<ul class="summary-list"><li>Lucas Grabeel "cried" when he found out Ryan Evans would come out as gay, the "HSMTMTS" showrunner said.</li><li>Evans kisses his partner during an episode of "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series." </li></ul>Actor Lucas Grabeel, who played Ryan Evans in the "High School Musical" movies "cried" when he found out the long beloved character would finally come out as gay on "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series," <a href="https://tvline.com/interviews/high-school-musical-ryan-gay-lucas-grabeel-reaction-video-1235025243/">the series' showrunner told TV Line</a>. "Lucas, like, cried on the phone and said, 'This would mean so much to people who grew up with this movie,'" Tim Federle, the showrunner of "HSMTMTS," told TV Line.Federle added that he recalled Grabeel saying, "'It's what they were always kind of missing from this character,'" during their phone call. The fourth and final season of "HSMTMTS," which takes place at the famed East High, unites the current-day Wildcats with high school legends from generations past. The season starts with <a href="https://twitter.com/hsmseries/status/1683890253524873235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1683890253524873235%7Ctwgr%5E125d12e5bdd1f53255879f8d3f1eb73ec409cced%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.out.com%2Fgay-tv-shows%2Fryan-evans-high-school-musical">a scene showing some of the original "High School Musical"</a> characters filming "High School Musical 4" — a reunion film — at East High. It's in that clip that viewers see Evans kisses his partner, who is played by Scott Hoying from Pentatonix. In 2020, "High School Musical" director <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-ryan-evans-gay-kenny-ortega-interview-2020-7">Kenny Ortega said that Evans would have come out as gay in college</a>, but as the movies stopped with high school graduation, fans did not see that happen. "It was less about coming out and just more about letting his true colors come forward," Insider reported Ortega said at the time. He added that he "didn't think at the time" that it would be possible to have an openly gay character in a Disney movie.The first "High School Musical" movie was released in 2006.

Lucas Grabeel 'cried' when 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' called to tell him that Ryan Evans would come out as gay on the show, showrunner says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Insider spoke with "<keyword id="6354" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="High-school-musical">High School Musical</keyword>" stars <keyword id="614830" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Monique-Coleman">Monique Coleman</keyword> and <keyword id="3211130" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lucas-Grabeel">Lucas Grabeel</keyword> for the film's 15th anniversary.</li><li>Like fans of the <keyword id="6356021" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movie">movie</keyword>, Coleman and Grabeel had no clue what the fictional "Twinkle Towne" play is about.</li><li>Grabeel said that perhaps director Kenny Ortega "had some idea" about the winter musical's plot. </li></ul>In the 15 years since "<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/high-school-musical">High School Musical</a>" premiered on <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/disney-channel">Disney Channel</a>, the premise of the fictional "Tinsel Towne" play remains a mystery to fans - and the stars. "I didn't even realize that," <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/monique-coleman">Monique Coleman</a> (Taylor McKessie) told <a href="https://www.insider.com/">Insider</a> when asked if she had any insight into the basis of the winter musical. "I honestly never even thought about it until you just asked."Kenny Ortega's "HSM" centered on the tension that arose after Troy Bolton (the jock and most popular guy at East High, played by <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/zac-efron">Zac Efron</a>) and Gabriella Montez (the new girl with a brilliant mind, portrayed by <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/vanessa-hudgens">Vanessa Hudgens</a>) showed an interest in Kelsi Nielsen's winter show titled "Twinkle Towne."<div type="image" title="high school musical callbacks bulletin board" height="1607" width="2142" msid="80481467" hostid="261"></div>Little was revealed about the fake play, but small details in the film gave some insight.All fans knew was seasoned performers Sharpay Evans (<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ashley-tisdale">Ashley Tisdale</a>) and Ryan Evans (<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/lucas-grabeel">Lucas Grabeel</a>) were competing against Troy and Gabriella for the lead roles of Minnie and Arnold - which ultimately went to the latter pair.The callbacks form on the bulletin board also indicated that there were supporting characters named The Incredible Mr. Schain and Johnny Omni.Still, it wasn't enough to <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenniferabidor/twinkle-towne-plot-high-school-musical">piece together the plot</a> of the fictional play. <div type="image" title="hsm twinkle town musical callbacks sheet skitch" height="1615" width="2154" msid="80481468" hostid="261"></div>Like Coleman, Grabeel also has no recollection of what the plot was for "Twinkle Towne" (if there even was one). "I'm sure I thought of it, because that would have not been something I would have let go," the actor told Insider. "I'm sure Kenny had some idea, but I think maybe Alyson [Reed], who played Ms. Darbus, and I; or Chucky [Klapow, choreographer] and I; would probably off-set, just fantasized about what it was and filled in all the blanks.""If that memory did exist, it would probably spark by watching it again," Grabeel added. "But yeah, it's been so long. I don't even remember."<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-cast-then-and-now-photos-2018-8">THEN AND NOW: The cast of the 'High School Musical' movies 15 years later</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-ryan-crush-zeke-chad-lucas-grabeel-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel reveals his character Ryan did have a crush on another male character - but it wasn't Chad</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-2-lucas-grabeel-baseball-outfit-swap-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel weighs in on a long-debated outfit swap between Ryan and Chad in the sequel</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-lucas-grabeel-monique-coleman-15th-anniversary-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' stars Lucas Grabeel and Monique Coleman break down iconic scenes from the franchise 15 years later</a></li></ul>

Even the stars of 'High School Musical' have no idea what the fictional 'Tinsel Towne' play was about

