Fans in a frenzy
Shannon Deery
November 09, 2008 12:00am

HIGH School Musical mania is set to sweep Melbourne as the show’s stars launch the film phenomenon in the city on Wednesday.

Disney has alerted police and hired a 28-strong security team to handle an expected crowd of up to 5000 fans at the premiere of High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

Event organisers say they are hoping for a frenzy not seen in Melbourne since Beatlemania swept the city in 1964.

Merchandisers and retailers are also bracing themselves for a massive pre-Christmas rush for movie memorabilia.

Tween heart throb Zac Efron, girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens and teen idol Ashley Tisdale will attend the Jam Factory red carpet event.

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Yes, Vanessa Hudgens with Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale are visiting Australia for a High School Musical 3 down under premiere. Too bad they’re not going to New Zealand, but yey for people in Melbourne and Sydney. They were spotted jetting out of LAX on November 7. Photos in the gallery:

Gallery Link:
[03] Candids - November 7 - Jetting out of LAX of Australia

The stars fly into Australia today and are expected in Melbourne on Tuesday night.

The third in the highly successful movie franchise, the film is the first to be released in cinemas and is expected to smash box office records.

The film opened in US cinemas on October 24 and smashed the opening record for a musical with $42 million in ticket sales, eclipsing the debuts of Mamma Mia! ($27.8 million) and Hairspray ($27.5 million).

Melbourne’s Disney office has been inundated with calls and letters from children and parents wanting to know how they can get tickets to the special screening, which was filled months ago.

The movie finds high school seniors Troy (Efron) and Gabriella (Hudgens) facing the prospect of being separated as they head in different directions to college. Joined by the rest of the Wildcats, they stage an elaborate spring musical.

Disney managing director Alan Finney described the phenomenon as “unbelievable”.

“We’ve never experienced anything like this before, it is incredible,” he said.

“It is possibly the most successful thing we’ve done.”

Mr Finney said he expected the film to stand alongside Grease and Saturday Night Fever in defining a generation and that it would be one of the best-loved musicals.

Security is a top priority for the event, but Disney is confident in the measures taken.

“It is about the safety of the fans, rather than the stars in this case,” Mr Finney said.

Hoyts marketing general manager Sara Hoogendoorn said cinemas were expecting their biggest sales of the year.

“It’s a very well proven franchise and very typical of Disney, but it is just phenomenal and we are expecting massive sales and a lot of sold out cinemas,” she said.

Hoyts will offer showbags to moviegoers for the first time in the company’s history.

Each showbag — valued at $50 — will contain a book, movie soundtrack, carry bag and other High School Musical memorabilia.

Since its 2006 launch, the High School Musical phenomenon has sold 15 million CDs, 50 million books, 4.8 million video games and spawned stage shows and an ice tour.

Target licensing manager Lincoln Boyd said the retailer had stocked up to meet demand for High School Musical-related merchandise.

DVDs, CDs, musical instruments, sing-along microphones, sleepwear, footwear, dolls and manchester are expected to sell well.

“There will be high demand for the range and we anticipate the range of dolls to be particularly popular for Christmas,” Mr Boyd said.