History Awesome / HighSchoolMusical

* Troy's song "Scream", which has scenes of him DANCING ON THE WALLS AND CEILING!!! That whole song in itself is a CMOA. It even doubles as CrowningMusicOfAwesome.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Sharpay [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JgYv1euluQ turning the tables]] on Tiara during the spring muscial performance of "A Night to Remember".

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Sharpay turning the tables on Tiara during the spring muscial performance of "A Night to Remember".

* Troy and Gabriella singing 'Breaking Free' in front of the whole school at the end of the first film. Especially when they get ''everybody'' dancing with them.
** The very fact that both of them - a ShrinkingViolet whose at a brand new school and a star basketballer under huge pressure with students and teachers watching his every move - had the guts to audition for a musical against experienced performers. Anyone's whose been to high school can tell you that would be terrifying.
* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Sharpay turning the tables on Tiara during the spring muscial performance of "A Night to Remember".
** Which was preceded by ''Tiara'''s CMOA:
-->'''Sharpay:''' But you were so loyal and sweet!\\
'''Tiara:''' Yes... It's called "acting." [[TakeThat You should try it sometime]].
** To elaborate on the former: previously, Sharpay had always been the bad girl trying to win the lead role, always backstabbing, manipulating, and buying her way to the top. Whenever Troy and Gabriella beat her out, she'd put a smile on her face and plot for next time. But in this movie, Tiara crushed her. In one sweeping stroke, she replaced Sharpay as the villain, humiliated her, burned her acting, stole her costume, revealed that all along she'd been playing Sharpay for the fool and then, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking turns the light off on her dresser door]]. Sharpay completely breaks down. Then, for the first time in the whole series, she decides she's not going to sit there and whine when she doesn't get her way. She takes the challenge face to face, puts on her spare costume, and, in what could be considered the series' only fight scene, SHARPAY UPSTAGES HER!!! This is not only her CMOA, but her turning point from Villain to Hero.
** In order, Tiara is about to get to the heart of her song, when Sharpay's voice drowns hers out and down from the ceiling comes the woman in question, holding an umbrella; with a "surprise", Sharpay gets right into it which leads to them jostling for attention, shoving one of the background dancers - Sharpay is so experienced that she does it ''with one hand'' while Tiara does it with two - the two of them fighting and getting into a waltz before landing on a trap door. While Tiara is a little thrown of balance and glances in worry at Sharpay, Sharpay just takes it in her stride. Then, when they're looking out of the trapdoor, they're ''still'' fighting for domincance with Sharpay on top.
* High School Musical:

-->'''Ms. D:''' Now THAT'S show biz.
** The ending scene after the credits where Zeke's cookies are so amazing that Sharpay falls in love with him.
** This was a deleted scene, but apparently Ms. D and Coach Bolton were supposed to have a musical face-off in the Principal's office. That would have been a sight to see, especially since Alyson Reed (Ms. Darbus) formerly played Cassie in ''A Chorus Line''. On Broadway. The woman has pipes, folks.
* High School Musical two:
** Ryan vs. Chad in a musical baseball game.

*** The fact that Ryan as actually really good at baseball, to the point of impressing Chad.
** Also, when Troy finds Ryan with Gabriella by the pool and Ryan makes a comment about the brownies Gabriella's mom makes? Troy shuts him down hard.
-->'''Ryan:''' Her mom, makes the best brow--\\

** Also, Gabriella's confrontation with Sharpay.
** Ryan standing up to his sister ''and'' making the East High Gang's participation possible deserves a mention. Not only is he awesome at what he does, he also finally graduated from being Sharpay's lapdog.
* High School Musical 3: Senior Year:
** Troy's song scream where he DANCES ON THE WALLS AND CEILING!!! That whole song in itself is a CMOA. It even doubles as CrowningMusicOfAwesome.
** "The Boys Are Back" wherein they use metal bars as samurai swords and hang with what looks like guerrilla break-dancers.

** Speaking of upstaging: Rocketman is introduced as the annoying fanboy of fail, and, when told he actually has to go onstage as Troy in the musical, goes into shock (his best friend suspects he stopped breathing). After freaking out some more in his dressing room and missing his cue entirely, he ''rocks'' onstage, completely steals the scene from Sharpay, actually turns out to be a good singer in his own right, and gets an in-universe standing ovation. The best thing: he completely ignored stage instructions and the costume department, threw on whatever he could find and had fun. He basically improvised, aside from the song. And it is the single most badass and hilarious moment in the entire franchise. Try watching that part of the scene without immediately laughing and saying, "that was just awesome, good for him." [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKiCfvvz9co Watch it for yourself.]]
** Ms Darbus' conversation with Troy post-"Scream", wherein she proves she truly ''does'' understand the spirit of theatre and isn't just a poseur after all.
** The titular musical is choreographed ''in its entirety'' by Ryan. That's right, the guy who was Sharpay's shadow for one and a half movies is so good at what he does that he's put in charge of an entire musical and the results are amazing! He even created a dance for Chad and the guys with basketballs, one number which is reminicent of Broadway, and then he managed to make [[TheDitz Jason]] look good on stage. The Juilliard people were so impressed they said "screw it" to the "one scholarship" thing and just gave him another one.

