As sometimes happens, Hollywood was surprised at the success of "High School Musical". It made super stars out of Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale who played the lead roles, Troy and Garbriella. Zac and Ashley had already had success as actors to some degree.

"High School Musical 3" kept the series on a high note as it was not a let down from the previous shows. Critics called it "good", in spite of themselves, one calling it "calorie free" because it is "wholesome" but "brainless". But it is for young teens, and they love it.

Zac was basically "discovered" when he was in high school doing the very thing this movie is about. Right out of high school he got a professional stage roll in "Gypsy," and after some minor rolls on TV he was nominated for Best Supporting Young Artist Award.

Ashley started her acting career at age three. At age eight she was in the stage production of "Les Miserables" and shortly after in "Annie", then had parts in many TV shows and other venues.

The movie is about a senior year couple with the dilemma of going off to different colleges. It is a musical about performing arts, along the lines of "Fame". It is distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Producer, director and choreographer Kanny Ortega began the phenomenon, along with other producers, Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush. Kenny has been working in Hollywood since 1980 when he worked on "Xanadu". Probably one of his most famous movies was "Dirty Dancing", again, a surprise hit. In 2007 he was nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement Award in Children's Programs by OGA.

Though many of the cast and crew were not famous before this series, we will no doubt be hearing more from them in the future.