Public service announcement: the original High School musical cast are reuniting

We're praying it's the Start of Something New, tbh

High School Musical cast

by Emma Dodds |
Updated on

No matter your age, you will at some point or another have come across High School Musical. Whether you were obsessed when it came out in 2006, or your kids watched it - or you're being forced to discover it for the first time right now in self-isolation through Disney+ - no-one can deny the phenomenal popularity of the franchise.

So the news that the original cast are all going to reunite for the 'Disney Family Singalong' this week is HUGE.

The original film's director Kenny Ortega told Deadline that former CEO of Disney Bob Iger asked him to get involved in the special, which is due to air in the USA tomorrow (Thurs 16th) and will star some of the biggest Disney stars of all time performing our favourite tunes from the comfort of their homes.

Kenny was immediately interested, and got most of his old HSM cast to join in as well - with Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella), Corbin Bleu (Chad), Monique Coleman (Taylor), Lucas Grabeel (Ryan) and Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay) all agreeing to take part.

Although Zac Efron (Troy) - who didn't sing in the first film - wasn't as quick to agree, he has now apparently sent a message along for the singalong.

Kenny admitted that it was Ashley who had sparked the idea for the High School Musical reunion, after sharing a TikTok video of herself performing the dance routine to 'We're All In This Together'.

Scroll through to see Zac Efron's complete transformation through the years

Gallery

Zac Efron transformation through the years STACKED

Zac Efron, 20041 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2004

A baby-faced Zac Efron appeared at the opening of 'The Revenge Of The Mummy - The Ride' Gala Benefit at Universal Studios in 2004 at the age of 17.

Zac Efron, 20052 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2005

By the age of 18, Zac had started to really work on his soon-to-be-famous smoulder, pictured here at The WB Television Network's All Star Party.

Zac Efron, 20053 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2005

Zac did some serious glowing up in 2005, and is pictured here later that year at High School Musical co-star Ashley Tisdale's birthday party.

Zac Efron, 20054 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2005

We couldn't leave out the High School Musical premiere in December 2005 - Zac pictured here with his co-star and on-off girlfriend, Vanessa Anne Hudgens.

Zac Efron, 20065 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2006

Pictured here with his Hairspray co-star Brittany Snow, Zac ditched the longer locks at the age of 19 and worked even harder on that smoulder.

Zac Efron, 20066 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2006

Just two months later, Zac had dyed his hair much darker and gone for the David Beckham mohawk at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards.

Zac Efron, 20077 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2007

The classic Troy Bolton locks returned in 2007 for the release of High School Musical 2, pictured here at the 2007 Teen Choice Awards.

Zac Efron, 20088 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2008

At the age of 21, Zac was looking to move away from the Troy Bolton/Bieber 'do, and fashioned it slightly more stylishly at the premiere of High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

Zac Efron, 20099 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2009

Zac was working the quiff in 2009, appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Zac Efron, 201010 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2010

The quiff really came into its own in 2010, as Zac attended the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.

Zac Efron, 201111 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2011

Channelling his inner Bond, Zac looked VERY dapper in a grey suit and a shorter 'do at the 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Not sure about the pout, though.

Zac Efron, 201412 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2014

Zac's look stayed much the same over the next few years - until 2014, when he rocked a Sergeant Major moustache at a Los Angeles Lakers Game with Sami Miro.

Zac Efron, 201513 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2015

Back to his old self by 2015, a 28-year-old Zac had his old wry smile on at the premiere for We Are Your Friends.

Zac Efron, 201614 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2016

This is a rather divisive look - but it was popular at the time! It seems he was testing the waters with the blonde streaks, as he goes full platinum in 2019... Pictured here at the premiere for Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates.

Zac Efron, 201715 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2017

Zac toned down the blonde but kept a slightly lighter shade at the premiere for The Greatest Showman in 2017, and brought back the 'tache - but not in such a severe way.

Zac Efron, 201816 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2018

The 30-year-old was seriously feeling himself at the Golden Globes 2018, having toned down the moustache and added a bit of all-round facial fuzz to the mix.

Zac Efron, 201917 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2019

Seriously, who else could look this good with platinum blond hair and dark facial hair? Sigh.

Zac Efron through the years18 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 PA Images

Zac Efron, 2019

Zac whacked some toner on his bonce later on in the year, going for a more silvery platinum look at a film screening for his biographical film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile at the Tribeca Film Festival in May 2019.

Zac Efron transformation19 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9u00a0Instagram/ Zac Efron

Zac Efron, 2019

By December 2019, it looked as though Zac was growing out his lighter locks when he posted this group shot of himself in Papua New Guinea, confirming that he'd been struck down with an illness whilst there filming Killing Zac Efron, showing him going 'deep into the jungles of a remote, dangerous island to carve his own name in expedition history'.

Down to Earth with Zac Efron20 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9u00a0Netflix

Zac Efron, 2020

In 2020, Zac's travel show Down to Earth premiered on Netflix. Landing on Netflix UK on 10th July 2020, the docu-series showed Zac visiting different places across the world, including London, Lima, Iquitos, Sardinia, Costa Rica, France, Iceland and Puerto Rico.Here, Zac opted for his natural brown hair, and even grew out a beard.

Zac Efron21 of 21
CREDIT: u00a9 Getty Images

Zac Efron, 2022

In 2022, Zac appeared at AT&T's Life, Gig-ified event, where he sported his natural brown hair and a moustache.

He said, "I think Ashley started this whole movement with her home video. I can’t imagine that Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil, who wrote this song, had any idea that it would have the legs and perhaps mean more now than when we first did it."

He added, "I feel really good that we have an opportunity to do something like this — it’s good medicine."

Read more:

M&S now sells Percy Pig ice cream and OMG

So Ovie Soko's just shaved his head and we're shook

Vanessa even shared a photo on Instagram at the weekend of herself on a video call along with Kenny, Ashley, Corbin, Lucas and Monique along with the caption, 'Guess who’s back...'

The Disney Family Singalong will air on Thursday 15th April at 5pm (PT) on ABC, and will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Although there are no plans to air it in the UK yet, we'll keep you up to date with any news on the matter!

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us