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silverscreenmusicals · 3 years

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Every ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special’ Performance Ranked

In late 2019, Disney+ premiered the first season of the highly anticipated spin-off series ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’, based on the Disney Channel franchise ‘High School Musical’.

A year later, the series released its very first holiday special, in which the cast member detailed their favourite holiday memories whilst performing covers of some Christmas classics (including two originals).

Below is a ranking of every performance from the least good to the best of them all! These rankings are based on both the performance and the quality of each song. So let’s begin!

13. ‘Last Christmas’ - performed by Matt Cornett

Much like any Christmas musical special, a cover of the Wham classic was featured, and this time it was Matt Cornett (E.J. Caswell).

Whilst the vocals were fairly decent on this one, Cornett’s cover lacked the emotion, fun and vibrance that one would expect from a ‘Last Christmas’ performance. The song is known for either its high-tempo and exciting nature or its ability to captivate an audience with its emotional lyrics and somehow this version attempts neither of those.

The visuals appear to be based around Matt Cornett’s car, forcing us out of the Christmassy feel the song is used to giving off.

So with the fact that the visuals are pretty plain and how the performance lacks much feeling, ‘Last Christmas’ is unfortunately the worst performance from the special.

12. ‘Hanukkah Medley’ - performed by Julia Lester

Julia Lester is an incredibly talented cast member, but this performance doesn’t leave much to remember her by.

Although the medley of Hanukkah songs is decent, it is (at times) pitchy and awkward, with the performance being particularly plain.

Lester isn’t the show’s best dancer, but she is definitely a powerhouse vocalist, so perhaps she should have gone for something that could have showcased that instead of attempting a dance-pop number like this.

Saying that, the song on its own isn’t bad and is a fun pop song, but combined with the clunky visuals and uncomfortable-looking outfit, it doesn’t leave a great taste in your mouth after watching it.

11. ‘What Are You Doing New Years Eve?’ - performed by Kate Reinders and Mark St. Cyr

What is dubbed as Mark St. Cyr’s (Mr Mazarra) first televised musical performance, the Margaret Whiting cover is a fun and decent addition to the Holiday special.

We witness a cute few minutes of Kate Reinders (Miss Jenn) and Mark St. Cyr calling each other on the phone and singing to one another.

Whilst there’s nothing that is vocally spectaculor, Cyr and Reinders put on a corny cute performance together with their quirk and great chemistry.

10. ‘White Christmas’ - performed by Larry Saperstein

With his background in theatre, there’s no surprise that Larry Saperstein (Big Red) is able to pull of a great performance. Throughout the number we see Saperstein setting up the stage and then donning a suit and tie as he takes on the Christmas classic.

The performance is sweet, and the vocals are nice, but it appears to lack much beyond that. Saying that, it’s not a bad performance overall, it just isn’t quite as good as the rest of the special, so for that reason, it’s our 10th best of the group.

9. ‘Little Saint Nick’ - performed by Joshua Bassett and Matt Cornett

The second Matt Cornett song of the special delivers a lot more than his solo. This duet with Joshua Bassett (Ricky Bowen) is a fresh and vibrant take on the Beach Boys classic, whilst not straying away from the boisterous vibes from the original.

The visuals also follow suit with the song, and whilst they’re not the most re-playable of clips, it’s still a fun and sweet performance attached to a vibrant song.

8. ‘This Christmas (Hang All the Mistletoe)’ - performed by Sofia Wylie

Kicking off the show we see Sofia Wylie take on Donny Hathaway’s song ‘This Christmas (Hang All the Mistletoe)’. Wylie is known as the show’s best dancer - by a mile - whilst also being a pretty decent singer, and this number is a great example of both of those.

The performance has its slight downfall with the vocals being slightly off at points, but when that happens, she makes up for it with her great dancing and camera presence.

A Sofia Wylie number would be expected to rank a little higher than her performance did here, but nonetheless her cover was still enjoyable. A more dance-focused visual may have been more beneficial for the young starlet, but this cover still does its job, and starts the special off to a wonderful beginning.

7. ‘Feliz Navidad’ - performed by Joe Serafini and Frankie Rodriguez

Out of the three duets of the special, this ranks highest as the chemistry, visuals and vocals carry this performance to better heights.

Joe Serafini (Seb Matthew-Smith) and Frankie Rodriguez (Carlos Rodriguez) are the show’s most underrated couple, as their characters lack the screen time of many others but still manage to make the most of it regardless. The same can be said here in this exciting cover of José Feliciano’s Christmas hit.

Much like Julia Lester, the two probably would have found a better result with a ballad, but unfortunately not everybody could be given that opportunity. Still, Serafini and Rodriguez knock it out the park with this amusing and cutesy cover, which is combined with adorable visuals of the two decorating a Christmas tree.

