Back to East High: Revisiting the Cast of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL- Where Are They Now?
By: Nicole Rosky Mar. 28, 2015
It's been almost ten years since the Wildcats first crowded the halls of East High School, singing of a new start, the status quo, and of course, the big game. The first of three HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL movies debuted on January 20, 2006, quickly becoming the most successful Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced. Launching the careers of a then-unknown set of teenagers, lots has happened to the cast since the last film wrapped in 2008.
Much of the cast has continued in the musical tradition of the trilogy, taking on various roles in other musicals on stage and screen. Later this Spring, Vanessa Hudgens will become the second of the group to make her Broadway debut, as the title character in Gigi. In honor of her big debut, BroadwayWorld is recapping you on what's been up with the rest of the gang since Senior Year!
His Character: Troy Bolton, the most popular boy in school and the captain of the varsity basketball team
Trilogy Highlights: "Get'cha Head in the Game," "Breaking Free," "Bet On It," "Everyday," "The Boys Are Back," "Scream"
Since HSM: Not long after wrapping up HSM, Efron's big screen career kicked into full gear. In addition to starring in such films as 17 Again, Me and Orson Welles, Charlie St. Cloud, New Year's Eve, The Lucky One, Liberal Arts, The Paperboy, That Awkward Moment, Neighbors, and The Lorax, Efron played 'Link Larkin' in the 2007 film version of Hairspray. Efron has been featured on People Magazine's Most Beautiful List, and hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live in 2009. Upcoming big screen projects include: We Are Your Friends, Dirty Grandpa, and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.
Her Character: Gabriella Montez, the new girl at school and one of the brainiacs on the scholastic decathlon team
Trilogy Highlights: "Start of Something New," "When There Was Me and You," "Gotta Go My Own Way," "You Are the Music in Me," "Walk Away," "Right Here, Right Now"
Since HSM: In 2009, Hudgens earned critical acclaim for her role in the film Bandslam. She has also appeared in the film Journey 2: The Mysterious Island alongside Dwayne Johnson and Josh Hutcherson. She later appeared in the film Spring Breakers (2013), alongside Selena Gomez. Hudgens also appeared in the film Machete Kills, directed by Robert Rodriguez. She'll soon return to the big screen in Robbie Pickering's Kitchen Sink. This spring, she'll make her Broadway debut, playing the title role in Gigi, currently in previews at the Neil Simon Theatre. Hudgens is confirmed to star as 'Rizzo' in FOX's upcoming live special of Grease.
Her Character: Sharpay Evans, the school drama queen, who enjoys being the centre of attention
Trilogy Highlights: "What I've Been Looking For," "Bop to the Top," "Fabulous," "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a," "I Want It All"
Since HSM: After the three HSM films Tisdale led the spin-off movie, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure (2011). Her debut album, Headstrong (2007), was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, and two years later, Tisdale released her second studio album, Guilty Pleasure. Her other roles have included Savannah Monroe in The CW's television drama series Hellcats (2010-11), Jody Sanders in Scary Movie 5 (2013) and the title character of Hub Network's animated series Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch (2013-present), for which she received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2014. She began working as the executive producer on films and television series including the ABC Family television film Picture This (2008), the unscripted series Miss Advised (2013), and the comedy series Young & Hungry (2014).
His Character: Ryan Evans, the twin brother of Sharpay, who is very easily pushed around by his sister
Trilogy Highlights: "What I've Been Looking For," "Bop to the Top," "I Don't Dance," "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a," "I Want It All"
Since HSM: Grabeel has made television guest appearances in TV series such as Boston Legal, 'Til Death, Veronica Mars and Smallville, where he portrayed a young Lex Luthor in 2006 and reprised the role as a clone of Lex Luthor in the series' 10th season In 2011. In 2007, he filmed the movie, The Adventures of Food Boy with Brittany Curran, as the lead Ezra. In 2008, he also appeared in the movie Milk, a biopic about the slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk. In May 2009 he portrayed the role on stage of Matt in the Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones musical, The Fantasticks with Eric McCormack and Harry Groener at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Since the summer of 2011, Grabeel has been starring in the ABC Family drama Switched at Birth, in which he plays the brother of one of the two girls that were mistakenly switched at birth in the hospital.
His Character: Chad Danforth, the best friend and right hand man of Troy
Trilogy Highlights: "I Don't Dance," "Work This Out," "The Boys Are Back"
Since HSM: Bleu has guest-starred on Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family, Malcolm & Eddie, and The Good Wife. He appeared on the show Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, and the movie Free Style (2008). In 2009 he was cast as up-and-coming model Isaac Taylor in The CW Television Network drama The Beautiful Life: TBL. He has also pursued a music career, and released his debut album Another Side on May 1, 2007, which included the single "Push It to the Limit". The album debuted at number thirty-six on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 18,000 copies in its first week. Bleu made his Broadway debut as 'Usnavi' in In the Heights. Bleu took on the role of 'Jesus' in the Broadway revival of Godspell in 2012. In 2013, he partnered with Karina Smirnoff on ABC's Dancing with the Stars and came in second place.
Her Character: Taylor McKessie, the best friend of Gabriella and captain of the school's scholastic decathlon team
Since HSM: Coleman voiced the character Fontasia on the Fox animated series The Cleveland Show, starring Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long. She also made a guest appearance on the TV series Bones. Most recently, Coleman was named the first ever UN Youth Champion for the International Year of Youth and is currently on a world tour to raise awareness of challenges facing youth. Coleman launched her online talk show Gimme Mo', a show dedicated to empowering today's youth on September 8, 2010.
Her Character: Kelsi Nielsen, the very shy pianist and composer of the school musical
Movie Highlights: "Just Wanna Be with You," "A Night to Remember"
Since HSM: Rulin is also co-starred alongside Jessica Simpson in the film Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous. In 2009, Rulin co-starred with Billy Ray Cyrus and Heather Locklear in a drama film Flying By. In 2013, she starred in Family Weekend with Kristin Chenoweth and Matthew Modine.
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