By Luke Brierley

*High School Musical Play Research

High School Musical is a 2006 American teen/children's romantic comedy musical television film and the first instalment 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 theatres 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.It was written by Peter Barsocchini and had music by David Nessim Lawrence.

SynopsisOn New Year's Eve, sophomores Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez 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.

After Christmas break, Troy sees Gabriella in his homeroom, and she explains that she just moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico and transferred to East High School over break. Troy shows Gabriella around the school, and they pause in front of the sign-up sheet for the winter musical auditions. Drama Club president Sharpay Evans arrives, assuming that Gabriella is interested in auditioning. Wanting to eliminate competition, Sharpay investigates the new girl and has the scholastic decathlon captain, Taylor McKessie, find out about Gabriella's past academic achievements, resulting with Taylor and Gabriella becoming great friends.

During basketball practice, Troy has trouble focusing because his thoughts are on Gabriella and the idea that he might enjoy singing more ("Get'cha Head in the Game"). Gabriella and Troy both go to the musical auditions where Sharpay and her twin brother Ryan perform ("What I've Been Looking For") but both are too shy to audition. When Gabriella finally gains the confidence to step forward, Troy offers to sing with her, but Ms. Darbus tells them that they are too late. After Ms. Darbus attempts to leave, Kelsi Nielson, the musical's composer, trips and drops her things. Troy and Gabriella rush to help her, and they sing together as Kelsi plays piano ("What I've Been Looking For (Reprise)"). Ms. Darbus overhears them and gives them a callback audition.

When the callback list is posted, Sharpay discovers that she has competition for the lead in the musical, and the rest of the Wildcats are shocked that Troy and Gabriella have auditioned for a musical. Other students confess their own secret passions and talents ("Stick to the Status Quo"), alarming both Taylor and Troy's best friend Chad Danforth. Since Gabriella has agreed to join the scholastic decathlon team, both Taylor and Chad want their teammates to focus on their upcoming competitions rather than the musical. Troy is tricked into saying that Gabriella is not important while she watches through a wi-fi link that the scholastic decathlon team has set up. Gabriella goes into depression ("When There Was Me and You") and decides not to audition for the musical. Troy is left confused as to why Gabriella did not want to audition anymore. Realizing their mistake, Chad and the basketball team tell Troy what happened and offer to support him in callbacks. Troy goes to Gabriella's house and they reconcile.

After overhearing Gabriella and Troy practicing, Sharpay has Ms. Darbus change the callback time to coincide with both the basketball championship and the scholastic decathlon to interfere with Gabriella and Troy's participation. Kelsi overhears the conversation and the basketball team and the decathlon team work together to come up with a plan. On the day of the competitions, Taylor and Gabriella use the school's computers to delay the championship and the decathlon. Troy and Gabriella rush to the auditorium, and Sharpay and Ryan finish performing their song ("Bop to the Top"), confident that their plan worked. After Gabriella and Troy audition ("Breaking Free"), Ms. Darbus gives the two the lead roles, making Sharpay and Ryan understudies. Troy and Gabriella both win their respective competitions, and the entire school gathers in the gym to celebrate ("We're All In This Together").

In a post-credits scene, Zeke paces alone in the gym as Sharpay runs in declaring the cookies she rejected from him earlier "genius". She then hugs him and he says he will make her a crème brûlée.

Character Analysis

Zac Efron as Troy Bolton, the most popular male student at East High School, and the captain of the varsity basketball team. On New Year's Eve, after singing with Gabriella, he finds himself having a crush on her.

Vanessa Anne Hudgens as Gabriella Montez, a new student and one of the brainiacs on the scholastic decathlon team. She develops a love for Troy.

Ashley Tisdale as Sharpay Evans, an energetic student with a love of theatre. Enjoys being the centre of attention, particularly Troy's.

Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans, Sharpay's twin brother.

Corbin Bleu as Chad Danforth, Troy's best friend, and is very good friends with Jason and Zeke.

Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie, Gabriella's best friend. She is captain of the school's scholastic decathlon team.

Bart Johnson as Jack Bolton, Troy's father and the coach of the basketball team.

Alyson Reed as Ms. Darbus, the stern drama teacher at East High. She despises sports and cell phones but takes her job very seriously.

Olesya Rulin as Kelsi Nielsen, a student at East High. She is a pianist and composer.

Chris Warren Jr. as Zeke Baylor, a friend of Troy and Chad, and plays for the basketball team. He also enjoys baking and is an admirer of Sharpay.

Ryne Sanborn as Jason Cross, a friend of Troy and Chad, and plays for the basketball team. He also tends to ask mundane questions in class.

Kaycee Stroh as Martha Cox, a peppy brainiac who enjoys hip-hop. She is good friends with Gabriella, Taylor, and Kelsi.

Troy Gabriella

Musical Numbers

Song Chiefly Sung By

Other Singers

Scene

Start of Something New

Troy and Gabriella

None Mountain Ski Resort

Get’cha Head in the Game

Troy Basketball Players

East High's Gym

What I’ve Been Looking For

Ryan and Sharpay

None East High's Auditorium

What I’ve Been Looking For(reprise)

Troy and Gabriella

None East High's Auditorium

Stick to the Status Quo

Sharpay, Ryan, Zeke, Martha, Skater Dude

Jocks, Brainiacs, Skater Dudes, Wildcats

East High's Cafeteria

When There Was Me & You

Gabriella None East High's Science Lab, Hallways and Corridors

Bop to the Top Sharpay and Ryan

None East High's Auditorium

Breaking Free Troy and Gabriella

None East High's Auditorium

We’re All in This Together

Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay

Wildcats East High's Gym

Contextual UnderstandingSocial

The play is written and set in modern day and has lots of the different social issues of today, including lots of different social cliques of a typical American school where popularity is seen as one of the most important things.

HistoricalThe play is set in the present day in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Most characters within the play are modern and middle class.

GeographicalHigh School Musical is set in East High School, Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is also one of the largest school districts in the nation, as it provides educational services to over 87,000 kids across the city.

My Ideas

*I could build the set for the basketball court.

*I would achieve this by asking to borrow a basketball hoop from the sports department in college, or finding one online. I could also use coloured gaffer tape to mark out the edges of the court.