Despite how things might appear, Disney did not invent the high school musical. Yearbooks full of photos of Curlys, Harold Hills, orphan Annies and Annie Oakleys prove that point.

But credit Gabriella, Zac, Sharpay and Ryan with turning up the spotlight.

'Tweeners all know these characters from the Disney Channel's "High School Musical." With the dance-along version of the DVD, they can learn the moves and imagine the day when they, too, can audition for their high school musical. To borrow a line from Sharpay, they'll know the difference between a Tony Award and Tony Hawk.

Jaded adults might roll their eyes, but the "High School Musical" spirit is hard to resist -- especially when the show is making a live appearance.

N.C. Theatre, the Raleigh-based company known for its Broadway-style musicals and its Kids on Broadway training program, has set a production in motion for an April 25-30 staging at Memorial Auditorium. The show is a co-production with the Wake County Public School System and the city-run Broadway Series South, which books the big national tours.

Check out the scenes -- the old-school high school musicals and the made-in-Disney's-world version.