Ashley Tisdale glams it up as sharpay in "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3"

Ashley Tisdale returns to her signature role as Sharpay Evans in Walt Disney Pictures’ “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” the first of the “High School Musical” films to be released in movie theaters instead of premiering on television. “Sharpay is obviously the diva,” says Tisdale. “You love to hate her. Sharpay’s the one who stirs the pot. But, I think deep down—really, really, really, really deep down—she’s probably really sweet. Probably.”

“Sharpay is a character who the world loves,” says screenwriter Peter Barsocchini. “There’s a part of every kid who would like to be Sharpay. She’s a mean girl with a heart of gold—sort of.”

“Ashley’s my girl,” says director Kenny Ortega. “She’s just one in a million. I think Ashley is a classic in the making. I think she can deliver on many, many levels. She’s just a fun spirit.”

In the story, Sharpay, Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), Kelsi (Olesya Rulin) and a surprised Troy (Zac Efron) are up for one prestigious Juilliard scholarship. “Of course, Sharpay wants to get that scholarship and does everything she can to eliminate the competition,” explains producer Bill Borden.

Playing Sharpay’s twin and enigmatic brother Ryan Evans is again Lucas Grabeel. “He’s a show-stealer,” says Ortega of Grabeel’s character. “It’s always been Sharpay’s show and in this film, Ryan explodes onto the screen. Ryan really blossoms and you get a greater sense of him than ever before.”

According to Grabeel, his onscreen brother-sister relationship has become an off-screen reality. “We’re a true sibling duo and it’s been great to have that. There’s an energy between us, we bounce off each other really well.”

“Lucas is wonderful, a great all-around actor, dancer and singer,” says Borden. “He’s created a character that is nothing like him in real life. Lucas is gentle, laid back and a really sweet guy. On screen, he’s hysterical.”

Tisdale and Grabeel share a duet in the film, a big production number called “I Want It All.” “The song is Sharpay’s version of how she sees the school in her fantasy world,” says Ortega. “We’re all blinged out. We’re colorful. Everything’s totally different.”

“It’s the biggest musical number for me,” says Tisdale. “Sharpay wants the Juilliard scholarship and she wants to use her brother to get it. The song itself is very Fergie/Gwen Stefani meets Sharpay Evans. I love it.”

Grabeel adds, “To coax Ryan into helping her out, or at least thinking that he’s helping her out, Sharpay paints this picture of what life could be like if they both got the scholarship.”

“I Want It All” takes place in the East High cafeteria with almost 150 people dancing on screen at one time. At one point in the number, Grabeel dances in a classic Radio City Music Hall kick line with 24 pink-haired kitty cat Rockettes. “There’s a wink and a curtsy to the legends of the great White Way,” says Ortega. “It’s an homage to Gene Kelly and Bob Fosse. This is a little bit of ‘Singin’ In the Rain’ meets ‘Chicago’—all through the eyes of a teenage girl who wants it all: fame, fortune and more.”

Opening across the Philippines on Friday, Oct. 24, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.