‘High School Musical 3’: post-grad plans
By Stephanie Lysaght and Denise Martin
Zac Efron
Junior high: You might remember a younger Zac Efron from his days as girl-crazy Cameron Bale on the WB’s summertime soap “Summerland.” (He was Nikki’s fair-weather boyfriend whose father was a raging drunk.)
High school: While filming “High School Musical” and its sequel -- and while romancing co-star Vanessa Hudgens -- Efron guest starred in the Disney Channel series “The Suite Life of Zac and Cody” and “The Replacements,” and appeared in a little movie musical called “Hairspray” as ‘60s heartthrob Link Larkin.
Post grad: Of all the Wildcat grads, Efron’s post-”HSM” plate is the most full. He’s already filmed the period drama “Me and Orson Welles” (opposite Claire Danes) and “17 Again,” a “Big”-style tale in which a guy (Matthew Perry) gets to rewrite his high school years when one day he wakes up as a 17-year-old. Efron’s also set to star in the revival of “Footloose” as Ren McCormack, a role made famous by Kevin Bacon. (Bryan Bedder / Getty Images)
Vanessa Hudgens
Junior high: Before embarking on her wholesome “HSM” career, Vanessa Hudgens starred in some decidedly naughty film fare. Hudgens first film credit was 2003s Thirteen, a disturbing glimpse into the sex and drug-fueled lives of 13-year-old girls.
High school: In 2006, Hudgens took on the role of East High student Gabriella Montez. Montez is not only gorgeous, but shes a star student, an amazing singer, an actress in school plays and a lifeguard. Oh yeah, and shes dating the captain of the basketball team.
Post grad: In 2009, Hudgens is slated to appear in Bandslam, another music-driven comedy set in a high school. But according to Hudgens, the film which co-stars Lisa Kudrow is nothing like HSM. It’s a little bit more rock and roll,” Hudgens told MTV. “I get to play a character who’s very different. She’s a lot darker and more deadpan.” (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)
Ashley Tisdale
Junior high: Ashley Tisdale was the most seasoned cast member to join the Wildcats class of 2008. Her resume includes stints on “7th Heaven,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Boston Public,” “Once and Again,” “Charmed,” “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Still Standing” -- to name just a few. And that’s all before she landed a regular role as Maddie on “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.”
High school: While not playing drama queen Sharpay in the “HSM” movies, she lent her voice to “Phineas and Ferb” and recorded her debut music album “Headstrong.”
Post grad: Up next, Tisdale will star in the alien invasion movie “They Came From Upstairs.” (Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images)
Lucas Grabeel
Junior high: Grabeels early years were decidedly supernatural. He played Ethan the Warlock in a family comedy called Halloweentown High in 2004.
High school: In HSM, Grabeel plays Ryan Evans, one of the infamous Evans twins. Evans has always been the lead in every school play, and hell do anything to continue his reign. A new friendship, however, reveals Evans softer side.
Post grad: Evans has a few projects in the pipeline at the moment. First up is 2008s Milk, a film about Harvey Milk, California’s first openly gay elected official. Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco and Diego Luna star. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Corbin Bleu
Junior high: Corbin Bleu sported his trademark ‘do even when he was little. Before “HSM,” he co-starred with Kristen Stewart (“Twilight”) in the kid caper “Catch That Kid” and starred in the “Survivor”-style Discovery series “Flight 29 Down.”
High school: Between jam sessions with Zac Efron in “HSM” and “HSM2,” Bleu starred in the Disney Channel hit movie “Jump In!” (opposite Keke Palmer) and recorded the album “Another Side.”
Post grad: He’s working on a second album due in March 2009. Bleu produced and stars in the upcoming feature “FreeStyle,” a family film set in the world of motocross. (Lisa Rose / Associated Press)
Monique Coleman
Junior high: Monique Coleman was a TV veteran by the time “High School Musica”l rolled around. She had already appeared on such hit shows as Gilmore Girls, Malcolm in the Middle and Veronica Mars.
High school: In High School Musical, Coleman plays bona fide brainiac Taylor McKessie, the president of East High’s chemistry club. Her goal in life is to get new-girl/brianiac Gabriella Montez to ditch theater and focus on the scholastic decathlon team. By the second HSM installment, however, McKessie had befriended Montez and tempered her conniving ways.
Post grad: Coleman has nothing scheduled after High School. Road trip? (Bryan Bedder / Getty Images)
Olesya Rulin
Junior high: Russian-born Olesya Rulin hit the big time when she got cast as shy composer Kelsi in “HSM.” Before that, Rulin played “The Drunk Girl” in an episode of “Everwood,” and “Natalie the Pink Troll” in the TV movie “Halloweentown High.”
High school: The ever practical Rulin continued working at Nordstrom even after the first “HSM” became a global phenomenon. Right before she was called to star in the sequel, she was busy studying economics in Paris.
Post grad: With the third and final “HSM” film under her belt, Rulin has moved to L.A. to try acting full time. She’s already shot the films “Major Movie Star” opposite Jessica Simpson and “Flying By” with Billy Ray Cyrus. (Phil McCarten / Associated Press)
