News | Entertainment
7 Nov 2025 3:44
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Lucas Grabeel was called "grandpa" on the set of 'High School Musical'

    The 40-year-old actor starred as Ryan Evans in the hit Disney Channel movie in 2006 alongside Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale and while most of his co-stars were in their mid to late teens, he was in his early twenties at the time


    Speaking as part of a panel at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, he said: "I always had some physical ailment or something and talking in Olde English slang, so everyone called me 'grandpa."

    The 'Little Women' star appeared in all three films that made up the 'High School Musical' franchise as singer and dancer Ryan but initially auditioned for the part of basketball player Troy Bolton, a role that eventually propelled his co-star Zac to worldwide fame.

    Former 'Suite Life' actress Ashley played Ryan's ambitious twin sister Sharpay Evans, and he admitted he was "p***** off" when he was paired for her because she was exactly like her character in that she would insist on running lines over and over again.

    He said: "I met Ashley at the callback. We had originally had our normal audition ... then we had the callback and met with the director. We had originally had our normal audition ... then we had the callback and met with the director.

    "That's when I auditioned for Troy. The director] was like, 'Oh Lucas, You are amazing but you are no Troy. But you are a Ryan.

    "I was paired with Ashley and she really p***** me off.

    "This girl. I mean, this is why she got the job - she was so Sharpay. She literally, we did the scene, we came out and she's like 'Hey, so I really wanna, like, rehearse and go over it again.

    "And I was like, 'I'm kinda good, cause I did my homework and I'm ready to go.' And she's like 'No, please,' And I'm like, 'Okay, cool.' ... So we do the scene outside, by ourselves, and she's like 'Okay, so, when I say this line I want you to go over here and make this face. And then at this point, I'm gonna add this line and I want you to react to that.' And I'm like 'Whoa, she's giving me notes.

    "I went to the callback and I had this, like 'Bro, be professional.' And that is exactly who Ryan is. He has this thing of like, 'I have to perform, she's driving me nuts, but I'll keep it all inside.' So thank you, Ashley for giving me notes."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     06 Nov: Stephen Colbert thinks it is "reasonable" for people to think The Late Show's cancellation was politically motivated
     06 Nov: Sir Anthony Hopkins' wife believes he is autistic
     06 Nov: Reese Witherspoon "cried all the time" when her first child was born
     06 Nov: Bob Geldof feels "done" with Band Aid
     06 Nov: Pete Davidson won't get rid of his tattoo tributes to his parents
     06 Nov: Drew Barrymore "did not recognise the person [she] saw in the mirror" following "a round of hormone therapy"
     06 Nov: Atomic Kitten's fame almost broke Natasha Hamilton
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Crusaders coach Rob Penney's relaxed about the terms of Scott Barrett's break from Super Rugby More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Assurance power is coming back on in the Far North, following an equipment failure's knocked out power for thousands of homes More...



     Today's News

    Environment:
    Wellingtonians have been rattled by a magnitude 4.9 quake 22:57

    Business:
    Assurance power is coming back on in the Far North, following an equipment failure's knocked out power for thousands of homes 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Stephen Colbert thinks it is "reasonable" for people to think The Late Show's cancellation was politically motivated 21:37

    Health & Safety:
    Anticipation of more measles cases to come - after four days with no new infections 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Sir Anthony Hopkins' wife believes he is autistic 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Reese Witherspoon "cried all the time" when her first child was born 20:37

    International:
    How Zohran Mamdani's triumph in New York is making waves around the world 20:27

    Entertainment:
    Bob Geldof feels "done" with Band Aid 20:07

    Entertainment:
    Pete Davidson won't get rid of his tattoo tributes to his parents 19:37

    Entertainment:
    Drew Barrymore "did not recognise the person [she] saw in the mirror" following "a round of hormone therapy" 19:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd