Fans can hardly wait for the premiere of the sequel of High School Musical, as Disney Channel has great plans in store for the event. The event will be scheduled on a weekend, and the cable network has put up interactive games and chat rooms to allow fans to come together and expand the fans' participation in the show.



Gary Marsh, Disney's worldwide entertainment president, said that there will also be a backyard barbecue to be hosted by the show's stars and director-choreographer Kenny Ortega during the August 17 debut of High School Musical 2. Shortly after the premiere, the network will give viewers a preview of the upcoming animated comedy series, Phineas and Ferb, which will air at 9:45pm. At 10:15pm, a new episode of the hit teen series, Hannah Montana, will be aired.

August 18 will again air the High School Musical sequel, this time at 8pm. The rebroadcast will include an interactive viewer chat with the stars of the movie. On August 19, the show will air once again, this time featuring flashing lyrics on-screen, to allow fans to sing along with the film. Song lyrics will also be posted on the network's website, DisneyChannel.com.

Right before the premiere of the much awaited movie, the network will be airing behind-the-scenes footages from the set and games as part of Disney's "most extensive interactive digital marketing outreach." The movie will be made available on Disney Channel On Demand before the premiere on August 17.

Other online features that fans should watch out for are the "You Are the Music in Me" music video premiere, an audio streaming simulcast of Radio Disney's High School Musical 2 soundtrack premiere, and behind-the-scenes tidbits.

This fall, fans will also have to watch out for the documusical High School Musical: The Music in You, which is directed by Oscar winner Barbara Kopple. The documentary follows students in Fort Worth, Texas producing a stage adaptation of High School Musical.