“We knew before we started day one of rehearsal that we had an incredible rat pack,” director Kenny Ortega told Entertainment Weekly. “We knew that these kids had the potential to really create some thunder.”
A runaway success, HSM spawned two sequels—and instead of debuting on TV, 2008's High School Musical 3: Senior Year—was released in theaters. Since then, the cast has built impressive careers: Efron rose to major movie stardom, Hudgens expanded into film and television, while others have found success on Broadway and beyond.
Keep reading to learn more about where the cast of High School Musical is now.
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'High School Musical' Cast: Where Are They Now?
Zac Efron as Troy Bolton
Efron in 2024Photo by Cindy Ord on Getty Images
After the franchise ended, Efron successfully transitioned into a Hollywood leading man. He started out with youthful heartthrob roles in movies like 17 Again (2009), Charlie St. Cloud (2010) and The Lucky One (2012). But it didn’t take long for him to prove his range: He tackled serious drama in The Paperboy (2012) oppositeNicole Kidman, and showcased his comedic chops in Neighbors (2014) alongside Seth Rogen. Since then, he’s continued to impress across genres in movies like Dirty Grandpa, Baywatch, The Greatest Showman, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile and TheIron Claw. He recently reunited with Rogen for an episode of his hit series The Studio, playing a heightened version of himself, and he’ll next star in the Jody Hill thriller Famous, the Nick Stoller action-comedy Judgement Day and Disney’s remake of Three Men and a Little Baby.
In terms of his personal life, Efron dated High School Musical co-star Hudgens for five years until 2010 and has since been linked to Michelle Rodriguez, Halston Sage, Alexandra Daddario and others, though he deliberately keeps his romantic life private.
Related: Zac Efron's Net Worth in 2026
Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella Montez
Hudgens attends a red carpet event in 2025.Photo by Jamie McCarthy on Getty Images
Following HSM, Hudgens leaned into YA films, appearing in Bandslam (2009), Beastly (2011) and Sucker Punch (2011). But then she took a sharp turn with Harmony Korine’s debaucherous indie hit Spring Breakers (2012), which also starred Disney darling Selena Gomez. Hudgens followed that up by playing a young, homeless teen in Gimme Shelter (2013).
In 2015, Hudgens returned to her musical roots as the title character in Gigi on Broadway, followed by a scene-stealing turn as Rizzo in Fox’s Grease Live! in 2016. In more recent years, she’s found success with Netflix, leading the popular Princess Switch holiday movie franchise and appearing in films like Tick, Tick… Boom! She’s also become a go-to red-carpet host during awards season—and according to her IMDb page—she has two films in post-production.
Related: ‘High School Musical’ is Nearing a 20-Year Milestone — Here’s How Disney is Celebrating
Ashley Tisdale (now French) as Sharpay Evans
Tisdale continues to voice Candace on Disney's 'Phineas & Ferb.'Photo by Michael Tullberg on Getty Images
After HSM wrapped, Tisdale briefly reprised her role in the 2011 spinoff Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure. But she was soon itching to show her range. “I feel like it’s so funny because before Disney, I did tons of stuff; I did network shows, I had done Donnie Darko,” she said in 2012, while promoting a gritty, two-episode arc on Sons of Anarchy. “...I’m so grateful for what Disney gave me and the experiences that I got, [but] at the end of the day, I can do so much more than what I did on that channel and what I did in those movies.”
Tisdale also cemented her status as a prolific voice actor, continuing to voice Candace Flynn on Disney Channel’s long-running animated hit Phineas and Ferb. (She’s also lent her famous vocals to Kim Possible, Family Guy, The Cleveland Show and more.) In 2019, she returned to music with her third studio album, Symptoms, released a decade after her previous album, Guilty Pleasure.
Tisdale, who shares two young daughters, Jupiter and Emerson, with her husband of more than a decade, Christopher French, recently made headlines for a piece she wrote for The Cut about stepping away from a “toxic” mom group after being repeatedly left out of plans. “Motherhood has enough challenges without having to wonder if the people around you are on your side,” she wrote. “You deserve to go through motherhood with people who actually, you know, like you.”
Related: ‘High School Musical’ Star Says Castmate Refuses to Appear on Podcast: ‘I’m Done Talking About It’
Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans
Since HSM, Grabeel has enjoyed success in voice acting.Photo by Mathew Tsang on Getty Images
Following the success of the franchise, Grabeel appeared in five seasons of Switched at Birth and established himself as an in-demand voice actor, with long-running roles in series like Sheriff Callie’s Wild West, Pinky Malinky and Family Guy.
