High School Musical Celebrates Ten Years

Can I just say on the record that the head-line alone leaves my jaw hanging wide open. I mean, how has it been ten years? It doesn’t feel like it could have possibly been a decade already.

Ten (short) years ago, a new Disney Channel original movie was slated to arrive on the network on the twentieth of January, the title was none other than High School Musical. The early trailers for the film where well, rather discrete and only offered small snippets of what viewers could expect from the film. Yet it was enough to get audiences both excited and ready to tune in on the winter night.

The story follows that of Troy Bolton, East High School’s star basket-ball star and Gabriella Montez, the new transfer student that is extremely academically gifted. As different as they two are Troy and Gabriella encounter one another during a somewhat forced participation of karaoke contest during their winter break vacation. More than mere lyrics are shared between the two. Not that it matters as it appears unlikely that their paths might ever cross again.

But, as we all know, fate is such a funny thing.

A week later Troy and Gabriella meet- this time at East High School, where Gabrielle explains that she had just moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. A fact that proves a lot of glee from Troy who offers to show her around the school, but said time the two come across the sign-up sheets for the auditions of the school’s upcoming winter musical.

Yet this does not go unnoticed by the likes of Sharpay Evans, the drama club president that has feelings of her own for the basketball star. Determined to keep any unwanted compilation, or shift in the schools’ status quo, Sharpay, with the aid of her brother Ryan, digs into Gabriella’s past and learn of her academic achievements. Information she passes on to the scholastic decathlon captain Taylor, whom aims to get Gabriella to join them. An offer she does accept.

Yet as things get back into the normal grove of life, and Gabriella starts to settle into the new school, the idea of singing together once more lingers in both of their minds and results into them receiving a call-back audition.

As harmless as musical theater is, the news is far from well received from their fellow students who find themselves conflicted over the affair, and even if they themselves should stick to how things are. This sudden bust of secrets and other sides of selves leaves some less pleased than others as they plan to put an end to it all- including halting the budding romance between Troy and Gabriella.

There is no questioning the fact that High School Musial is a prime example of a coming-of-age story, perhaps even one of the more notable ones within the past decade. Much of the main source of conflict that drives both the plot and the characters (as well as their development) is the idea of fitting into one specific mold- being who, and what everyone seems to think you are and expect.

With that, the very clear heart and the still stuck in my head a decade later soundtrack are enough explanation of why High School Musical became such a hit and launched a massive franchise with two additional films. But it is, in fact somewhat cheesy.

I still can remember perfectly well how wide-spread High School Musical was and just how much merchandise and goods there was for the series. I really should know because I was quite the fan and at one point my bed-room looked like it threw-up HSM.  And yes, I am somewhat mildly ashamed to admit that. It seemed liked no matter what direction you looked or who you spoke with they somehow knew about the film.

Fast-forward and here we are, celebrating ten years of what become such a massive thing for so many fans. I cannot wrap my mind around it no matter how much I look back at everything I have written; ten years.

To celebrate what started such a mind-blowingly large affair Disney Channel is airing a ten year celebration special on High School Musical’s anniversary, January twentieth and eight pm. ET/PT, with the cast of the film.

So, if you have not seen High School Musical or just want to walk down memory lane some be sure to take advantage of the celebration and watch the movie that started it all. Who knows, a week from now we might see a press release about a fourth installment. Never know what will happen next.

Join the conversation: If you have seen High School Musical what are your memories from it?