Original subtitles

Tonight.

The cast of High School Musical, the musical, the series. Will be taking a

stroll down memory lane.

As we share childhood memories. I got involved in theater very young. A couple

of bloopers.

Was that okay?

Tokus? Surprises. We are very excited to share a special world premiere.

And a whole lot of music.

Welcome to High School Musical The Holiday Special

So

this

is Arizona.

I know it's not exactly the North Pole.

But this is where I've grown up. This is where I spend almost every Christmas of

my life.

Whenever I think of Christmas, I think of my family.

Waking up on Christmas morning, seeing the presents under the tree, seeing that

the cookies and the milk that we left out the night before is all gone.

And of course, every Christmas needs an elf, so I luckily have my little dog,

Violet. She is the sweetest thing. She always opens up presents on Christmas

Day, and it's the funniest thing, and she gets so excited.

Over the years, I have been so blessed to be able to meet and connect with so

many people, so I really wanted to dedicate this song to all the fans out

who have grown up with me, and of course to my amazing high school musical

family. I miss them so much.

We might not be together for the holidays, but music always finds a way

us back home.

Do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do Do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do Do

-do -do -do -do Yeah Hang all the

mistletoe I'm gonna get to know you better This

Christmas And as we trim the tree How much fun it's gonna be together

Christmas fireside blazing bright and we're caroling

So I grew up right outside San Diego with five sisters and two wonderful

and all the music you could imagine. My dad was a professional pianist and

drummer. I think each of us have a little bit of that in our blood. And now

music is obviously such a huge part of my life as I write music almost every

single day. And I was fortunate enough in season one to be given the

to write a song with my co -star, the lovely Olivia Rodrigo.

And then when season two came around, I was afforded the insane opportunity to

write my own Christmas song for my character, Ricky, that he sings to Nini

because he can't really afford a gift. And so he does the second best thing he

can, and that is write her a song.

Writing that Christmas song was a dream.

And I can't believe that I get to say this, but I am going to be able to

it for you tonight for the first time ever.

So enjoy my song.

Slash Ricky song, The Perfect Gift.

Every second it's with you I don't got much to give So I hope you think

this is The perfect gift That I could give

To the perfect gift That ever lives Yeah, this

song's the second best that I could do When the perfect gift is

With you by my side And darling, that's why This

song's the second best that I could do And the perfect gift is

I was born and raised in Selma, California, and we are the

raisin capital of the world, if that gives you any idea of the town.

Okay. I grew up outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I come from a very

musical family.

Every Christmas, we would go to my Nana and Pap's house.

And we would all stand on chairs and just sing for all these relatives.

And they would either sing along or just watch adoringly as we made fools of

ourselves as children because we had no fear whatsoever.

Feliz Navidad.

Feliz Navidad.

I have seen the footage of Joe Serafini singing Feliz Navidad.

Joe's so little. And he says, from the bottom of my heart.

It's so cute.

My favorite things about being a part of the cast of High School Musical is that

you have this whole second family. And it's great because you have this

group of people that are loving and supporting and just there to encourage

I grew up singing with my family and you know as everyone gets older we all go

our separate ways and now I have a new duet partner.

Feliz Navidad.

Feliz Navidad. I

want

to wish you a Merry Christmas.

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from

the bottom of my heart.

Feliz Navidad

from the bottom of my heart.

I want to wish you a merry Christmas. I want to wish you a merry Christmas. I

want to wish you a merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.

And now, how well do you know your cast?

Who in your cast would give the best homemade gift?

I feel like the person that would give the best homemade gift would be Julia

Lester. has to be Julia.

She's very into tie -dye.

I feel like Olivia, she's definitely the most thoughtful when it comes to gifts.

I think Olivia, she will go beyond.

I feel like I think Dara.

Dara or Frankie, because they like truly like think about you. I remember

Frankie got me a present and Frankie spent like some money, so I would only

Frankie because I know he's not going to be cheap, so.

Who would be number one on Santa's list?

I don't want to snitch on nobody.

I think Joshua Bassett. Probably Josh.

