The fourth and final season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series premieres in exactly one week, and we can’t wait to see our favorite Wildcats back in action.
With newfound relationships, friendships and rivalries after the group’s wild summer at Camp Shallow Lake, these eight episodes are definitely going to be jam-packed with drama.
In season four of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Ricky (Joshua Bassett), Gina (Sofia Wylie), Ashlyn (Julia Lester), Carlos (Frankie Rodriguez), Kourtney (Dara Reneé) and the rest of the gang return to East High, ready to perform their own rendition of High School Musical 3. Shortly into their senior year, the Wildcats find out that a fourth film will be added to the famous High School Musical trilogy, filming at the one and only East High during the same time as their production, ultimately putting a wrench in their plans.
With High School Musical 4 filming at their high school simultaneously, some familiar faces will be making an appearance in season four of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series that you seriously will not want to miss.
Chad (Corbin Bleu), Taylor (Monique Coleman), Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), Martha (Kaycee Stroh), Coach Bolton (Bart Johnson) and Ms. Darbus (Alyson Reed) from the original High School Musical franchise will make an appearance, as well as new characters named Dani (Kylie Cantrall), Mack (Matthew Sato), Quinn (Caitlin Reilly) and Krystal (Vasthy Mompoint), ultimately setting up this fourth and final season to be the best one yet.
Celeb Secrets sat down with three of the series’ biggest stars, Julia Lester, Frankie Rodriguez and Dara Reneé, to talk all things season four, including what it was like working with these new — or should we say old? — cast members.
With three seasons of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series in the books, we have seen each and every character evolve from 2019 to now, from exploring their sexuality to dealing with mental health struggles and beyond.
When asked about this overall character growth, Julia shared with Celeb Secrets reporter Melanie Rooten, “We’re in high school, and so I think every millisecond that you’re in high school, you’re growing in some capacity… We’ve done three seasons, but that took place over the course of one year, which is really funny because it’s been like a million years to be quite honest.”
She continued, “That is really cool that like our show so perfectly and authentically captures how high school kids really can change on a yearly basis, on a daily basis, on a weekly basis… Season four is going into a new school year and a new semester, so that even brings more growth in and of itself.”
“Even if our show was continuing for 10 seasons, like there would be more to explore in every second of our dialogue and who we are, and it’s very authentic to real high school life,” the talented actress concluded with a smile.
While the overall plot of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is absolutely phenomenal (shoutout to Tim Federle), the music we hear throughout the beloved series is what makes it truly one-of-a-kind.
Because of this, vocal powerhouse Dara Reneé teased a little bit of what we can expect music-wise in season four: “The music is popping, like the nostalgia alone is crazy, and we have a couple new original songs… This season you’re really gonna feel like home almost, because of the nostalgia and how we connect from the past to the future and how everything ties together. It’s such a beautiful, beautiful transition into senior year, and I’m so grateful that we did it in this direction.”
Of course, the “nostalgia” she referenced is a nod to Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, Kaycee Stroh, Bart Johnson and Alyson Reed joining the cast.
Frankie dished about what it was really like working alongside these High School Musical alums: “Getting to work with any of the OGs is always an experience, but this one specifically, watching them walk into East High for the first time after 15 years and them being like, you know, like so emotional… It’s kind of crazy that they lived almost the exact experience we did being a part of this franchis [and] being so close with the cast, and now having to wrap everything up with the graduation.”
“It was very special [and] they’re amazing,” he concluded with a grin.
Like Frankie mentioned, the bonds that the respective casts have made with one another are extremely special, making the goodbye of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series difficult for not only fans of the show, but for the cast members as well.
When asked what she will miss the most about the beloved series, Dara shared with Celeb Secrets, “I feel like for me personally, the family aspect of it all, and like being able to see these beautiful faces every single day, and singing my favorite songs that I grew up with in my childhood, and basically having a party on set every day. It was such a beautiful atmosphere and environment, and Tim really did a great job at making us, you know, close.”
“I’m really gonna miss it. I’m not gonna cry, but it’s gonna be hard,” she said while laughing away her tears.
To get you extra excited for the premiere, be sure to check out our exclusive interview with Julia Lester, Frankie Rodriguez and Dara Reneé below, and don’t forget to watch all eight episodes beginning Wednesday, August 9th, exclusively on Disney+.
