High School Musical 3 Senior Year Interview The Story Continues

The wait is over.... High School Musical 3 Senior is almost here, starring Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman and plus many more favourites.

so what will our favourite characters; Troy Bolton, Gabriella Montez, Sharpay Evans, Ryan Evans, Chad Danforth, Taylor McKessie, Kelsi Nielsen & Zeke Baylor get up to in their Senior Year.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR

Disney's "High School Musical" phenomenon leaps onto the big screen in "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," in which the world's favorite high school students (ZAC EFRON, VANESSA HUDGENS, ASHLEY TISDALE, LUCAS GRABEEL, CORBIN BLEU and MONIQUE COLEMAN) hit senior year. Amidst a basketball championship, prom and a big spring musical featuring all of the Wildcats, Troy and Gabriella vow to make every moment last as their lifelong college dreams put the future of their relationship in question. A crew of sophomore Wildcats (MATT PROKOP, JUSTIN MARTIN, JEMMA MCKENZIE-BROWN) joins in the fun as the film's incredible new music and exciting dance numbers take maximum advantage of the big screen.

Other actors reprising their roles from the first two Disney Channel movies include OLESYA RULIN, CHRIS WARREN JR., RYNE SANBORN, KAYCEE STROH, BART JOHNSON and ALYSON REED.

Walt Disney Pictures presents "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," directed and choreographed by Emmy Award®-winning Kenny Ortega. Ortega, who helmed the first two films for Disney Channel, also adds new duties as executive producer. "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" is produced by Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush; Don Schain serves as coproducer.

Peter Barsocchini, veteran HSM writer, penned the screenplay.

SENIORS' STORY

Growing Up... and Making Choices

Bringing "HSM" from Disney Channel to a feature film was a dream-come-true for Ortega. "I've always wanted to direct a musical for the big screen."

So when it came time to continue the Wildcats' story in a big-screen format, Ortega was ready. "The first thing out of Kenny Ortega's mouth was 'I don't want to remake the first two movies. I want to be true to the 'High School Musical' feeling, but I want to let these kids grow up,'" remembers Barsocchini. "They're high school seniors, so let's give them the pressures that high school seniors have about prom, finals, graduation and going away. There's a balance- we're making musical comedy but we want to try and base it in some emotional reality."

Ortega revels in being a part of a creative endeavor. "Peter has given us a wonderful blueprint and has been there with me all along in the development of the song placement," he says. "We were able to do workshops with the actors and throw some improvs out there. The last drafts of this script were actually done in the company of all the actors and dancers in the rehearsal studio."

Adds Borden, "Even though 'HSM3' is a big-screen feature film, we wanted to make sure it came out of the same world and has the same feeling as the first two."

The filmmakers admit that a major motion picture's screen size and production crew did allow them to up the ante. "'High School Musical 3' features bigger musical numbers with more difficult choreography and more dancers, more elaborate sets with more complicated lighting and sound, and more detailed and fabulous costumes," says Ortega.

CASTING

Old Favorites, New Favorites

Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman return to the roles they created in the international smash hit "High School Musical" and the record-breaking "High School Musical 2," that catapulted them to the center of the worldwide "HSM" phenomenon.

"One of the untold stories of the 'High School Musical' franchise is how talented the cast really is," says Barsocchini. "Yes, they've all become teen idols. But they're good young actors. Our principal cast has molded those characters into something that kids love. That's the secret."

Ortega adds, "The chemistry the kids have with each other elevates it and makes it something more than just telling a fun story. They are the most generous lot you could ever hope to work with. They really come to work with the right things on their minds."

SENIORS' STORY

Everyone's favorite high school sweethearts Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez-played by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens-still front the troupe.

"I'm very excited for 'High School Musical 3' to be on the big screen," says Zac Efron. "This is what we've been waiting for, what we've been working towards, and it feels great because I feel like we earned it. We're just regular kids that made 'High School Musical' and now it's progressing."

Zac Efron has grown up with his character. "Troy is a lot of different things," he says. "He's a very average kid going through high school, dealing with everyday choices. But the fun thing about him is that he's got these hidden talents. So Troy's got a lot to balance: his basketball career, his newfound love of singing, and then of course, Gabriella. What'll happen to them after high school? You don't know. It's like typical high school drama that we get to sing about."

