Photo: Natalie Cass/Disney
High School Musical: The Musical: The Seriesseason 4 is shaping up to bethe show’s most nostalgic season yet, and PEOPLE has the exclusive First Look at the stars in character, includingJoshua Bassett(Ricky),Sofia Wylie(Gina),Julia Lester(Ashlyn),Dara Reneé(Kourtney),Frankie Rodriguez(Carlos),Joe Serafini(Seb),Liamani Segura(Emmy) and more.
When PEOPLE visited theHSMTMTSset last year, many of the stars teased that this season feels like a “full-circle” moment as manyOGHigh School Musicalstars make cameos, includingCorbin Bleu,Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel,Bart Johnson,Alyson ReedandKaycee Stroh.
Fred Hayes/Disney
“We’ve been manifesting it since day one and here we are four seasons later and we finally get to be with theOG Wildcat Group,” explains Lester, 23. “They embody the OG Wildcat spirit, we embody this new Wildcat spirit, and two groups blended together has been so wonderful.”
Bassett, 22, adds that it was especially moving to witness the OGHSMcast’s emotional response to returning to East High nearly 15 years after the final film wrapped. “It was really special to share that,” he says. “It was truly a beautiful thing and beyond what we were hoping for to have so many original people back.”
This season will also feature two new recurring cast members who stir things up for the East High students.
Descendants: The Rise of Red’s Kylie Cantrall plays social media star Dani, who sounds like anHSMTMTStake onAshley Tisdale’s Sharpay. “She likes the spotlight and when she wants something, she goes and gets it, even if it means stepping on people’s toes a little bit,” teases Cantrall, 17.
Meanwhile,Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.starMatthew Satojoins the cast as a sitcom actor named Mack, who he says “develops a really interesting relationship” with Gina as the season progresses.
Naturally, this season will feature countless nods to the originalHSMfranchise with the music, storylines and even costumes. “It is so meta,” showrunnerTim Federlesays of season 4. “It’s likeInceptionwith jazz hands at this point. I think there are Easter eggs in every episode.”
The major storylines in this season also draw inspiration from the thirdHigh School Musicalmovie, as many of the characters go on journeys of self-discovery in their final year at East High.
As for that season 3 cliffhanger, Bassett teases that fans will continue to see the “aftermath” of that relationship in the upcoming season. “They’re both really nervous about getting it right,” he says of Ricky and Gina. “It’s fun to see [them] in this light and actually see them in a healthy relationship because I think both of them have hadpretty not great relationships.”
Relationship drama and big decisions are key themes in season 4 as the characters prepare to graduate high school. “Kourtney is going through thesemassive decisions about wanting it allas a college student,” teases Federle, 43. “Ashlyn goes on a journey where she discoversher own queerdom in the series.”
“Those are all things we’re able to address in a way that I think celebrates the original franchise but puts a stamp on it in our own way,” Federle adds.
As for what Federle hopes the show’s lasting impression will be? The importance of community. “In the streaming era, there’s something real about the phrase ‘It’s now or never,’” he explains. “[To] still be on the air after four seasons is a blessing alone.”
“I hope what people take away [from the series] is that in a mean, mean world, it’s really important to find your people who have your back,” he adds. “The world is mean enough, and there are certain pockets of the world that you can find your people and soar and not apologize for who you are.”
He continues, “That goes for our audience, and that goes for these characters and ultimately, it goes for the real-life cast, hoping from me that they carry this with them for the rest of their lives. That they had a place to go that was safe and where they were celebrated for all of their colors.”
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The first three seasons ofHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Seriesare currently streaming on Disney+, and season 4 is coming soon.
source: people.com