6. ‘That’s Christmas To Me’ - performed by Kate Reinders, Julia Lester, Frankie Rodriguez and Joe Serafini

In this thrilling Pentatonix cover we see four of the show’s best vocalists prove their place in this programme here. This cover features no instruments other than the vocals of the four performers, and it’s clear that they don’t need anything else.

Serafini is the standout of the group, but that isn’t to take away from the talent of the rest of them. The four vocalists create a perfectly spine-tingling cover that is both sweet and enticing.

5. ‘The Perfect Gift’ - performed by Joshua Bassett

Another original song that also features on the show’s second season is Joshua Bassett’s ‘The Perfect Gift’, which he also wrote. This song is one of the standouts from the soundtrack, giving the romantic, coddling vibe that we’re so used to Ricky and Nini offering.

The lyrics of the song are sweet and warm, proving that ‘The Perfect Gift’ is a song that can easily become its own Christmas classic - and Bassett’s charming vocals make sure of it. This is a phenomenal song that one can imagine being serenaded with by the fireplace on a cold, Winter evening.

Its one letdown are the visuals, which could do with more ambitious B-roll, but other than that, ‘The Perfect Gift’ makes us even more exciting for the sophomore season.

4. ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ - performed by Dara Reneé

Vocally, this is the greatest song on the soundtrack. Dara Reneé (Kourtney Greene) hits every note and makes sure that the “replay” button is hit repeatedly.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that the visuals only feature two different shots and are combined with the closing credits, this performance isn’t placed as high as the song deserved.

'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ has been covered by some of the greatest musical icons of all time, including Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis and Michael Bublé and - it appears that Reneé can find her place on that top 3 podium (sorry, Bublé).

3. ‘Something In The Air’ - performed by the cast of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’

One of the two original songs from the special, ‘Something In The Air’ is actually a part of the second season; the Drama Club creates an Instagram page and uses this to attract more viewers to the page.

The song itself is very Disney Channel-esque (in a good way), giving very similar vibes to ‘Set It Off’ from ‘Descendants’. But what really brings the tune together are the ambitious “one-take” visuals. It definitely took more than one take, and each scene is also most definitely not filmed consecutively, but that doesn’t retract from how seamless each transition is and how much hard work went into perfecting each shot.

Sofia Wylie is the clear star of the performance with her breathtaking dancing, whilst everyone else delivers with their impeccable timing and impeccable energy.

The song is fun, but the visuals are even greater, making ‘Something In The Air’ one of the special’s best numbers.

2. ‘River’ - performed by Olivia Rodrigo

This Joni Mitchell song has been covered by Ellie Goulding, Lea Michele, and many more, and much like Reneé’s take on ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’, this deserves the same recognition as its predecessors.

Olivia Rodrigo (Nini Salazar-Roberts) can be given a piano and a microphone and create some of the greatest Disney musical magic we’ve seen, and her cover of ‘River’ is the epitome of that.

Her chilling vocals and solemn emotion gives this sad festive classic the mood it deserves, and makes us almost wish it were a part of the show’s canon with how sentimental Rodrigo makes it feel. This is a standout on the soundtrack, and definitely worth revisiting again and again.

1. ‘Believe’ performed by Dara Reneé

If it were possible, we’d rename this show ‘The Dara Reneé Show’ as both of her performances take our breath away. Reneé’s cover of Josh Groban’s ‘The Polar Express’ song is the best song of the special. It is thrilling, emotive, and proves just how talented the young star is.

Reneé proved in the freshman season of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ that she is one of (if not, the) best performer out of the cast, and if anyone were to ask you why you think that, ‘Believe’ would be your proof.

This stunning cover comes with so much charm and a fabulous set that it leaves no room for questioning why it is the best performance of the night.

What did you think of the special? Do you agree with these rankings? What performance was your favourite? Let us know!

‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special’ is available to stream right now on Disney+!

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hsmtmtsnet · 4 years

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Hey, Wildcats, warm up those pipes because High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is coming back!

While season 2 of the Disney+ musical comedy is still a ways off from premiering, the cast of HSMTMTS is teaming up for a holiday treat, High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, that will drop Friday, Dec. 11 on the streaming service, ET has learned.

If that's not enough to stir up excitement, the holiday special will also feature a first look at the opening performance of season 2, which will take on Beauty and the Beast as the in-series musical production, and an original song written and performed by Joshua Bassett that will be featured in the new season.

In the 45-minute special, which was produced and filmed in four different cities during quarantine, series stars Bassett, Olivia Rodrigo, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr and Kate Reinders perform some of their favorite Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's songs.

The cast will also share their fondest holiday memories from childhood, the best and most embarrassing presents they received, favorite traditions, never-before-seen family photos and New Year's resolutions.

As for Bassett's original song, which he wrote specifically for season 2, it will be holiday-themed. He will perform an acoustic version in the holiday special. This is 19-year-old Bassett's second professional songwriting credit, following the season 1 ballad, "Just for a Moment," which he co-wrote with Rodrigo.

