'High School Musical' at 20: How Kenny Ortega made a musical on a shoestring budget — and turned it into a multibillion-dollar franchise
Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens as Troy and Gabriella in "High School Musical." Disney For the 20th anniversary of "High School Musical," Business Insider spoke to director Kenny Ortega. Ortega revealed how the cast's tight-knit relationships behind the scenes helped shape the movie. Though he's not attached to a fourth movie, Ortega said he'd be open to getting the cast and crew back together. Do you remember what you were doing on this day 20 years ago? If you were an avid Disney Channel viewer, chances are, the answer is living and breathing " High School Musical ." In January 2006, a direct-to-TV movie musical starring a cast of largely unknown teenagers set a single-night audience record on the Disney Channel. It was such a hit that the house of mouse promptly doubled down with repeat screenings, sing-along versions, piles of merchandise, and a live concert tour that packed arenas across the country. By the time the year was out, ...