The word “action” will kick-start the new “High School Musical” sequel as the cast and crew of the hit Disney Channel franchise starts filming Saturday at East High School in Salt Lake City.
Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu have reassembled with the rest of the cast and three new cast members for “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” which will be filmed mostly at the school as well as other Salt Lake County locations. This time, the film is scheduled to open in theaters on Oct. 24 instead of on television.
In the new movie, which will be co-choreographed by Salt Lake City’s Bonny Story, who works for Odyssey Dance Theatre, the Wildcats of East High will be graduating. That leaves lovebirds Troy (Efron) and Gabriella (Hudgens) worrying about their relationship when each goes off to a different college.
The movie will be shot in about 40 days, nearly twice the number of filming days devoted to the first two films, and use the same Salt Lake City-based crew. Kenny Ortega, who directed the first two films as well as the Opening Ceremony for the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games, again helms the project.