‘High School Musical’ Cast Then & Now: Photos of the Stars’ Transformations

                                                                                                          By:
                                                                                                          August 9, 2023 4:00PM EDT
                                                                                                          Vanessa Hudgens Hogh School musical
                                                                                                          Everett

                                                                                                          With the final season of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ debuting it’s final season on August 9, 2023, check out photos of the original stars from then & now!

                                                                                                          ‘High School Musical‘ took over the world in 2006, when the amazing story of a jock (Zac Efron) and a nerd (Vanessa Hudgens) falling in love — and singing their hearts out — landed on the Disney Channel. Fans instantly connected with Troy and Gabriella, whose different backgrounds were put to the test when they both decided to audition for their school musical.

                                                                                                          Despite threats to their happiness, Troy and Gabriella, and all of their friends (and frenemies) danced it out for three movies. In the 13 years since High School Musical 3: Senior Year premiered, the stars have changed so much.

                                                                                                          We’ve rounded up the biggest stars of the trilogy to give you an update on where they are now, 15 years after the movie’s release.

                                                                                                          To find out more about Zac, Vanessa, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Monique Coleman, Corbin Bleu, and Olesya Rulin, and their careers over the past decade-plus, scroll through this gallery. We’re all in this together!

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                                                                                                          Vanessa Hudgens

                                                                                                          Vanessa Hudgens
                                                                                                          Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Vanessa Hudgens starred as Gabriella Montez opposite real-life former love Zac Efron in ‘High School Musical’. In the years since, she released music and continued singing in live musicals, including ‘Grease Live!’ She’s also found acclaim in films like ‘Spring Breakers’. 

                                                                                                          April 16, 2020, 11:04AM
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                                                                                                          Zac Efron

                                                                                                          Zac Efron
                                                                                                          Disney

                                                                                                          Zac Efron starred as teen jock Troy Bolton in ‘High School Musical’. The actor became an international heartthrob post-Disney Channel, and went on to star in films like ‘Baywatch’, ‘Neighbors’, and ‘The Greatest Showman’. There’s nothing he can’t do! 

                                                                                                          January 20, 2022, 1:20PM
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                                                                                                          Ashley Tisdale

                                                                                                          Ashley Tisdale
                                                                                                          Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Ashley Tisdale played super extra theatre kid Sharpay Evans in ‘High School Musical’. She continued starring on the Disney Channel’s ‘Suite Life of Zack & Cody’ with Dylan and Cole Sprouse until 2008, and voiced Candace on ‘Phineas and Ferb’ until 2015.

                                                                                                          April 16, 2020, 11:04AM
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                                                                                                          Lucas Grabeel

                                                                                                          Lucas Grabeel
                                                                                                          Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Lucas Grabeel played Sharpay’s equally extra twin brother, Ryan Evans, in ‘High School Musical’. The actor went on to star in ‘Switched at Birth’ from 2011 to 2017, and does voice work for shows like ‘Family Guy’. He played himself on an episode of ‘High School Musical: The Musical – The Series’ in 2019.

                                                                                                          April 16, 2020, 11:04AM
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                                                                                                          Corbin Bleu

                                                                                                          Corbin Bleu
                                                                                                          Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Corbin Bleu played jock Chad Danforth in ‘High School Musical’. Along with a series of small roles, he had an arc on ‘One Life to Live’ in 2013. His current focus is Broadway, starring in shows like ‘In the Heights’, ‘Hairspray’, ‘Holiday Inn’, and ‘Godspell’.

                                                                                                          April 16, 2020, 11:04AM
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                                                                                                          Monique Coleman

                                                                                                          Monique Coleman
                                                                                                          Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Monique Coleman played Gabriella’s bestie Taylor McKessie in ‘High School Musical’. Monique is an accomplished actress and activist, and is a UN Youth Champion. She also competed on ‘Dancing With The Stars’. 

                                                                                                          April 16, 2020, 11:04AM
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                                                                                                          Olesya Rulin

                                                                                                          Olesya Rulin
                                                                                                          Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Olesya Rulin played songwriter Kelsi Nielsen in ‘High School Musical’. The actress starred in ‘Greek’ and ‘Powers’, and was in another DCOM classic: ‘Halloweentown High’. 

                                                                                                          April 16, 2020, 11:04AM