According to writer Peter Barsocchini, the Troy Bolton character was inspired by the great Pittsburgh Steelers football player Lynn Swan. Barsocchini went to high school with Swan; they played on the same basketball team. "One day we were riding on a bus to a game and he said 'You know, I'd really like to try ballet,'" says Barsocchini. "There's the character. There's so much pressure on kids to be cool that it's tough to do something different."

Adds co-producer Don Schain, "One of the big lessons from the first movie is to break stereotypes. The power forward wants to be a pastry chef. The star basketball player wants to be a thespian. The message to children is that you can be whatever you want to be."

"Troy Bolton has always planned to go to the local university with his best friend Chad," explains Borden. "Now, because of his relationship with Gabriella and his relationship with the stage, he has some choices to make."

But Zac Efron's character isn't the only one with choices, says the producer. "Vanessa's character is given a choice to go away to an early acceptance program at Stanford University."

Adds Vanessa Hudgens, "Gabriella has always been ruled by her head. In this movie, you see her kind of being torn by her heart and her head-making tough decisions, trying to figure out what to do with friends, family, relationships, school."

Ortega appreciates Vanessa Hudgens' unique blend of talents. "She continues to amaze me in the way that she grows as an actress. This girl can dance. This girl can sing. This girl can act. She's funny, she's everything. She's a real leading lady."

"Shooting 'High School Musical 3' has been the most fun I've had on any of the movies," says Vanessa Hudgens. "We're all close now and we got to be with each other every day, working, goofing off and just being kids."

Vanessa Hudgens says she was home schooled, experiencing many of the typical high school experiences through "HSM." "I've never been to a prom, so through this movie I got to experience my prom. I never went to my graduation, but I got to wear a cap and gown."

Ashley Tisdale returns to her signature role as Sharpay Evans. "Sharpay is a character who the world loves," says Barsocchini. "There's a part of every kid who would like to be Sharpay. She's a mean girl with a heart of gold-sort of. The name Sharpay actually comes from a dog who bit me."

"She is obviously the diva," says Ashley Tisdale. "You love to hate her. Sharpay's the one who stirs the pot. But, I think deep down-really, really, really, really deep down-she's probably really sweet. Probably."

"Ashley's my girl," says Ortega. "She's just one in a million. I think Ashley is a classic in the making. I think she can deliver on many, many levels. She's just a fun spirit."

In the story, Sharpay, Ryan, Kelsi and a surprised Troy are up for one prestigious Juilliard scholarship. "Of course, Sharpay wants to get that scholarship and does everything she can to eliminate the competition," explains Borden.

Lucas Grabeel reprised his role as Sharpay's enigmatic brother Ryan Evans. "He's a show-stealer," says Ortega of Grabeel's character. "It's always been Sharpay's show and in this film, Ryan explodes onto the screen. Ryan really blossoms and you get a greater sense of him than ever before."

According to Lucas Grabeel, his onscreen brother-sister relationship has become an off-screen reality.

"We're a true brother and sister duo and it's been great to have that. There's an energy between us, we bounce off each other really well."

"Lucas is absolutely wonderful, a great all-around actor, dancer and singer," says Borden. "He's created a character that is nothing like him in real life. Lucas is gentle, laid back and a really sweet guy. On screen, he's hysterical."

Adds Ortega, "He's a wonderful improvisational actor as well as a wonderful studied actor and technician. He has some great dance numbers in 'HSM3' and he takes it to the edge."

Corbin Bleu brings his character's love of basketball to the big screen. "Chad's a typical jock," says Bleu. "He lives, eats and breathes basketball. He loves being around his friends, he loves being around Troy, and he has a nice girlfriend in Taylor."

"Chad Danforth is a character I am very close to as a writer, because I grew up in a gym," says Barsocchini. "I spent countless hours in smelly gym socks shooting baskets. Chad is not a conflicted character. He's a guy who loves playing basketball and he wants to play in college."

According to Barsocchini, Chad's dilemma comes when Troy Bolton begins to question his own future. "Chad's defined his own life by his experience with his best friend."

Adds Cordin Bleu, "This movie explores friendship and camaraderie, the bond that's been built between these two brothers and how it's changing. It's the joy in seeing a friend move on and do what he wants to do, and at the same time the sadness of losing a partner."

Borden credits the actor. "Corbin is an amazing athletic dancer. He's also a great actor."

