The High School Musical phenomenon began with the original movie that premiered on the Disney Channel in January 2006 and was directed by Kenny Ortega and written by Peter Barsocchini.
The story featured Troy Bolton (starring Zac Efron) as captain of the basketball team and Gabriella Montez (starring Vanessa Hudgens) as a math and science academic. The pair auditioned for the East High School musical extravaganza, despite peer pressure from their friends. The remaining cast of the movie includes competing performers for the musical leads, Sharpay Evans (starring Ashley Tisdale) and her twin brother Ryan Evans (starring Lucas Grabeel) and friends and Wildcats team member Chad Danforth (starring Corbin Bleu), science club leader Taylor McKessie (starring Monique Coleman) and playmaker Kelsi Nielsen (starring Olesya Rulin).