"The holidays remind us of the universal importance of family and loved ones," said HSMTMTS executive producer Tim Federle, who also produced and directed the special. "The cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is its own kind of family, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to share their favorite holiday music and traditions with our viewers."

A holiday soundtrack featuring tunes performed by the cast in the special will be available Friday, Nov. 20 wherever you stream or purchase music.

Originally set to debut in late 2020 before COVID-19 delayed HSMTMTS' planned winter premiere, the 12-episode sophomore season will feature the East High drama department's production of a beloved Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast. Iconic musical numbers from the High School Musical movie franchise, as well as the stage production of Beauty and the Beast and original songs, will be spotlighted throughout the season. Filming was completed on the first two episodes before the pandemic shut down production in Salt Lake City, Utah. Derek Hough joins the cast as Miss Jenn's ex-boyfriend and rival drama teacher at North High.

#hsmtmts #news

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thotyssey · 5 years

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Monday (1.14.2018)

UPTOWN

TOOLBOX: Charity bingo (9pm)

SUITE: Glam Gavin’s karaoke (10pm)

BOXERS WH: Latin night with Chachita (10pm)

HELL’S KITCHEN

SONY HALL: 20th Annual GLAM Awards (8pm)

POSH: DJ Xavier Mazara (9pm)

HARDWARE: Paige Turner & Vicky Boofont (10pm)

THERAPY: Marti Gould Cummings hosts STAGE FRIGHT with David Burkta & Kate Reinders (10pm)

RITZ: DJ John Marto with Nick Gaga (10pm)

ATLAS SOCIAL CLUB: Musical Mondays (10pm)

VSBU: “Reel Thirsty Mondays” movie viewing (10pm)

RISE: Jasmine Rice & Pissi Myles (11pm)

INDUSTRY: Tina Burner & friends (11pm)

EAST SIDE

EVOLVE: STRIPPED MONDAYS (4pm)

UNCLE CHARLIE’S: Live piano (8pm)

MC 58 BAR: Sarah Glassman (10pm)

CHELSEA

REBAR: MARQUEE MONDAYS with Sherry Pie & Danny Marandola (9pm)

EAGLE NYC: Foot Fetish Night (10pm)

BARRACUDA: Brenda Dharling (midnight)

WEST VILLAGE

STONEWALL: Bingo with Kenny Dash (8pm)

ROCKBAR: "Gayz Got Singing” competition hosted by Clarice DuBois (9pm)

PIECES: MoMo Shade, Kandy Muse & Janelle No. 5 (9pm); Shequida’s DRAG WARS (10pm)

MONSTER: DJ Nesto (10pm)

DUPLEX: Chandilier (11pm)

EAST VILLAGE

THE COCK: PLAYPEN underwear party feat. Kareem McJagger (9pm)

NOWHERE: MACHO MONDAYS (9pm)

CLUB CUMMING: Pianist Lance Horne (9pm)

BROOKLYN

HOLLER: Bingo with Whendy Whaxwood (8pm)

ROSEMONT: Karaoke (10pm)

METROPOLITAN BAR: HOT FRUIT feat. Will Sheridan & DJ ECON with Ruby Fox & Le Petit Dumdum (10pm)

MACRI PARK: Ruby Roo & Ragamuffin (midnight)

3 DOLLAR BILL: TBA

QUEENS

TRUE COLORS: Poker happy hour (5pm)

ICON: Nicole Onoscopi (9pm)

ALBATROSS: Karaoke with Jacklynn Hyde (9pm)

HOMBRES LOUNGE: Latin party (10pm)

CLUB EVOLUTION: Latin part feat. Laura Martinez (10pm)

NEW JERSEY

PARADISE: Cee’Mour Cox’s DRAG WARS (10pm)

COMING UP: SAVE THE DATE

Full List Here

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actutrends · 4 years

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‘HSM’ Alum Lucas Grabeel Teases His ‘HSMTMTS’ Cameo & Why He Was ‘Scared’ About It At First

Exclusive Interview

December 26, 2019 5: 00PM EST

‘High School Musical’ star Lucas Grabeel will be guest-starring on the Dec. 27 episode of ‘HSMTMTS’ and HL spoke EXCLUSIVELY with Lucas about performing onscreen again, the next generation of ‘HSM’ stars and more.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is about to get a heavy dose of nostalgia. Lucas Grabeel, who played the iconic Ryan Evans in the High School Musical movies, will be guest-starring on the Dec. 27 episode titled “The Tech Rehearsal.” He’ll be performing the song “Role of a Lifetime” with Miss Jenn, played by Kate Reinders. HollywoodLife talked EXCLUSIVELY with Lucas about stepping back into the High School Musical world. “The idea that I would be coming in as a cameo and it would be this dream sequence and inspiring the drama teacher, Miss Jenn, to really focus on the kids and make it about them and help them with their dreams with putting on the show and everything, I loved it,” Lucas told HollywoodLife. “I thought it was great. This whole idea that I play a kind of amalgamation of myself and the dream sequence and Ryan kind of all mixed together was really interesting and fun. I loved the song and got to play around with that and with everybody on set and everything. It was great. I was on board right away.”

