sing – Were all in this together

June 3, 2019June 3, 2019

Martha Cox

Martha Cox becomes part of Troy and Gabriella’s friend group at East High. She is in their homeroom class junior year. We get to see her develop as a character through the three movies and by her senior year she is ready to face the world. Martha gains a lot of confidence in herself during her high school years. She is finds ways to express herself that set her character apart.

In High School Musical 1, Martha Cox is introduced as very smart. She is always seen doing her homework and reading. However, she breaks out of her shell during the song “Stick to the Status Quo”. Martha reveals to her friends that she loves to dance and that “sometimes she thinks it’s cooler than homework”. At first, her friends tell her to forget about her passion to dance and stick to what she knows. Martha is able to stand up to them and express herself as a dancer.

During the summer of her senior year, Martha works at Lava Springs Country Club with many of her East High peers. She has a great opportunity to dance with her friends during the staff talent show. Martha and the others have a lot of fun learning a routine and are very excited to perform for the Lava Springs guests. Unfortunately, staff is told they cannot perform anymore and they must work together to change this. In the end, Martha and her friends are able to perform and are awarded first place for the amazing choreography.

In Martha’s senior year she has another opportunity to perform with her peers. This time it is for the Spring Musical. All of the East High Wildcats performing in this show go through lots of ups and downs while rehearsing. However, they overcome all the trials to pull off a great end-of-the-year musical. For Martha, performing in the musical and doing what she loves was a great way to end her high school career.

May 21, 2019May 21, 2019

Jason Cross

In the HSM series, Jason Cross is part of Troy and Gabriella’s homeroom class. He is also on the East High basketball team and is very close friends with Troy and Chad. He is the jokester of his peers and always seems confused and out-of-the-loop. Throughout his junior and senior years, we see Jason mature a little bit. However, he never looses his fun, care free personality.

In HSM 1, we meet Jason as the kid that falls asleep in class and the kid who asks random questions. We laugh at him and his silliness. He becomes more serious however when he and his teammates find out Troy is trying out for the school’s winter musical. Jason and the rest of the East High basketball team think that Troy should be devoting all of his time and energy into their upcoming championship game, and not singing with some girl. They come up with aplan to stop him from singing which backfires and drives Troy away from them. In the end, Jason and the rest of his peers learn an important lesson that friends should let each other be whoever they want to be. They should encourage, not deter, each other from trying new things and being the best person they can be.

In the summer before Jason’s senior year, he gets a job working with a lot of his East High friends at Sharpay’s parents’ country club. He is assigned to be a waiter along with Troy. When Troy starts getting a lot of attention from Sharpay’s parents and the University of Albuquerque basketball team, Jason and some of his other teammates start feeling left behind. Troy seems to be forgetting them and all of their plans for the summer because he has this awesome opportunity. In the end, Jason and his friends are able to help Troy set his priorities straight and finish out the summer having a great time.

In their senior year, Jason and the rest of his East High classmates are signed up (against their will) for the musical. At first everyone is very hesitant to participate, but in the end they all agree to make it one of their last memories together in high school. Jason has lots of laughs with his friends as they are practicing for the musical, even though he is way outside of his comfort range. At the end of the musical, all of the seniors step forward with their diplomas. None seem as happy as Jason to be graduating.

March 29, 2019March 29, 2019

Jimmie Zara

Jimmie Zara, a.k.a. “The Rocket Man”, is only in the third and final high school musical. He is a bench warmer on the basketball team. He looks up to Troy, Chad, and the rest of the seniors. As Troy and the seniors are finishing up their final season, Jimmie is preparing to “take over” the team. However, Troy and Chad want Jimmie to earn this.

During the championship game the Wildcats are down one point with only time for one more possession. The other team knows that Troy is going to be the one to shoot the last shot so they triple team him. Troy wants Rocket Man in the game because the other team will never expect him to take the final shot. Troy’s plan works and Rocket Man wins the championship game for the Wildcats! This boosts Jimmie’s confidence and makes him think more about his roll on the team once Troy has gone to college.

When Jimmie and his other friend ask for Troy and Chad’s basketball lockers in the locker room, Troy and Chad are happy to give the lockers to them. However, they want them to earn them. So, while Jimmie and his friend are in the shower, Troy and Chad steal their clothes and Jimmie has to chase them all around the school to get them back. This is very humiliating for them, but ultimately they get the lockers and know that it was all just a joke.

