High School Musical actor returns to East High after 20 years

SALT LAKE CITY – Musical theatre students at East High School in Salt Lake City got the surprise of their lives Thursday. While rehearsing for their upcoming production of "High School Musical", a familiar Wildcats alumnus stepped into the theater — instantly sending the room into screams and cheers. Actor Lucas Grabeel, who played Ryan Evans in the original "High School Musical" movie filmed at East High nearly 20 years ago, walked in to wish the cast luck and share stories from his time on set. The moment he entered, the entire auditorium erupted — students jumping to their feet as Grabeel encouraged everyone to take a seat so he could, as he joked, “actually see their faces.” Senior Greer Blalock says the energy was unreal. “It’s been so crazy. We were screaming when he got here. It was just super cool to hear it from his perspective and his experiences.” Grabeel spent time talking with the cast about acting, performing and what it was like filming the movie at the very school where they now rehearse. He shared memories from the set, offered tips and encouraged the students to keep pushing even when the work gets tough. Senior Julia Esparza says his message hit home. “I think that if you get knocked down, get back up and follow your dreams. I think it was good advice.” "High School Musical" opens February 19th at East High. Grab tickets and check showtimes on the East High Theatre website.

This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL's editorial standards are upheld.

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