However, Lucas did admit he was nervous about performing again. “I was really scared because it’s been so long and music has changed a little bit since High School Musical,” he continued. “I didn’t hear any of the other songs that they were doing for the show. I was a little nervous but once I heard it, I thought it was perfect. It has the right amount of cheese, the right amount of heart, the right amount of vocal fun and technicalities. It’s such a fun number to do. I was really excited to jump into the studio and start to play.” Lucas also added that he took this cameo “very seriously and I wanted to do the absolute very best that I could. Also, I hadn’t danced in a while, I hadn’t sung in a while onscreen, so it was something that I worked really hard and trained for beforehand so that I was ready.”

The Disney series stars a talented crew of young actors and Lucas said that the cast gave him such a “warm welcome” when he was on set. “I felt so at ease as soon as I got there and the kids were so amazing,” he gushed. “They’re so talented and so warm and welcoming and loving and fun. In between each take they would all run to the piano and start playing songs and harmonize with each other.” Lucas also talked about how the cast is well aware of how the original High School Musical cast paved the way for them. “I could tell how grateful they were to be there and how special they knew it was,” Lucas told HollywoodLife. “They said things like, ‘We just want this to be okayed by you guys, and we want to do you proud and want to carry the torch in a positive way. We don’t want to take over anything that isn’t ours and all of that.’ I was just like, ‘Well, you didn’t need to say that but that was really sweet of you.’ It was just an excellent disposition to have.”

For the performance, Lucas shot in an auditorium in Utah where he had filmed a previous project. The cameo was nostalgic in more ways than one. “I’ve made over 10 movies in Utah, including the High School Musical movies, so I knew more than half of the crew members and all of the people around,” Lucas said. “It was definitely a homecoming and even staying in the same hotel that I stayed in when we made the first High School Musical, it was really great to have that as the base because I was a little nervous coming back in as well to do a good job because they asked me to come back and this is a big deal.”

Lucas Grabeel guest stars on the Dec. 27 episode of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.’ (Disney / Fred Hayes)

Lucas Grabeel with Kate Reinders in the Dec. 27 episode. (Disney / Fred Hayes)

So, could we see Lucas pop up on the series again as a guest star? He weighed in on the possibility: “I mean, in general, of course it would be great. But story-wise I think it’s kind of played. I think that in the capacity that I came back, especially as this dream sequence thing, I think it’s better if it’s just one, but I don’t know. If there was some way for me to put on a mask and come back and be a different character and work with these people again, I totally would do it. Maybe in another capacity that could happen. I put story and character first when it comes to that kind of stuff and I feel like it would cheapen it a little bit.” New episodes of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series premiere Fridays on Disney .

The post ‘HSM’ Alum Lucas Grabeel Teases His ‘HSMTMTS’ Cameo & Why He Was ‘Scared’ About It At First appeared first on Actu Trends.

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jeremystrele · 5 years

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Take A Stroll Through The TDF Design Awards Landscape Design Finalists!

TDF Design Awards

by Lucy Feagins, Editor

Mud Office, New Street Brighton. Photo – Shannon McGrath.

Mud Office – New Street, Brighton

Mud Office have created this generous private residential garden in Melbourne’s bayside, designed to accommodate a kids play space, kitchen garden, and characteristic Brighton icon – the Canary Island Palm. The elegance of the home is reflected in the generous, dramatic landscaping, that incorporates a bluestone cobbled driveway, club house, weeping elm and bespoke copper tap for water play. Garden beds provide links between different zones, including a kitchen garden that runs along the northern side of the home.

Clapham Landscape Architecture – The Enchanted Garden

Landscape architecture as an invitational gesture – this garden by Clapham Landscape Architecture welcomes visitors to the Yarra Bend development by following the curve of the river, and creating a lush secluded environment. Pedestrians and cyclists enter the new precinct in Alphington to a site of native flora and fauna. The sounds of the local river are played throughout the site to enhance the sensory experience.

Clapham Landscape Architecture, The Enchanted Garden. Photo – Alex Reinders.

Phillip Withers Landscape Design, Portsea Garden. Photo – Amelia Stanwix.

Phillip Withers Landscape Design – Portsea Garden

A beach house connects to its surrounds through the introduction of native coastal flora by the Phillip Withers Landscape Design, and weaves links between the architecture and environment. This Portsea home offers an escape from the city, and the garden is designed to soften the architecture and connect to the salty breeze surrounds. The outdoor entertaining decking area floats above the group, and provides a feeling of sitting within the stunning landscape.

Kate Seddon Landscape Design – Pavilion Courtyard

A corner pub is transformed into a family home, with a hidden courtyard garden by Kate Seddon providing a surprise oasis behind the high walls. This secret garden offers a transition from the main living space to the boundary garden bed. In a 15 x 3.5m space, the landscape architects have cleverly included an area for lounge seating and a narrow planting zone.