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"<keyword id="6354" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="High-school-musical">High School Musical</keyword>" star <keyword id="3211130" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lucas-Grabeel">Lucas Grabeel</keyword> (Ryan Evans) spoke to Insider for the hit <keyword id="6356021" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movie">movie</keyword>'s 15th anniversary.</li><li>Fans of the film have debated about whether or not Sharpay Evans was the victim or the villain of "HSM," and Grabeel weighed in.</li><li>Grabeel described Sharpay as "fame-hungry" with a desire to be "the center of attention" and said that "if anyone's a victim, it's Ryan."</li></ul>"<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/high-school-musical">High School Musical</a>" fans have long debated about whether or not Sharpay Evans (played by <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ashley-tisdale">Ashley Tisdale</a>) was the villain of the 2006 movie and star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/lucas-grabeel">Lucas Grabeel</a>, who portrayed sibling Ryan Evans, has some thoughts. "I don't think she's a victim at all," Grabeel <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-lucas-grabeel-monique-coleman-15th-anniversary-interview-2021-1">told Insider in a new interview for the hit film's 15th anniversary</a>."Look at the reasons," he continued. "You can say that she's a victim by saying, 'Oh, poor her because she didn't get this or she didn't get that.' But why is she going for it in the first place? She's conniving in undermining Gabriela. She's usurping her at every corner."<div type="image" title="hsm sharpay gabriella gym " height="1616" width="2154" msid="80472052" hostid="261"></div>Devoted fans have felt more empathy for Sharpay, the resident "ice princess" of East High School, and seen her in a different light after rewatching the "HSM" movies as adults.Many have argued that despite her functioning as the antagonist in the first film, Sharpay was less of a villain and more of a victim.Some have said that Troy Bolton (<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/zac-efron">Zac Efron</a>) and Gabriella Montez (<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/vanessa-hudgens">Vanessa Hudgens</a>), who had no previous theater experience but always managed to come out on top, <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-troy-and-gabriella-were-the-worst-opinion">were actually the villains in the story.</a>Compelling arguments have been made in viral tweets and slideshow presentations, and Tisdale herself <a href="https://twitter.com/ashleytisdale/status/1173626459778363402">weighed in on Twitter</a>, saying: "Sharpay was chasing her dream, Troy and Gabriella were chasing each other."But Grabeel argued that Sharpay's actions - planting the seeds for Gabriella to join the Scholastic Decathalon team, adjusting the times for the school's biggest events to prevent Troy and Gabriella from making the callbacks - were done out of a desire to be "the center of attention."<div type="image" title="hsm 1 sharpay and troy" height="1604" width="2138" msid="80472053" hostid="261"></div>Sharpay's scheming continued in the 2007 sequel, as she got Troy a summer job at her family's resort and roped him into activities with her parents ("That girl's got more moves than an octopus in a wrestling match," <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/monique-coleman">Monique Coleman</a>'s Taylor McKessie aptly put it).Sharpay also offered to give Troy an edge in getting a college scholarship in exchange for him singing with her. Plus, Troy's change in his attitude and the way he treated his friends drove a wedge between him and Gabriella, causing her to leave Lava Springs.Grabeel suggested that despite Sharpay coming between Troy and Gabriella's relationship, he doesn't think she had "any true feelings" for the jock. "It's only because Troy is the center of attention that she wants to be alongside him," Grabeel said, adding, "It's just the hunger for attention and fame.""That's another great lesson that the movie teaches you, is that if you are just fame-hungry, you're not going to get anywhere and you're going to end up with egg on your face, and in this case, chili fries."<div type="image" title="hsm ms darbus sharpay ryan cafeteria" height="1595" width="2127" msid="80472054" hostid="261"></div>Grabeel also said that fans should look at the way his character is treated in the films."I think if anyone's a victim, it's Ryan," the actor said. "He gets just s--- on the whole time and doesn't even get his moment. He gets like a half a moment in the second and the third movies, but really, it's like the whole time he's in the background."For what it's worth, Ryan's story ended on a happy note in "HSM 3," as he landed the Julliard School scholarship because of his outstanding choreography for the spring musical.<div type="image" title="Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans and Ashley Tisdale as Sharpay Evans in &quot;High School Musical.&quot; 9 Credit Disney Channel" height="1611" width="2148" msid="80472055" hostid="261"></div>"He's one of my favorite characters I've ever played because we had three movies to create this complex backstory and yeah, you could watch it and not catch any of that," Grabeel continued, adding that he spent days working on the nuances of Ryan "and the sadness of being in the background.""But also, it's OK," he continued. "Sometimes the good guy who is the workhorse, he's not always in the limelight, but that doesn't mean that he's not still relevant."Grabeel also said that his opinion aside, he welcomes the debates from fans about the characterization of Sharpay. "If we're doing something that's causing a conversation, our job is done," he said. "That's incredible. So, more power to all these people trying to figure out <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-tinsel-towne-play-plot-cast-interviews-2021-1">what 'Twinkle Towne' was about</a> or if Sharpay was a villain or a victim."<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-cast-then-and-now-photos-2018-8">THEN AND NOW: The cast of the 'High School Musical' movies 15 years later</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-ryan-crush-zeke-chad-lucas-grabeel-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel reveals his character Ryan did have a crush on another male character - but it wasn't Chad</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-2-lucas-grabeel-baseball-outfit-swap-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel weighs in on a long-debated outfit swap between Ryan and Chad in the sequel</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-lucas-grabeel-monique-coleman-15th-anniversary-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' stars Lucas Grabeel and Monique Coleman break down iconic scenes from the franchise 15 years later</a></li></ul>

