One of the best aspects of Disney's Hollywood Studios is the park's adaptability, allowing it to showcase some of the newest Disney movie and television properties. This is often accomplished through entertainment offerings. A great example is the High School Musical phenomenon.
The first High School Musical debuted in 2006 as a Disney Channel Original Movie. The movie became such a hit, it was inevitable that it would be represented in the Disney Parks. After a short stint in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom, an all new High School Musical Pep Rally hit the streets of the Studios and Disney's California Adventure in January 2007. Parading in to "Bop to the Top," the show brought the energy and spirit of the East High Wildcats to the heart of the park.
In High School Musical Pep Rally, the Cast was costumed as students, representing the diversity of the school population. The mobile stage used for the show was designed to look like a school gymnasium, complete with bleacher-type risers and a basketball hoop.
High School Musical 2 premiered on Disney Channel in August 2007, drawing a record audience. A month later, the answer to the musical question "What Time Is It?" came with the Disney Parks debut of High School Musical 2: School's Out. The performance float was re-dressed and the Cast provided with new props and costumes, setting this version of the show at the movie's Lava Springs Country Club, where the students all had summer jobs.
In October 2008, High School Musical 3: Senior Year graduated from the small screen to the silver screen and brought yet another change to the theme park presentation. This time, High School Musical 3: Senior Year - Right Here! Right Now! was staged as a high-energy rock concert of some of the best songs from the film.
The stage was made over with new finishes and colors, giving it a sleek and contemporary look. Speaker towers and strobes were added to further enhance the "concert" story, and the Cast's wardrobe got a style upgrade.
Through all the changes, one of the hallmarks of the High School Musical shows has been the interaction with the audience. From learning the Wildcat moves in Pep Rally to earning Star Dazzle awards in School's Out, the Cast has always gotten tremendous enjoyment out of bringing their Guests center stage and making them a part of the show.
High School Musical and its themes of "Be Yourself" and "We're All in This Together" resonate with Guests from every generation and background. Nothing is more heartwarming than scanning the audience at any given performance and seeing a dad form W-I-L-D with his arms or watching a young girl in a wheelchair mouth the words to every song.
Even my little boys, who are all about Star Wars and Indiana Jones, love to catch the show and wear their Troy Bolton outfits with the hope that they might get picked to go out and dance with a pretty girl at the prom during "A Night to Remember."
Disney Channel is now in pre-production on High School Musical 4, set to reboot the franchise with a new Cast and a story involving a rivalry between the East High Wildcats and the West High Knights. How the film might come to life in the parks remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. It will continue the grand tradition of keeping Disney's Hollywood Studios fresh and relevant with the latest in Disney entertainment.