Kate Seddon Landscape, Pavilion Courtyard. Photo – Rob Blackburn Photography.

Mud Office, Waterdale Road. Photo – Erik Holt.

Mud Office – Waterdale Road

A relaxed and multi-zoned residential garden designed by Mud Office to encourage outdoor living, including dining, cooking and an inviting entry to welcome guests. The landscape design is inspired by the site, which sits at the crest of a hill. This sense of elevation and the surrounding views were central to connecting the modular home extension with the local environment.

Alexandra Farrington & Alfalfa Landscape Architecture + Design – East Pilbara Arts Centre

This purpose built gallery space by Alexandra Farrington & Alfalfa Landscape Architecture + Design for the Martu communities is inspired by the red desert sand of the East Pilbara, and offers a blurred threshold between inside and the rolling landscape. The designers replaced the existing gallery on site, to create a purpose built space for Martu artists to paint and exhibit.

Alexandra Farrington & Alfalfa Landscape Architecture + Design, East Pilbara Arts Centre. Photo – Rob Frith.

Rush Wright Architects, Victoria Comprehensive Cancer Council. Photo – Michael Wright.

Rush Wright Associates – Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Council

Rush Wright Associates have created a pocket of rainforest and calming rest spaces that reflect a new holistic approach to health care and design. The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Council north terrace reinforces the key principle that biodiversity is the essential platform for human health, and the need for this beyond-human experience to be reflected in modern medicine.

Muir & Openwork – Doubleground

A multi-disciplinary team of Muir Architecture and Openwork takes on an ambitious brief from the NGV, to create an intervention that merging the lines between walls and gardens and invites visitors to engage with the civic space. The commission is located in the Grollo Equiset Garden and was constructed using low impact design and construction methodologies. The project intervenes into the space, and seeks to challenge to role of the garden.

Openwork & MUIR Architecture, Doubleground. Photo – Peter Bennetts.

Lisa Ellis Gardens, The Eastern Terrace. Photo – Erik Holt.

Lisa Ellis Gardens – The Eastern Terrace

An intimate, multi-zone garden for an urban setting by Lisa Ellis Gardens. This garden brings a minimal space to life with lush planting and a clever use of zoning to create space, that extends from the apartment. The garden is separated into three zones, to provide a sense of scale of purpose and a ‘living pergola’ draped in greenery offers screening, shade, and thermal comfort.

Elizabeth Prater – The Sir George

An oasis of planned spaces are created by Elizabeth Prater within formally styled garden rooms, at a Hotel and Boutique accommodation. The Sir George project balances intimate focal points and sprawling vistas to accommodate weddings, large parties, and family friendly play areas. The formerly derelict garden and pub has become a significant attraction in the last two years.

The Landscape Design Award is presented by Eco Outdoor.

Eco Outdoor specialises in natural stone flooring and walling, together with outdoor furniture and fabrics to create an inspiring life outdoors. Eco Outdoor are committed to innovative products that maintain integrity and quality, and possess an organic aesthetic that transcend styles and age gracefully.

Elizabeth Prater, The Sir George. Photo – Rachael Lenehan.

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twxlfthstuff · 3 years

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High School Musical: The Musical The Series Christmas icons

Open for requests

Reblog/like if you save it. Tag me if you use it (@doctordiscoz on tt)

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hsmtmtsnet · 4 years

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Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme...

It's official! The spring musical the East High drama students will be putting on in season two of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series will be a beloved Disney classic: Beauty and the Beast.

Expected to debut in late 2020, the Disney+ series' upcoming 12-episode season will continue to feature iconic musical numbers from the High School Musical movie franchise, as well as the stage production of Beauty and the Beast. Like season one, which premiered new original songs such as "Just for a Moment," expect the sophomore season to include new bops.

"The outpouring of love and support for season one has been incredibly exciting, and I’m thrilled that the Wildcats are putting on Beauty and the Beast in season two," said creator Tim Federle. "It was one of the first Broadway shows I ever saw, when I was 14, and it's got all the perfect metaphors for the high school experience: Do people judge me for how I look? What is true love? Will I achieve the future I dream of? And, perhaps most importantly, it's got dancing forks."

Filming has already begun in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Following the freshman finale, Federle spoke to ET about whether he would be veering away from using High School Musical 2 as the framework for the second season (and High School Musical 3 for a hypothetical third season) as the series' in-show musical production.

"Definitely not abandoning. There are so many great songs in this entire franchise that I wouldn't be surprised if somehow we heard some of these, but in terms of expanding the universe, it's going to be hard for me to go past three seasons and all we did was High School Musical. And so I think even loosening some of the self-reference [would be nice]," Federle said in January.

