D23 trailer: High School Musical: The Musical…The series?

So High School Musical: The Musical: The Series won’t be a remake of High School Musical. Well then, what will it be about? Let’s chat about that trailer and find out.

First there was High School Musical (way back in 2006, mind you). Shortly thereafter there was the stage adaptation. Of course then there were the next two films in the High School Musical epic trilogy. And now, now there’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

No typo, that’s the full name of the series. Let me explain why.

First of all, the tagline Disney+ (who will be playing host to the series starting on Nov. 12) is going with is “Not a reboot. Not a sequel. The start of something new.” And, after watching the below trailer just released at D23 (per Deadline), I understand why.

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This isn’t some attempt to make High School Musical into a series. Rather, it’s a series about the high school where the movie was shot and the kids who go to school there. The talking point? This school has somehow never put on the stage version of High School Musical, which has become a high school theatre staple over the last decade.

So, here we go, watching this school and all of their personalities try to put on this show. The trailer makes it feel like it’s not going to be quite Glee-esque, but it also definitely looks like its striving to be in the conversation with Fame.

According to Deadline, Tamra Davis, who has worked on a laundry list of great shows, including Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, will direct the first three episodes. Plus Glee choreographer Zach Woodlee is signed on. What I’m saying is, the musical numbers will be pretty great.

But you can’t forget the drama, because what’s a high school without drama? There’s the requisite love triangle between the girl cast as Gabriella, her new boyfriend and her ex, made worse because her ex decided to audition for the musical to and, guess what, is cast as Troy! Drama!

The series, created and executive produced by Tim Federle, will have 10 episodes and will feature a cast of Joshua Bassett, Olivia Rodrigo, Kate Reinders, Sofia Wylie, Matt Cornett, Dara Renee, Julia Lester, Frankie Rodriguez, Larry Saperstein and Mark St. Cyr, according to Deadline‘s report.

Seriously, though, this show looks like it could be a lot of fun, if it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Considering the title and the plot, I’ll be interested to see if there are plans for this show beyond one season. If the season ends with them putting on the show, what’s in season 2? Do you just start following the characters and ignore the High School Musical aspect of it? Or do you have them put on a different show and again ignore the High School Musical aspect of it?

My vote: Just have them put it on again. For regionals. No, wait, I think that’s Glee.

Oliver Goldstick (Pretty Little Liars, Ugly Betty) will be show runner and Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush will serve as executive producers as well (as they did on the original High School Musical movies. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is just one of many new shows dropping with the upcoming Disney+ streaming service.

What do you think about High School Musical: The Musical: The Series? Let us know in the comments!

(Source: Deadline)