'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel won't stand for fans thinking Sharpay isn't the movie's villain: 'If anyone's a victim, it's Ryan'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"<keyword id="6354" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="High-school-musical">High School Musical</keyword>" star <keyword id="3211130" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lucas-Grabeel">Lucas Grabeel</keyword> told Insider that his character Ryan had a crush on Zeke.</li><li>Grabeel said that the nods to his crush on Zeke are "more overt" than speculation about Ryan and Chad.</li><li>The actor said that many of Ryan's "little looks and exchanges" got cut from the films, but a lot of them are still there.</li></ul>"<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/high-school-musical">High School Musical</a>" star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/lucas-grabeel">Lucas Grabeel</a> revealed his character, Ryan Evans, did have a crush on another male character - but it wasn't Chad Danforth.It was athlete and baking extraordinaire Zeke Baylor. "It's funny that people talk more about [Ryan and Chad] that than they do about Ryan and Zeke, because it's even more overt in my opinion," Grabeel told Insider in a <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-lucas-grabeel-monique-coleman-15th-anniversary-interview-2021-1">new interview for the 15th anniversary of "HSM."</a>Grabeel was referring to the <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-2-lucas-grabeel-baseball-outfit-swap-interview-2021-1">discourse online regarding Ryan and Chad's chemistry in "I Don't Dance"</a> from "High School Musical 2" and <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-2-lucas-grabeel-baseball-outfit-swap-interview-2021-1">their subsequent outfit swap</a>, which fueled speculation that the two characters had feelings for each other. The actor said the musical number "wasn't meant to be this homoerotic thing" and didn't have "anything to do with us liking each other." Instead, Grabeel said there were more concrete nods to Ryan having a crush on Zeke (played by Chris Warren), the jock who had an affinity for baking strudels, scones, and apple pandowdy."Ryan had a very confusing crush on Zeke," Grabeel said.<div type="image" title="hsm 1 sharpay and ryan classroom" height="1610" width="2146" msid="80425267" hostid="261"></div>"The thing is about Ryan is that yeah, he was figuring it out and he didn't know who he was, which is where most kids are in high school," he continued, explaining that the character wasn't meant to be "over-the-top flamboyant.""It needed to have subtlety," he said. Grabeel also said that because Disney "was not on board with having an out-of-the-closet character on a <keyword id="214395" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Disney-Channel">Disney Channel</keyword> Original <keyword id="6356021" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movie">Movie</keyword>," he worked with director Kenny Ortega to include nuances. Ryan and Zeke didn't share many scenes together in the first film and the sequels released in 2007 and 2008, as the movies mainly showed the jock vying for the attention of Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale), who said she'd rather "stick pins in my eyes" than watch him play basketball.But most notably, they interacted just before "We're All in This Together." During the brief moment, Zeke complimented Sharpay and offered her cookies that he baked, which she scoffed at.Ryan however, took the bag from Zeke and said, "Nice game," before walking away.<div type="image" title="hsm 1 ryan sharpay zeke 2" height="835" width="1114" msid="80425270" hostid="261"></div>Fans likely didn't read too much into it because during the movie's end-credits scene, Sharpay found Zeke in the gym and exclaimed, "These cookies are genius, the best things I've ever tasted," and ran up to him asking if he could make more for her. The second movie included small comments or moments involving Zeke and Sharpay.The only significant moment Ryan and Zeke had was during "What Time Is It," when Zeke asked Sharpay to sign his yearbook and Ryan looked at him and smiled - and even that was subtle and could be interpreted as Ryan just being polite. <div type="image" title="hsm 2 what time is it sharpay ryan zeke " height="832" width="1110" msid="80425272" hostid="261"></div>Then the final film, released in 2008, Zeke appeared at various points during Ryan and Sharpay's "I Want It All" fantasy sequence.Most notably, the siblings walked into a room and were greeted by Zeke, who wore an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt and handed them drinks in coconuts.Then the trio did a mini conga line and Ryan was seen looking back in Zeke's direction as he exited the room. <div type="image" title="hsm 3 ryan zeke i want it all" height="1800" width="1200" msid="80425275" hostid="261"></div>"Kenny and I were always looking for these moments to have these little looks and exchanges," Grabeel said. "A lot of them got cut, but a lot of them are still in [there] of me wanting the creme brulee or the cookies or whatever Zeke was doing, or just looking at him with awe in the background.""I mean, he just thought he was the cat's pajamas."<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-cast-then-and-now-photos-2018-8">THEN AND NOW: The cast of the 'High School Musical' movies 15 years later</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-movies-facts-2019-1">17 things you probably didn't know about the 'High School Musical' movies</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-lucas-grabeel-monique-coleman-15th-anniversary-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' stars Lucas Grabeel and Monique Coleman break down iconic scenes from the franchise 15 years later</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-2-lucas-grabeel-baseball-outfit-swap-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel weighs in on a long-debated outfit swap between Ryan and Chad in the sequel</a></li></ul>

'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel reveals his character Ryan did have a crush on another male character - but it wasn't Chad