Joshua Bassett. Joshua Bassett. Yeah, it's gotta be Josh. I bet everyone said

me, didn't they?

I feel like he's up to no good sometimes.

He's a little terror.

No way! Of course they said that, yeah.

Who in your cast played Tiny Tim as a kid?

Joe Serafini played Tiny Tim like four years in a row.

I played Tiny Tim as a child.

Joe Serafini actually did play Tiny Tim as a kid.

It had to have been Larry.

Was it Kate Reinders as Tiny Tim?

What's Tiny Tim?

What is that?

I grew up in Woodland Hills, California in a

super theatrical family.

My dad, Lauren, and my mom, Kelly, met doing theater.

And my sisters Jenny, Lily, and I grew up doing theater. We caught that acting

bug super early. So definitely a lot of musical theater energy radiating through

our household.

Both sides of my family are Jewish, so we grew up celebrating Hanukkah

predominantly. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Hanukkah. Hanukkah's tomorrow.

Are you going to open the presents? You sure are. Are you going to light the

candles? I'll light the candles.

That's right.

I remember making gingerbread houses with my sisters every year, but not out

gingerbread, out of graham crackers and frosting, because again, Jews.

I give you the Tower of Julia.

Wow.

So I got to thinking about what I could sing, and I could definitely sing you

like a hundred different Christmas songs off the top of my head, but like

where's the Mariah Carey version of a Hanukkah song?

So... I thought tonight I would add a little bit of music video flair to

Hanukkah, and because I am 100 % a theater dork, and it's literally in my

DNA, I'm going to be doing it as a medley. L 'chaim.

I grew up in a very small town in Arkansas, a town called Rogers. It's the

of place where everybody knows everybody because it's so small.

I'm a very family -oriented person, and I grew up in a household that wasn't

necessarily super wealthy, but we had the time with each other, which was most

important for us. But when I said I wanted to come out here to Los Angeles

give acting a go, my brother...

He decided to kind of take everything that was in his savings and what he had

worked his life for and, you know, give me a shot.

He gave my parents the money, and my mom and I moved out to Los Angeles, and I

started my whole acting career.

There's actually a photo of me on Christmas morning wearing, to a T, the

same striped blue T -shirt that the character EJ wears in season one of High

School Musical, the musical, the series.

I guess there's a fun fact I didn't know about myself and the fact that I never

outgrow clothes, so...

That's fun.

There's a lot of things I love in my life. My family, my faith.

And up there at the top of my list is my Camaro, my baby, my car, my red beauty

that I call Aero.

So today I get to sing my song in Hollywood with my beautiful car making

debut with a song from the 1980s. It's going to be so much fun. It's literally

true dream and Christmas miracle at that.

Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away.

This year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone

special.

Once bitten and twice shy, I keep my distance, but you still

catch my eye.

Tell me, baby, do you recognize me?

Well, It's been a year. It doesn't surprise me. Last Christmas, I gave

you my heart.

But the very next day, you gave it away.

This year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special.

A crowded room, friends with tired eyes.

I'm hiding from you, and you're so...

were someone to rely on me i guess i was a shoulder to cry on a

face on a lover with a fire in his heart a man undercover but you tore

me apart oh now i found a real

love you'll never fool me again last christmas i gave you my

I grew up in New York City and I was a true theater kid. I actually have a

picture of me in a menorah costume at like age five.

I loved putting on performances for people.

I'll say that sometimes I would feel embarrassed about the fact that I

celebrated Hanukkah and not Christmas.

I remember when I was younger asking for a Christmas present from Santa because

I was always nervous that I wasn't going to get a present from Santa, even

though I was such a good kid.

And now that I'm an adult, I've taken real ownership over the fact that I am

Jewish and that I do celebrate a holiday that might not be what everybody

celebrates. And it makes me unique, and I'm so proud of that.

This song that I'm singing is all about dreaming about something that isn't

there. It's kind of like what it's like to be an actor, being able to create

something from nothing.

Also, fun fact, written by Irving Berlin.

Nice Jewish boy like me, so I hope I can do it justice.