While the Wildcats are working on the Senior Year Musical, Rocket Man is assigned to be Troy’s understudy. He doesn’t really know what this means but someone tells him that the understudy never has to go in. Because of this Jimmie doesn’t take it very seriously. However, when Troy and Gabriella are late to the musical Jimmie is called to go in with Sharpay (Gabriella’s understudy). He is not very good, but he enjoys himself while he is preforming. Eventually, Troy and Gabriella come in the save the day.

In the end, Jimmie is a character that shows a lot of growth throughout the movie. He starts out as a pretty shy highschooler and throughout the year he gains a lot of confidence. We can see him shape into a personality that is similar to Troy’s and know that he will be very successful and popular in his final years at East High.

February 25, 2019February 25, 2019

High School Musical 1 Review

High School Musical 1 is the first movie in a three movie series. It was released on January 20, 2006 and become Disney Channel’s most successful original movie. It was the first Disney Channel Original Movie to have a theatrical sequel. The soundtrack from High School Musical 1 became very popular in the United States and reached number 1 on America’s charts in 2006. High School Musical 1 was written by Peter Barsocchini and directed by Kenny Ortega. It stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Lucas Grabeel, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, and Monique Coleman.

In High School Musical 1 Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) transfers to East High School after winter break. She had met the basketball team star (Zac Efron) during vacation and is surprised, and happy to run into him at her new high school. They quickly become friends and try out for their school’s musical. However, Troy’s teammates aren’t thrilled with his new hobby. Troy’s best friend (Corbin Bleu) and Gabriella’s best friend (Monique Coleman) come up with a plan to make sure can’t be in the musical. Unfortunately, this ruins all of their friendships and they must work together to make things right.

Gabriella Montez is very bright. She is also very adventurous and open to trying newthings. Troy Bolton is the basketball star. He is always found playing basketball until he meets Gabriella. She opens him up and shows us a different side of him. Chad Danforth is the funny sidekick. He always makes us laugh and seems fun to be around. Taylor McKessie is also very smart and is the president of the academic decathlon. She is a very good friend to Gabriella. Sharpay Evens is bossy and rich. She feels like she runs the school and isn’t very friendly to many people. Ryan Evens is Sharpay’s brother he is always following her around and at times seems very clueless to what’s going on.

High School Musical is mainly about friendship. In the movie we see how friends can be torn apart and how that changes the people individually. A theme from High School Musical is nothing is more important than friendship. In the movie when Troy and Gabriella are mad at each other they are both very sad. Even though Taylor and Chad’s plan worked, neither of them are happy to see their best friends so miserable. In the end they realize that what they wanted (Troy and Gabriella not to be in the musical) wasn’t what their friends wanted. Taylor and Chad decide that it is more important for Troy and Gabriella to be happy and friends again than it is if they sing in the musical or if they don’t.

Overall I think High School Musical is a great movie. It is definitely a feel-good one. All the songs and fun characters always leave you walking away with a smile. The songs are really what makes the movie so great. Once you have watched the movie a couple of times you find yourself singing along with every single song. I think this is what makes this movie so enjoyable and easy to watch over and over again.

January 8, 2019January 8, 2019

Ms. Darbus

Ms. Darbus is the theatre teacher at East High and is also Gabrialla and Troy’s homeroom teacher. In the first HSM, she is the one that recognizes the talent that Gabriella and Troy have. Ms. Darbus instructs Kelsey to mentor them and teach them the song thatthey sing at their call backs. Ms. Darbus is kind of under the control of Sharpay because Sharpay has always been very involved in the drama club. Ms. Darbus is tricked by Sharpay to change the day of the call back to the day of the basketball championship and the academic decathlon. Despite this, Troy and Gabriella able to make it to the call back and nail their song.

Ms. Darbus first sees Troy as a basketball jock. She doesn’t realize that he actually has a hidden passion for the theatre. In the first HSM, Ms. Darbus gives Troy and Chad detention and forces them to decorate props for the drama club. This is one of the first times Troy has been exposed to something other than basketball. This changes him and he is open to new experiences. Ms. Darbus was the one that introduced him to theatre and because of this I think Ms. Darbus is very important in the development of Troy throughout the HSM movies.

