Young girls dressed in "High School Musical" T-shirts clamored into the seats in the theater at Nauticus in Norfolk, Va., last weekend. They were there not for the naval history, but rather a show they'd been anticipating for some time.

On stage a group of teenage actors, accompanied by several adults, scurried and took their places. The music rose and the voices sang out. This was "High School Musical," the stage production, put on by a Norfolk staple, The Hurrah Players.

Photos Courtesy of The Hurrah Players (ENLARGE)

Hugh Copeland (center) poses with members of the cast from 'High School Musical,' a Hurrah Players production. Hurrah Players was created by Copeland, a Perquimans County native, in 1984 to train young actors and put them on stage in full Broadway-style productions. The group is based in Norfolk, Va.

The children in the audience wriggled in their seats with excitement. This was, after all, the tale of Troy and Gabriella, the principle characters in the story, and cultural touchstones ever since Disney Channel debuted the original film on cable in 2006.

Hurrah Players ended the summer with this hit musical in Norfolk, and they'll bring it to the Albemarle region in September at Perquimans High School, alma mater of the musical theater company's founder, Hugh R. Copeland.

Copeland appears to be an eternally bright and cheery man, encouraging youth to bring out the best in themselves and perform. At the head of the show, Copeland hosted a karaoke session for children in the audience. The veteran stage performer, director and university drama instructor directed the young girls volunteering to sing before complete strangers with aplomb and mirth. The children are clearly at ease, even one girl who looked as though she was about to cry from mere stage fright was redirected and sang a tune.

But that's Copeland's gift. He knows how to bring out the best in his performers and that fact could not be more clear when the show began in earnest and his cast put on a professionally executed and choreographed performace.

Copeland created the Hurrah Players as a venue for children to learn theater craft and perform. People sign up for the program and its classes but they must audition for parts. The company puts on up to seven shows a year. That's fully staged productions of famous Broadway hits such as "Annie" or "Grease."

"We never have down time," says Copeland of his busy schedule.

Copeland says 10 of his former students are currently working on Broadway. In fact, he introduced one of his pupils to the audience, a young man who is about to star as Oliver Twist in the touring production of the Broadway revival of "Oliver."

He's clearly proud of the people that work with him and says while he envisioned himself as a "famous actor" one day, his life's work has put him in the spotlight and he apparently has no regrets training future stars of stage, and possibly screen.

"I still get a thrill out of exposing people to theater," says Copeland.

Copeland says he was exposed to performing at a young age, growing up in a Quaker family in Perquimans County — his was the first Quaker family to settle in North Carolina during the 17th century.

"My first drama teacher was my grandmother," says Copeland.

His grandmother, he explains, would act out stories. Her exuberance to entertain her grandson informed the young Copeland and led him to a desire to perform his own plays.

In Belvidere, as a child, Hugh Copeland would write and stage his own plays. Foreshadowing a future in theater, Copeland would gather family and friends for the performances for a time, but would eventually leave it behind for teenage pursuits and high school activities.

Copeland graduated Perquimans High School — he's not willing to share his age and therefore neither is he willing to share his graduation year — and went on to study journalism at Campbell University. Sitting, alone with his thoughts, writing, didn't sit well with the outgoing Copeland, however. He was looking for something more extroverted.

"I wanted more of a group thing," he says.

Copeland eventually received a degree in public speaking and went on to receive a master's degree in acting and education from Smith College. From there he launched a successful high school theater program in Hadley, Mass., working on his doctorate at the University of Mass.

While Copeland didn't finish his doctorate, he did make his way to Norfolk where he would begin teaching theater at Old Dominion University.

"I may be the longest adjunct professor they have," says Copeland of his ongoing teaching post at ODU.

Copeland says the State of Virginia was just launching what would be the precursor to the state's Governor's School and he was asked to head the theater component of the program. That was 1976 to 1984. It was 1984 when he would launch Hurrah.

"We're Virginia's leading family theater company," says Copeland, grinning proudly of his accomplishment.

And it is an accomplishment, as witnessed by the many excited young children and their happy parents at "High School Musical."

Hurrah is a non-profit organization "dedicated to providing the finest dramatic production in the community," states the group's literature. And the productions are fine; so fine, in fact, that the theater company is invited year after year to perform at various locations including Disney World, Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and overseas in London.

Each year nearly 500 children attend Hurrah's regular classes — Copeland says some as far away as Hatteras Island and Gates County have made the weekly drive to attend classes — and about 200 more attend the group's summer theater camps. And aside from the seven full stage productions each year, Copeland says many of his performers are involved in other, smaller venues.

Copeland is also adept at networking, building relationships with high-profile performers that might benefit his students. When someone noteworthy performs in the Norfolk area, Copeland works to get him or her over to Hurrah to put on a workshop, for example.

"A lot of Broadway shows come to Norfolk and if you hook up with them they are so eager," says Copeland.

Because Hurrah is a non-profit, Copeland relies on volunteers to make things work. He says while there are paid workers, if someone steps up to the plate, Copeland's theater family will take them in.

"We call it the Hurrahfia," he says. "Once you get in, you can't get out."

Dedication to Copeland and the Hurrah Players was evident after the show. Once the final bows were taken, the cast made their way quickly outside to greet the audience as they left the theater.

While young children eagerly approached the actors, asking for autographs and having numerous photos taken, Copeland was in the background, greeting the adults; the parents, grandparents and arts patrons. Many of these people are fans, and some are past participants in Hurrah's efforts.

Copeland and his cast were beaming after a job well done. They were the center of attention because they had just given fans two-hours of joy. And many of the fans will return again and again, for other performances, because they not only love theater, they seem to love Copeland.

"I'm surrounded by people who care," he says.

Hurrah Players will perform "High School Musical" at Perquimans High School Friday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. For ticket information call 252-426-7567.