It’s hard to believe the Season 1 finale of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series started streaming on Disney+ in this past January. Time is moving very fast and very slowly at the same time. That’s why it’s shocking that it’s already holiday season. One thing I’m thrilled we can celebrate this year is a HSMTMTS holiday special coming to Disney+ in December.
If you haven’t guessed it already, the special is called High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special. The special is executive produced by series creator and executive producer Tim Federle and Ashley Edens. It starts streaming on the platform on December 11th, and needless to say, I am extremely excited.
Disney+ tweeted out the announcement, urging us to tune in for a first look at Season 2. Entertainment Weekly reports that the special includes a performance by Joshua Bassett of a song he wrote for HSMTMTS’ second season. We’re in for a treat if that song is anything like “Just for a Moment” that he co-wrote with Olivia Rodrigo for Season 1.
The 45-minute holiday special will reunite the entire cast, including Joshua Bassett, Olivia Rodrigo, Matt Cornett, and Sofia Wylie, to perform classic and popular holiday songs. The cast will also share personal stories and memories from their past celebrations, TVLine reports.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special sounds like it’ll be a comforting watch that makes us feel like we’re a part of the HSMTMS family. What is there not to love about that?
Entertainment Weekly also let us know that the special’s soundtrack, hilariously named High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special: The Soundtrack will drop on major music services before the special hits Disney+. That’s right, you can get into the holiday spirit with the cast of HSMTMTS early by streaming the soundtrack starting Friday, November 20th.
Even though Halloween is still around the corner, it’s hard not usher in the next batch of holidays early with news like this. It feels like it’s been way longer than 8 months since we’ve caught up with the HSMTMTS characters.
HSMTMTS is one of many shows that halted production this year. It’s unfortunate yet completely understandable that High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special won’t be a scripted event. It would have been nice to have the special bridge the gaps between the seasons. It’s just not completely practical right now.
The first season did leave us with major cliffhangers that wouldn’t feel right pushed to the side for this special. We’ll have to wait to find out if Nini switches schools, how Gina adjusts to living with Ashlyn, and more. That just makes the anticipation for Season 2 even stronger.
It’s unclear whether High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special will be a socially distanced event with the cast performing over Zoom or not. If this is the case, my expectations for the special will remain high. Plenty of shows like Parks and Recreation prove that it’s possible to make something great over Zoom. To be honest, I’ll take this special however I can get it.
I know I’m not the only who will rewatch Season 1 of HSMTMTS before the holiday special premieres. It’s also an opportunity to think about which HSMTMTS characters should play the iconic roles in East High’s production of Beauty and the Beast. My gut says Nini and Ricky will be the leads, but Miss Jenn might have another plan up her sleeve.
What are you excited to see on High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special? Let us know in the comments below!
