High school drama never sounded so good when star-crossed lovers from different cliques try out for roles in the school musical.

This weekend, a newly formed Swain County-based theatre troupe called S.M.A.R.T., will perform the award-winning Disney hit, “High School Musical,” at the Swain County Center for the Performing Arts in Bryson City.

S.M.A.R.T., which stands for Smoky Mountain Arts Regional Theatre, just started up this year as a non-profit organization that aims to promote the arts for all ages. Proceeds from “High School Musical” will go to the drama and ensemble singing programs at Swain County High School, according to Johnnie Roberts, treasurer for S.M.A.R.T.

The ambitious show, which includes a huge cast and plenty of singing and dancing, starred teen heartthrobs Zac Efron and Corbin Bleu in its 2006 original TV movie on Disney. With its American Idol-esque success, it’s become a franchise phenomenon, spawning hit albums, an international concert tour, an ice skating tour, a bestselling book series, video games, two movie sequels and another one on the way this fall. S.M.A.R.T. organizers are hoping that big name alone will draw fans to see this theatre production, which closely resembles the Disney movie.

Anthony Giordano, a rising senior studying theatre at Western Carolina University, will direct “High School Musical” in his Swain County debut. The play, which is an upbeat take on “Romeo and Juliet” stars Tim Stoeckel as basketball jock Troy Bolton and Breanna Snead as math whiz and new student Gabriella Montez. When Troy tries to break out of his mold to audition for the school musical and star opposite his newfound love, a shy but talented Gabriella, the status quo forces of East High intervene with drama club co-presidents Sharpay Evans (played by Sarah Larcher) and her stylish brother Ryan (played by Ricky Sanford) aiming to keep this upstart tandem from foiling their own dreams of stardom. Will Troy’s basketball teammates and Gabriella’s scholastic competition thwart their chances to sing and act together on stage? As one of the songs in the show goes, “We’re all in this together.”

It’s your basic boy-meets-girl story, said Stoeckel, who doubles in the show as one of the lead actors as well as music director. During rehearsals, he’s been backstage making notes at one point and then singing on stage in another.

Stoeckel is a rising junior majoring in theatre at WCU after transferring from Dalton College in Georgia. The challenge of acting and directing has been challenging but worth it, he added.

“You have to come together as a single unit, as a cast,” he said.

Many in the cast are either Swain County High School students or WCU students. Having been in rehearsals since the end of May, the cast has spent a lot of time together, sometimes staging four-hour rehearsals as they fine-tune those show-stopping numbers. Part of the challenge for Giordano has been to allow the actors to ham it up without sacrificing the heart-warming scenes.

“There are some really beautiful moments,” said Giordano. This past year in college, he starred as Nathan Detroit in “Guys and Dolls” and directed and produced the show, “That’s What We Love About You, Hardy Boys.”

For this S.M.A.R.T. production, the cast will perform in a pretty spacious setting — the 500-seat auditorium in the performing arts center for Swain County High School.

“[We’re] hoping to fill the place up and draw some crowds,” Giordano said.

And depending on the turnout for this summer musical, S.M.A.R.T. may proceed with a season of shows as a year-round theatre organization.

See High School Musical

High School Musical at Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City. 7:30 p.m. shows on July 10-12 and Sunday matinee performance, July 13, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Advanced tickets can be purchased at the following Bryson City locations: Rita’s Hallmark, Hometown Cleaners, and Station Restaurant. Or reservations can be made by calling 828.736.3400 or 828.488.4115.