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Kenny Ortega
This is not a drill – Ryan Evans from High School Musical has bopped his way to the top with a hot boyfriend reveal.
The fictional character, played by Lucas Grabeel, has long been the center of discussion about his sexuality as in the original three movies, he was outwardly portrayed as a straight male. But now, in the Disney+ spin-off series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Ryan has been shown locking lips with a male lover in a recently released clip teasing the upcoming fourth and final season.
The clip teases an epic Wildcats reunion with Corbin Bleu, who originated the role of Chad Danforth in the movies but joined the HSMTMTS cast as himself in Season 3, Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie, and Kaycee Stroh, who plays Teacher Kaycee in the series but originated the role of Martha Cox in the movies. There are also appearances by Bart Johnson as Coach Bolton and Alyson Reed as Ms. Darbus.
During an energetic musical number, Ryan, in a signature pink get-up, escapes the stage for a brief conversation with his partner who tells him, “You look amazing! This is so cool.” He responds, “This means so much to me that you are here.” They exchange “I love you”s and a quick miss before parting ways. Then Mr. Bolton mutters, “Have you seen Sharpay, Troy and Garbiella?” teasing the anticipated return of Ashley Tisdale, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, which remains in question; although Efron and Hudgens were spotted at the filming location around the same time, last year.
Enough about that, though, let’s get back on track. Is Ryan Evans gay?
While the character was never portrayed as gay in the original musical movies or the spin-offs with the original cast, he was always gay… in theory. Kenny Ortega, who directed and choreographed all three movies, confirmed that Grabeel’s character was gay in a 2020 interview with Variety. “We decided he’d probably going to come out in college. It was less about coming out and just more about letting his true colors come forward,” he said.
“I have to be honest with you. I didn’t think at the time — and Disney is the most progressive group of people I’ve ever worked with,” Ortega added. “I was concerned because it was family and kids, that Disney might not be ready to cross that line and move into that territory yet. So, I just took it upon myself to make choices that I felt that those who were watching would grab. They would see it, they would feel it, they would know it and they would identify with it. And that is what happened.”
The same year, Grabeel responded to Ortega’s comments to TMZ and expressed that he wasn’t sure if he’d originate the role in modern times. “There’s so many amazingly talented gay actors that could do it as well, so if High School Musical was made today — I don’t know if I would play Ryan,” Grabeel said. “I would love to, but the last thing I want to do is take an opportunity away from other people. As a straight white man, I know that even without trying, I have taken opportunities away from other people.”
The former Disney star recalled chatting with Ortega on set and asking if his character was gay. “He was like, ‘Well, I mean, it’s a touchy subject sometimes with children’s programming — I’m not sure if Disney is ready now for that kind of thing. I absolutely agree that he is and I think we have an opportunity here to showcase a real person,’” Grabeel shared.
While I’m all for breaking the gender binary, this was the late 2000s and making the character gay in the original series would’ve greatly impacted Grabeel’s life at the very least — as well as those of fans watching the series. Disney isn’t an innocent culprit in the situation as it’s come out that other teen programs, which aired around the same time — most notably, Wizards of Waverly Place — received pushback when wanting to portray queer storylines.
Decades later though, it’s finally happened! The show has righted the wrongs of the childhoods of old HSM fans by giving Ryan a hot boyfriend in the new series, played by Penatonix singer Scott Hoying, which is everything he deserves and more.
Gays, we stay winning.
