SALT LAKE CITY – A movie filmed right here in Salt Lake City enjoyed a tremendous surge of popularity when it premiered, and 10 years later East High School is still feeling the impact of "High School Musical."
The Disney movie starring Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale was a smash hit when it debuted in January 2006, and Thursday FOX 13 News’ Danica Lawrence was at the campus in Salt Lake City as they celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the film.
While it has a decade since the movie premiered, fans still come by the school to tour the shooting location.
“We've seen ‘High School Musical’, so we just kind of wanted to tour the school,” said Emma Lefavor.
Emma and her sisters, Kate and Sophie, walked through the “Wildcat’s” campus, where they saw their favorite pink locker, which belonged to the character Sharpay.
Whitney Watchman, assistant principal at East High School, said they are proud of their school’s place in film history.
“I will come after a football game, and there will be like eight or nine girls at the doors kind of peering in, and I’ll let them in, and they'll think that they just have the keys to the kingdom,” Watchman said.
Ro Malaga was an assistant choreographer and principal dancer who worked on all three of the "High School Musical" films.
“I can't believe that it's still popular!” Malaga said Thursday.
Malaga said walking the halls of East High brought back years of memories for him.
“It's incredible that [director] Kenny Ortega's vision of it being that generation's 'Grease' has passed on and has taken a life of its own, and not just to the Utah community, but also just a worldwide community,” Malaga said.
While touring the gymnasium from the famous musical number “We’re All in this Together”, Malaga showed FOX 13 News’ Danica Lawrence some of the dance moves. See the video above to see Danica learning her steps.
If you make the rounds of the campus, don’t forget the bookstore, where ‘High School Musical’ T-shirts are still on sale.