Adds Ortega, "He prides himself on being prepared. Corbin works as hard as anybody I've ever known. He'll take one step and he'll just drill it until he feels absolutely 100 percent about it. Corbin came up with the idea of Chad walking around with a basketball under his arm. He slept with that basketball. He didn't let that basketball out of his sight until he felt that he owned it."

Monique Coleman returns as Taylor McKessie. "For 'Senior Year,' Taylor has a lot more responsibility-student body president and yearbook editor-which I think is very fitting and a pretty natural progression for this character," says Monique Coleman. "She's really in her element. She has been ready to graduate since she started school; she's ready to run the world."

But in "HSM3," Monique Coleman's character adds girlfriend to her resume. "It's interesting because in the previous movies, Taylor has been strictly independent. It's great to see her enhanced by the fact that she just adores Chad Danforth," giggles Monique Coleman. "Still, I think that it's important for young girls to see a character whose strength isn't about her relationship with a boy."

Barsocchini says Taylor has always known what she wants and that doesn't change in "HSM3." "Taylor, like Chad, is not a conflicted character," says the writer. "She sees no boundaries to what she can achieve and she's willing to do the work. We've had thousands of letters from parents that say 'thank you' for having a character who does her homework. She's got her eye on the prize."

"I feel like what people see on-screen is magic and it comes from the fact that Kenny will not settle for just singing and dancing and acting," says Monique Coleman. "We are required to tell a story and be truthful about these kids' lives."

Ortega returns the compliment. "Monique is like the candle in the dark," he says. "She never lets us fail ourselves as a team, a family, a group, a posse, a franchise."

Actress Olesya Rulin once again brings to life Kelsi Nielsen, who is the composer of the Spring Musical called "Senior Year." Says Rulin, "For me, it's been a pleasure to see Kelsi change from the first movie, in which she's shy, very quiet and almost unnoticed-to the second movie, in which she's not only made friends, but she's a little bit more comfortable with herself. Now, in 'HSM3,' Kelsi's really come out of her shell."

Chris Warren Jr. and Ryne Sanborn return to leave their legacy as champion Wildcats basketball teammates Zeke Baylor and Jason Cross. "Zeke is still a jock who likes to bake and he's still in love with Sharpay," says Chris Warren Jr. In the story, Zeke gets to go to the prom with Sharpay, so Warren had to learn how to waltz with Ashley Tisdale-much to the delight of their castmates. Says Hudgens, "Ashley and Chris have this brother-sister, love-hate relationship and they mess around with each other. Watching them dancing together was hysterical, like an old married couple."

Chris Warren Jr. also developed a close sibling-like relationship with his basketball co-star Ryne Sanborn. "We became really good friends from the beginning because neither of us was a dancer. We both came from playing sports. We had to put in extra time rehearsing."

KayCee Stroh's pop-lock brainiac Martha Cox becomes a Wildcat cheerleader for the big screen. "I'm just so excited for Martha because throughout each movie, she's stepped out of her comfort zone a little bit more," says Stroh. "In the first, she's a shy little brainiac who secretly loves to dance. In the second, you see her coming out of her shell. Now, in the third she is head cheerleader. I feel it's a great message-if you want to step out of your box and change, you can."

Bart Johnson and Alyson Reed reprise their roles as Coach Jack Bolton and Ms. Darbus. Johnson enjoys the line his character has to walk. "It's an interesting dynamic that Coach Bolton has because he's not just a hardnosed coach and he's not just a loving dad. He's trying to balance between the two."

Alyson Reed is thrilled to be a part of the big screen extravaganza. "We have a full orchestra-a real youth orchestra. We also have a real youth choir singing," she says. "And it's all going to be 40 feet tall. It's unbelievable."

Also returning are Leslie Wing Pomeroy as Mrs. Bolton, Socorro Herrera as Mrs. Montez, Robert Curtis Brown and Jessica Tuck as Mr. and Mrs. Evans, and Joey Miyashima as school principal Matsui.

New Wildcats

Filmmakers cast Matt Prokop ("Hannah Montana," "The Office") as Jimmie 'the Rocket' Zara, Justin Martin (TV's "A Raisin in the Sun," "The Express," "Black Water Transit," "The Soloist") as Donny Dion, and British actress Jemma McKenzie-Brown ("The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard," "M.I. High") as Tiara Gold.

