Director Kenny Ortega Returns to East High to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of "High School Musical”

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (February 4, 2026)— To commemorate 20 years since “High School Musical” premiered on the Disney Channel, Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer Kenny Ortega returned to the “Home of the Wildcats” East High School in Salt Lake City for a special visit today honoring the film’s lasting legacy and its continued impact on Utah’s thriving film industry.

The celebration at East High School kicked off with a student welcome and assembly featuring Kenny Ortega, and was followed by a special performance by East High School theater students. Members of the media were invited to join Kenny Ortega at East High School, offering a behind-the-scenes look at one of Utah’s most iconic filming locations.

"I have a deep love and appreciation for the tremendous amount of support I have received over the years while working in Salt Lake City,” Ortega said. “Some of the most wondrous moments of my life and career happened here, from High School Musical to the 2002 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies. I made lifelong friends and unforgettable memories, and I’m super excited that this visit coincides with the 20th anniversary of High School Musical. It’s great to be here and reconnect with the wonders of Utah and all my special friends that I have long missed.”

Ortega’s return to Utah is a monumental and widely celebrated moment, rich with history through his choreography work in the historic 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Ortega also choreographed iconic films and music videos such as "Dirty Dancing," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," Madonna's "Material Girl" and directed "Newsies," "Hocus Pocus” and all three movies in the “High School Musical” franchise. Ortega will also be in town for a panel at the Silicon Slopes SUMMIT and “Dirty Dancing in Concert” at the Eccles Theater on February 5.

Film, television and commercial productions bring an estimated $600 million per year into Utah, with up to 39% of visitors indicating that a film or television series was among the primary motivators for visiting the state. Now, visitors and film enthusiasts can explore the Utah Film Trail — a series of physical markers around the state inviting visitors to experience iconic filming locations firsthand like East High School in Salt Lake City.

“High School Musical is such an important part of Utah’s film story,” said Virginia Pearce, Director of the Utah Film Commission. “Kenny Ortega created something that reached millions of people and put Utah on screens around the world, with the help of incredible local talent and crews. Having him back at East High 20 years later is a celebration of Utah’s creative culture and a film industry that continues to grow.”

Photos from today’s event can be found here, and the Utah Film Commission's "High School Musical" 20th Anniversary celebration video is available here for sharing and embedding.

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About the Utah Film Commission

As part of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Utah Office Tourism, the Utah Film Commission formed in 1974 markets the entire state as a destination for film, television, and commercial production by promoting the use of professional local crew and talent, support services, Utah locations, and the Motion Picture Incentive Program. The office also serves as a liaison to the film industry, facilitating production needs across the state.

Thousands of productions have been filmed in Utah over the last century, including John Ford’s “The Searchers,” “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Forrest Gump,” and most recently Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts”. Many episodic series have also been filmed in Utah, such as “Westworld,” “Yellowstone”, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” and the highly anticipated CBS Original television series, “Marshals.”

For more information, visit film.utah.gov.