It all started back in 2006 when two strangers ended up on stage together to sing the first song of many in a trio of amazing movies. For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, here are the answers: Troy and Gabriella, “Start of Something New,” "High School Musical." From the empowering Breaking Free to the heartbreaking Gotta Go My Own Way down to the adorable Just Wanna Be With You, the cast of HSM stole the show (pun was definitely needed) through the entirety of the series.
Troy Bolton, Gabriella Montez, and Sharpay Evans may only be fictional characters, but their spirits live on. Where is the cast of HSM now? Some have gone obsolete and others have been soaking up the limelight. Let me fill you in on what these East High alumni have been up to since HSM3: Senior Year in 2008…
Monique Coleman: Taylor McKessie, math genius who later dated Chad Danforth, has become obsolete since the HSM trilogy. I’m slightly disappointed in Coleman for not channeling for inner Taylor McKessie and striving to go above and beyond her limits. We all have our reasons to our actions, and her story is all hers. She did get married in 2012 in Thailand. She may not have done much, but she did find love.
Corbin Bleu: Chad Danforth, the dumb jock who is set in his jock ways. Bleu starred in the Broadway play In The Heights, appeared in a few horror films, guest-starred in many different TV shows, and starred in many different films, including the drama To Write Love On Her Arms. He was also a contestant on Dancing With The Stars in 2013. It’s safe to say Bleu has kept himself busy since his HSM days. He may not be in the limelight, but he’s on the outskirts, which seems to be the safest place to be. He also got married in 2016 to actress Sasha Clements.
Lucas Grabeel: The so-nerdy-he’s-cute Ryan Evans made everyone smile with his innocent and sweet personality in HSM. Since then, he has starred in the movie Milk and the TV show Switched At Birth. He’s kept a fairly low profile. Recently, he and Ashely Tisdale, who played his twin Sharpay Evans, reunited to sing one of their old HSM songs, What I’ve Been Looking For. It’s the cutest video ever, it made my heart so happy. They released the video ten years after they had first sang the song together – this made me so nostalgic. Click here to experience the magic.
Ashley Tisdale: I follow ex-Sharpay Evans, queen bee of East High, on Snapchat so I see parts of her life. Like her date nights with her husband and her fluffy white cotton ball dog named Maui, which is just so Sharpay. Tisdale has been one of the busiest since HSM—she was the voice of Candace in the kids show Phineas and Ferb, starred in TV show The Suite Life on Deck as Maddie Fitzpatrick, and starred in various TV series like Clipped and Young & Hungry. She got married in 2014 to composer Christopher French. Beyond acting, she’s created her own make-up line, Illuminate, and has designed clothes for her line, Signorelli (Sharpay would be proud).
Vanessa Hudgens: The sweet, pretty, and perfect Gabriella Montez. In real life, Hudgens seems like all of those things. I follow her on Instagram and see how she absolutely slays at Coachella, and just life in general. I also love that her and Tisdale her still friends and hang out—Gabriella and Sharpay would be so happy. In 2010, she and Zac Efron broke up—and my world fell apart. It was that dramatic. She’s been dating actor Austin Butler since 2011. Hudgens has starred in a variety of movies since HSM, including Beastly, Sucker Punch, and Spring Breakers. She starred as Rizzo in the re-make of Grease Live! in 2016. Currently, she stars in the TV series Powerless. I thought she had given up on music for good until she recently released a single with Shawn Hook titled “Reminding Me.” Fingers crossed for me—Gabriella would be thrilled (and so would I).
Zac Efron: The gorgeous and charming Troy Bolton. In the years since HSM, Efron has only become more gorgeous and charming. He’s been the busiest since HSM, by far. He’s taken a few turns down some dark paths but seems to have found some level ground. He’s starred in countless movies since HSM, most of which are known by just about everyone (and I’m not just saying that because I love him). From 17 Again to Neighbors to Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, he has never failed to make me laugh, smile, and drool. If you haven’t seen Baywatch yet, go.