"To find the three new actors, we auditioned thousands of kids and it came down to 15 kids that we thought had star quality," explains Borden. "We brought them into a dance studio and had them sing, dance, play sports. In the end, the final three had some magic that we felt would transfer to the big screen."

Adds Ortega, "There's that certain kind of effervescence, energy and excitement, a chemistry that is underneath the words, the music, the dancing that some of these kids carry into the room with them. And you want to know them and spend time with them.

"From the first day they arrived, they came in ready and excited," continues Ortega. "I felt like we made really great choices. All of them come from good schooling and experience. In a matter of hours they were a part of the team."

"When we thought about introducing new characters, the one thing that we all said was we do not want to find the 'new Troy' or the 'new Taylor,'" says Borden. "We want to find new characters, we don't want to clone anyone. That isn't how school or life really is and that isn't how we want these actors to be perceived."

"Each new class is a new start," adds Rosenbush. "Each new adventure is your experience to understand and to learn and to exercise your talents and your aspirations. So by watching Matt, Justin and Jemma in these new character roles, we're going to see them find themselves. But they're still dealing in this magical world of East High."

"Jimmie 'the Rocket' Zara is your classic sophomore," says writer Barsochinni. "When you're that age, you think you rule the world. He's a young kid on the basketball team who really idolizes Troy Bolton. But on the other hand, sophomores think they're the coolest thing in the world. We wanted that kind of character at East High."

Actor Matt Prokop, 18, was thrilled to be cast as the rocker-wannabe. "It's a dream. I would have never thought in my life that I would be in a musical-I didn't sing and didn't dance before HSM3," he says. "It's kind of scary because everyone's heard of 'High School Musical' and now it's going to be in theatres."

Justin Martin was cast as Donny Dion, best friend to Jimmie and towel boy for the basketball team. Explains Borden, "Those two guys hang out and they're kind of like Abbott and Costello. They're an unlikely team, which is really fun."

Adds Barsocchini, "Of the pair, Donny Dion is the brains of the operation. Donny checks out the depth of the water before he jumps in the pool."

Justin Martin adds, "He's sort of a chill character. He balances out crazy Jimmie. He idolizes Troy and Chad and hopes to be like them, but also wants to get them out of the school so he and his partner-incrime Jimmie can take over."

Justin Martin's family shared in his excitement of being involved in the project. "I have an 8-year-old sister who thinks I'm the coolest brother ever," says Martin.

The search for the Tiara character took filmmakers across the pond to find Jemma McKenzie-Brown. "When we met Jemma, we thought this girl can do a lot of things," says Barsocchini. "She's got some sophisticated abilities. We knew we could give this character of Tiara more colors in the rainbow than we originally thought."

Adds Ortega, "Jemma's smart, sophisticated beyond her years and funny. She's effervescent and a ball of fun. She can sing. She can dance. I think she's got that thing that Ashley has."

"Tiara transfers to East High from England," explains Barsocchini. "She's a couple years younger than our principal characters and might have a couple surprises up her sleeve."

"She becomes Sharpay's personal assistant-her Mini-Me," adds Jemma McKenzie-Brown. "She looks up to Sharpay and sorts out her diva demands, but secretly, Tiara is conniving. She's the naughty one, Sharpay's a diva-together we're a nightmare."

The veteran cast members opened their arms to the new arrivals. "It's great having the new cast members," says Monique Coleman. "It totally parallels real high school."

LET THE MUSIC PLAY

A Big Screen Soundtrack for a Big Screen Story

Composer David Lawrence and music supervisor Steven Vincent continue the HSM tradition. The soundtrack for "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" features ten all-new songs penned by several of the hit songwriters/producers from past HSM smash records, including "Now or Never" (Matthew Gerrard/Robbie Nevil), "Right Here, Right Now" (Jamie Houston), "I Want It All" (Matthew Gerrard/Robbie Nevil), "Can I Have This Dance" (Adam Anders/Nikki Hassman), "A Night to Remember" (Matthew Gerrard/Robbie Nevil), "Just Wanna Be with You" (Andy Dodd/Adam Watts), "The Boys Are Back" (Matthew Gerrard/Robbie Nevil), "Walk Away" (Jamie Houston), "Scream" (Jamie Houston), and "High School Musical" (Matthew Gerrard/Robbie Nevil). Multiple reprises and medleys fill in the story about the spring musical called "Senior Year."

