15 ‘High School Musical’ Facts That Will Surprise Every Wildcat
It’s hard to believe that High School Musical came out more than a decade ago. It sort of feels like yesterday that we were meeting Troy and Gabriella for the first time, laughing endlessly at Ryan and Sharpay’s warm up noises, and learning the choreography to “We’re All in This Together.”
Though it was originally designed as a one-time Disney Channel Original Movie, the HSM franchise has truly stood the test of time. We’ll still watch it any time it comes on TV, and we’re pretty much counting the days until HSM 4 happens.
But no matter how many times you've watched the movie, how well do you really know what went down at East High? We’ve assembled some lesser known facts about the Wildcats and the crew to test your knowledge. Here are 15 things that even the hardcore HSM fans didn’t know.
1/15It didn't actually snow on New Year's Eve.
The winter wonderland backdrop to “The Start of Something New” was actually a bunch of potato flakes. At least it was a delicious snowfall?
2/15HSM was filmed at an actual high school.
All of the school scenes were filmed at East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. The lucky students that attend EHS today still get to use Sharpay’s pink locker.
3/15Chad was almost Ryan.
Corbin Bleu, who played Chad, originally auditioned to play the role of Ryan. We wanna see his jazz square, stat.
4/15The original mascot was not a wildcat.
It was going to be a leopard. Somehow, “Leopards everywhere, wave your hands up in the air” doesn’t have the same ring to it.
5/15Auditions for HSM were very unique.
Not only were there acting, singing, and dancing auditions, but there were also several rounds of basketball auditions. #Sports.
6/15And speaking of sports….
Some of the cheerleaders are actually dabbing during “We’re All in this Together.”
7/15Lucas Grabeel is the mastermind behind Ryan’s jazz square obsession.
Lucas had said that he had two choreographers growing up who put jazz squares in literally everything, which inspired him to do the same with Ryan. “Everyone loves a good jazz square!”
8/15Coach Bolton and Ms. Darbus almost sang together.
A duet was originally planned for the two teachers, but it never was filmed.
9/15The cast had an ongoing prank war.
And apparently Zac Efron was the prank ringleader. He would throw water balloons at his fellow castmates and the crew.
10/15Corbin Bleu is behind all those watches that Chad wears.
The first time we see Chad, he’s wearing, like, a million watches on his arm. Apparently Corbin couldn’t decide which one to wear – so he chose them all.
11/15Ashley Tisdale basically didn’t have any dancing experience before HSM.
Of course, we’d never have known – she bopped right to the top anyway!
12/15The HSM crew thinks that the Biebs stole his famous hair from Troy Bolton.
Our fave Wildcats were quick to point out that Troy had those swoopy bangs waaaayyy before Justin Bieber came on the scene. Hmmm.
13/15It almost had a different name.
High School Musical was the film’s working title. But the filmmakers never thought of a better name, and they began to like the sound of High School Musical as its real title.
14/15Ashley Tisdale had an IRL Sharpay moment at her callback.
When Ashley was at her callback for Sharpay, she read with Lucas Grabeel – and then gave him notes afterward! That is such a Sharpay thing to do.
15/15The HSM director helped the cast believe that they were truly “all in this together.”
Before each take, director Kenny Ortega would say, “This is going to be on film forever. Let’s make it count.” It’s no wonder that the Wildcats had the greatest team spirit imaginable.
