Rainbow Crew is an ongoing interview series that celebrates the best LGBTQ+ representation on screen. Each instalment showcases talent working on both sides of the camera, including queer creatives and allies to the community.
Next up, we're talking to High School Musical: The Musical: The Series showrunner Tim Federle.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series has always broken the mould in ways you might not expect. That title alone proves as much. But creator Tim Federle didn't just stop there.
From the show's surprise mockumentary origins to its defiant queer storytelling – on a Disney-led platform, no less – it's been a while since High School Musical stuck to the status quo.
Season three continues in this proud tradition with some sweeping changes that promise to shake things up more than ever.
Not only is the show moving further away from its humble Wildcat beginnings with a new take on Frozen, but real-life developments have also prompted a few changes when it comes to the spotlight this season. And of course, these new episodes are also set in a brand new summer camp location to boot.
But that's not to say High School Musical has become a completely different show. So, can you still expect to hear more Disney originals and classics sung to the beat of teen romance and awkward new awakenings? In the immortal words of Troy Bolton, "You can bet on it."
Digital Spy caught up with Tim Federle, the creator of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, to break down all these big changes while also teasing what's to come in season three.
Olivia Rodrigo's character has a separate storyline of her own this season. How did Jesse Tyler Ferguson's involvement in that arc come about?
Jesse's an old friend of mine. We're both Broadway guys from New York. I texted Jesse and I was like, "Do you have any interest in playing Olivia Rodrigo's dad?"
And he texted back, "Yes. Yes, I do."
Jesse is as big of a comic star as it gets, and he'd just won a Tony Award, which is so cool. But I think sometimes this business is ultimately: who do you know? And who do you know will bring good vibes to set?
He was just a joy and a masterclass, walking onto set and being an absolute dream, and being a fanboy of Olivia, which was so sweet to watch.
Could you talk us through Olivia's reduced role this season and how this California arc came about?
I mean, anyone paying attention to the music business in the last year… it's like: you're not Sherlock Holmes to discover that Olivia's become the biggest music star in the world, as I think she richly deserves.
I actually went to Disney, and said, "I think Olivia should tour the world. This is her dream. And I think we should do the right thing, and allow Olivia's music career to explode."
I had Olivia's support in that, and I had Disney's support in that. We all worked together to give her – I think and hope – a really memorable experience in season three for those OG High School Musical series fans, while also recognising that there's so much talent in this cast, and there's other stories we can tell.
I hope people are moved by her appearances, and also celebratory of all the other sort of exciting characters and stories that we tell.
Season three also switches things up with this new summer camp location.
It's fun, after a couple of years of doing this show, just to shake it up a bit. And I know when I went to summer camp, all rules are off. You're meeting people for the first time. They don't know who you are. They don't know your baggage or your history.
I think summer camp offers not just sort of fun under the sun and a little bit of scandal under the stars, but it allows you to decide who you want to be when you go back to school. And this really is the summer that kind of changes everything.
Why is it so important to see queer themes included so organically in shows that are aimed at children and more family friendly like High School Musical?
Mostly because I think it's the truth. And even though we're doing a soapy, mockumentary version of real life that obviously has some super-cheesy, corny, deliciously Disney elements to them, I think our audience knows when we're faking it.
I have an 18 and a 21-year-old cousin who I like to interview before we start every season. And I'm like, "Ladies, tell me what it's really like."
They talk about their school, and how extremely queer and accepting their school is, and the changing dynamics of their friend groups as people try on new personas, and accept old personas that were perhaps a little more closeted.
I think there's a rich history of gay storytellers, especially, in the musical space. That's sort of my background. And I don't think you can tell a story about a group of modern theatre kids without a strong queer undercurrent. I've been quite fortunate to have that support from Disney, and certainly from this cast and crew, to tell those stories.
Looking back, is there a particular moment of queer representation onscreen that really moved you or resonated with you in some way?
When I read the kids book Ferdinand as a child, I was like, "Oh, I'm him. I'm the bull who likes to smell flowers in the outfield when playing Little League."
But then a lot of representation was either a joke, like Will and Grace, which was a miracle when it premiered, but oftentimes, for the period, trafficked in some stereotypes. Or oftentimes, I felt like if you were gay on screen, you had to be a sidekick.
And then there were movies like Brokeback Mountain that moved me so deeply but ultimately felt so tragic.
So what I'm so excited about with this new generation, with projects like Heartstopper, and certainly what we're trying to do with High School Musical, is just sort of blowing the doors open, saying that queer people can be the leads, and can also direct the show and drive the show.
We had a queer storyteller this season named Anne Marie Pace who's a young queer woman who directed episode – oh, goodness, I think it's 305. And she's just incredible. The cast just fell in love with her. And she's young, and she speaks their language. I'm excited for people to discover her episode.
What advice would you give to young queer people who are still trying to figure out their place in the world?
I think my main piece of advice is: hold out for the people who see you for who you are, and accept you. And that when you try to change your identity or attitude or just vibe in order to fit in with a group of people – those people aren't really your friends.
The people who really love you and see you for who you are, warts and all, are the people to stick with. And I know it can feel like high school or middle school lasts forever, but it doesn't, and it really does get better.
Find a community of likeminded souls who accept you.
Seasons one and two of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series are now available to watch in full on Disney+. Season three will premiere July 27 with new episodes every Wednesday.
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