$14 million headed to Utah from production of 'High School Musical' reboot

Utah once again will be the location for a “High School Musical” production, this time a 10-episode series expected to spend $14.7 million in the state.

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board, at its October meeting, approved a tax credit incentive of up to $3.7 million for Horizon Productions Inc. for “High School Musical: The Musical,” scheduled to film early next year.

“If you were to ask me, ‘What is the one production company that has made the biggest impact on Utah?’ I would say it would be the Disney Channel and their parent company, Walt Disney,” Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission, told the GOED board. “They have shot over 40 features and television series here since the early ’80s. They’ve spent close to $200 million in the state. Hundreds — thousands, probably — of jobs. They hire local, they use local resources. They’ve really been a fantastic partner with us.”

The first “High School Musical,” a TV show, filmed in Utah in 2005 and was released in 2006. A TV sequel followed in 2007 and a feature film was released in 2008, with both shot in Utah. Much of them were shot at East High School in Salt Lake City.

“We broke all cable TV records on the premier of ‘High School Musical 2,’” Susette Hsiung, executive vice president of network production management and operations for Disney Channels Worldwide, told the board. “Twelve years later, East High is still a tourist attraction.”

The newest installment will be shown on Disney’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service. GOED documents indicate it will have five cast members, 281 crew members and 3,800 extras. Principal photography is set for Feb. 19-June 28.

The new series will be told in documentary style and follow a group of East High students as they stage a performance of “High School Musical,” “only to realize that as much drama happens off-stage as on-stage,” the documents say. The series is written by novelist, screenwriter and former Broadway performer Tim Federle and executive-produced by Tim Federle, Oliver Goldstick (“Pretty Little Liars”), Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush (the “High School Musical” movies).

Hsuing said 22 Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs) have been shot in Utah, including the three “High School Musical” productions. The third season of “Andi Mack,” also the recipient of a Utah tax credit incentive, is currently in production in the state. Hsuing said production officials have discovered “a conscientious crew, positive attitude, family values, beautiful locations and film-friendly schools and neighborhoods” in Utah.

All three “High School Musical” productions received incentives from GOED. The first had an incentive of $263,682.17 based on in-state spending of more than $2.6 million. The second received an incentive of $500,000 based on spending of more than $5.4 million. The third incentive was $2 million, based on spending of nearly $13.4 million in Utah.

In all, 40 Disney projects have been filmed in Utah over the past two decades, including “John Carter” and “The Lone Ranger.” They have spent $175 million in the state and created more than 3,500 local jobs.

“Visitors still make special trips to Utah to see where ‘High School Musical’ was filmed and we’re incredibly proud of its resonating impact with generations of young people,” Pearce said in a prepared statement. “We’re thrilled to introduce a fresh take on this classic story and continue to support Disney’s production here in Utah.”