High School Musical: The Musical: The Series creator previews his Season 2 plans

TV Guide

"I have a yearning to see certain stories that take us a little further outside of East High and the East High drama department," says Tim Federle. "I would also say the show was pitched, and I think produced and delivered, to capitalize on a promise I made to the network — which is we're going to start in a really grounded place, because there's a lot shows and a lot of musicals that are going to have people bursting into song on the quad of the school as the very first number. I wanted to trust that the quiet talents of these cast members would resonate and I was excited to see they did. With that said, I'd like to see like a big honking dance number early in the season. I'm hoping we can launch Season 2 with the promise of a gigantic amount of musical energy and school spirit for a viewing population that I think is desperately going to need an escape when the show comes out."

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• Creator Tim Federle says he'll always fall on his sword for his cast: "Every time I’ve said to Disney, trust me, these children are the future, they’ve come through and and knocked everybody’s socks off," he says. "So really, the biggest challenges that doubles as an opportunity in Season 2 will be to elevate all the characters who popped in Season 1—which, again, I think is every character—but make sure they don’t just feel like C-stories or side kicks. They are all actors and people who deserve their chance in the spotlight, so one of my final goals is just to let Season 2 breathe a bit more, and to let the episodes tell even deeper stories. "
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