Just like the ones I used to know Where the

treetops glisten And children listen to hear

Sleigh bells in the snow

Christmases be wild.

dreaming of a white Christmas with every Christmas

card I write.

May your day

I ever asked for for Christmas was... I always wanted, like, a little baby

elephant, which I thought would be the coolest little thing. I asked for the

black Power Ranger costume, and I got the blue Power Ranger costume.

A school desk.

That's right. So what? So I could play school.

Every year, I would ask for a new American Girl doll, even though they're

the same. You know, quantity over quality.

I could pretend school when I was not at school. Like a really cool kid.

A younger sibling.

Probably to be a mermaid.

Barbie's dream house.

I actually wanted a Barbie laptop.

All I wanted was a bride dress, and my parents were, like, giving me all this

stuff, and I didn't care. I just wanted a bride dress, and so I think of a bride

dress.

We'll see

you next time.

Don't miss no one. Hauling through the snow at a frightening speed with a half

dozen deer.

Because the snow really flies and it's cruising every pad with a little

surprise.

but I grew up in Baltimore because my mom wanted to open a performing arts

school for kids.

One of the reasons she did it is because I was so shy when I was younger.

And that school literally broke me out of my shell.

And I'm just so grateful that my mom created it. And she's just been such an

inspiration to me.

This song is about Christmas and, you know, seeing through the eyes of a child

and that wonder of waking up on Christmas morning and being able to be

family.

And also knowing that, you know, one day we all are going to grow up and we're

all going to, you know, be able to be someone completely different, but also

unique and also special with the knowledge of what you gained through all

those years. So if I were to tell my younger self something, you know, some

people are going to doubt you, but to always believe in yourself, have faith

yourself.

And, you know, make each day, every single day of the year, as if it were

Christmas morning. Always have that excitement and that joy and that purpose

keep going.

Period.

Children sleeping, snow is

softly falling.

Like bells...

in Michigan.

And I got involved in theater very young. I always liked to sing and dance

talk a lot. And so I was really lucky to play a lot of the girl roles that every

little girl dreams of playing, like Annie and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

also played a bunch of roles that every little girl doesn't really dream of

playing, like Sebastian the crab, Wilbur the pig, and Tiny Tim three years in

a row.

That's right.

Hi. A lot of people don't know I'm from Louisiana. I'm from the happy, happy

land of Louisiana.

I started young with performing with my stage debut as an angel of God.

And I remember taking it so seriously. The woman who was designing the costumes

handed me this lip gloss as an artistic flair.

And I really thought, like, that was the touch that made me an angel.

is the best night ever because I will be singing a duet with Mr. Mark St. Cyr.

Now, you may know him as Mr. Mazzara from our show, and he isn't very nice to

Miss Jen, but I have to tell you the truth is that Mark St. Cyr is the

I have the great honor of being his first ever singing partner for his first

ever on -camera singing performance, and I just have to say, get ready, world.

They told me this was a solo.

Just kidding.

When the bells all ring and the horns all blow and the couples that we know

are fondly kissing will I be with you or will I be...

Exactly twelve o 'clock that night.

One of the amazing things about this year is I got to spend so much more time

with my family, and I realized that that was so important to me, and I want to

be able to do that again next year in 2021.

To really make the most of the time that you have, especially with the people

you have it with. To soak in every exciting moment that I have. I feel like

sometimes we let time get away from us, but...

focus more on my friends and family and enjoying each second more. Try to live

more in the now and appreciate what you have, whether it be experiences or

memories, and just kind of take those moments in and cherish them because once

they're gone, they're gone.

I think I have very similar New Year's resolutions every year. It's become the

best person that I can be. That's really all I can ever ask for.

My New Year's resolution every year is funny because why do I even make it?

Never happens.

My New Year's resolution is to meet Beyonce.

I know that's a little off, but Miss B, even if it's through Zoom, I'm totally

cool with that.

There are so many home videos of me singing, like, ridiculous songs that I

up.

I'm an only child, and so my parents just absolutely loved that, and they

filming me.

I gotcha, babe.

There's just, like, so much footage of me singing these gibberish songs.