To the delight of fans, Grabeel returned as Ryan in 2022 for the fourth and final season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, joining other characters from the original films for a high school reunion storyline. His comeback was especially memorable because Ryan’s character was finally confirmed as gay. Though the original movies never addressed his sexuality on screen, director Kenny Ortega later revealed that Ryan was gay and “probably came out in college.”
Corbin Bleu as Chad Danforth
Bleu transitioned from teen idol to Broadway superstar.Photo by Gareth Cattermole on Getty Images
But after the franchise wrapped, his career took a somewhat unexpected pivot to the stage when he made his Broadway debut playing Usnavi in In the Heights.
He went on to play Jesus in a 2012 revival of Godspell, then spent years performing in various productions of Golden Age musicals, including Holiday Inn, the New Irving Berlin Musical at Studio 54 in 2016; Singin’ in the Rain at St. Louis’ Muny in 2018; Anything Goes at Arena Stage in D.C. that same year; and Kiss Me, Kate on Broadway in 2019. Following his impressive stage run, he co-starred with on-screen HSM girlfriend Monique Coleman in Lifetime’s 2021 movie A Christmas Dance Reunion. (On the subject of dance: He also competed on Dancing with the Stars back in 2013, placing second in the finale. )
Away from the spotlight, he’s been married to fellow actor Sasha Clements since 2016.
Related: Zac Efron’s Original ‘High School Musical’ Vocals Has Fans Saying the Exact Same Thing
Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie
Coleman appears at a 2025 screening of Freakier Friday.Photo by Stephanie Augello on Getty Images
As far as acting goes, Coleman went on to star in the Lifetime movies A Christmas Dance Reunion (2021), which reunited her with HSM costar Corbin Bleu; Greed: A Seven Deadly Sins Story (2022); and the BET movie Love, Marry, Kill (2023). She also reprised her role as Taylor for Season 4 of HSMTMTS.
Off-screen, Coleman married Walter Jordan in 2012, but the couple divorced 10 years later. She’s since taken up adult figure skating. “A couple of weeks ago, I experienced my first (and only) fall to date,” she wrote on social media in December 2025. “As painful as it was, I was honestly THRILLED because it meant I was really going for it. Remember, we can’t make progress if we don’t take risks.”
KayCee Stroh as Martha Cox
Stroh looks absolutely fabulous at a 2025 red carpet appearance.Photo by Vivien Killilea on Getty Images
But over the years, Stroh has built a loyal following on social media, amassing over 3.3 million followers on TikTok alone. With inspirational posts, high-energy dance videos and relatable mom-life content, it's easy to see why!
Olesya Rulin as Kelsi Nielson
Rulin is pictured in a 2021 episode of NCIS.Photo by CBS Photo Archive on Getty Images
Before breaking out as Kelsi, East High’s shy composer, Rulin starred in Disney Channel's The Poof Point, Hounded and Halloweentown High. Since then, she’s continued to act with small or recurring roles in TV shows like Greek, NCISand The Rookie. She married entrepreneur Joseph Noel Pauline in 2021 and the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Ondine Michelle Pauline, the following year.
Alyson Reed as Ms. Darbus
Reed attends a charity gala in 2021.Photo by Rodin Eckenroth on Getty Images
Since the HSM films, she’s popped up on series like How to Get Away with Murder, NCIS, Grace and Frankie and Modern Family—and in 2022, she reprised the role of Ms. Darbus for Season 4 of HSMTMTS.
Bart Johnson (Coach Jack Bolton)
Johnson's Get Your Head in the Game podcast deserves a listen.Photo by Dia Dipasupil on Getty Images
Ahead of the movie’s 20th anniversary, Johnson launched the podcast Get Your Head in the Game, which features interviews with HSM cast and crew. He sent fans into overdrive after revealing in a since-deleted post on X that one cast member declined to participate, saying, “No. I’ve talked about this movie for 20 years and I’m done talking about it.” Johnson later clarified that it wasn’t Zac Efron, and that there were no hard feelings.
Off screen, Johnson has been married for more than 25 years to actress Robyn Lively (Blake Lively’s sister), and the couple shares three children.
Up Next: Kenny Ortega Finally Settles the Zac Efron ‘High School Musical’ Singing Debate
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