- This was the Disney Channel's most successful movie at its time with 7.7 million viewers in its premiere broadcast. The record was beaten by The Cheetah Girls 2 (2006) (TV), which attracted 8.3 million viewers on its premiere night.
- The soundtrack was recorded in five days.
- Charles Klapow, one of the choreographers for the movie, was also one of the basketball dancers.
- The cell phone ring that gives the class detention has the tune of the song "Start of Something New."
- The school's original mascot was going to be a leopard, but it was changed to a wildcat.
- In the beginning scene, the room where Troy and his dad played basketball was actually a room in the school where they shot most of the movie. It was actually a dance studio, but they covered the mirrors. You can see ballet bars in the back
- Kelsi's fall had to be shot many times because the paper would either stick, or fly off stage.
- Lucas Grabeel wore nine different hats during the movie.
- 'Corbin Bleu' was originally auditioned as Ryan Evans, but when he saw Lucas Grabeel dancing at the audition and said that he can't shake like Lucas can, and Ryan had to shake (when dancing). So, instead, he auditioned for Chad and was cast.
- One of the first films to be offered for sale at the iTunes Store.
- The cast had to undergo two weeks of intense dance rehearsals before filming began on the movie.
- Zac Efron had to undergo three hours of basketball practice every day because his character was the captain of the basketball team.
- Corbin Bleu came up with the slogans that appear on the shirts that he wears in the movie.
- Over 600 teen actors auditioned for this movie.
- Vanessa Hudgens said that her favorite scene in the movie was the final scene where the entire cast sang and danced to "We're All in this Together."
- The milk cartons seen in the movie did not contain milk. They contained lemon-lime juice because milk spoils if it is not refrigerated.
- Jason's surname is Cross.
- One of the players playing for the Wildcats in the championship game wore a jersey with the word "extra" on the back.
- The falling snow in the New Year's scenes were potato flakes.
- "High School Musical" was just the working title for the film while a better name was thought up. However, by the time post-production came, a better name had not been thought of so the producers unwillingly went for "High School Musical"
- There was originally meant to be a duet between Coach Bolton and Ms. Darbus, but it was cut before filming began.
- Zac Efron's singing voice was that of Andrew Seeley, who tested for the role of Troy. Seeley sang the entirety of "Get'cha Head in the Game" and the reprise of "What I've Been Looking For." Efron only sings the first four lines of "Start of Something New," the first sentence of "Breaking Free," and during the scene on the balcony. The reason for this is because Efron's natural voice was too low for that of a tenor and the producers wanted a tenor to match the role.
- Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay Evans), was also working on the second season of "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" (2005) while filming this movie.
- Ashley Tisdale originally auditioned for the role of Gabriella Montez but director Kenny Ortega thought she would do better in the role of Sharpay Evans.
- Matthew Underwood from "Zoey 101" (2005) was offered the role of Troy Bolton, but because of his contract with Nickelodeon, he was not able do the movie and had to decline.
- Julian Nott had hoped to write the music for the film, but he was replaced before he had begun the scoring process. Some promotional posters still say "Music by Julian Nott."
- Vanessa Hudgens had to compete with about 12 other girls for the role of Gabriella Montez during the callbacks for this movie. She and the other girls danced and sang all day to determine who would get to play Gabriella Montez.
- Disney Channel executives and producers originally wanted Cassie Steele to play Gabriella after seeing her in another Disney Channel original movie Full-Court Miracle (2003) (TV). She auditioned several times and had a screen test, and was cast as Gabriella. However, the fifth season of her TV show "Degrassi: The Next Generation" (2001) seriously conflicted with the filming of this movie, so Steele had to drop out.
- In its first week of release, the soundtrack to High School Musical debuted at #143 on the Billboard Top 200 and sold 6,500 copies. It went on to sell 4.1 million copies, making it the best-selling album in America in 2006.
- In Corbin Bleu’s first appearance at the school, he was wearing three different watches. He was given a choice of which one he wanted to wear, so he chose all three of them. Each was set to different time zones.
- It took 24 days to film this movie.
- The championship trophy held by Troy at the end was made in 1936.
- The moon that was seen on stage while Troy and Gabriella are singing "Breaking Free" was left behind on stage after the film was completed.
- Ashley Tisdale came up with the idea of her kicking open a door in the girls' bathroom during the scene where she enters the girls' bathroom after hearing Gabriella singing inside.
- The rooftop scene had to be cut short since a real thunderstorm was headed towards the school.
- Some of the items on Gabriella's tray were glued to the tray.
- Many of the items in the rooftop garden scene were placed there by a crane. After filming was completed, some of the teachers wanted the garden to remain on the rooftop.
- Gabriella sings the only solo in this movie.
- The film has its origins in a 1999 script entitled Grease 3. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were to star as the children of Danny Zucko and Sandy Olsson from the 1978 film. The plot was virtually the same as that 'High School Musical', but with more similarities to 'Grease'. The character who would become Sharpay was to be the daughter of Betty Rizzo (producers tried to get Christina Aguilera for the part, but she declined). Timberlake's band-mates from N'Sync were to have supporting roles. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John allegedly were approached for cameo roles. But before the script went through a second re-write, the project was shelved until 2004.
- Lucas Grabeel and Olesya Rulin had previously worked together on _'Halloweentown High (2004) (TV)_'.
- There are several noticeable attempts to set Troy and Gabriella apart from the people around them by placing them both in blue outfits. One strong example is the shot of Troy, the Wildcats, and the cheering fans seen out the window immediately before Gabriella sings "When There Was Me and You." At this point, Troy essentially looks like a blue spot in a sea of red.
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Trivia items below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- SPOILER: In the last scene, Corbin Bleu was supposed to interrupt Troy and Gabriella's kiss, but he missed his cue, so Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron kissed accidentally, and continued to kiss until the director yelled cut, at which point they looked around totally confused.
Related Links