"There will always be the Zac [Efron] and Vanessa [Hudgens] generation. And we really tried hard, not only to not take anything away from that but rather to celebrate that moment in time. But to get to the end of the season and see the internet light up about Carlos and Seb and Ricky and Nini and Gina and Kourtney and Big Red and Ashlyn has given me the strength and confidence to truly lean into saying this is a new generation, both as an audience and as a group of actors. There's over a thousand musicals a year that get done at high schools across the country. So why shouldn't we have our pick?"

Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr and Kate Reinders star in the series.

#hsmtmts #articles

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hsmtmtsnet · 4 years

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“Do you see why we love the theatre, people?” an over-serious drama teacher once exclaimed. (Her name was Ms. Darbus and she is an icon for High School Musical lovers.) Well, Disney+ has given us a new reason to love the theatre: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

The Disney+ series, created by Broadway scribe Tim Federle, takes place at “the real” East High—where the original High School Musical was filmed. The students there have never put on a production of High School Musical: The Musical, but the new drama teacher, played by Broadway’s Kate Reinders, rectifies that toot suite. Filmed mockumentary style, the show features confessionals with the teens in the cast and teachers in the halls about the drama onstage and off.

Joshua Bassett and Olivia Rodrigo, play Ricky and Nini—the most shippable couple since Cory and Topanga. When HSMTMTS kicks off, the students are just back from summer break and Ricky and Nini are back from their own break. You see, Nini told Ricky she loved him (in the earworm of a love ballad “I Think I Kinda Ya Know”) but Ricky, reeling from his parents’ separation, couldn’t say it back and instead said they should take a pause. Nini went off to drama camp and found a new leading man; but now Ricky wants her back. When Nini sets out to audition for Gabriella in East High’s High School Musical, Ricky decides to win her back by auditioning for Troy.

The new series, which wrapped filming in Salt Lake City in August, has transcended the original—and its musical stage adaptation—with its purity of heart and musical theatre excellence. The cast, including Bassett (now 19) and Rodrigo (now 16), often sing live and give new meaning to no marking full out in showstopping dance routines. Over the course of nine episodes thus far, HSMTMTS has proven ridiculously relatable and sharply witty.

Before the Season 1 finale hits the streaming service January 10, Playbill spoke to Rodrigo and Bassett about life on set, creating fresh characters, writing original music for the series, and what to expect in Season 2.

Did you grow up with High School Musical or was it something that you were actually too young for? Olivia Rodrigo: I totally grew up watching this film. I had High School Musical lunchboxes, and I had Troy and Gabriella Barbie Dolls and the whole shebang. I went back and re-watched all the movies once I booked the role with fresh eyes and a new mature perspective. It’s really amazing. I was just always such a musical kid and so watching Troy and Gabriella burst out into song on my TV was just such a magical experience. Joshua Bassett: I was so young when I first saw it that I do not remember. I honestly started seeing it before I was capable of making memories. Josh, were you always drawn to musicals as a kid, or more drawn to music? Bassett: Definitely both. The music was my favorite part of the musicals, but I did everything from obviously High School Musical [as J.V. Jock #2]. I did Peter Pan, I was Peter Pan, but I also was Chip in Beauty in the Beast. I was the White Rabbit in Alice and Wonderland. I was a random tree in The Wizard of Oz. My dad is a musician, so that’s pretty much in my blood. My sister started doing musical theatre before I could even remember. When I was old enough to do it, there was no question. It was like, “Well, of course I’m going to do it.”

In the beginning of the series, Ricky’s friend Big Red says to Ricky, who is clearly a musician—carrying around his guitar—”I thought you hated musicals.” You are the kid who scoffs at musicals, but loves music. Do you think about the gap in people’s minds between music and musicals and how this series might ingratiate them towards musical theatre? Bassett: I love that question because I think there’s a stigma in general about musical theatre, but specifically for guys. A lot of guys probably think, “Oh, musical? That’s lame.” But musicals are pretty awesome. One of my favorite things [was when] two eight and nine-year-old boys ran up to me and they were like, “Oh my gosh. I love your show. I sing all the songs all the time.” I just thought that was the sweetest, most awesome thing—to be inspiring younger boys to do it and not be afraid. What’s really cool is how people can see Troy Bolton, who plays basketball, who’s also in musical theatre, and now Ricky Bowen, who’s a skater and “Oh, he’s too cool for musical theatre,” but he does it for love and then finds out he loves musical theatre just as much.