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"HSM" star <keyword id="3211130" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lucas-Grabeel">Lucas Grabeel</keyword> spoke to Insider about Ryan and Chad's outfit swap in the 2007 sequel.</li><li>Fans have speculated that the characters had crushes on each other, but Grabeel said that wasn't true.</li><li>He said director <keyword id="278481" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kenny-Ortega">Kenny Ortega</keyword> suggested the swap and it "wasn't meant to be this homoerotic thing."</li></ul>"<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/high-school-musical">High School Musical</a>" star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/lucas-grabeel">Lucas Grabeel</a> revealed how the intricate "I Don't Dance" number came to life in the 2007 sequel and explained the backstory behind Ryan Evans and Chad Danforth's outfit swap that occurred moments later. "That was definitely one of my favorite numbers of the whole franchise," Grabeel told <a href="https://www.insider.com/">Insider</a> during an <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-lucas-grabeel-monique-coleman-15th-anniversary-interview-2021-1">interview for the 15th anniversary of "HSM."</a>The "I Don't Dance" scene occurred about an hour into the <keyword id="6356021" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movie">movie</keyword>. During the scene, Ryan and Chad (portrayed by <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/corbin-bleu">Corbin Bleu</a>) simultaneously danced and played baseball as Chad insisted that he was an athlete - not a performer. Grabeel said that the scene, which was filmed over two days, was "difficult" and involved intricate choreography. And although he played baseball as a kid, he was a bit rusty.To prepare for the musical number, he and the cast participated in dance rehearsals in the mornings and baseball practices in the afternoons. A real baseball team was also brought in to help them and some of those players ended up in the actual sequence. <div type="image" title="hsm 2 i don't dance 2" height="831" width="1108" msid="80410690" hostid="261"></div>Grabeel also recalled the scene being "challenging" because he had knee surgery prior to beginning rehearsals for the sequel. Plus, he and the cast had embarked on a concert tour, which prevented his knee from healing properly. "I think actually the whole time of doing that number, I'm wearing two knee braces and a back brace because I had just screwed up my body so much," the actor said. So every time [director Kenny Ortega] yelled 'cut,' I would just collapse in pain."Despite the obstacles, Grabeel said that the scene was "still so much fun and putting two of my favorite things together" and he's proud of how the number came out. <div type="image" title="hsm 2 ryan chad baseball 1" height="841" width="1123" msid="80410693" hostid="261"></div>"I Don't Dance" was also a fan-favorite scene from "HSM 2," and sparked theories about Ryan and Chad's dynamic. People suggested that the song was a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/cbtt5z/what_are_your_theories_on_why_chad_and_ryan/">metaphor for sexuality and experimentation</a>, and that the two characters had sexual tension throughout.Adding to the theory that Ryan and Chad had feelings for each other was their <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-2-interesting-details-you-missed-mistakes">unexplained outfit swap</a> that happened after the number.While eating at a bench after the game, Ryan was seen wearing Chad's East High cap and traditional baseball jersey in the school's signature red and white shades. Meanwhile, Chad donned Ryan's all-white ensemble and striped hat. Aside from Taylor (Monique Coleman) saying, 'Nice hat' to Chad, no one else explained or commented on the moment. <div type="image" title="hsm 2 chad ryan outfit swap 2" height="1441" width="1922" msid="80410696" hostid="261"></div>"It wasn't a long-term premeditated thing," Grabeel told Insider of the outfit switch.The actor said that after filming the musical number, they were "playing around with some dialogue and different ways we could do it" for the scene that followed."Kenny just at the last minute was like, 'Why don't you guys wear each other's hats?' And we were like, 'Oh, OK, cool.' And then he's like, 'Actually, why don't you wear each other's shirts, too?'' Grabeel recalled.The actor said that the point of "I Don't Dance" was to show that despite Ryan and Chad's differences, as a theater kid and a jock, they could come together and see eye to eye. The scene also proved to Chad that his assumptions about Ryan not being a baseball player were incorrect, and that dancing could be cool. Grabeel also said that the sequence complemented Ryan's journey in the sequel, as he began distancing himself from being Sharpay's (Ashley Tisdale) sidekick and got to know his classmates. "It wasn't meant to be this homoerotic thing," Grabeel said of costume swap, "But I think that Kenny knew a little bit more about how that was going to come out. And the thing is, is that he could have changed that in editing because I think we shot it both ways."<div type="image" title="hsm 2 i don't dance chad ryan 1" height="1608" width="2150" msid="80410697" hostid="261"></div>The actor said that if people watched that scene without the full context of the sequel and the first film, then "it definitely looks that way and it's cheeky and silly and really fun and maybe hot to some people, I don't know.""But yeah, it didn't really have that initial [undertone]," Grabeel said, adding that "I Don't Dance" was both "masculine and artistic" and felt like an old-school Hollywood number."I think that went over a lot of people's heads and I think people read into it incorrectly. I don't think that it had anything to do with us liking each other. I think it had everything to do with our teams and our ultimate goals as to work together and to break down barriers between each other."<div type="image" title="hsm 2 ryan chad 2" height="839" width="1119" msid="80410698" hostid="261"></div>Grabeel also said that he's surprised that people have theorized about Ryan and Chad based on "I Don't Dance," because actually, Ryan had a crush on jock and baker Zeke Baylor (Chris Warren)."It's funny that people talk more about that than they do about Ryan and Zeke, because it's even more overt in my opinion," he said, explaining that there were subtle moments (many of which got cut from the films) in which Ryan looked at Zeke adoringly or was eager to accept his baked treats. <ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-cast-then-and-now-photos-2018-8">THEN AND NOW: The cast of the 'High School Musical' movies 15 years later</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-movies-facts-2019-1">17 things you probably didn't know about the 'High School Musical' movies</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-2-interesting-details-you-missed-mistakes">23 details and mistakes you missed in 'High School Musical 2'</a></li></ul>

'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel weighs in on a long-debated outfit swap between Ryan and Chad in the sequel

'High School Musical' stars Lucas Grabeel and Monique Coleman break down iconic scenes from the franchise 15 years later

