Ashley Tisdale French, Lucas Grabeel, and Monique Coleman reunited at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of High School Musical. The milestone event took place on January 20, 2025, exactly two decades after the original film premiered on Disney Channel on January 20, 2006.
Tisdale French, who portrayed Sharpay Evans, shared several behind-the-scenes moments from the celebration on her Instagram Stories. The actress, now 40, posed with Grabeel (40), who played her on-screen twin Ryan Evans, and Coleman (45), who starred as Taylor McKessie.
“Reunited,” Tisdale French captioned a photo of the trio standing on a High School Musical-themed carpet, adding a red heart emoji.
The actress also posted a photo of a handwritten sign that read “HSM 20, EHS”, referencing East High School, the fictional setting of the franchise. A paw print logo represented the school’s mascot, the Wildcats.
In another post, Tisdale French tried on her pink graduation cap from High School Musical 3: Senior Year, smiling as she held it above her head. “It still fits!” she wrote.
Tisdale French’s 4-year-old daughter, Jupiter Iris French, attended the event with her mother. Jupiter wore a hot pink dress with gold star detailing and matching accessories. She posed in Sharpay’s iconic pink golf cart from High School Musical 2. “Not Jupiter upstaging me,” Tisdale French joked in the caption.
Jupiter also took photos in an HSM-themed photo booth, fully embracing the spirit of the celebration.
In a TikTok video shared in May 2025, Tisdale French revealed that her daughter had recently become obsessed with the High School Musical franchise. After watching a school play version of the film-where her niece played Sharpay-Jupiter’s interest was sparked.
“She will not stop listening to the music. It’s playing in the house right now. When I’m on walks with her, she asks for me to play it. When I’m in the car, she asks for me to play it. Specifically, High School Musical 2,” Tisdale French said.
Earlier that day, Tisdale French shared a video of herself trying on her old costumes from the films. “You can take the girl out of East High… but you can’t take the Sharpay out of the girl,” she wrote over footage of herself walking through a storage hallway in various pink outfits.
“20 years and two babies later I’m still squeezing into these,” she added in the caption.
The original High School Musical became a cultural phenomenon upon its release. It drew 7.7 million viewers during its premiere broadcast, making it the most commercially successful original film in Disney Channel history at the time. The soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for over 100 weeks.
The film’s story centers on Troy Bolton, a high school basketball star, and Gabriella Montez, a new student with academic prowess. The two meet at a New Year’s Eve karaoke party and later reunite at East High, where they decide to audition for the school musical. Their decision disrupts the balance between the school’s cliques, particularly the drama and athletics departments.
The choreography, directed by Kenny Ortega, played a major role in the film’s success, with dance numbers becoming iconic among fans.
Sequels followed in 2007 and 2008, continuing the story of the East High Wildcats. Tisdale French later starred in the 2011 spin-off Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, which focused on her character’s post-graduation journey.
More recently, Disney+ aired High School Musical: The Musical: The Series from 2019 to 2023, introducing a new generation to the franchise’s legacy.
Tisdale French expressed gratitude to Disney for the anniversary celebration. “Thank you @disney for this special moment,” she wrote over a photo from the event.
The reunion served as a nostalgic moment for fans who grew up with the franchise, and for the cast members whose careers were launched by the original film. The event highlighted the enduring popularity of High School Musical, two decades after its debut.
