High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 2 - What We Know So Far

In 2006, the Disney Channel original movie High School Musical released and became an instant hit. Its sequel, which came out the following year, then became the most watched basic cable movie ever at its time, with 17.2 million people tuning in for its premiere (via Deadline). It also spawned a third film, as well as a spin-off film about one of its characters, Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale). And, in November of 2019, a series based on the popular franchise premiered on the Disney+ streaming platform – High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. 

The mockumentary-style series takes place at a fictionalized version of East High School, which is known for being where the High School Musical movies were filmed. Because of this, the school decides that the theater department will put on High School Musical: The Musical for its spring production. The theater kids then proceed to try out for the parts made famous in the original film, such as Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) and Troy Bolton (Zac Efron).

Season 1 of the series finished up in January of 2020 and it has since been renewed for a second season. Here's what we know so far about season two of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.Btw, 

Disney+ announced last month that the second season will premiere on Friday, May 14, 2021. Episodes will likely come out weekly therefore after, as was the precedent set with the first season. The second season would have premiered sooner, with production originally starting in February 2020. However, HollywoodLife reports work on the season was postponed in March of 2020 right as the shelter-in-place order came into effect due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show reportedly filmed two episodes before they had to postpone production. 

Luckily, production got back on track and has since finished, according to various cast members' Instagrams. Larry Saperstein, who plays Big Red, posted about wrapping up production, promising that season two will "blow [fans'] minds."

With it now being over a year since the season one finale came out, fans are likely itching to continue the story with East High School's theater kids. Fortunately, there's only a couple months to go now.

All of the first season's main cast members will be returning for the second season to pick up right where season one left off. The show's stars include Olivia Rodrigo, who plays Nini Salazar-Roberts, an excited theater kid, who lands the lead role of Gabriella in the musical production. Meanwhile, Nini's ex-boyfriend, Ricky Bowen, is played by Joshua Bassett; Ricky lands the part of Gabriella's love interest, Troy, bringing up tension between the two exes who have to play opposite each other.

Some of the other students are E.J. Caswell (Matt Cornet), a jock who also enjoys theater and is cast as Chad Danforth, and Gina Porter (Sofia Wylie), a new transfer student who is cast as Taylor McKessie. The rest of the young cast consists of Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé and Frankie A. Rodriguez. The school's adult staff include Mr. Benjamin Mazzara (Mark St. Cyr), the STEM teacher who resents how much focus the Arts department gets, and Miss Jenn (Kate Reinders), the new drama teacher.

Additionally, there will also be some new faces around East High. In early February 2021, Billboard broke the news that the show had added Andrew Barth Feldman (Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen) and Asher Angel (Shazam!) to the cast. These two joined the previously announced additions of Roman Banks, Olivia Rose Keegan and former Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Derek Hough.

At the end of season one, the school's opening night of High School Musical: The Musical was underway. E.J. ended up stepping in for Ricky in the part of Troy, but stepped aside for Ricky to finish the final song alongside Nini. Afterward, Ricky finally confesses to Nini that he loves her and the two get back together. However, Nini then finds out that she got into a prestigious performing arts school, which, while exciting, would mean she would have to leave East High. The episode ended before Nini — or the viewers — could fully process the decision she has to make.

So far, the most fans know about the plot of season two is that the school's next production will be Beauty and the Beast. Creator and showrunner Tim Federle spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the upcoming season. About the choice of musical, he said, "Beauty and the Beast is not only one of my favorite scores — the music is so emotional — but it allows us to see these kids cast in roles that might surprise you. And also just scenically and costume design-wise and musically, it's so different from High School Musical that it's just a nice way to expand."

Federle added that while Nini's and Ricky's relationship will definitely be explored, he also wanted to make sure all the other characters get their own spotlights and plot lines. He stated, "I really, really wanted to commit to making sure these characters felt full-bodied, really lived in, and not sidekicks. [...] If you had a favorite character last season, I can pretty much guarantee you they get their moment in the spotlight this season."