John Heller, Post-Gazette Jerimiah Skertich, as Kenicke, center, leads the "Greased Lightning" dance number in the Shaler Area High School production of "Grease." Click photo for larger image

By Christopher Rawson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In February cold, it's warming to contemplate the imminent arrival of that distinctive Western Pennsylvania ritual, the springtime high school musical. For this annual list, the Post-Gazette has so far gathered 115 shows. (That's as of March 14; the list keeps growing.)

Send any additions or corrections to crawson@post-gazette.com and we will keep the list up-to-date on the PG high school musicals Web page. There are also an alphabetical list of shows, by title as well as an alphabetical list of schools.

The 115 shows include 59 different titles. Leading the pack with six productions is the recently available "Thoroughly Modern Millie." "Footloose" shows up five times; seven others, four time, including the newly available "Cats" and "Disney's High School Musical," also newly available and destined to spread like wildfire. Other first-timers destined for less explosive high school prospects are the satirical "Urinetown" and the sweet "A Year with Frog and Toad."

		The 2006 list of high school musicals.

The best use of this list is as a spur to see more musicals in more communities. To help, the list is in chronological order of first performance, grouped by weeks -- but note that some shows run a second weekend. For specific days and times, contact the schools. Some have free senior citizens' previews.

On the High School Musical page, you will soon find links to the PG's accumulating coverage, including weekly previews in the suburban editions, a half-dozen or more full reviews (some with photo journals) and reviews by student Kelly Critics from Pittsburgh CLO's Gene Kelly Awards.

The Kelly Awards are one of the three big regional showcases. Participants in these are marked on the list as follows:

11th Westmoreland Night of the Stars (Westmoreland County), Palace Theatre, Greensburg, 6:45 p.m. May 2; 14 schools entered, marked .

13th Henry Mancini Awards (Butler, Lawrence and Beaver counties), Methany Fieldhouse, Geneva College, Beaver Falls, 7 p.m., May 23; 15 schools entered, marked .

17th Gene Kelly Awards (Allegheny County), Benedum Center, Downtown, 7:30 p.m. May 26; 29 schools entered, marked .

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2007 High school musicals

Previously (2006)
Lincoln, "Cats," Nov. 17-19.

Feb. 12-18
Riverside, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Feb. 16-18.

Feb. 26-March 4
Elizabeth Forward, "The Music Man," Feb. 28-March 4.
Center Area, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," March 1-3.
Karns City, "Beauty and the Beast," March 1-3.
Knoch, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," March 1-3.
Peters, "Shenandoah," March 1-3.
Ambridge, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," March 1-4.
Bentworth, "Fiddler on the Roof," March 1-4.
Franklin Regional, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," March 1-4.
Upper St. Clair, "Into the Woods," March 1-10.
Butler, " My Favorite Year," March 2-3.
Latrobe, "Pippin," March 2-3.
Blackhawk, "Les Miserables," March 2-4.
Brownsville, "Beauty and the Beast," March 2-4.
Greensburg Salem, "Fiddler on the Roof," March 2-4.
West Mifflin, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," March 2-4.
Seneca Valley, "West Side Story," March 2-10.
Shaler, "Grease," Mar. 2-10.

March 5-11
Chartiers Valley, "Sweet Charity," March 8-10.
Laurel, New Castle, "Annie," March 8-10.
Thomas Jefferson. "The Music Man," March 8-10.
Belle Vernon, "Oklahoma!" March 8-11.
Carrick, "Crazy for You," March 8-11.
Keystone Oaks, "Anything Goes," March 8-11.
Steel Valley, "Into the Woods," March 8-11.
Shady Side Academy, "Footloose," Mar. 8-12.
Laurel Valley, "Disney's High School Musical," March 9-10.
Moniteau, "Oliver!," March 9-10.
Charleroi, "Damn Yankees," March 9-11.
Highlands, Natrona Heights, "Fiddler on the Roof," March 9-11.
South Side Beaver, "Once Upon a Mattress," March 9-11.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, "Working," March 9-17.
Riverview, "The Wizard of Oz," March 9-17.
Vincentian Academy, "Guys and Dolls," March 9-17.
West Allegheny. "HONK!," March 9-17.