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"<keyword id="6354" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="High-school-musical">High School Musical</keyword>" star <keyword id="3211130" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lucas-Grabeel">Lucas Grabeel</keyword> revealed in an interview with TMZ that he might not have played Ryan Evans if the movies were made today. </li><li>"There's so many amazingly talented gay actors that could do it as well, so if 'High School Musical' was made today, I don't know if I would play Ryan," Grabeel said. </li><li>"I would love to, but the last thing I want to do is take an opportunity away from other people," he added.</li><li>Grabeel said that as a "straight, white man," he's already taken away opportunities from other actors "even without trying." </li><li>The actor's statement came after "High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega confirmed that the character Ryan was gay in the movies, even though his sexuality was never explicitly mentioned. </li></ul>Lucas Grabeel revealed in a <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2020/07/05/lucas-grabeel-high-school-musical-ryan-gay-character-role/">new interview</a> that he might not have played the character of Ryan if "High School Musical" was made today. "There's so many amazingly talented gay actors that could do it as well, so if 'High School Musical' was made today, I don't know if I would play Ryan," Grabeel <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2020/07/05/lucas-grabeel-high-school-musical-ryan-gay-character-role/">told TMZ via video chat</a>. "I would love to, but the last thing I want to do is take an opportunity away from other people," he added. "As a straight white man, I know that even without trying, I have taken opportunities away from other people." Grabeel also revealed to TMZ that during filming, he approached "High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega to discuss Ryan's sexuality. According to Grabeel, Ortega (himself a gay man), said Ryan wasn't straight — but that Disney might not be ready for an openly gay character. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sBAN0S3rW_I" frameborder="0"></iframe>"I came up to Kenny one day and was like, 'Hey, so can we talk about the character for a second? Ryan's gay, right?'" Grabeel said of his conversation with the director. "He was like, 'Well, I mean, it's a touchy subject sometimes with children's programming — I'm not sure if Disney is ready now for that kind of thing. I absolutely agree that he is and I think we have an opportunity here to showcase a real person,'" Grabeel said. Grabeel's comments came after Ortega <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-ryan-evans-gay-kenny-ortega-interview-2020-7">opened up about Ryan's sexuality in an interview with Variety on Wednesday</a>. "We decided he's probably going to come out in college," Ortega said of the fashion-forward, musical theater-loving character. "It was less about coming out and just more about letting his true colors come forward." <ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-ryan-evans-gay-kenny-ortega-interview-2020-7">'High School Musical' director Kenny Ortega confirms Sharpay's brother Ryan is gay and was 'probably going to come out in college'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-cast-then-and-now-photos-2018-8">THEN AND NOW: The cast of the 'High School Musical' movies 14 years later</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-movies-facts-2019-1">17 things you didn't know about the 'High School Musical' movies</a></li></ul>

Lucas Grabeel says he probably wouldn't play Ryan if 'High School Musical' was made today

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Members of the "High School Musical" cast and crew posed for a group photo in Paris.</li><li>Several of the stars were in France for the Dream It Conventions on Saturday and Sunday.</li></ul>Members of the original "High School Musical" cast shared heart-warming photos of their reunion in Paris on Saturday.The stars were in France for "Back to the Musical World 2," a Dream It convention about the "universe of Kenny Ortega," <a href="https://www.dreamit-conventions.com/en/back-to-the-musical-world-2.html#:~:text=Back%20To%20The%20Musical,November%2012th%20%26%2013th%2C%202022.">according to the event's website</a>. Ortega directed and co-choreographed the hit <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475293/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm">2006 Disney Channel Original Movie</a>.Ortega shared a snap of Lucas Grabeel, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu, and Bart Johnson on Instagram Saturday. The actors starred as Ryan, Gabriella, Chad, and Coach Bolton, respectively.The director used the hashtag #hsmforever in the caption of the sweet snap.<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck3TlvErzgH" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Kenny Ortega (@kennyortegablog)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>Johnson also commented on the photo that he was "back with my Wildcat family," referring to the mascot of the fictional high school in the film.Drew Seeley, who provided the singing voice of Troy Bolton, played by Zac Efron, also shared a group selfie with the former Disney stars and Ortega.<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck3UXGSLSz9" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Drew Seeley (@drewseeley)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>"Like no time has passed," he wrote in the caption.When the photos were shared by entertainment account <a href="https://twitter.com/PopCrave/status/1591480406913978368">Pop Crave on Twitter</a> Saturday, many fans were quick to comment on Johnson's looks.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—lorin (@rimednirol) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1591493727226298369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2022</a></blockquote>"Troy's dad has aged like FINE ASS WINE," <a href="https://twitter.com/Rogue_1826/status/1591482281088413696">one user wrote</a>. Another commenter shared a screenshot of Johnson from the movie, writing, "My gawd coach just age a little."

Members of the original 'High School Musical' cast and crew reunited for a group photo in Paris: 'Back with my Wildcat family!'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" star teased nostalgic cameos in season four.</li><li>Speculation is rife that original stars like Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens may return.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-series-tim-federle-interview-olivia-rodrigo-2022-7">"High School Musical: The Musical: The Series"</a> star Dara Reneé has teased nostalgic cameos "for all ages" in the fourth season of the show.The show has already been renewed for a fourth season ahead of the season three finale, which airs on Disney+ Wednesday.During Disney's D23 conference last week, <a href="https://people.com/tv/high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series-season-4-everything-to-know/">it was announced</a> that in the next season of the show, the students of East High will return to find out that a fictional "High School Musical 4: The Reunion" movie is being filmed at their school. This has led to speculation that original "High School Musical" stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale may make appearances in the fourth season.The students of East High are expected to appear as extras in the meta fourth film while also putting on a production of "High School Musical 3."In an interview with Insider, Reneé, who plays Kourtney on the show, said that season four will "hit the field with nostalgia for all ages.""It's gonna be a good one," Reneé said. "I don't take that word for granted, but I'm telling you I've read the first script. It's funny. It's relatable and it's gonna make you be like, 'Wait a second. Is that...? Is that...?' That's all I'm saying."Reneé did not confirm who exactly might make a <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series-jason-earles-cameo-2022-7">cameo in the fourth season.</a>However, the actor said her dream cameo from the original musical trilogy would be <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-monique-coleman-taylor-headbands-reason-interview-2021-1">Monique Coleman</a>, who played Taylor McKessie.<div type="image" title="Dara Renee High School Musical" height="2250" width="3000" msid="94205188" hostid="261" sizebytes="200638"></div>"I must say Monique Coleman has always been a role model for me," the 21-year-old actor told Insider. "Seeing her being able to play Taylor, and to see someone not only be a representation on the screen but off the screen as well."Reneé continued: "I remember I met her when I first did my first thing ever and she was like, 'I wanna do an interview with you.' And I was like, 'Oh my gosh, Taylor.' So I would love if she had a cameo. I don't know. They don't tell me anything because they think I'm a spoiler."Coleman herself <a href="https://people.com/tv/monique-coleman-reuniting-with-corbin-bleu-a-christmas-dance-reunion-exclusive/">told People</a> last year that she "would love" to make a guest appearance on the spinoff show.This would not be the first time a member of the original "High School Musical" cast has appeared in the show.Kaycee Stroh, who played Martha Cox, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/lucas-grabeel-sharpay-victim-villain-debate-high-school-musical-interview-2021-1">Lucas Grabeel, who played Ryan Evans,</a> both made cameos in the first two seasons.The biggest cameo, however, came in season three when Corbin Bleu, who starred as Chad in the movie franchise, played himself and hosted a Disney+ documentary about the East High students. Fans have also pointed to the fact that earlier this year both Efron and Hudgens, who played high school lovers, Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, both visited East High a month apart. They both shared their visits on Instagram, leaving fans to believe that a reunion movie might be possible."High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" season three is available on Disney+.

