Flying high over his role

Rudy Foster has won leads in four musicals so far this year, but the rising college freshman said he’s really pumped about his current role as Troy Bolton in the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s production of “High School Musical.”

He’s so excited, in fact, that he convinced his parents it was worth flying him home from Chicago on weekends to play the part.

“I think ‘High School Musical’ has such a great message: Be yourself and don’t be afraid of what other people say,” said Mr. Foster, 18. “That message is so important, so I jumped at the chance to be part of something that will spread that message.”

“High School Musical,” a 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie, launched a musical phenomenon that has spawned a new generation of adolescent musical-theater lovers.

“HSM” scored 1.2 million viewers its first week on air, according to Internet sources, and sales of its soundtrack have been certified quadruple platinum. “HSM” made it cool for jocks to sing and dance and showed that smart girls could win the good-looking guy.

Its story is a very loose, modern-day “Romeo and Juliet.” In the musical, the basketball star and the science-club president (school cliques representing the rival families) decide to audition for the school musical. This breaking of stereotypes divides the student body until they all decide they can get along in the finale’s production number.

Mr. Foster, son of Rudolph and Pamela Foster, is playing basketball star Troy Bolton, the role that made Zac Efron a teen heartthrob.

“I’m trying to make this role more natural to me,” Mr. Foster said. “Before, when I’ve played roles from a movie, I watched and tried to emulate them. With this one, I want to make sure it’s how I would respond as head of the basketball team. The stage show is a little different from the movie, so it doesn’t do much good to copy the movie.”

A May graduate of Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, Mr. Foster won a full ride to the University of Chicago. He received an Odyssey Scholarship, which covers his $53,000 annual expenses.

He starts his freshman year two weekends after “High School Musical” opens Sept. 5.

Mr. Foster said he knew when he auditioned that college would begin mid-run, “but I love this movie so much, I tried out just to see what would happen.”

When he was cast in the male lead, he approached his parents with the idea of flying home to finish the show’s schedule.

“I explained how much I wanted to do this show and how important I thought the show’s message was. I also volunteered to pay them back,” he added laughing.

“The arts are special to Rudy, and what’s special to him is special to us,” his mother said. “We feel being able to excel in the arts is something positive. We want to support what he wants to support as long as it is positive and gives back to people and inspires them.”

After comparison shopping, the Fosters found a $140 round-trip fare. He’ll fly out of Chattanooga to catch a connecting Southwest flight to Chicago in Nashville.

“We see this as an investment in his future,” said his mother. “It’s not about the money, but giving him this opportunity so he knows what he wants to accomplish can be done.”

CTC musicals usually book two holdover weekends. So in addition to flying to Chicago the weekend he leaves for college, Mr. Foster will fly home at least twice more and most likely four times. He will start his commute on Thursday afternoon, arriving about 3 p.m. before his 6 o’clock call that night, and return Sunday night after the matinee.

Music director Mike Lees said he’s counting on no layovers or missed flights because Mr. Foster doesn’t have an understudy.

The teen said his only formal training in voice or dance has been nine years he spent in the Chattanooga Boys Choir. But director David Wood calls Mr. Foster “a natural.”

“He’s very open and the audience just naturally likes him,” the director explained.

“High School Musical” opens Sept. 5 and is scheduled to end Oct. 5. Holdover shows will be booked as needed. Tickets may be ordered by calling the theater at 267-8538.