Dave Gee: Life from Right Field

Proving Disney can still cut it with today's teens, their latest hit tv movie-musical has just broken DVD sales records in the United States.

High School Musical, a modern-day Grease, has already broken records for Disney. The original TV movie was the highest rated telecast in the Disney Channel's history.

Now, with the release of the High School Musical DVD ("Encore Edition"), more records have been smashed. The DVD sold over 400,000 copies in North America on its first day of release (May 25th), making it the fastest-selling tv programme on DVD this year, and the fastest-selling television movie of all time on DVD.

The DVD features the original broadcast version of High School Musical, plus a special "Sing-along Version", so that fans can play Karaoke at the appropriate musical interludes, plus a bunch of special features and "never seen before extras. (A "dance-along" version has also screened on TV, but doesn't appear on this DVD).

A CD of the High School Musical Soundtrack (featuring all the songs from the film) is also available... It has been to #1 in the US Billboard charts, has sold over 2 million copies, and certified 2 x Platinum for sales by the RIAA. An unprecedented nine original songs from the "High School Musical" soundtrack made Billboard's Hot 100 chart... 5 in the top 40!

High School Musical stars Zac Efron from WB's Summerland, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, and Ashley Tisdale from Disney TV's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

There are now plans for a Broadway version of the show (featuring new actors). Producers are planning it as a 3 part series, with the first movie sequel, High School Musical 2: Sing It All Or Nothing! (featuring the original cast) planned for release later this year, or early 2007.

* WorldScreen.com: High School Musical DVD Breaks Records
* The Birmingham News: Going back to High School `Musical' song and dance make winning team
* MTV News: What Is 'High School Musical' And How Did It Get To #1?