'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' star says season 4 will 'hit the field with nostalgia' amid speculation original cast will return

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The "<keyword id="6354" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="High-school-musical">High School Musical</keyword>" star <keyword id="614830" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Monique-Coleman">Monique Coleman</keyword> (Taylor McKessie) spoke with Insider for the film's 15th anniversary.</li><li>Coleman said she came up with the idea for Taylor to wear headbands because the crew initially did her hair "poorly in the front."</li><li>As an alternative, Coleman suggested the accessory be incorporated into Taylor's outfits to "make that a part of who she is."</li></ul>The "<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/high-school-musical">High School Musical</a>" star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/monique-coleman">Monique Coleman</a> said she came up with the idea for her character Taylor McKessie to wear a variety of headbands in the 2006 <keyword id="6356021" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movie">movie</keyword> because the crew didn't know how to work with Black hair."We've grown a lot in this industry and we've grown a lot in representation and we've grown a lot in terms of understanding the needs of an African American actress," the 40-year-old told <a href="https://www.insider.com">Insider</a> in an <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-lucas-grabeel-monique-coleman-15th-anniversary-interview-2021-1">interview for the movie's 15th anniversary</a>."But the truth is, is that they had done my hair, and they had done it very poorly in the front," she said.Coleman said crew members were short on time to fix her hair before filming began, so she suggested that they "incorporate headbands into her character" and "just make that a part of who she is."<div type="image" title="Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie in &quot;High School Musical.&quot;" height="1398" width="1864" msid="80466218" hostid="261"></div>She added that she and her castmates were "lucky" because Disney and the film's wardrobe department were "very open to our feedback."Taylor also went on to wear an assortment of headbands that perfectly coordinated with her outfits in the "High School Musical" sequels released in 2007 and 2008.<div type="image" title="monique coleman hsm movies taylor mckessie headbands" height="900" width="1200" msid="80466219" hostid="261"></div>In addition to the headband suggestion, Coleman got to help create Taylor's look for the final number of the first movie, "We're All in This Together."The actress said Taylor's button-down shirt and pleated skirt were an homage to <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/britney-spears">Britney Spears</a>' 1998 music video for "Baby One More Time.""I thought, 'Oh, I think it would be really fun for Taylor to kind of have this sort of awakening moment," Coleman said. "And I thought the tie was a really cute look."That was so, so long ago that the 'One More Time' video was still relevant and I thought, 'Huh, wouldn't it be kind of cool if Taylor's look had a nod to that in some way?'"<div type="image" title="hsm 1 taylor mckessie britney spears inspiration" height="900" width="1200" msid="80466220" hostid="261"></div>While discussing the legacy of "High School Musical," Coleman told Insider she was grateful for the opportunity to play Taylor and be a role model for fans who seldom saw themselves reflected on-screen."I'm really grateful to have been someone who was able to bring representation at a time where there wasn't very much, and I'm so happy when I see this next generation of young artists and there just being so much more room for people of color," Coleman said.<div type="image" title="hsm 3 taylor cafeteria" height="1415" width="1886" msid="80466221" hostid="261"></div>The actress also said her "High School Musical" part was special to her because Taylor wasn't a stereotypical Black character."It means the world to me, particularly because Taylor is such a dynamic character and the smartest person at school and all of that at a time where, often, Black girl characters tended to be the ones who had an attitude or to be sassy," she said.Coleman added: "And I appreciated that that wasn't why people loved Taylor. They loved her because she was smart and supportive. And it definitely means a lot to me for people to see her. There was Taylor before the Obamas were a thing. So we didn't have people to look up to."So knowing that this generation got to look up to her really is special for me."<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-cast-then-and-now-photos-2018-8">THEN AND NOW: The cast of the 'High School Musical' movies 15 years later</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-lucas-grabeel-monique-coleman-15th-anniversary-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' stars Lucas Grabeel and Monique Coleman break down iconic scenes from the franchise 15 years later</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-ryan-crush-zeke-chad-lucas-grabeel-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel reveals his character Ryan did have a crush on another male character - but it wasn't Chad</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-movies-facts-2019-1"></a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-2-lucas-grabeel-baseball-outfit-swap-interview-2021-1">'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel weighs in on a long-debated outfit swap between Ryan and Chad in the sequel</a></li></ul>

Monique Coleman reveals her 'High School Musical' character wore headbands because the crew didn't know how to style Black hair

