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Disney’s “High School Musical” will have its 10-year reunion this Wednesday
What time is it?
Apparently, it’s time for the 10-year reunion of the Wildcats!
It has been 10 years since the first time we saw the musically talented high schoolers of East High School and Disney Channel will be celebrating the occasion with a TV special. It will air as part of a special presentation of High School Musical this Wednesday, January 20 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT exclusively on Disney Channel.
Most of the major stars will be in it including Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman. Zac Efron will not be able to join in-person with the rest of the cast, but will join in via pre-taped message.
“Seeing the cast of High School Musical back together again reaffirms what made it special 10 years ago,” said Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide. “It’s their optimism, their dedication and their extraordinary talent—as a group—that made this such an exceptional movie and cultural phenomenon. Ten years later, the movie continues to delight audiences around the globe, not just for its memorable song and dance numbers, but for its universal themes that continue to resonate with fans everywhere – express yourself, believe in yourself and always follow your dreams.”
Just in case you don’t know what HSM is, here’s the official synopsis:
High School Musical, a contemporary “break into song” production, tells the story of two high school students, Troy, a popular basketball player, and Gabriella, a shy, brainy newcomer, who share a secret passion for singing. When these two seemingly polar opposites decide to join forces and go out for the lead roles in the school musical, it wreaks havoc on East High’s rigid social order. In a desperate effort to maintain the status quo, the school’s various cliques conspire to separate the pair and keep them from performing. But by defying expectations and pursuing their dreams, Troy and Gabriella inspire other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own.
* * *
The popularity of High School Musical and its sequels have very much continued to entertain young audiences around the world. The now iconic Disney Channel Original Movie premiered January 20, 2006, delivering 7.7 million total viewers in the U.S. according to the official statistic from The Walt Disney Company. At the time, it gained the highest ratings for any telecast ever on Disney Channel. Additionally, it reached over 100 million unduplicated viewers globally and even broke new ground as the first-ever TV movie soundtrack to reach #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. It went on to become the #1 album of 2006 as well as the #1 soundtrack and #1 Kids’ album of that year.
The original film also won received two Emmy Awards, the Television Critics Association Award, an Imagen Award (recognizing the positive portrayal of Latinos in entertainment media), a Billboard Music Award for Soundtrack of the Year, an American Music Award and a Producer’s Guild of America Award. Director Kenny Ortega received a career achievement honor from the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, an Imagen Award, a Diversity Award from the Multicultural Motion Picture Association, an ALMA Award and two Director’s Guild of America (DGA) Awards for the movie.
Popularity for the franchise also grew thanks to Disney Theatrical Productions licensing the script for local student theatre productions. In its first 15 months (2006-07), an estimated 2000 middle and high schools produced a licensed amateur stage production of High School Musical and a related gran program from Disney and NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation that encouraged more kids to get involved in music and the arts.
Internally, Disney didn’t delay from translating the movie into more products across the Company. The movie also inspired professional touring stage productions High School Musical: The Ice Tour produced by Feld Entertainment, Kenny Ortega and Disney Theatrical Productions, a best-selling junior novel, consumer products, a themed show at Disneyland Parks and Resorts in Anaheim, Orlando and Paris, and a sold-out, 52-date arena concert tour in North America and Latin America.
While no fourth film is planned, you can bet on the fact that the film and its characters will continue to delight high schoolers and everyone in between for generations to come.
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