HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES: EPISODE ONE- THE AUDITIONS

Growing up in the prime of the Disney Channel Originals, I cannot say I vividly remember or even recall watching most of the “High School Musical” franchise.
But it was definitely Disney’s “Frozen,” before “Frozen.” In other words, a cultural phenomenon.

 Although you might not remember any of the character’s names or any one specific scene, it is without a doubt, widely recognized for its iconic theme songs and for the fact that it was that one movie with Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. It was a hit to say the least.

But after its 2006 release and the two sequels that followed, much of the Disney Channel classic has been forgotten as the years have gone by, but with DisneyPlus a reality, fans of the original and newcomers to the franchise can now experience it all at once.

“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” although having an extremely confusing title has a compelling premise: it is original. The series is not a reboot, remake or reunion TV show.

In the words of chief creative officer of Disney Channel worldwide, Gary Marsh, “it’s a story about the kids at East High, where the “High School Musical” movies were actually shot, who end up as the stars of their school production of “High School Musical: The Musical.”

On the forefront, it may seem pretty complicated but the show itself makes it very clear where the series stands in relation to the “High School Musical” brand.

“HSMTMTS” feels very modern and TV-oriented, yet doesn’t feel too much like a typical Disney Channel series which benefits the overall quality of the show. It very much has the likeness of shows like “The Office” and “Glee,” with a hint of Disney sprinkled throughout.

Of course, if you are bringing back the iconic musical, you need new music. The songs throughout are shockingly well written with convincing teen actors performing them. It is very enlightening to see a diverse and partially LGBT+ cast in a Disney Channel TV show. It is a sign of the times and I am glad Disney is taking note of it.

Unlike most Disney Channel series, it is not cringeworthy; it is watchable.

HSMTMTS is refreshing and a binge-worthy series with plenty of episodes to fill the DisneyPlus content bucket for years to come; new episodes released weekly