Monique Coleman, who plays Taylor McKessie, greets and invites you to watch Disney’s “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” HSM3 leaps onto the big screen, finding high school seniors Troy played by teen hottie Zac Efron and Gabriella portrayed by Filipina-American Vanessa Hudgens facing the prospect of being separated as they head off to college. Joined by the rest of the Wildcats like Sharpay Evans played by Ashley Tishdale, the antagonist of High School Musical, they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes and fears about their future. With new music and dance numbers, this motion picture delivers high-energy entertainment from East High’s talented ensemble. The feature film High School Musical 3: Senior Year will be released theatrically in October 2008. It will be the first Disney Channel movie to have a theatrical sequel. A fourth installment, High School Musical 4, has been announced to be in the planning stages.

The rest of the cast of High School Musical 3: Senior Year are Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans: The twin brother and acting partner of Sharpay Evans, with whom he has starred in seventeen school productions to date. Corbin Bleu as Chad Danforth: A member of the East High Wildcats team and Troy’s best friend. Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie: The leader of East High’s science club, which competes in the Scholastic decathlon. Alyson Reed as Miss Darbus: The drama teacher at East High. She is an advocate of theater and has a strong dislike for cell phones and sports. Bart Johnson as Coach Jack Bolton: The Wildcats’ coach and Troy’s father.

Video courtesy of Inquirer.net and Disney.

Disney is speaking out on the Vanessa Hudgens photo scandal.

“Vanessa has apologized for what was obviously a lapse in judgment,” said Disney Channel spokeswoman Patti McTeague. “We hope she’s learned a valuable lesson.”

Disney’s High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens is speaking out after a nude photo of the actress hit the Internet on Thursday.

In a statement released Friday by her rep, Hudgens, 18, says: “I want to apologize to my fans, whose support and trust means the world to me. I am embarrassed over this situation and regret having ever taken these photos. I am thankful for the support of my family and friends.”

On Thursday, a racy picture of Vanessa Hudgens surfaced on multiple Web sites. The same day her rep issued a statement saying the photo “was taken privately. It is a personal matter and it is unfortunate that this has become public.” Then on Friday, more candid photos of Hudgens (clothed, this time) began surfacing.

Negotiations are ongoing for the High School Musical 3 feature film — including Vanessa and co-star boyfriend Zac Efron.

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens, who incidentally is of Filipino descent, is involved in a photo scandal. Vanessa Hudgens poses in various states of undress and posing seductively for the camera. The photos were meant for, and she sent it to co-star and boyfriend, Zac Efron.

A rep for the High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens has confirmed that a photo currently circulating around the World Wide Web is of the eighteen year old actress. “This was a photo which was taken privately. It is a personal matter and it is unfortunate that this has become public.”

“Vanessa is only 19-years-old so she had no idea how her flirtatious act could threaten the future of the show.”

“Vanessa took photos of herself except for a gold chain around her waist.”

“She also photographed herself in the bathtub, blowing kisses and sensuously pulling down her bikini bottom. And she took a photo on the beach of her wearing a Zac button pinned to the top of her swimsuit.” “She just wanted to keep Zac interested.”

Disney execs have replaced scandal-embroiled star Vanessa Hudgens with “Cheetah Girls” star Adrienne Bailon in the ‘High School Musical’ series. UPDATE: Not true. Disney retained Vanessa Hudgens and they are now shooting High School Musical 3.

“It’s a kid’s show.  Pictures like that of one of the stars would be catastrophic.”