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, theyve all become teen idols. But theyre good young actors. Our principal cast has molded those characters into something that kids love. Thats 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. 11 SENIORS STORY Everyones favorite high school sweethearts Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez—played by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens—still front the troupe. Im very excited for High School Musical 3 to be on the big screen, says Efron. This is what weve been waiting for, what weve been working towards, and it feels great because I feel like we earned it. Were just regular kids that made High School Musical and now its progressing. Efron has grown up with his character. Troy is a lot of different things, he says. Hes a very average kid going through high school, dealing with everyday choices. But the fun thing about him is that hes got these hidden talents. So Troys got a lot to balance: his basketball career, his newfound love of singing, and then of course, Gabriella. Whatll happen to them after high school? You dont know. Its 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, Id really like to try ballet, says Barsocchini. Theres the character. Theres so much pressure on kids to be cool that its 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.... Nurturing an impressive body of work that encompasses film and television, ZAC EFRON (Troy Bolton) is positioning himself as one of Hollywoods most promising talents as his career continues to evolve. Efron received the coveted Teen Choice Award for Choice Male Hottie in 2007 and the MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Performance for his role in Hairspray. Efron recently wrapped production on the Richard Linklater film Me and Orson Welles, an adapation of the period coming-of-age novel by Robert Kaplow. He portrays a high school student who happens upon the yet-to-open Mercury Theatre and is then noticed by Orson Welles. Efron stars in the film alongside Ben Chapin and Claire Danes. He stars in the upcoming film 17 Again, a Big-like dramedy in which a 36-year-old in need of a major life do-over wakes up in the body of a high school senior. The film also stars Matthew Perry and Leslie Mann. In summer 2007, Efron starred alongside an all-star cast in the box office smash Hairspray, which is about what happens when an all-white American Bandstand style TV show gets a soul infusion. The film won the Critics Choice award for Best Ensemble and the cast was also nominated for a Golden Globe® and SAG Award®. Efron became the break-out star of the Emmy Award®-winning Disney Channel phenomenon High School Musical. He reprised his role in High School Musical 2, which broke cable TV records, garnering 18.6 million viewers. His other television credits include a recurring role on the WB series Summerland, and guest-starring roles on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, ER, The Guardian and C.S.I. Miami. Additionally, Efron starred on stage in the musical Gypsy and has appeared in productions of Peter Pan, Mame, Little Shop of Horrors and The Music Man. A BlackTree Media Production Thank you for watching! Blacktree is at all the hottest events on the planet (award shows, movie premieres and press junkets, fashion shows, etc.) and now BLACKTREE ON TV brings stars to YOU on Soul of the South! Watch Full episodes below, and tune in! WEEKDAYS | 5:30 – 6:00pm, 1-1:30am WEEKENDS | 5 – 6:00pm Sat & Sun (CST) Click here to see more unique video at Comcast Xfinity 'Celebrate BlackTV' click here: http://xfin.tv/1sgUqKk

• published: 21 Oct 2008
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