Cast gathers for ‘High School Musical 3’

updated 8:25 p.m. ET May 2, 2008

SALT LAKE CITY - In real life, Zac Efron is just as cute — maybe cuter — than he is dancing and singing as Troy Bolton in Disney’s wildly popular “High School Musical” movies.

That’s the assessment from 10-year-old Eden Withers, who got a close look at Efron during a news conference at East High School to mark the filming of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”

Her seat among a bunch of reporters came courtesy of her dad, who runs the Salt Lake City School District.

“I just really, really like the show and I think Zac is cute,” Eden said with a blushing giggle and grin.

“HSM3” begins filming here Saturday and opens in movie theaters Oct. 24.

The third installment finds basketball star Troy and pals Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad and Taylor facing graduation and choices about their future.

Will it be basketball or the theater? Will Troy and Gabriella stay a couple or split to attend different colleges?

Efron and co-stars Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman weren’t dishing any secrets Friday, the last day of rehearsals.

Cast members claim they’re not feeling pressure to top the success of the two previous films.

The franchise debuted in 2006 as a Disney Channel original movie and quickly became an international hit seen by more than 250 million viewers in 100 countries and 20 languages.

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The sequel’s August 2007 premiere was seen by 18.6 million viewers, becoming the top basic cable telecast of all time. Disney says the DVD release topped all sales records for 2007 and the movie’s soundtrack went triple platinum.

“I kind of think of it as the third act,” said Efron, whose turn as Troy opened the door to roles in other films. “This is the third movie. We’re not looking to top anything, just to do it justice.”

The only pressure, said Hudgens, is making the movie for the big screen, not TV.

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