"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, the soundtrack had become the top-selling album of 2006."
"No one could have known that a Disney Channel Original Movie would eventually become a hit trilogy and multibillion-dollar franchise, but director Kenny Ortega was never in the business of half-heartedness. He'd already made a name for himself as a choreographer ("Dirty Dancing," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," Madonna's "Material Girl") and a director ("Newsies," "Hocus Pocus"). He'd signed on to choreograph and direct "High School Musical" because he recognized his younger self in the story - but also because he saw potential for an ambitious production, complete with original songs and colorful dance sequences."
""We made every dollar stretch and every minute mean something," Ortega said. "We didn't waste any time. Nothing ended up on the cutting room floor.""
High School Musical premiered on the Disney Channel in January 2006 and set a single-night audience record, triggering repeat screenings, sing-along versions, heavy merchandising, and a nationwide live concert tour. The soundtrack became the top-selling album of 2006. Kenny Ortega, an established choreographer and director, converted the original script into a full musical with original songs and colorful choreography. Ortega worked with a limited budget and roughly a month to shoot, stretching resources tightly and ensuring nothing was wasted to realize an ambitious, tightly executed production.
Read at Business Insider
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