Musical phenomenon

Disney series finds audience at SPU

By DANIEL MILLER, Staff Writer

Published: January 9, 2008

Welcome to a phenomenon.

Disney sells it on ice, remixed, on stage, in a book, by soundtrack, on TV and on DVD, and viewers from tots to Seattle Pacific 20-somethings are buying "High School Musical" (HSM). As the movie's culminating song proclaims, "We're All in This Together," prepubescent and post-diploma alike.

The story is simple: basketball star Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) and "brainiac" Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) don't "Stick to the Status Quo" (another of the movie's catchy tunes). Instead, their romance and surprise tryout for the East High School musical brings together skaters and scholars, artists and athletes.

"I think people like it because it's so cheesy, so ridiculously cheesy that it makes you want to watch it," freshman Annelise Calzada said. "It sends people into a perfect, ideal world."

HSM sparkles in striking the balance between teen fantasy and real world relevance.

"Deep down, everyone wants their school to break into song and dance," sophomore Nick Davenport said. "This is the movie where that happened."

Some call it a 21st century "Grease." Though both films are overstated yet relatable musicals, HSM is rated G. Other than a nude photo controversy in September involving Hudgens (for which she has apologized) the film squeaks with cleanliness.

Characters are innocent and exaggerated. The plot is playfully predictable. Crowds waited throughout the first edition and most of its sequel, "High School Musical 2" (HSM2), to see Troy and Gabriella's first kiss.

HSM's wholesomeness appeals to viewers.

"There are few pure shows or movies, but when you watch High School Musical, you don't have to worry about exposure. It is fun and joyous but not dirty," Davenport said.

Could it be a trend reserved for conservative Christian campuses such as SPU? Sophomore Bailey Simpson thinks not, based on how many friends from other schools she would include in HSM's legion of fans.

"It's fun to escape back to childhood. It's corny, it's cheesy, but people like it anyways," Simpson said.

Davenport verified the craze when he bravely ventured into tweener girl store Club Libby Lu in search of HSM merchandise. He proudly owns an HSM pillowcase he found within the store's pink laden premises.

"Right now I want a Wildcats T-shirt or sweatshirt more than anything," Davenport said.

Senior Kellie Hicks feasted on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and blue Gatorade iced tea with 9-year-old fellow fan Audrey Halkett, a girl she babysits, while the characters in HSM2 enjoyed the same cuisine.

"There was an article in People magazine about what snacks to eat for a premiere party," Hicks said, explaining the inspiration for their unusual snack.

At SPU's Student Leadership Conference in September, a surprise showing of "We're All in This Together" prompted students to clap, cheer, sing and follow senior Stephanie Dost's moves to the music.

Dost and Simpson had spent four hours on a Friday night last year mimicking the DVD's bonus feature's step-by-step instructions. Simpson said the second half of the dance was fast, but they labored to pick up every hand movement and body-contorting detail.

Calzada, 17, who doesn't consider herself an extreme fan, learned the dance without the help of a tutorial. "We watched it over and over again," Calzada said.

Even a casual follower like Calzada has seen the film 10 to 15 times. Davenport reported watching HSM "more than I should...well over 20 times."

Following Hollywood's trend toward trilogies, a third made-for-theaters installment coming later in 2008 beckons with further adventures featuring Troy, Gabriella, and the Wildcats from East High School.

Davenport plans to attend the premiere dressed like his favorite character, the sporty Ryan Evans, who wears fifteen hats in the first HSM. Among throngs of Zac Efron obsessed teenyboppers and adolescent admirers, it's a safe bet he won't be the only one his age embracing the phenomenon.

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