I am so inspired by female singer -songwriters. I draw so much inspiration

them, like Taylor Swift and Fiona Apple and Lorde and people like that. I think

the best artists are great listeners, and so I, uh... I definitely try to

a lot from them.

Tonight I'm going to sing a song called River by Joni Mitchell.

Joni Mitchell is one of the most iconic songwriters of all time, and she did a

really good job of writing a sad Christmas song, which I think is so

Christmas and the holidays are kind of nostalgic for a lot of people, and

sometimes that nostalgia doesn't always have to be joyful and peaceful, and she

does a really great job of capturing that.

So I'm really excited to sing it.

I wish I had a river I could skate away on.

But it don't snow here.

It stays pretty green.

I'm going to make a lot of money. Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene. Oh,

wish I had a river I could skate.

river so long I would teach my feet to

Tried hard to help me. You know, he put me at ease.

And he loved me so not even made me weak in the knees. Oh, I wish I had a river

I could skate away on.

I'm so hard to handle.

I'm selfish and I'm sad.

Now I've gone and lost the best baby that I ever had. Oh, I wish I had a

I could skate way on I wish

I had a river so long I would teach my feet to

I wish I had a river I could skate away

on.

And now, we are very excited to share a special world premiere with the first

song from season two of High School Musical, the musical, the series.

Picture this. The drama kids of East... have decided to launch their very own

Instagram page dedicated to me. Well, the theater club. And they do it the

way theater kids know how.

By singing and dancing through the halls at school.

And then stick around for one more song that'll bring you home for the holidays.

And thank you for joining us as we celebrate this special time of year

Frankie and Dara, take it away!

However else you identify.

Welcome to the East High Drama Club's brand new Instagram page.

I've been waiting for this moment.

It's the start of something great and a chance to turn the page.

It's my year. I'm going to own it.

Going to take more care of me. Putting myself first because I deserve to be.

Hanging on the fire when it starts to snow.

Bumping in...

In the beginning of another year.

Taking in the memories that we made right here.

The tree is going up and my roots are going down.

All around I'm feeling it. Are you feeling it?

Promise me you'll never let go. It's when I break, but we'll never break

announced that behind these doors, the theater is being restored to its full

resplendent 1960s -era glory over the holiday break.

What does Christmas mean

to you now?

I think Christmas now for me really means being able to sit back from from

working and traveling and just remember what it's like to be an a regular 16

year old girl christmas to me now is just a great time to reconnect with the

family that you're away from most of the year i think of family tons of fun in

the snow and food lots and lots of food was an opportunity for me to spend

quality time with the family bring us all together and you might not know this

but quality time is one of my love languages christmas always made me

think of my home that I grew up in. But now, having Luke, it's really about me

making his memories with him.

And I want to balance it with letting him know that Christmas is really about

being loved.

And it's not about all the presents that I give him, but it's really that he is

the biggest gift I have ever received.

I've been afforded the opportunity to be able to give back, especially to my

parents. It was kind of difficult for them to get everyone in my family.

you know, a really great gift. They did the best that they could.

And so the thing I'm most excited about is to be able to give back to them and

the rest of my family.

And you know what? That's Christmas to me.

The fireplace is burning bright, shining all on me.

I see the presents underneath the good old Christmas tree.

And I'll wait all night till Santa comes to wake me from my dreams.

Oh, why?

Cause that's Christmas to me.

I see the children play outside like angels in the snow.

While mom and daddy share a kiss under the mistletoe. And we'll cherish

all these simple things wherever we go.

Cause that's Christmas to me.

I've got this Christmas song in my heart.

I've got the candles glowing in the dark.

I'm hanging all the stockings by the Christmas tree.

Oh, why?

Cause that's Christmas to me.

Oh, why?

Cause that's Christmas to me.

I listen for the thud of reindeer walking on the roof.

As I fall asleep to lullabies, the morning's coming soon.

And the only gift I'll ever need is the joy of family.

Oh, why?

Cause that's Christmas to me.

I've got this Christmas.

Got the candles glowing in the dark.

I'm hanging all the stockings by the Christmas tree.

That's the love that Christmas can bring.

Oh, why?

Because that's Christmas to me.