In the third HSM, there is an opportunity for one student at East High to receive a scholarship to the Julliard School of Performing Arts. In order to be offered this scholarship the students have to apply. Ryan, Sharpay, Kelsey, and Troy are all informed that they will be given a shot at the scholarship. This confuses Troy because he didn’t submit an application. This really makes Troy think and question his future and what he wants to do. At the end of the third movie, Troy goes to East High late at night to release all of his thoughts and confusion. Here he finds Ms. Darbus. She explains to him that she submitted his application to Julliard because she saw how much theatre filled him up. Although Troy doesn’t go to Julliard, he picks a college where he can do theatre and play basketball. This is thanks to Ms. Darbus.

November 9, 2018

Ryan Evans

Ryan Evens is most commonly know as Sharpay’s twin brother. While his sister is kind of snotty, and a little difficult to be around, Ryan is more easy-going and friendly. In the first HSM, Ryan is in Sharpay’s spotlight and doesn’t quite know how to change that. However, as he progresses into senior year, Ryan is able to find his own spotlight and become more confident in himself.

In HSM 1, Ryan is seen as a fun-loving character who is often bossed around by his sister, Sharpay. He and Sharpay try out for the winter musical for the lead roles. Ryan is upset when they have to go to call backs, but not as upset as Sharpay. She ropes him into plotting against Troy and Gabriella and in the end he realizes that it’s not all about getting what you want. He doesn’t think it’s right to hurt people to get your own way.

In the summer before his senior year, Ryan really starts to break away from his sister’s bossiness. He helps his classmates with the talent show when Sharpay replaces him with Troy for her duet. Ryan ends up having a great time hanging out with his peers and is really upset when Sharpay makes it so that staff cannot perform in the show. Ryan sees very clearly how his sister can be very selfish and doesn’t consider other people’s feelings. He ends up helping fix the problem and is seen as a sort of hero in the eyes of his fellow Wildcats.

In Ryan’s senior year, he really starts branching out and becoming more confident in his choreography. He choreographs the East High Senior Year musical. He works very hard to make a great show and is able to produce something that everyone loves. Ryan gets a scholarship to the Julliard School of Performing Arts. Sharpay is very proud of him and he feels very supported by his sister. He and the other Wildcats have a great year ending with their graduation where they are all very happy and excited for what’s in store for them.

October 23, 2018October 23, 2018

Chad Danforth

Chad Danforth is Troy Bolton’s best friend. They have known each other since preschool and are like brothers. When Gabriella comes to East High, Chad becomes close to her and her best friend, Taylor McKessie, who eventually becomes his girlfriend. Throughout high school, Chad faces many different conflicts with Troy and thanks to his friends is able to work them out and strengthen his relationship with Troy.

In HSM 1, Chad and Troy are known for being the stars of the basketball team. He likes this and when Troy gets involved with singing with Gabriella, Chad and Taylor make a sneaky plan to split them up. Chad hopes that Troy will focus on basketball and his teammates instead of singing and Gabriella. Unfortunately, Troy becomes miserable because Gabriella won’t talk to him. Chad realizes that his plan went terribly wrong, and works to get Troy back with Gabriella because he knows that this is what needs to happen in order for Troy to be his happy, normal self. In the end, Taylor and Chad are able to mend Troy and Gabriella’s relationship. Chad and Troy go off to win the basketball championship.

The summer before his senior year Chad faces a whole new challenge. Troy becomes very worried about college and he starts to become a new person when he is given some great opportunities. Chad and the others all realize this before Troy does and Troy is offended when Chad confronts him. Troy finally comes around and realizes that Chad was right all along. Troy apologizes to everyone and his relationship with Chad is strengthened.

SENIOR YEAR!! Chad likes to be the guy that seems relaxed and easy-going all the time. However, Chad’s last year at East High presents itself with some difficult situations and decisions. College is just around the corner and when Troy decides to go to UCLA, after he and Chad had been planning on playing basketball together at the University of Albuquerque, Chad doesn’t know what is going to happen. When he accepts that his relationship with Troy will never change, he is overall excited for what their futures will bring.

October 6, 2018October 6, 2018

Sharpay Evens

Sharpay Evens is probably seen as the main antagonist in the High School Musicals. However, she may just be misunderstood. Sharpay knows what she wants and has the resources to get it almost all the time. The problem comes when she acts without thinking about how she is affecting her peers.