"The returning composers and lyricists and the new folks that have joined us on this venture have turned out a soundtrack that I think is the best of them all," says Ortega. "It serves the story. It serves the characters. It's dynamic, rhythmic, romantic, funny, orchestral, symphonic and choral. It gets as big as it can and as intimate as it can and everything in between."

"'Now or Never' opens the movie in a really brilliant way," says Ortega. "We get to see how Troy, through song and dance, is actually facing a dilemma in his life. He's a great singer and he wants to perform on stage, but he's also an all-star athlete. We get to show sports, we get to show dancing, we get to show great singing, and we get to combine it in a storytelling way so that we understand the dilemma going on in this boy's personal life."

Adds Corbin Bleu, "It is the very first musical number and it starts off in a very heated basketball game. The Wildcats are down at halftime. This is the last game that we'll ever play at East High."

The East High gym was filled with more than 2000 extras for the championship game. "The experience was completely surreal," says Efron. "It felt like a real game because we were playing against a real team and we had real plays set up. A lot of the basketball you see was just us playing. Every time you missed a shot everyone would boo! When you'd make a shot, even if it was just a lay-up, everyone would go crazy."

"'Right Here, Right Now" is Troy and Gabriella's duet in Troy's backyard treehouse. It's about them just enjoying being in the moment and the time that they have. I think all the girls out there are just going to die when they see this number. It's really magical," says Hudgens.

"Right Here, Right Now" was shot on location at the Bolton House and on a visual effects soundstage, both in Salt Lake City.

"'I Want It All' is Sharpay's version of how she sees the school in her fantasy world," says Ortega. "We're all blinged out. We're colorful. Everything's totally different."

"It's the biggest musical number for me," says Ashley Tisdale. "Sharpay wants the Juilliard scholarship and she wants to use her brother to get it. The song itself is very Fergie/Gwen Stefani meets Sharpay Evans. I love it."

Lucas Grabeel adds, "To coax Ryan into helping her out, Sharpay paints this picture of what life could be like if they both got the scholarship."

"I Want It All" takes place in the East High cafeteria with almost 150 people dancing on screen at one time. At one point in the number, Grabeel dances in a classic Radio City Music Hall kick line with 24 pink-haired kitty cat Rockettes.

"There's a wink and a curtsy to the legends of the great White Way," says Ortega. "It's an homage to Gene Kelly and Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins and Michael Kidd. This is a little bit of 'Singin' In the Rain' meets 'Chicago'-all through the eyes of a teenage girl who wants it all: fame, fortune and more."

For "Can I Have This Dance" Kenny Ortega and his choreographers introduced a new genre of dance to the Wildcat seniors-ballroom. Audiences first hear the song as a duet between Troy and Gabriella on the rooftop of East High.

"It's a really sweet, romantic and charming dance," says Vanessa Hudgens. "You don't see people doing the waltz very often anymore, so the fact that we got to bring that back was magical."

"I think it's a great moment because it shows that Troy and Gabriella thing that's been there from the very beginning," says Zac Efron. Says Kenny Ortega, "I was inspired by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and all those wonderful Gene Kelly dances. I just wanted to find a romantic opportunity for the two of them to dance in each other's arms, away from everybody else."

The rest of the Wildcats were not off the hook when it came to learning the waltz. "Can I Have This Dance" is reprised when the audience is transported to the prom through a portal in Gabriella's imagination. "Gabriella is finally at the prom that she's always wanted with her friends, her boyfriend, just having the most amazing time of her life. It's a fairy tale. Every girl wants to have a waltzing prom. It's a beautiful scene," says Vanessa Hudgens.

"A Night to Remember" also involves partner dancing-a cha-cha-cha. It's the first of many numbers in the film that take place on stage in the East High theatre auditorium. "The original concept of this movie was always to have a big prom. So we attacked this in a new way, we've actually taken our prom and broken it up across the movie," explains producer Bill Borden. "Preparation, rehearsal, performance and of course, the real prom-we get a taste of it all in the movie and in the end, we bring a big, unique, emotional moment to the prom."

"With 'A Night to Remember' we suddenly find ourselves not at prom at all, but at rehearsal for a prom musical number," explains Kenny Ortega.

"The play within a play, that's my favorite thing about that number because when you first see it, you think that it's part of the movie," adds Ryne Sanborn. "But then you notice little things that show it's a rehearsal. So it's not really our prom, which is kind of cool."

