NICK LACHEY TO HOST DISNEY'S "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: SUMMER SESSION"

Open Casting Calls on 4/27 in Long Beach, CA and 5/7 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL

Actor, singer/songwriter Nick Lachey will host this summer's reality show, Disney's "High School Musical: Summer Session" [working title].

Recently Lachey recorded the title song to the ABC telefilm "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day." He also took home top honors in the NBC special, "Clash of the Choirs," in which he led a choir of 17 Cincinnatians to the victorious title of America's Best Choir. He is currently serving as creator and executive producer of a new show based on the lives of students at his alma mater, The Cincinnati High School of Performing Arts. He also recently guest starred alongside Alicia Keys in the MTV micro-series, "Fresh Takes." His third solo album will be released later this year.

The open casting calls for "High School Musical: Summer Session" start this Sunday, April 27 at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California, and continue on Wednesday, May 7 at Champion Stadium in Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Both of these open auditions form part of the early episodes of the series. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 22 is welcome to give it a shot at the open calls (if you are under 18, you must bring your parent or legal guardian) and can download an application and view eligibility requirements at www.abc.com/hsmsummersession.

The series debuts on ABC on Sunday, July 20 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) and runs Sundays and Mondays (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) for three weeks, then continues Mondays at 8:00 p.m., ET through mid-September. The producers welcome anyone and everyone ages 16-22 who has dreamed of being center stage -- the high school quarterback who's never tried out for a play but has a song in his heart, the drama club extrovert looking to break into the big time, someone looking to trade the chess club routine for a dance routine -- all are invited to try to "Get'cha head in the game," as the hit song says. The finalists will ultimately participate in a summer music program to hone their skills, and one talented newcomer will receive the opportunity of a lifetime, becoming a part of "High School Musical" history.

Executive producers of "High School Musical: Summer Session" are Jay Blumenfeld and Tony Marsh (both of "Here Come the Newlyweds"). The production company is The Jay and Tony Show.

Disney's "High School Musical" has been seen by over 250 million viewers and the sequel, "High School Musical 2," has been seen by more than 195 million viewers in 24 languages globally. The movies spawned stage productions at schools and in professional theatres around the world, multi-platinum CDs, DVDs and books, a successful consumer products franchise at mass retailers, themed shows at Disney Parks in Anaheim, Orlando and Paris, a sold-out 42 date arena concert tour in North America and Latin America and a popular touring ice show around the world.