‘HSM’ hitting big screen

Movie: "High School Musical 3: Senior Year"

When: Opening Friday at local theaters

Cast: Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu

Director: Kenny Ortega

The story: As high school seniors with college plans, musical sweethearts Troy and Gabriella ponder their impending separation, joining their fellow Wildcats in a spring musical that explores their past experiences and future hopes.

The buzz: After two smash Disney Channel features, "High School Musical" goes big-time on the big screen -- once again directed by Disney veteran Ortega, who helmed Disney's witchy 1993 comedy "Hocus Pocus" with future Caesars headliner Bette Midler. But Ortega's Vegas roots run even deeper: His Strip credits range from the Bellagio fountains and Treasure Island's "Sirens of TI" to "Dancin' Dirty," a showroom extravaganza inspired by another Ortega-choreographed smash, 1987's "Dirty Dancing."