"Basically East High puts on the school play about ourselves," explains Vanessa Hudgens.

"Just Wanna Be With You" begins as a duet created by Ryan and Kelsi in the music room, and is reprised as a full-fledged production number in the spring musical featuring the whole cast.

"One of the themes is to live in the moment and not worry so much about the future," explains Lucas Grabeel. "Kelsi and Ryan have a very interesting relationship. They're both artists and musicians. I think it's cool that they can find each other in that way."

"'Just Wanna Be With You' works on a lot of different levels," explains producer Barry Rosenbush. "I really like that song because it's not only about wanting to be with you in a romantic sense, it's about these kids knowing that they're together in this moment and they're going to enjoy it, but they're moving on soon."

"The Boys Are Back" is a fantasy rock duet that takes place in a junkyard at night with Troy Bolton and best friend Chad Danforth.

"We've never really had a number just to ourselves," says Zac Efron. "So this is a chance for us to team up and just go off each other's energy."

"'The Boys Are Back" was all about giving Troy and Chad a history and we felt that this style of dance and this space connected to the spirit of these two guys," says Kenny Ortega.

Corbin Bleu explains the characters' backstory. "When we were young boys, we used to hang out in the junkyard and pretend that we were superheroes and spies and ninjas. With all the stressful things that go on during senior year, we come back to relive those childhood moments."

The production number features the pair rolling a giant tire, sword fighting, break-dancing, teeter- tottering and dancing on cars. They're joined by 19 dancers; some seem to appear out of the junk.

"It's one of the hardest numbers- really hardcore stuff, rugged and dirty and real guy," says Cordin Bleu. "The energy was through the roof."

Gabriella's soulful ballad "Walk Away" takes place at her home. Explains Vanessa Hudgens, "She has to make some decisions about college and her boyfriend and her friends and she decides to do what she thinks is right and just walk away."

Troy's power ballad "Scream" has him contemplating his own situation, dancing throughout East High's gym, hallways and theatre late at night. "It starts on the basketball court, but he ends up on stage," says Zac Efron. "That just says it all right there. He's got these amazing feelings for both."

"'High School Musical' is upbeat and fun and makes you want to leap up out of your chair and dance," says Ryne Sanborn. "I used to think that they could never top 'All For One,' but 'High School Musical' is the ultimate party song."

The Wildcats' high school graduation big finale was shot over two days on East High's football field. Approximately 1000 people participated, including a 25-piece orchestra, a 40member concert choir (led by Justin Martin's "Donny Dion"), and 600 background artists who created a Wildcat head with human animation.

"It was crazy putting on the Wildcat graduation robes," says Efron. "It was really symbolic, I felt like we were graduating in so many different ways. Everyone was pretty emotional."

"The song has a simple message," says writer Peter Barsocchini. "What's great about high school doesn't have to end at graduation. Friendships can go on."

In staging the final moment of graduation, Kenny Ortega took his inspiration from a Fred Astaire movie. "It looked like the whole world was a stage and I thought that would be a great thing to bring back for a new audience. The entire football field became our stage, complete with a gigantic red curtain.

"On the last shot, I was so moved, so touched, so happy and so satisfied, that I couldn't even get the word 'cut' out," continues Ortega. "It was a really an emotional day and deeply satisfying after three movies."

"The song 'High School Musical' is an anthem," says Rosenbush. "It represents the culmination of High School Musical 1, 2 and 3." The Walt Disney Records soundtrack is now in stores.

LET'S DANCE

Ortega, Klapow and Story Reteam for HSM3 Choreography

Once again, the Emmy Award®-winning trio Kenny Ortega, Charles "Chucky" Klapow and Bonnie Story share choreography duties.

"Kenny, Chucky and Bonnie have created a new standard in the dance musical industry that everyone else will try to reach," says producer Bill Borden. "I think their talent and their love of what they're doing shows up on all the dances and the actors love them."

"When Chucky started working with me several years ago, he came with this young, hungry spirit-fresh out of school, hot-blooded and ready to tackle anything," says Kenny Ortega. "Bonnie has this incredible history. She's a teacher, an amazing dancer-classically trained, technically brilliant, and has worked with the best."