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Troy and Gabriella seem to care little about musical theater yet they steal the spotlight.</li><li>Sharpay and Ryan's passion is ridiculed but Troy and Gabriella's foray into musicals is celebrated.</li></ul>It's been over 15 years since <a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-2-interesting-details-you-missed-mistakes">"High School Musical"</a> (2006) made its debut — and I still can't get past its underlying message that working hard for something doesn't matter nearly as much as popularity. In the first film, we follow Troy Bolton (<a href="https://www.insider.com/all-of-zac-efrons-films-ranked-2019-10">Zac Efron</a>) and Gabriella Montez (<a href="https://www.insider.com/all-of-vanessa-hudgens-movies-ranked-worst-to-best-2019-12">Vanessa Hudgens</a>) as they audition for the high school's winter musical, fall in love, and deal with their judgemental friends who don't love theater. We're meant to root for protagonists Troy and Gabriella at every turn while condemning Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) and her brother, Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), the antagonists who intend to keep Troy and Gabriella in check so they can pursue their own long-term dreams of stardom.Although viewers may have trusted that Sharpay and Ryan were a force to be defeated when we were younger, it's clear that Gabriella and Troy were always the real villains. <h2>Sharpay and Ryan are skilled performers, and Troy and Gabriella have sung one karaoke song </h2>Neither Troy nor Gabriella have any experience in singing, dancing, acting, or performing in musical theater when we are first introduced to them. In fact, both of them categorically state that they have no interest in singing — it's not what they "do."Troy and Gabriella poke fun at signing up for the musical at first and, eventually, <a href="https://www.insider.com/actors-who-hate-their-most-famous-roles-on-tv-and-movies">Troy auditions</a> because he likes Gabriella, not because he has a genuine interest in performing arts.Comparatively, Ryan and Sharpay have worked for several years to hone their talent and craft in musical theater. They have also acted in 17 school productions, and understand the importance of accurate choreography, blocking, harmonies, and call times — something that Troy and Gabriella clearly don't know or care to learn about.There's nothing wrong with pursuing new interests later on in one's high-school career — which "Stick to the Status Quo" tries to highlight — but for Troy and Gabriella to expect to land lead roles when they are complete beginners just isn't likely. Sharpay implies as much when she encourages Gabriella and Troy to sign up for supporting roles in the musical. Although Sharpay's "advice" could have been delivered more kindly, it seems like common sense that theater novices would start with a minor part.<h2>Troy and Gabriella don't even seem all that committed to musical theater, which is everything to Sharpay and Ryan</h2><div type="image" title="ryan and sharpay high school musical" height="720" width="960" msid="80369320" hostid="261"></div>For their audition, Ryan and Sharpay prepare their own arrangement for the song "What I've Been Looking For." They do their audition with full choreography, something that is not expected of most actors but definitely sets them apart as dedicated performers.Troy and Gabriella are late to the audition but don't actually face any negative consequences.Ms. Darbus (Alyson Reed) hands them a free pass and a callback when she overhears their late performance, which they didn't prepare for at all.This is an added slap in the face as we see fellow <a href="https://www.insider.com/the-best-disney-channel-original-movies-ranked-2019-7">Wildcats</a> poke fun at musical theater and Sharpay's love of it throughout the film. Chad (Corbin Bleu) says that the music in the show isn't "anything essential to culture," and talks about show tunes with a grimace on his face. Taylor (Monique Coleman) also tries to explain to Gabriella why her budding relationships with both Troy and musical theater is somewhat pointless compared to a focus on academics.And out of fear of being ridiculed, Troy initially hides his desire to pursue musical theater with Gabriella from his teammates.Gabriella isn't fully committed to musical theater (angering Sharpay) nor the academic decathlon (angering Taylor) — she is committed only to Troy and their potential relationship that's budding through this musical audition. <h2>The school comes together to help Troy and Gabriella get the leads while Sharpay and Ryan are actually working on their callback performance</h2>Sharpay eventually forces Troy and Gabriella to confront where their true priorities lie.She convinces Ms. Darbus to change the date of the callbacks, making it conflict with Gabriella and Troy's other after-school activities: <a href="https://www.insider.com/movies-to-watch-high-school-2018-6">the academic decathlon and an important basketball game.</a>But the light criticism Gabriella and Troy face for auditioning for a musical quickly ends and soon almost the entire school (sans Sharpay and Ryan) orchestrate a plan to help the lovebirds score a leading role. Composer Kelsi (Olesya Rulin), the Wildcats, and Taylor's academic team work together to hack the scoreboard during the game and cause an explosion in the academic decathlon so that Gabriella and Troy can make it to the callback.Meanwhile, they mock and never support Sharpay and Ryan's desire to achieve the same roles.Troy and Gabriella are late to the callbacks because of their other commitments, and Ms. Darbus makes a point when she tells them that "the theater waits for no one" and "rules are rules."Still, perhaps enamored by the sudden support of the musical-theater program by athletes and A-plus students, Ms. Darbus hears their callback audition and gives Troy and Gabriella the starring roles. <h2>Troy and Gabriella fall in love with each other, not musical theater</h2><div type="image" title="high school musical 3: senior year" height="1804" width="2712" msid="80369321" hostid="261"></div><a href="https://www.insider.com/best-and-worst-movie-series-that-ended-badly">By the time "High School Musical 3" (2008) rolls around</a>, Sharpay is still branded a villain for wanting to perform and do whatever it takes to pursue her dream career in musical theater.In the third film, the East High gang prepares a musical to celebrate their graduation and the stakes are high because Sharpay, Ryan, Kelsi, and Troy are competing for a Julliard scholarship.Troy didn't even apply to Julliard — Ms. Darbus sent in his application. But Gabriella and Troy bail on the musical halfway through and go to Stanford to work on their relationship and dance in the rain, or whatever. It proves what Sharpay knew all along: They don't prioritize theater the same way she does.As Sharpay focuses her heart and soul on theater, Gabriella and Troy view it with a wavering commitment.Sharpay even steps up to fill Gabriella's role while still dealing with her fellow Wildcats' lack of support. But Troy and Gabriella are hailed as the heroes of the school (again!) by doing the bare minimum — showing up last minute to perform a duet during act two of the musical. Our beloved protagonists go forth to study law and basketball (with a sprinkle of theater). Sharpay is gracious as she loses the Julliard scholarship to Ryan, and her hard work in musical theater lands her elsewhere, as seen in "Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure" (2011).But by the end of the trilogy, <a href="https://www.insider.com/the-worst-movies-from-the-cast-of-high-school-musical">Sharpay still carries a soured reputation</a> and Gabriella and Troy are never called out or penalized for their hypocritical, fickle commitment to theater.Above all, Sharpay was never the villain she's painted to be. She was just a high schooler with a passion for the arts, trying to stop her dream from being derailed by two lovebirds who just discovered they can sing and actually kinda like it.You can stream all of the "<keyword id="6354" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="High-school-musical" source="Orion">High School Musical</keyword>" movies with a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/disney-plus">Disney+</a> subscription:

