The Best Episodes of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

Act Two of HSM 3 Opening Night is shaken up by surprise guests and looming decisions.

Director: Tim Federle

Writer: Tim Federle

It's Act Two of opening night, and the stakes have never been higher. After last-minute cast changes in Act One — and so much left unsaid between Ricky and Nini — there's more drama offstage than on

Director: Kabir Akhtar

Writer: Tim Federle

After months of rehearsals, the theater kids gear up for an unforgettable opening night. But when unexpected audience members show up to shake the cast to its core, will the show "go on" if the Wildcats aren't all in this together?

Director: Kabir Akhtar

Writer: Oliver Goldstick

Ricky, Gina, and the rest of the Wildcats must make big decisions on opening night of HSM 3.

Director: Kimberly McCullough

Writer: Zach Dodes

After promising juicy drama for the "Frozen" documentary, E.J., Carlos and Val plan to turn rehearsals into "The Real Campers of Shallow Lake". But E.J. realizes he may have gone too far when the fake drama pushes some real buttons.

Director: N/A

Writer: Jessica Leventhal

Nerves run high on the opening night of "Frozen" as the documentary's release quickly approaches.

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

With Ricky and Kourtney off to college and the other Wildcats distracted, the musical is in peril.

Director: Ann Marie Pace

Writer: Nneka Gerstle

When the Wildcats are benched from rehearsal for a week, tensions rise to the surface during Career Day. Big Red questions if Ashlyn understands his dreams; Howie makes a surprising move with Kourtney; E.J. shocks his dad with a revelation; and Ricky and Nini visit an old haunt.

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

A rambunctious Thanksgiving "cast party" at Ashlyn's ends with surprising news for Gina, while Miss Jenn and Mr. Mazzara accidentally spend the holiday together at East High.

Director: Kimberly McCullough

Writer: Ann Acacia Kim

It's opening night, and Nini hypes up her anxious castmates for their performance in front of the competition judge. But no East High opening night is complete without unexpected visitors, second chances, and big decisions about everyone's futures—together and apart.

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

Miss Jenn organizes a girl’s night out with Kourtney and Nini to help Nini shake off the boy drama, while the rest of the theater kids attend the East High Homecoming dance, where Carlos learns to dance like everyone’s watching.

Director: Joanna Kerns

Writer: Tim Federle

When Miss Jenn is placed on temporary leave and rehearsals are put on hold, the students rally together to defend their drama teacher.

Director: Joanna Kerns, Kimberly McCullough

Writer: Oliver Goldstick

When a blizzard barrels down on Salt Lake City, the Wildcats are stranded at East High after hours, just as E.J. receives some bad news. As cabin fever sets in, Miss Jenn inspires Nini to make a bold choice about her future; Kourtney's coworker Howie makes a surprising move; and Gina and Carlos come to blows.

Director: Paul Hoen

Writer: Ritza Bloom

The Wildcats revisit the past in order to secure the future of the theater program.

Director: Kimberly McCullough

Writer: Chandler Turk

After Nini discovers that E.J. isn’t who she thinks he is, Ashlyn gets caught in the middle. Gina and E.J. team up as “wonderstudies,” and Ricky gets an unexpected visitor at home.

Director: Chad Lowe

Writer: Margee Magee

Gina and Seb rally the group to throw Carlos the music and dance-filled Quinceañero he never had. Meanwhile, Ricky accidentally oversteps in more ways than one, and Miss Jenn gets a wild idea about how to get Nini back onstage at East High.

Director: Kimberly McCullough

Writer: Emilia Serrano

When Gina finds herself stranded at the airport over Spring Break, a surprise run-in changes her mind about what she wants. Meanwhile, the separated Wildcats find a way to bond over song during their break, as Ricky finally sees his mom again after their opening night run-in at "High School Musical."

Director: Brent Geisler

Writer: Tim Federle

High School Musical 4 pulls focus from High School Musical 3 as one of the Wildcats has a star-is-born moment.

Director: Kimberly McCullough

Writer: Ann Kim

Kourtney, Carlos and Big Red decide to join their friends and audition for on stage roles in "Beauty and the Beast," while Nini experiences FOMO from afar. When new competition shows up to the tryout, Gina tries to shake off some old habits.

Director: Kimberly McCullough

Writer: Ann Acacia Kim

At Gina's Halloween party, relationships are put to the test and secrets are revealed.

Director: Ann Marie Pace

Writer: Elizabeth Kiernan Averick

Flying high after the triumph of opening night, Ricky, Nini, Gina, and the Wildcats gather at Ashlyn's for a New Year's Eve party. Miss Jenn runs into the new North High rival theatre teacher—a.k.a her ex-boyfriend—and at the stroke of midnight, shocking revelations come to the surface.

Director: Kimberly McCullough

Writer: Tim Federle

Big Red and Ashlyn celebrate their first Valentine's Day together, amidst drama. Kourtney spars with a co-worker while Gina contends with being single. Meanwhile, Ricky and Nini's plans to surprise each other turn into a comedy of errors, leading to new revelations and a surprise song.

Director: Paul Hoen

Writer: Zach Dodes

Ricky decides to audition for East High's fall musical, "High School Musical," in an effort to rekindle his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Nini.

Director: Tamra Davis

Writer: Tim Federle

E.J. is jealous and reeling after losing the leading role of "Troy" to Ricky, and Miss Jenn tells the conflicted leading lady, Nini, to "trust the process."

Director: Tamra Davis

Writer: Oliver Goldstick

When the cast and crew unexpectedly need to find a new location to "tech" their production, Carlos secures a spooky theater downtown, forcing Miss Jenn to confront old demons.

Director: Joanna Kerns

Writer: Natalia Castells-Esquivel