high-school-musical-twinkle-towne
CLUE: We first see the name of the musical when Sharpay signs up for auditions.
CONCLUSION: The musical is called Twinkle Town. (Not exactly a brain buster, but hey, all mysteries start somewhere.)
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel -
high-school-musical-incredible-mr-schain
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel CLUE: After Arnold and Minnie — the lovers, played by Troy and Gabriella — the third most important character in Twinkle Towne is named The Incredible Mr. Schain.
CONCLUSION: This sounds like some sort of troublemaking magician character, one who likely stands in the way of Arnold and Minnie’s happiness.
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high-school-musical-sharpay
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel The role obviously went to Sharpay, after being changed to The Incredible Mrs. Schain. (Sharpay fought for the role to remain “Mr.” and to be played transgender, but 2006 was a far less progressive time for Albuquerque.)
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high-school-musical-johnny-omni
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel CLUE: Based on its position at the bottom of the audition list, it appears that the least important character in the show is named Johnny Omni.
CONCLUSION: Twist! Johnny Omni is actually a very important character, serving as Twinkle Towne‘s sassy narrator. (“Omni” = omniscient.)
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high-school-musical-ryan
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel The role of Johnny Omni likely went to Ryan, who doesn’t yet realize he’s the more talented Evans sibling. (Well, he doesn’t realize a lot of things yet, but let’s take this one step at a time, folks.)
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high-school-musical-camel
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel CLUE: At one point, a camel appears.
CONCLUSION: Twinkle Town is set in the Middle East, most likely Agrabah. (Let’s not forget this is a Disney movie.)
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high-school-musical-breaking-free
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel CLUE: A modern city landscape is seen during “Breaking Free.”
CONCLUSION: Based on the skyline, Twinkle Towne is set in either present-day or even future Agrabah. And unless I’m mistaking clouds for planes, the musical also takes place during wartime.
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high-school-musical-tree
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel CLUE: A tree!
CONCLUSION: I actually think this tree is a red herring, meant to throw us off the true plot of Twinkle Towne. (Also, I hear that’s the same tree used in MTV’s Shannara Chronicles.)
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high-school-musical-ryan-sharpay
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel CLUE: One of the Twinkle Towne sets requires the use of a church door.
CONCLUSION: Either Arnold and Minnie get married at the end of the play, or the entire story is deeply rooted in religious themes. Or both.
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high-school-musical-bop-to-the-top
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel CLUE: “Bop to the Top” must be part of Twinkle Towne, as performers only audition using songs from the show.
CONCLUSION: This song comes at a pivotal part of the show, as Arnold and Minnie must prove to Minnie’s dangerously religious father that their love can conquer anything — in any key!
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high-school-musical-final-slide
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Channel FINAL CONCLUSION: Twinkle Towne tells the story of Arnold, an idealistic young soldier who finds a new sense of purpose in the arms of Minnie, the daughter of the only Catholic priest in all of Agrabah. Despite interference from the nefarious Mrs. Schain, the two attempt to prove their love through song — but when her father refuses to bless their union, they realize the only way they can be together is through death. (“There’s not a star in heaven that we can’t reach” is not just colorful language. They’re literally angels at the end.)
The final beat of the musical is Minnie’s father crying into the camel’s hump, wishing to God he’d been more open-minded when he still had the chance.
The end.