In 'High School Musical,' Gabriella and Troy were always the real villains

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Director and choreographer <keyword id="278481" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kenny-Ortega">Kenny Ortega</keyword> revealed in a recent interview that the character of Ryan Evans in Disney's "<keyword id="6354" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="High-school-musical">High School Musical</keyword>" franchise would have come out as gay in college. </li><li>"The character of Ryan in 'High School Musical,' we decided he's probably going to come out in college," Ortega told Variety, adding that he wanted the character's "true colors" to come forward. </li><li>Ortega also revealed that he didn't think it was "possible" at the time of the <keyword id="6356021" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movie">movie</keyword>'s filming to have an openly gay character. </li><li>"I didn't think at the time — and Disney is the most progressive group of people I've ever worked with," he said.</li><li>But according to the director, there were subtle nods to Ryan's sexuality throughout all of the movies, even though the character wasn't openly gay. </li></ul>"High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega revealed in a <a href="https://variety.com/2020/film/news/director-kenny-ortega-pride-high-school-musical-1234694033/">recent interview</a> that the character Ryan Evans (Sharpay's twin brother in the popular Disney franchise) would have come out as gay in college. After being asked by Ramin Setoodeh of <a href="https://variety.com/2020/film/news/director-kenny-ortega-pride-high-school-musical-1234694033/">Variety</a> about the "queer aesthetic" that's present in many of his films, Ortega opened up about Lucas Grabeel's character Ryan, a musical theater-loving student whom many fans of the franchise believe to be gay. "We decided he's probably going to come out in college," Ortega said of Ryan. "It was less about coming out and just more about letting his true colors come forward." <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S-wSCKaHJ6Y" frameborder="0"></iframe>Ortega also revealed to Variety that he didn't think it was possible to have an openly gay character while making "High School Musical" in the mid-2000s. "I have to be honest with you. I didn't think at the time — and Disney is the most progressive group of people I've ever worked with," the director said. "I was concerned because it was family and kids, that Disney might not be ready to cross that line and move into that territory yet," Ortega continued. "So, I just took it upon myself to make choices that I felt that those who were watching would grab. They would see it, they would feel it, they would know it and they would identify with it. And that is what happened." On Twitter, some users weren't at all shocked by Ortega's announcement, citing a musical number from "High School Musical 2" in which Ryan and his classmate Chad (Corbin Bleu) play a game of baseball that fans consider to be "sexually charged." <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sBAN0S3rW_I" frameborder="0"></iframe><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—popo have beau (@cygruss) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/659883335418818560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—rose ♡ tyong (@_takuwu_) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1271995699635290112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Annabelle (@annielaw01) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/715601586429501440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2016</a></blockquote>Users also noted that Ryan and Chad inexplicably switch outfits after the number, something that's never explicitly mentioned in the rest of the film. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—sailorstevie (@sailorMEGATRON) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1278225352062631937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—shania²⁸ (@mysunflouwer) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1276044521118199808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—We’re the Realest and the Horrorshowiest (@Horrorshow__Pod) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1278348805512015872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—frandemic (@beckysbalboa) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1278221217921667072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ًsam loves keeg !! (@nvrnormalvinyl) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1278250396990033921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2020</a></blockquote>"High School Musical" was directed and choreographed by Ortega, and was first released on the Disney Channel in 2006. The film was an immediate success, and led to two sequels, "High School Musical 2" and "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," which received a theatrical release. <ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-cast-then-and-now-photos-2018-8">THEN AND NOW: The cast of the 'High School Musical' movies 14 years later</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/high-school-musical-movies-facts-2019-1">17 things you didn't know about the 'High School Musical' movies</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-worst-movies-from-the-cast-of-high-school-musical">The worst movies every actor from 'High School Musical' has been in</a></li></ul>

You Searched For "Lucas Grabeel" and got 12 results

Lucas Grabeel 'cried' when 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' called to tell him that Ryan Evans would come out as gay on the show, showrunner says

Rebecca Cohen

Even the stars of 'High School Musical' have no idea what the fictional 'Tinsel Towne' play was about

Olivia Singh

'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel won't stand for fans thinking Sharpay isn't the movie's villain: 'If anyone's a victim, it's Ryan'

Olivia Singh

'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel reveals his character Ryan did have a crush on another male character - but it wasn't Chad

Olivia Singh

'High School Musical' star Lucas Grabeel weighs in on a long-debated outfit swap between Ryan and Chad in the sequel

Olivia Singh

'High School Musical' stars Lucas Grabeel and Monique Coleman break down iconic scenes from the franchise 15 years later

Olivia Singh

Lucas Grabeel says he probably wouldn't play Ryan if 'High School Musical' was made today

Libby Torres

Members of the original 'High School Musical' cast and crew reunited for a group photo in Paris: 'Back with my Wildcat family!'

Gabi Stevenson

'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' star says season 4 will 'hit the field with nostalgia' amid speculation original cast will return

Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Monique Coleman reveals her 'High School Musical' character wore headbands because the crew didn't know how to style Black hair

Olivia Singh

In 'High School Musical,' Gabriella and Troy were always the real villains

Michele Theil

'High School Musical' director Kenny Ortega confirms Sharpay's brother Ryan is gay and was 'probably going to come out in college'

Libby Torres