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33 Incredible "High School Musical" Throwback Photos

Alex Rees

January 21, 2016 at 10:50 AM

<p><em>High School Musical</em> premiered 10 years ago this month — Jan. 20 to be exact; mark your calendars for a rewatch. The Disney Channel original proved to be wholesome, musical tween catnip, though it's probably fair to say no one saw the movie's success coming (or, at least, to its full extent).</p><p>Case in point: the cast's wardrobe. Here, your East High faves before a performance on the <em>TODAY </em>show, along with some guy from <em>American Idol </em>who looks like Chicken Little. </p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/news/g5291/33-incredible-high-school-musical-throwback-photos/" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:From Cosmopolitan;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">From Cosmopolitan</a></p>

<p>And seriously, look at the lacy trim on Monique Coleman's prairie skirt!</p>

<p>Monique did get to compete on <em>Dancing With the Stars</em> though, a reality TV competition gig that comes with all sorts of sequins and glitz. (She placed fourth.)</p>

<p>Fun fact: I used to own the jacket Zac Efron is wearing here (it's from Urban Outfitters, IIRC). Anyway the zipper broke after I wore it, like, twice; the point here is that I feel really close to ZEfron right now and that's lovely.</p>

<p>L–R: Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Vanessa Hudgens, and Zac "Puppy Dog Face" Efron attend a cast breakfast promotional event. It's not clear why Monique or Lucas Grabeel weren't invited, womp, womp (but maybe Sharpay took the batteries out of their alarm clocks).</p>

<p>Quick shout out for Vanessa's cardigan ... and for Ashley's fishnets.</p>

<p>Ashley, Zac, Vanessa, Lucas,and Monique at a <em>HSM</em> premiere after-party. Do you think they coordinated their shoes in East High's colors on purpose?</p>

<p>This is just <em>so cute</em>.</p>

<p>This is quite coquettish though. You do you, Vanessa.</p>

<p>Zac, Vanessa, Monique, and Ashley got to travel Down Under for a movie premiere. Here's Zac jumping for joy, I guess? Or just jumping because he can.</p>

<p>Still promoting the movie in Australia, here's Zac with one of his shoe's tongues hanging out. He did this a bunch for some reason; was this a thing in '06?!</p>

<p>Here we are on <em>Total Request Live</em> with Ashley. Also, distressingly distressed jeans.</p>

<p>And again, at a movie premiere (!) no less — for <em>The Derby Stallion</em>, a ZEfron movie-starring that came out in 2006 and, um, didn't prove to be as successful as <em>High School Musical</em>.</p>

<p><em>High School Musical</em> won two trophies at the 2006 Creative Arts Awards, for Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Children's Program. Like your junior high prom date — who was cute, don't get me wrong, but didn't try hard enough — Zac showed up in a sweater and tie set from Express.</p>

<p>He totes got down on the dance floor though. This is a strangely sexual photo, TBH.</p>

<p>Speaking of dancing and parties, here's Corbin, Vanessa, and Zac attending Ashley's 20th birthday party. (This is technically from October 2005 but warrants inclusion for Corbin's shirt alone.) </p>

<p>Here's Corbin in some other crazy shirts and statement belts. Bonus points for the snazzy cell phone, Corbin (and the statement charm pendant thing).</p>

<p>And here's Corbin in LEATHER PANTS, which I'm pretty sure aren't allowed for Disney Channel starlets, so who even know what's happening here?!</p>

<p>Meanwhile, here's Ashley in a fedora.</p>

<p>Ashley's hat game was hella strong, you know? She's pictured here with Vanessa at an ED HARDY event, which is a surefire way to put the whole "<em>High School Musical</em> is a decade old now" in context — because ED HARDY.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Zac's hat game was ... dubious?</p>

<p>OMG it's the Jonas Brothers, and they're not even fully formed. Nick, Kevin, Joe, and their respective hairdon'ts joined Vanessa and Ashley at a Radio Disney concert. Fun was had, I'm sure.</p>

<p>Vanessa and Ashley both also hung out with Miley Cyrus — Vanessa at a movie premiere; Ashley during another <em>TRL</em> appearance.</p>

<p>And here's Ashley with the Sprouse twins (with whom she starred on <em>The Suite Life of Zack & Cody</em>). There are feathers on her skirt.</p>

<p>Ashley with JoJo. Remember JoJo?!</p>

<p>And best of all, with Paula Abdul! In conclusion, Ashley is/was popular. You might also say she's, wait for it, <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjJDyzbGVZs" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:"Fabulous.";elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">"Fabulous."</a> CLICK THE LINK, LISTEN TO THAT SONG, you will never regret it.</p>

<p>Anyway, here's the gang all attending the 2006 American Music Awards, except WAIT A FUCKING SECOND, that's not Zac Efron! No, it's Canadian actor Drew Seeley, who — and make sure you're sitting down here because this is one helluva #TruthBomb — actually provided (most of) Zac's character Troy Bolton's vocals, after Disney decided Zac had the look but not quite the voice.</p>

<p>A quick aside for Vanessa's peace symbol pendant, exactly the sort of accessory Coco Chanel was thinking about when she laid out that "take one accessory off before you leave the house" fashion rule.</p>

<p>But look, here's Zac back again, at the 2006 Teen Choice Awards!</p>

<p>But now he's gone again, because he couldn't be bothered to fly to London with the rest of the cast for the <em>High School Musical</em> U.K. premiere. This is the worst collection of red carpet looks so far, which is really saying something.</p>

<p>Zac's back again! (He presumably spent the duration of his castmates' trip to Europe in a tanning bed.) He's here at the <em>Billboard </em>Music Awards and serving Blue Steel.</p>

<p>I do not know what is going on here, but it's most definitely not part of any male model's posing handbook.</p>

<p>In conclusion, Zac with a basketball. Bring on all the <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G--VfuI0fNs" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:"Get'cha Head in the Game";elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">"Get'cha Head in the Game"</a> memories, because that song's choreography is major.</p>

High School Musical premiered 10 years ago this month — Jan. 20 to be exact; mark your calendars for a rewatch. The Disney Channel original proved to be wholesome, musical tween catnip, though it's probably fair to say no one saw the movie's success coming (or, at least, to its full extent).

Case in point: the cast's wardrobe. Here, your East High faves before a performance on the TODAY show, along with some guy from American Idol who looks like Chicken Little.

From Cosmopolitan

Jemal Countess / Getty Images

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