Meet the Cast of ‘High School Musical: The Musical — The Series’

Credit: Courtesy of Disney+

Meet the Cast of 'High School Musical: The Musical — The Series'

High School Musical is back ... ish. The new Disney+ series, set to launch Tuesday, November 12, may have the title of the 2006 movie in its title, but don't call it a remake. In fact, High School Musical: The Musical — The Series isn't anything like the movies at all. "For someone whose musicals saved their life growing up as a middle schooler, I appreciate anything that’s like, 'Hey kids it’s cool to sing and dance,'" executive producer Tim Federle told Us Weekly exclusively at a junket for the series. "It was meaningful for me to know that it was out there, but it also meant that I got to approach it not feeling like I had to remake it. In fact, I didn’t want to remake it, because why remake Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens? They’re perfect as they are." Instead, the mockumentary will take place at East High School, where the High School Musical movies were filmed. When Miss Jenn (Kate Reinders), a former background cast member becomes the new drama teacher, she decides the winter production should be of High School Musical: The Musical. The show follows the lives of the students who are cast, shining a light on the messy love stories, friendships and other struggles of high school. "I wanted this sort of irreverent take that always winked and poked fun but never made fun of the original," the Ferdinand writer continued. Joshua Bassett, who leads the series as popular high school student Ricky, also noted that the script was the perfect reiteration of the popular story. "I think, like a lot of the fans of the originals, I was really protective. When I first heard about the concept I was like, 'OK, what are they doing here?' But once I read the script I was sold from then on out and absolutely fell in love with it," Bassett, 18, told Us. "The way it's done is so brilliant and it’s its own independent thing. It pays tribute to the original but can live in its own universe. The way they did it is genius. Old fans are going to love it and there are going to be brand new fans and the age spectrum literally runs the whole gamut." Scroll through the gallery below to meet the rest of the cast and learn more about their characters.

Credit: Courtesy of Disney+

Meet the Cast of 'High School Musical: The Musical — The Series'

High School Musical is back ... ish. The new Disney+ series, set to launch Tuesday, November 12, may have the title of the 2006 movie in its title, but don't call it a remake. In fact, High School Musical: The Musical — The Series isn't anything like the movies at all. "For someone whose musicals saved their life growing up as a middle schooler, I appreciate anything that’s like, 'Hey kids it’s cool to sing and dance,'" executive producer Tim Federle told Us Weekly exclusively at a junket for the series. "It was meaningful for me to know that it was out there, but it also meant that I got to approach it not feeling like I had to remake it. In fact, I didn’t want to remake it, because why remake Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens? They’re perfect as they are." Instead, the mockumentary will take place at East High School, where the High School Musical movies were filmed. When Miss Jenn (Kate Reinders), a former background cast member becomes the new drama teacher, she decides the winter production should be of High School Musical: The Musical. The show follows the lives of the students who are cast, shining a light on the messy love stories, friendships and other struggles of high school. "I wanted this sort of irreverent take that always winked and poked fun but never made fun of the original," the Ferdinand writer continued. Joshua Bassett, who leads the series as popular high school student Ricky, also noted that the script was the perfect reiteration of the popular story. "I think, like a lot of the fans of the originals, I was really protective. When I first heard about the concept I was like, 'OK, what are they doing here?' But once I read the script I was sold from then on out and absolutely fell in love with it," Bassett, 18, told Us. "The way it's done is so brilliant and it’s its own independent thing. It pays tribute to the original but can live in its own universe. The way they did it is genius. Old fans are going to love it and there are going to be brand new fans and the age spectrum literally runs the whole gamut." Scroll through the gallery below to meet the rest of the cast and learn more about their characters.

Credit: Courtesy of Disney+

Joshua Bassett

Theater has always been a part of Bassett's family — he was in Annie seven times, playing the dog-catcher. His character, however, has no interest in theater until his ex-girlfriend, who he wants back, decides to do the production with her new boyfriend.

Credit: Courtesy of Disney+

Olivia Rodrigo

Oddly enough, Olivia Rodrigo and Bassett did theater for the same theater company growing up, but never at the same time. In the series, she plays Nini, a shy student who's always wanted the lead in a show but never has had the confidence to do so. Luckily, she has her two moms' — and new boyfriend's — support.

Credit: Courtesy of Disney+

Sofia Wylie

"I play the character Gina and she’s kind of the 'mean girl' of the show. She could kind of be paralleled to Sharpay if people want kind of a reference," Sofia Wylie told Us. Gina is Nini's biggest rival for the lead — and maybe more.

Credit: Courtesy of Disney+

Matt Cornett

Playing Nini's boyfriend, EJ, Matt Cornett has hope for his character to turn things around. "He is a very nice guy. I don’t think he’s going to come across that way at the beginning. I think a lot of people are going to think that he’s very selfish," he said. "I think it’s also the fact that he’s so passionate about things."

Credit: Courtesy of Disney+

Dara Renee

Playing Nina's BFF Kourtney is Dara Renee, who is a self-proclaimed "musical theater geek!"

Credit: Courtesy of Disney+

Larry Saperstein

Big Red is Ricky's BFF, played by Larry Saperstein. While he's not part of the musical, he'll do anything to help Ricky. "I hope that when people see this show, they realize that whatever your passions are and whatever you’re excited about, you should go for it and you should do," he told Us.

Credit: Courtesy of Disney+

Julia Lester

Ricky's cousin Ashlyn is a "really sweet person" who never wants any drama, Julia Lester told Us. "She just wants everyone to be happy."

Credit: Courtesy of Disney+

Frankie Rodriguez

Carlos, the student choreographer, is Miss Jenn's right-hand man, Frankie Rodriguez explained. "He’s so serious and so passionate about what he does, but there's a nice journey that he goes on with letting loose," he said.

High School Musical: The Musical — The Series begins on Disney+ Tuesday, November 12.

With reporting by Ingrid Meilan