March 12-18
Canon-McMillan, "The King and I," March 14-17.
Fox Chapel, "My Favorite Year," March 14-17.
North Allegheny, "Oklahoma!," March 14-18.
Norwin, "Kiss Me Kate," March 15-18.
Moon Area, "Disney's High School Musical," March 15-18.
Burgettstown, "Oklahoma!," March 15-24.
Mars Area, "The Wizard of Oz," March 16-17.
Western Beaver, "The Wizard of Oz," March 16-18.
Yough, "Guys and Dolls," March 16-18.
Pine-Richland, "Cats," March 16-24.

March 19-25
Fort Cherry, "Li'l Abner," March 22-24.
Robinson Twp. Christian, "The Music Man," March 22-24.
St. Sebastian, "Cotton Patch Gospel," March 22-25
Greensburg Central Catholic, "Footloose," March 23-24.
Jeannette, "Oklahoma," March 23-24.
North Hills, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," March 22-31.
Avonworth, "Camelot," March 23-31.
Penn-Trafford, "Godspell," March 23-31.
Seton-LaSalle, "Godspell," March 23-31.
Union, "The Pajama Game," March 23-24.
Waynesburg Central, "Into The Woods," March 23-25.
Perry Traditional Academy, "Man of La Mancha," March 23-April 1.

March 26-April 1
Bethel Park, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," March 28-31.
Frazier, "Fiddler on the Roof," March 28-31.
Kiski Area, "Guys and Dolls," March 28-31.
McKeesport, "Crazy for You," March 28-31.
South Park, "Jesus Christ Superstar," March 28-April 1.
Baldwin-Whitehall, "Bye Bye Birdie," March 28-31.
Aliquippa, "Pippin," March 29-31.
Kittanning, "Crazy For You," March 29-31.
New Brighton, "Grease," March 29-31.
Plum, "The Wizard of Oz," March 29-31.
Quaker Valley, "Little Shop of Horrors," March 29-31.
Westmont Hilltop, "Guys and Dolls," March 29-31.
Carlynton, "Dames at Sea," March 29-April 1.
Derry Area, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," March 29-April 1.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic, "Grease," March 29-April 1.
Rauh Conservatory, "Grease" (New Hazlett Theatre), March 29-April 1.
South Fayette, "Singin' in the Rain," March 29-April 1.
Springdale, "Hello, Dolly!" March 29-April 1.
Deer Lakes, "42nd Street," March 30-April 1.
Beaver Falls, "The Wiz," March 30-April 1.
East Allegheny, "Cinderella," March 30-April 1.

April 9-15
Wilmington, "Footloose," April 11-14.
Freeport, "Seussical the Musical," April 12-14.
Ford City, "Annie," April 13-15.
Hopewell, "The Wiz," April 13-15.
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, "Cats," April 13-22.
St. Joseph, "A Year with Frog and Toad," April 13-22.

April 16-22
Hempfield Area, "Mame," April 18-21.
Freedom Area, "Nunsense," April 19-21.
Serra Catholic, "The King and I," April 19-21.
Quigley Catholic, "The Secret Garden," April 19-21.
Shenango, "Footloose," April 19-21.
Valley, "Bye Bye Birdie," April 19-22.
Montour, "Les Miserables," April 19-28.
Mohawk, "Ragtime," April 20-28.
Trinity Christian, "The Wiz," April 20-28.
Woodland Hills, "Les Miserables," April 20-28.
Gateway, "Cinderella," April 20-29.

April 23-29
Stage Right, "Disney's High School Musical," April 23-25.
Bishop Canevin, "The Boy Friend," April 25-28.
Eden Christian Academy, "Peter Pan," April 25-28.
Farrell, "Disney's High School Musical," April 25-28.
Hampton, "Kiss Me Kate," April 26-28.
Portersville Christian, "The Music Man," April 26-28.
Allderdice, "Bye Bye Birdie," April 26-29.
Winchester Thurston, "Urinetown," April 26-29.
Penn Hills, "My Favorite Year," April 26-May 5.
Schenley, "Leader of the Pack," April 26-May 5.
Pittsburgh CAPA, "The Secret Garden," April 26-May 6.
Northgate, "Footloose," April 27-28.
Sewickley Academy, "Me and My Girl," April 27-28.
Ligonier Valley, "South Pacific," April 27-29.
Neshannock, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," April 27-29.
North Catholic, "Pippin," April 27-29.
Beaver Area, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," April 27-29.

April 30-May 6
Beaver County Christian, "Les Miserables," May 3-5.
Langley, "Bring in the Morning," May 3-5.

May 7-13
Mt. Lebanon, "Hello, Dolly!" May 9-12.