** In order, Tiara is about to get to the heart of her song, when Sharpay's voice drowns hers out and down from the ceiling comes the woman in question, holding and umbrella; with a "surprise", Sharpay gets right into it which leads to them jostling for attention, shoving one of the background dancers - Sharpay is so experienced that she does it ''with one hand'' while Tiara does it with two - the two of them fighting and getting into a waltz before landing on a trap door. While Tiara is a little thrown of balance and glances in worry at Sharpay, Sharpay just takes it in her stride. Then, when they're looking out of the trapdoor, they're ''still'' fighting for domincance with Sharpay on top.

** Speaking of upstaging: Rocketman is introduced as the annoying fanboy of fail, and, when told he actually has to go onstage as Troy in the musical, goes into shock (his best friend suspects he stopped breathing). After freaking out some more in his dressing room and missing his cue entirely, he ''rocks'' onstage, completely steals the scene from Sharpay, actually turns out to be a good singer in his own right, and gets an in-universe standing ovation. The best thing: he completely ignored stage instructions and the costume department, threw on whatever he could find and had fun. He basically improvised, aside from the song. And it is the single most badass and hilarious moment in the entire franchise. Try watching that part of the scene without immediately laughing and saying, "that was just awesome, good for him."

** Speaking of upstaging: Rocketman is introduced as the annoying fanboy of fail, and, when told he actually has to go onstage as Troy in the musical, goes into shock (his best friend suspects he stopped breathing). After freaking out some more in his dressing room and missing his cue entirely, he ''rocks'' onstage, completely steals the scene from Sharpay, actually turns out to be a good singer in his own right, and gets an in-universe standing ovation. The best thing: he completely ignored stage instructions and the costume department, threw on whatever he could find and had fun. He basically improvised, aside from the song. And it is the single most badass & hilarious moment in the entire franchise. Try watching that part of the scene without immediately laughing and saying "that was just awesome, good for him."

** Speaking of upstaging: Rocketman is introduced as the annoying fanboy of fail, and, when told he actually has to go onstage as Troy in the musical, goes into shock (his best friend suspects he stopped breathing). After freaking out some more in his dressing room and missing his cue entirely, he ''rocks'' onstage, completely steals the scene from Sharpay, actually turns out to be a good singer in his own right, and gets an in-universe standing ovation. The best thing: he completely ignored stage instructions and the costume department, threw on whatever he could find and had fun. He basically improvised, aside from the song.

** Also, when Troy finds Ryan with his girl by the pool and Ryan makes a comment about the brownies Gabriella's mom makes? Troy shuts him down hard.

** The titular musical is choreographed ''in its entirety'' by Ryan. That's right, the guy who was Sharpay's shadow for one and a half movies is so good at what he does that he's put in charge of an entire musical and the results are amazing! He even created a dance for Chad and the guys with basketballs, a number which is reminicent of Broadway, and managed to make [[TheDitz Jason]] look good on stage.

** Speaking of upstaging: Rocketman is introduced as the annoying fanboy of fail, and, when told he actually has to go onstage as Troy in the musical, goes into shock (his best friend suspects he stopped breathing). After freaking out some more in his dressing room and missing his cue entirely, he ''rocks'' onstage, completely steals the scene from Sharpay, actually turns out to be a good singer in his own right, and gets an in-universe standing ovation.

** Ms Darbus' conversation with Troy post-"Scream", wherein she proves she truly ''does'' understand the spirit of theatre and isn't just a poseur after all.

-->'''Ryan:''' You don't think dancing takes game?

** To elaborate on the former: previously, Sharpay had always been the bad girl trying to win the lead role, always backstabbing, manipulating, and buying her way to the top. Whenever Troy and Gabriella beat her out, she'd put a smile on her face and plot for next time. But in this movie, Tiara crushed her. In one sweeping stroke, she replaced Sharpay as the villain, humiliated her, burned her acting, stole her costume, revealed that all along she'd been playing Sharpay for the fool and then, turns the light off on her dresser door. Sharpay completely breaks down. Then, for the first time in the whole series, she decides she's not going to sit there and whine when she doesn't get her way. She takes the challenge face to face, puts on her spare costume, and, in what could be considered the series' only fight scene, SHARPAY UPSTAGES HER!!! This is not only her CMOA, but her turning point from Villain to Hero.

