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• GALLERY: "High School Musical" at Keith-Albee

HUNTINGTON -- Chuck Minsker has directed numerous shows using the youthful talent the Tri-State has to offer, but this weekend is different.

Thursday, his cast of more than 40 children ranging from sixth to 12th grade opened "High School Musical" in front of a large crowd at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center. It's the first time, Minsker believes, in more than 30 years that a community theater group has taken the stage there.

"It's been a big task, but everyone has been wonderful to work with," he said. "It's just been an amazing thing watching this unfold. They are an amazingly talented bunch of kids."

And, Minsker said, it's never easy to put a musical on stage after it's been widely viewed as a movie, even if it was a TV movie.

"Every show is different, but this one is quite challenging because all the kids in the audience know it inside and out," he said.

The show continues tonight and Saturday with 7:30 p.m. curtain calls, and there also will be matinee performances at 2:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

Project coordinator for the Marshall Artist Series and Keith-Albee Box Office Manager Donna May said all the shows have tickets left, but she expects a large walk-up crowd this weekend after successful performances Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, more than 2,000 Tri-State students attended a special presentation of "High School Musical," while many more were wowed by the talented group last night.

"I feel like after (Thursday's) performance, the walk-up business will be huge Saturday and Sunday," May said.

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Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

The First Stage Theatre Company presents "Disney's High School Musical: On Stage" at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center in Huntington on Thursday, November 15, 2007.

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