High School Musical is a 2006 American teen/children's romantic comedy musical television film and the first installment in the High School Musical trilogy. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and the feature film High School Musical 3: Senior Year released to theaters in October 2008. It is the first Disney Channel Original Movie to have a theatrical sequel. The film's soundtrack was the best-selling album in the United States for 2006.
High School Musical was Disney Channel's most watched film that year with 7.7 million viewers in its premiere broadcast in the US, until August's premiere of The Cheetah Girls 2, which achieved 8.1 million viewers. In the UK, it received 789,000 viewers for its premiere (and 1.2 million viewers overall during the first week), making it the second most watched program for the Disney Channel (UK) of 2006. On December 29, 2006, it became the first DCOM to be broadcast on the BBC. Globally, High School Musical has been seen by over 225 million viewers.
With a plot described by the author and numerous critics as a modern adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, High School Musical is a story about two high school juniors from rival cliques – Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens), a shy transfer student who excels in mathematics and science. Together, they try out for the lead parts in their high school musical, and as a result, divide the school. Despite other students' attempts to thwart their dreams, Troy and Gabriella resist peer pressure and rivalry, inspiring others along the way not to "stick to the status quo". High school diva Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) will do anything to sabotage the friendship between Troy and Gabriella and also get a lead in the school musical, assisted by her brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel).
High School Musical was filmed at East High School located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the auditorium of Murray High School, and Downtown Salt Lake City. Murray High School was also the set of several other Disney productions: Take Down (1978), Read It and Weep (2006), Minutemen (2008) and High School Musical: Get in the Picture (2008).
^ Disney hits high note with the tweenagers - Industry sectors - Times Online
^ Maling, Michel Yvonne. "Disney’s High School Musical is a Smash Hit". Retrieved August 11, 2012. "In January 2006, Disney released High School Musical 1 and it ended up proving to be their most popular and successful movie ever made."
^ Nielsens ratings for January 28 – February 3 – USATODAY.com
^ High School Musical 101 (Slideshow) – FamilyEducation.com
^ Hetrick, Adam (April 9, 2008). "Bet On It: Disney Plans Fourth "High School Musical"". Playbill. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
^ Market Data for 2006 | LinuxElectrons
^ Keveney, Bill (August 13, 2007). "Can 'High School Musical' do it again?". USA Today. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
^ Maling, Michel Yvonne. "Disney's High School Musical is a Smash Hit". Retrieved August 11, 2012. "It was the most watched film that year, and in December of 2006 it became the first Disney Channel Original Movie to be broadcast on BBC."
^ Maling, Michel Yvonne. "Disney's High School Musical is a Smash Hit". Retrieved August 11, 2012. "More than 225 million viewers have watched this smash hit globally."
^ "DisneyChannelFacts". Disney Channel. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
^ Disney scores kid points with 'High School Musical'; Nerdy "Romeo and Juliet" a hit for Disney – Reuters 5/22/06 – MiceChat; Talkin' Broadway Regional News & Reviews – "High School Musical on Tour" – 8/4/07; DVD Review: High School Musical (Two-Disc Remix Edition) – DVD; What Is 'High School Musical,' Anyway? – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News|MTV News
^ 'High School Musical 2' debuts Friday as Disney's pop-culture phenomenon fuels a cottage industry;Bloomberg.com: Exclusive;High School Musical plants its upbeat message onstage – CBC Arts | Theatre
^ Deseret Morning News | Disney moment for Murray, Highland
^ ksl.com – ‘High School Musical' reality show wraps up filmingSynopsis
On New Year's Eve, juniors Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) and Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) meet at a party while both teens are at a ski lodge during winter break. At the party, the two are called upon to sing karaoke together ("Start of Something New"). They seem to be attracted to each other, and exchange numbers before going their separate ways.
Actors