In HSM 1, Sharpay is just doing her normal thing, trying out for the winter musical(knowing she’s going to get the main role) and flirting with Troy. When newcomer Gabriella tries for the musical out with Troy, Sharpay is immediately put off to Gabriella. She tries multiple things to make sure that Gabriella and Troy can’t get the part. Despite all her clever “tricks”, Troy and Gabriella still find a way to get the part. Sharpay is embarrassed but is able to get over it and ends up feeling happy for Troy and Gabriella.

In the summer before their senior year, almost all of Troy’s team, Gabriella, and many of her friends go to work at Lava Springs. When they get there, they realize Sharpay’s parents own the resort. Sharpay can basically do and get whatever she wants here. She soon realizes that she can give Troy something that he has been really insecure about: college. Sharpay’s father is on the board of directors at Troy’s dream college and he can insure Troy a spot on that basketball team with a scholarship. Sharpay uses this to make Troy promise to sing with her. During all of this she is basically breaking Tory and Gabriella up. In the end, she is let down by Troy but they all figure out what they really want, and work things out.

In HSM 3, their senior year, the main focuses are on the Senior Year Musical. This year, the musical is more of a team effort. Gabriella and Troy are the main role, and Sharpay is Gabriella’s understudy. When Gabriella has to leave high school to go to an early enrollment program at Stanford, Sharpay finally has her chance to sing with Troy. However, she doesn’t realize that Troy is gone too! She ends up having to sing with “Rocket Man” who is, let’s just say, not Troy. At the end of the year, Sharpay announces that she is going to go the University of Albuquerque and is going to come back to East High to help out with the musicals.

September 10, 2018September 10, 2018

Welcome!

HEYYYYYY WILDCATS! Don’t we all get so much joy from watching High School Musical (HSM)? East High’s fun-loving characters and catchy karaoke songs make these musicals a perfect go-to movie.

Probably one of the most enjoyable HSM characters is Troy Bolton. He is the captain of the basketball team at East High and is very popular on campus. He is always surrounded by his team and others who just like to follow him around. Troy is playing basketball pretty much whenever he can. However, in HSM 1, one girl changes all that…

During winter break of Troy’s junior year, his family goes to a skii lodge. Troy reluctantly attends a teen New Year’s Eve party where he is forced to karaoke with Gabriella Montez. Sparks fly immediately and when Troy returns to East High after break, he is pleasantly surprised to see Gabriella in his homeroom. Troy doesn’t want to tell anyone about his singing. He is known as the “basketball kid” and he doesn’t know what people will think of him if they finds out he sings. Although Troy tries to keep his singing a secret, he and Gabriella unintentionally try out for their school’s musical and get a call back. His friends think that Gabriella is distracting Troy from the championship basketball game that is coming up. Troy and Gabriella’s friends break them up so Troy can focus on basketball. Their plan backfires and Troy is depressed because Gabriella won’t talk to him. Troy realizes how much he likes Gabriella and he’s able to convince her to sing in the callbacks. He realizes that if he enjoys singing, he should pursue it, no matter what people think of him.

In the summer before his senior year, Troy Bolton is super excited for a relaxing summer with Gabriella. Little does he know, relaxing is going to be far from what he’s doing. Troy and a lot of his East High friends all get summer jobs a Lava Springs, owned by Sharpay and Ryan’s parents. Sharpay has always wanted to get with Troy and sees her opportunity to do so in HSM 2. Troy is very concerned about college and Sharpay takes every chance she gets to take advantage of that. Mr. Evans is on the Board of Directors at the University of Albuquerque, Troy’s situations lead Troy to becoming very selfish and self-centered. He breaks lots of promises with his friends and acts like he is so much better than them. It’s not until Gabriella breaks up with Troy that he realizes what’s really important to him. He apologizes to his friends, and Gabriella, and is ready for a great senior year!

SENIOR YEAR!! East High’s senior class is buzzing with excitement preparing for the upcoming events. With a fresh basketball championship, Troy and his teammates are pumped for the rest of the year. Things don’t go as planned when Kelsey signs everyone up for the school’s musical. Gabriella convinces everyone that this is their last chance to do something fun together. Troy and the rest of his friends end up being a part of “Senior Year”. The musical goes a little haywire when Gabriella leaves for an early college program. Troy doesn’t know what to do. He’s so proud of Gabriella, but wants to spend his last weeks at East High with her. Troy is able to bring her back for prom, the musical, and graduation. Through all this, Troy has some difficult decisions to make about college. In the end, he chooses to turn away from his old dreams to follow his new ones.