It’s time to witness the next group of Wildcat graduates leave East High behind. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 4 is set to hit Disney+ on Aug. 9, with all eight episodes of the final season dropping that day. That means fans won’t be forced to wait to see the hyped-up cameos of returning High School Musical stars Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, Kaycee Stroh, Bart Johnson, and Alyssa Reed.
While the promo around the new season has been focused on the fictional High School Musical 4 filming at East High, the main cast we’ve grown to love is also putting on High School Musical 3: Senior Year as their senior year musical. Like previous seasons of the show, we’re expecting plenty of callbacks to the third film in the trilogy as the seniors work through finishing high school, starring as extras in HSM4, and putting on their senior year show.
The soundtrack for Season 4 has been on lockdown, so we don’t know every song that is appearing in this season. But High School Musical: The Musical: The Series fans have been treated to a few teases of what songs they can expect in the new season. Plus, some leaks excite fans about a possible performance from Ricky (Joshua Bassett) in a dramatic Troy Bolton-style ballad that thankfully came to fruition.
“High School Musical”
The final song in High School Musical 3: Senior Year, “High School Musical,” became an anthem everywhere for theater kids moving on from high school to real life. Especially since the Wildcats we know and love are performing their take on High School Musical 3, it’s no surprise this song closes out their final show. Featured in the first teaser for Season 4, it was our first preview of what to expect musically out of the eight episodes.
“Now or Never”
The first official trailer for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 4 dropped about three weeks after the teaser, giving us more details about exactly what drama we’re getting this season. It appears the pull of High School Musical 4 is destroying East High’s drama department, making the stakes even higher for our theater-loving seniors. They might have more than 16 minutes to get it right, but it is, in fact, “Now or Never” for them to pull through and make their senior show spectacular.
“Can I Have This Dance”
Ricky and Gina have been a controversial pairing among fans, to say the least. But whether you like it or not, they’re this season’s “it” couple. Though early on, the rest of the cast doesn’t know they were a thing since Gina (Sophia Wylie) is trying to keep her relationship with Ricky on the down low. But the teenage hormones seem to be getting the better of her, as the above clip shows her wanting to sing the iconic duet from High School Musical 3 with Ricky, even after Miss Jenn (Katie Reinders) calls rehearsal done for the day.
“I Want It All”
Never has there been a perfect pairing for this song than Kourtney (Dara Renee). This song definitely is the culmination of Kourtney’s arc this final season. With her perfect grades, lewks, and starring role in the musical, Kourtney struggled with her decision in college choice. Wanting to keep her “perfect” appearance, she was convinced the Ivy Leagues were for her. But while she may not have it all, Kourtney ended the show by getting what was right for her.
“A Night to Remember”
Again, with an iconic senior year musical like High School Musical 3, it’s unsurprising we got one of the big group numbers in the stage production. While it’s not as magical as the version from the film, we still love seeing the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series cast getting to jam out together and put their own spin on the iconic franchise.
“The Boys are Back”
We really didn’t get to hear too much of Jet (Adrian Lyles) during his debut in Season 3, but with him showing up as a hero for Season 4, we knew we would get him as the star he is. Hearing his Chad to Ricky’s Troy is so amazing and, more importantly, gives us the bromance we didn’t know we needed. Jet and Ricky acted as each other’s wingmen throughout the season, helping them with their romances between Kourtney and Gina, respectively, was sweet. The most tragic part of Season 4 is the end, as we don’t get more of these two and their bromance.
“Walk Away”
Gina and Ricky’s relationship all season was a hot mess, to say the least. From them trying to keep a secret to fake relationships on social media to Ricky turning to Gina’s ex for advice, it felt like nothing was working in their favor. So while her role as Gabriella automatically allowed her to sing this song in the show, it’s no surprise this song matched her journey with Ricky over the season.
“Scream”
Now this one probably was the most hyped-up cover of the entire season. Since the idea of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series covering High School Musical 3: Senior Year came to fruition, fans have been clamoring for Joshua Bassett to cover the Zac Efron song. Show creator Tim Federle said in an interview with TVLine, Bassett agrees, wanting the same for Ricky as well.
“Josh has been begging me for a couple of years to sing ‘Scream,’ and it does feel like this would be the season to see that.”
Tim Federle, creator of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Fans were so convinced this was happening they started posting AI-generated covers of Bassett singing “Scream” to give fans a taste of what they think is to come. But never fear, the minute the new season dropped on Aug. 8, Bassett’s cover of “Scream” was available for streaming, confirming fans’ dream.
“Right Here, Right Now”
Again, with Ricky and Gina becoming the “it” couple of the season, High School Musical 3‘s iconic duet was destined for them. This choice felt especially fitting considering the personal challenges both had faced, leading them to embrace the present instead of obsessing over the future. Maybe EJ (Matt Cornett) wasn’t wrong for telling Ricky to stop running away because he finally got his moment to shine.
“Just Wanna Be With You”
We wish we could’ve gotten the Ryan/Kelsi version of this song, if for no other reason than to get more of Julia Lester being a gay icon as Ashlynn. But considering this song was intended for Gabriella and Troy, even in the context of High School Musical 3, it’s no surprise we get more of Sofia Wylie and Joshua Bassett harmonizing again.
“We’re All in This Together”
Normal fans may think this shouldn’t be here, as “We’re All in This Together” is arguably the most iconic song of the first High School Musical film. Heck, the song was covered in season one of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. But true fans know this version from High School Musical 3 is a much more emotional, almost gospel-like version of the traditional upbeat finale. In the movie, it’s the moment we find out the fate of our graduating Wildcats, and in true callback fashion, we get the same for our cast. Indeed a fitting finale for one of the weirdest shows in TV history.
