‘High School Musical’ spinoff begins filming second season
Pictured is some of the cast from “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.” Photo by The Daily Campus
By Emma Ralls
A&E Editor
The Disney+ show that everyone is talking about, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” has begun filming its second season. This smash teen musical drama left everyone wanting more after the tenth episode.
Disney’s confidence in the show’s success prompted the company to announce a second season in October 2019, before the show was released. Viewership reports of the show’s preview episode, before its official first-season release, proved Disney’s decision to be a smart one. According to ShowBuzzDaily, the episode was aired on Disney channel, ABC and Freeform and brought in 2.8 million views.
The first season followed a group of high schoolers and their director throughout the process of producing the school’s fall musical, High School Musical, at the same school in which the High School Musical movies were filmed. They faced difficulties, triumphs, romantic drama and more. The musical took place in the final episode.
Fans quickly fell in love with the new Wildcats. Ricky, played by Joshua Bassett, tried out for the musical in hopes of winning back ex-girlfriend Nini, played by Olivia Rodrigo, who has serious star potential. Nini’s new boyfriend, EJ, played by Matt Cornett, also auditioned for the musical and was not enthusiastic about his girlfriend’s ex being around.
There were many other characters, including Gina, played by Sofia Wylie, a theater enthusiast and gifted dancer, Big Red, played by Larry Saperstein, Ricky’s best friend with little theater knowledge, and Ashlyn, played by Julia Lester, an aspiring songwriter. These, and many other students, were thrown into odd situations, during which they used quick thinking and talents to escape.
It is not difficult to understand why so many people fell in love with this show. There were many aspects, such as love triangles, #teamRicky or #teamEJ, musical numbers, light-hearted humor, heartfelt friend and family moments and more. There was something for everyone to enjoy.
The show also included throwback songs and special guest appearances by actors from the original trilogy, allowing more reasons for all generations of High School Musical fans to appreciate the show.
Season two will contain 12 episodes, according to Show Runner and executive producer Tim Federle. In an interview with Paste Magazine, Federle said that there will be much more music in the next season.
“We are the only show on television with the word ‘musical’ in its title twice,” said Federle. “I feel like I have to deliver. I am a musical theater guy who knows that the best songs in a story are ones that tell you something different by the end than what you knew in the beginning.’
Speaking of music, the soundtrack from the series has also received some recognition. Between a mix of previous High School Musical favorites and new, original songs, people are giving the soundtrack much praise. Rodrigo wrote one of the songs that her character, Nini, sings.
“It is insane because I remember I would listen to the High School Musical soundtrack all the time when I was a little kid,” Rodrigo said in an interview with Popsugar. “The fact that I get to write a song for a new High School Musical soundtrack that is going to be listened to by a whole new generation of kids is surreal. I feel so honored that I get to have that experience.”
Season two will be focused on the production of the spring musical, Beauty and the Beast. Many fans, while excited to see how the characters are cast, were slightly disappointed that the show would not be doing High School Musical Two as the next production.
Season one of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” is currently available to stream on Disney+. Many fans assume that the second season’s release will be fall 2020 or early 2021.
The show is already nominated for a GLAAD Media Award, under the category of Outstanding Kids and Family Programming. Basset also received a nomination for Favorite Male TV Star at the 2020 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.