The director says the trio flexed its creativity in "HSM3." "I have one foot in the street and another foot in the pages of history," says Kenny Ortega. "There's a little bit of Broadway, funk, sport, ballet and ballroom-a real range of music and dance styles in this movie-and a dynamic range of dance locations including a basketball court, a rooftop, a treehouse. The dancing really is spread out beautifully throughout the story. Each dance is like its own postcard."

"We cover it all-waltz, hip-hop, breaking, pop, Latin salsa, jazz and Fosse," adds Klapow. "So Zac Efron will go from being Fred Astaire in one scene to Michael Jackson in the next."

Dance rehearsals took place in Salt Lake City. "For a whole week we sat around a table and talked before we even started dancing," says Klapow. "Kenny painted a picture, he's the visionary. Then Bonnie and I got in front of the mirror and fed off each other. It's not just dance steps though. It has to make sense. We have to tell that story through movement."

For the big screen, the choreographers had to raise the bar. In the two acclaimed television movies, the trio choreographed dances for as many as 10 principal actors, 12 principal dancers and 190 extras. In "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," they worked with 15 principal actors, 18 principal dancers (plus more than 60 featured dancers in the bigger production numbers), and up to 2,000 extras.

"With each new project, the actors and dancers have become better and we threw more at them," says Story. "The choreography is more intricate, with more partnering.

"There's more screen to fill, so we cast more dancers," continues Story. "We definitely took into consideration the fact that the big screen is wider than TV; we had to approach the choreography from a different point of view."

Ortega, Klapow and Story added four additional members to their team to assist with the massive numbers designed for the big screen. Principal dancer Roger "Ro" Malaga acted as assistant choreographer and break-dancing specialist. World- class dancer/coach Paul Winkelman served as assistant choreographer and ballroom specialist. Principal dancer Bayli Baker also served as assistant choreographer. In addition, the team tapped dancer Zachary Wilson as a choreography assistant to assist with the waltz.

Shooting in Utah did present one unexpected challenge. "Salt Lake City is a desert in the sky and it is so dry here," says Klapow. "It's hard to dance at that altitude. Our hearts would pound and we'd sweat; we couldn't breathe. I'll be the best athlete in the world because I trained in Utah."

SONGS

Snareway To Heaven
Performed by Bart Hendrickson, Stix Randolph


Dillon Cadence


Now Or Never
Performed by The High School Musical 3: Senior Year Cast


Like Whoa
Performed by Aly & AJ


Freaky
Performed by Jesse McCartney


Right Here Right Now - Troy and Gabriella
Performed by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens


My Shoes
Performed by Jordan Pruitt


Fabulous


You Are The Music In Me


I Want It All - Sharpay and Ryan
Performed by Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel


Can I Have This Dance - Troy and Gabriella
Performed by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens


A Night To Remember
Performed by The High School Musical 3: Senior Year Cast


Just Wanna Be With You - Ryan, Kelsi, Troy and Gabriella
Performed by Lucas Grabeel, Olesya Rulin, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens


The Boys Are Back - Troy and Chad
Performed by Zac Efron and Corbin Bleu


Walk Away - Gabriella
Performed by Vanessa Hudgens


Scream - Troy
Performed by Zac Efron


Last Chance - Kelsi and Ryan
Performed by Olesya Rulin and Lucas Grabeel


I Want It All - Ryan
Performed by Lucas Grabeel


Just Wanna Be With You - Sharpay, Jimmy, Troy and Gabriella
Performed by Ashley Tisdale, Matt Prokop, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens


A Night To Remember - Sharpay and Tiara
Performed by Ashley Tisdale and Jemma McKenzie-Brown


We're All In This Together (Graduation Mix)
Performed by The High School Musical 3: Senior Year Cast


High School Musical
Performed by The High School Musical 3: Senior Year Cast


Just Getting Started
Performed by Stan Carrizosa


High School Musical 3 Senior Year Interview The Story Continues www.girl.com.au/high-school-musical-3-senior-year-interview.htm
High School Musical 3 Senior Year Cast www.girl.com.au/high-school-musical-3-senior-year-cast.htm
High School Musical 3 Senior Year All Dressed Up on Location www.girl.com.au/high-school-musical-3-senior-year-backgrounder.htm
High School Musical 3 Senior Year - Behind the Scenes with the Filmmakers www.girl.com.au/high-school-musical-3-senior-year-filmmakers.htm