-->'''Kelsie:''' Pianist here Ms. Darbus.\\

'''Kelsie:''' Oh yes, I really do.\\

** "The Boys Are Back" wherein they use metal bars as samuri swords and hang with what looks like guerilla break-dancers.

-->'''Sharpay:''' But you're a London schoolgirl!\\
'''Tiara:''' Yes. London ''Academy of Dramatic Arts.''... It's called "acting." [[TakeThat You should try it sometime]].

* Troy and Gabriella singing 'Breaking Free' in front of the whole school at the end of the first film. Especially their parents reactions when they see them on stage.

** This was a deleted scene, but apparently Ms. D and Coach Bolton were supposed to have a musical face-off in the Principal's office. What I wouldn't give to see that.
*** Especially since Alyson Reed (Ms. Darbus) formerly played Cassie in ''A Chorus Line''. On Broadway. The woman has pipes, folks.

** Troy's song scream where he DANCES ON THE WALLS AND CEILING!!! Yes, you heard me!
*** Although admittedly it has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsoYyDlYU8M been done before]]
*** That whole song in itself is a CMOA. It even doubles as CrowningMusicOfAwesome.

** Also, when Troy finds Ryan with his girl by the pool and Ryan makes a comment about the brownies Gabbriella's mom makes? Troy shuts him down hard.

*** That whole song in itself is a CMOA. It even doubles as CrowningMusicOfAwesome, although YourMilageMayVary.

** To elaborate on the former: previously, Sharpay had always been the bad girl trying to win the lead role, always backstabbing, manipulating, and buying her way to the top. Whenever Troy and Gabriella beat her out, she'd put a smile on her face and plot for next time. But in this movie, Tiara crushed her. In one sweeping stroke, she replaced Sharpay as the villain, humiliated her, burned her acting, stole her costume, revealed that all along she'd been playing Sharpay for the fool and then, turns the light off on herdresser door. Sharpay completely breaks down. Then, for the first time in the whole series, she decides she's not going to sit there and whine when she doesn't get her way. She takes the challenge face to face, puts on her spare costume, and, in what could be considered the series' only fight scene, SHARPAY UPSTAGES HER!!! This is not only her CMOA, but her turning point from Villain to Hero.

** Ms Darbus' conversation with Troy post-"Scream", wherein she proves she truly ''does'' understand the spirit of theatre and isn't just a poseur after all.
* [[spoiler: Tiara, a seemingly sweet an innocent British exchange student who appears to have an undying loyalty to Sharpay, ''manages to out-bitch her''.]]
--> '''[[spoiler:Tiara]]:''' It's called ''acting.'' You should try it sometime.

** Ms Darbus' conversation with Troy post-"Scream", wherein she proves she truly ''does'' understand the spirit of theatre and isn't just a poseur after all.

--->'''Ms. D:''' Now THAT'S show biz.

** Previously, Sharpay had always been the bad girl trying to win the lead role, always backstabbing, manipulating, and buying her way to the top. Whenever Troy and Gabriella beat her out, she'd put a smile on her face and plot for next time. But in this movie, Tiara crushed her. In one sweeping stroke, she replaced Sharpay as the villain, humiliated her, burned her acting, stole her costume, revealed that all along she'd been playing Sharpay for the fool and then, turns the light off on herdresser door. Sharpay completely breaks down. Then, for the first time in the whole series, she decides she's not going to sit there and whine when she doesn't get her way. She takes the challenge face to face, puts on her spare costume, and, in what could be considered the series' only fight scene, SHARPAY UPSTAGES HER!!! This is not only her CMOA, but her turning point from Villain to Hero.
*** ...wait, what? I would've sworn that was the exact other way around!

-->'''Kelsie''':Pianist here Ms. Darbus\\
'''Sharpay''': (menacingly) You really don't want to do that.\\
'''Kelsie''': Oh yes, I really do.\\
'''Sharpay''': (Shocked exclamation and falls back in line)

--->'''Ms. D''': Now THAT'S show biz.

-->'''Ryan''':You don't think dancing takes game?

-->'''Ryan''':Her mom, makes the best brow--\\
'''Troy''':I know, I've had them.

** Ms Darbus' conversation with Troy post-"Scream", wherein she proves she truly ''does'' understand the spirit of theatre and isn't just a poseur after all.