. The show will commission new songs while also featuring artists from Disney’s music label. Disney Channel has already found success with music-themed comedies, including multi-camera hit Hannah Montana and the channel’s promising new addition Shake It Up.
Why not just call it “High School Musical – THE SERIES” and call it a day?
Exactly, why not stick with a brand that is established and extremely successful.
I guess you can’t have too many high school musicals (pun intended).
So basically Disney is making Victorious? You know, the musical series that is currently running on Nickelodeon…
No, the article states that
“Madison High employs the break-into-song-and-dance format to tell the stories about 11-16 year-olds navigating the school social hierarchy.”
I’ve seen Victorious and this is not Victorious. When you think about it High School Musical spawned, Glee, and Victorious. where do you think FOX and Viacom got the bright idea of those two shows, if HSM had bombed I doubt you’d be seeing a Glee or a Victorious. Disney was a little slow in developing their own.
It’s not Victoious because Victorious doesn’t break out into song out of the clear blue sky.
its not victorious!!!!!!
Are these moves recent, or is this in case Sonny With a Chance doesn’t return?
Does anyone know what casting agency is working on this project? Appreciate any advice/help…
Thanks in advance.
Disney would be stupid not to renew sonny with a chance starring demi lovato. The star and the series has more interest now than ever before.
was just at Disney World and was surprised to see little to zero presence of High School Musical franchise. Hmmmm…..
Why are they trying to rip off Victorious this is so wack. Disney used to be great now all they want is money and every show is a bout fame
okay well victorious is sonny with a chance nick is the rip off have you seen big time rush???its practically jonas!!!!and i personally think this series will be great its making glee for kids which is a good thing cause kids have been watching glee and their not supposed to so diseny is trying to make a show that will help that.
Dude. Refer to lsb’s comment. It’s not a rip off. Disney instigated the concept first with HSM, and Victorious and Glee were a by-product.
Get off your Nickelodeon high-horse.
Disney FTW!!!
It’d be cool if they did an open casting, I hope they do!
dont count on it,
my agent allready sent the sides for the show, it said nothing about open call, it shoots too soon.
when will they have auditions