Was your audition like a musical theatre audition? Bassett: Well, the walls [were] paper thin. There’s like 10 people before me. You can hear them all belting out these insane showtunes. I was just like, “Oh, boy. Everyone’s going to have to hear me sing when I go in there.” [On my final audition] I actually sang three songs in that one: a Bruno Mars song [“Count on Me”] and then I sang a song that I wrote, and then I actually sang a another song that I had written for this girl to ask her to homecoming, on the ukulele. Rodrigo: I went in and did the sides, and sang “Price Tag” by Jessie J, and they had me sing a song with Joshua, to test our chemistry, and we just love each other so much. So it was electric from that first audition. Bassett: “Count on Me” ended up being the song that—once I got the role—they had Olivia and a bunch of girls come in and sing and read for the role of Nini. I was like, “Do you know this song?” She said, “Sure.” We literally stepped inside an office and I stole a guitar from a girl in the waiting room and we just worked out a quick rendition of “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars. She just figured out the harmony in literally one minute in a random executive’s office. Olivia knocked it out of the park and I think that’s when everyone knew it was the right fit. Rodrigo: We really got to know each other after we auditioned, we spent six months in Utah together and that’s really great. He’s my best friend. To be able to work with him every day and sing songs with him, and write with him, and act with him, is just amazing. And he inspires me as a performer as well as just a person. I wouldn’t rather do it with anybody else. Bassett: I don’t want to say it was fate, but honestly, part of me feels like there was something that just got us in the same place at the same time. We just instantly connected on multiple different levels. There was just magic in there. Rodrigo: Funny story. I knew Joshua before, but he claimed that he didn’t remember meeting me, which he did many times, and I still give him crap for it.

What was it like to discover and form these new characters over the course of the season? Bassett: The description of Ricky is basically me. I read it and I was like, “What? Who’s following me around and writing about my life?” The way he operates things and how he has problems with saying he loves people and all that stuff. I definitely can relate to that in my life. Rodrigo: Nini was a character that was so similar to me already. It’s written very authentically. I actually think that the writers though, have taken some bits of my life and put it into Nini’s. If not, then they’re just like psychics and they are just good at writing and doing their job. I was on the phone with my best friend talking about how unconfident I had been feeling and she was talking to me and she said, “Oh, Olivia, you’ve never felt this way before you started dating guys.” Next week, Courtney goes [to Nini], “Oh, you wouldn’t have been this unconfident if you didn’t let guys have such a monopoly over your brain.” And now, Tim was asking me about some experiences that I had with growing up in creativity and he said that he was going to have Nini experience that in Season 2.

Josh, what do you most commune with in Ricky? And, Olivia, for you with Nini? Bassett: He comes up with this outlandish plan to win [Nini] back and to last-minute go and audition for the musical and everything. Obviously, that can tie back to the homecoming thing. This girl that I wanted to ask to homecoming, she rejected three guys who asked her prior. I was like, “Okay. I’ve really got to go big or go home here.” So that night, I stayed up all night and I wrote the song. Then I bought her flowers. Me and my friends drove over to her house. I knocked on her door and sang the song. I just went for it. That mentality is what I definitely connected to with Ricky. Rodrigo: Nini is very confused throughout most of the first season and I was definitely very confused filming the first season, as well. Growing up is just hard. And being a girl in the 21st century, not knowing what boys are good for you, and how to communicate your feelings, and if you’re good enough to have received all these opportunities that you have been given… I think that me and Nini are just sharing these experiences in real time, so it was really an honor to play that.

We grew up with princess movies and women who needed the man to rescue them and then we swung so far the other way with “I don’t need anyone,” so to see Nini negotiating relationships was refreshing. Rodrigo: It’s definitely more realistic. It’s like, “Oh, I don’t need a man.” But it’s like, “Are you really going to do that?” Or is it, “I’m confident with myself and a man”? Is just like to be able to augment my amazingness? What have you learned from inhabiting Nini? Rodrigo: Nini handles tough situations with a lot of grace, and I think that I want to try to be more like her in that regard. She’s always kind to people and always knows what she wants and not afraid to say it. That’s a great thing to be confident in yourself that whatever life throws at you, you can handle it with love and respect.

As a musical series, you guys have experts in Tim Federle and Kate Reinders. What have you learned from working with them? Bassett: Fun fact. Me and my siblings went to New York in I want to say 2016, maybe even 2015. We saw Something Rotten!. My sister saved the Playbill—they save all the Playbills. It turns out we saw Kate Reinders in Something Rotten! on Broadway years and years ago. Didn’t find that out until about halfway through the filming process. Rodrigo: All of my cast members are teaching me about musical theatre. We did a press tour in New York and we all went to Dear Evan Hansen together and Jagged Little Pill. It was Matt Cornett’s—who plays E.J.—his first Broadway show and so all of us kind of got to teach him this is what happens. He was just so in awe. Bassett: One of the really unique things about this show is it feels like we’re in a musical in the sense that we have the same kind of spirit, we’re this team effort. I think that mirrors the theatre community that you don’t often see in Hollywood. I always say Kate Reinders is the mother of the show. She is the emotional backbone for all of us because she has so much spirit in that world. [HSMTMTS] has the heart of musical theatre with the scale of a TV show.

And you guys often sing live! Was that nerve-wracking? Liberating? Bassett: That was a thousand times more liberating. It’s funny. I booked the job and then my first session, I talked to the head of music at Disney and was like, “Are we going to sing live on the show? Because they did that for La La Land. They did a lot of live scenes and stuff, and I just think that it’d be really cool.” I was already pitching the idea. Tim is actually our biggest champion in that.

The chemistry crackles when you guys sing live—just like it did in Episode 8 during that emotional scene where we learn the origin of Nini’s name. What was it like shooting such an intimate moment? Rodrigo: I actually have always been curious about the origin of Nini’s name and Tim had always been coy about like where it came from, but it’s one of his friend’s sister’s names, I think. This bond that Ricky and Nini have is just so sweet and loving and they’re with each other as friends forever. You know they’re friends first and they are there for each other.

What was your favorite scene to shoot in Season 1? Bassett: My favorite scene to shoot in the show so far was in Episode 10. It was one of the best moments I’ve ever had in my acting career. It was liberating and exciting. Tim actually gave me the freedom to improvise. They kept the tape that I improvised on, so I’m expecting a writer credit. No, I’m just kidding. That scene was very special to me. I think people are going to love it. Rodrigo: I love doing group scenes cause I get to hang out with everybody and we’re all just such a big family. There’s so much laughter and love. Filming “Born to be Brave” was amazing and all the other cast members came to watch and it was like 11 o’clock at night but they came on their day off to come watch us film this number and my best friend was in from L.A. She flew in for this number and afterwards it was 1AM and we all went to IHOP. It was one of the most magical days of filming.

What this teaches me is that it is a universal truth that after you do a musical you go to a diner. Rodrigo: They actually make a joke about that as the last episode.

You both wrote songs for Season 1. Olivia, I came across that song that you wrote when you were six and I’m like, “She was writing songs when she was six?” Was it always second nature to you both? Rodrigo: I have old notebooks, just chock-full lyrics that I’ve written when I was super young and you could barely read and write. I love singing and expression and emotion. It’s really cool that I get to write for the show on such a large scale. I can’t believe they let a teenager do that. Bassett: I was constantly creating ... Most of them were just jokes and me and my sisters being goofs, but I was constantly at the piano, coming up with these dumb short snippets of things. Just allowing myself to do whatever I wanted. It didn’t matter. No one was going to hear them. I did not know what I was doing. I could fake it enough, although I still don’t know what I’m doing, by the way.

Olivia, you wrote “All I Want” on your own. Were you given the context of that song before writing it? Rodrigo: We filmed that song as a reshoot, so we filmed all 10 episodes and then Tim came up to me and said, “I think Nini might need a song in Episode 4.” They let me do it because nobody is going Nini like I know Nini.

Do you start from lyrics? Do you start from music? Rodrigo: It changes from song to song. Usually for me they come at the same time. I’ll find the chords that I like and then put lyrics to them and maybe a thought. You wrote “Just for a Moment” for Episode 9 together, but I know you wrote it early on in the season before you knew where the song or the story would go. How was that, writing blind? Rodrigo: We were just shooting in the dark a little bit and it was a strange experience. That was the first time either of us had co-written a song. I would kick out stuff on the piano and send a voice memo to Josh, and he would do the same. We finally decided on a melody that we liked, and then came together and camped out in my apartment for a day and wrote all the lyrics. He wrote his character’s lyrics, and I wrote Nini’s lyrics. We were a little bit stubborn and it was hard to work with each other sometimes. It was such a great learning experience. I’m so inspired by Josh and I learned a lot from him and I hope that he learned something from me.

What skills have you been honing in the songwriting process now, working in a professional environment? Rodrigo: It’s definitely a whole different ballgame, writing for Disney and I’m writing knowing that the song that I write is going to be consumed by people. Writing something with that knowledge is a little bit daunting, at first, and it’s kind of hard to be vulnerable when you know that people are going to listen to it. Bassett: I think the important thing is to just not take it too seriously. I think people put this expectation on themselves. “I need to write a hit. I need to be honest.” Just be honest and be yourself. Don’t put any expectations on the product. Everything will work out.

Looking back at season one as a whole, what is most important for you to carry in to Season 2? Rodrigo: We filmed Season 1 in such isolation and we didn’t really know what was going to happen to the show. We knew that we felt super passionate about it. After seeing the response, I love seeing people really resonate with the themes that I find really important, like LGBTQ representation, truthful teenager stories, with people that might not look like she’s the average movie star but actually look like a real teenager that one would see at their high school. Bassett: I think what’s really neat about this cast is that you would not believe the hidden talents that everyone in this cast has. It is mind-blowing. Every single day on set, we’ll find something out about someone. Like, “Wait. You do this, too?” So I think as Tim and the writers found that out more, I think they’re going to write more things that cater to us as actors that we can incorporate into our characters. I’m really excited to help shine the spotlight on everyone else.

As the next chapter of the High School Musical anthology and canon, what does that feeling and what do you hope the impact of it is on other kids now or other audiences in general? Rodrigo: High School Musical and musical theatre, in general, has always been a safe haven for people who have felt like outcasts or felt weird or different. This show acts as just yet another place for people to feel they belong and for people to feel represented. I think that’s a really lovely thing and I’m really happy that we get to portray that.

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