<P> Efron 's career reached a turning point with the teen musical television film High School Musical ( 2006 ) , which premiered on the Disney Channel in January 2006 . The film , which has been described as a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet , saw Efron playing the male lead Troy Bolton , a high school basketball player who feels conflicted when he finds himself interested in participating in the school musical with Gabriella Montez ( Vanessa Hudgens ) , a girl from the scholastic decathlon team . The film , which also starred Ashley Tisdale , Lucas Grabeel , Corbin Bleu , and Monique Coleman in pivotal roles , became a major success and helped Efron gain recognition among teenage audiences . The film 's soundtrack was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA , making it one of the best - selling albums of the year in the United States . Efron 's singing talents were disputed when it was revealed that his voice had been blended with Drew Seeley 's on the soundtrack , but Efron clarified that the songs ( written for a tenor ) were written before he was cast and therefore did not suit his more baritone vocal range . In his subsequent musical films , Efron did his own singing . </P>
<P> Efron 's career reached a turning point with the teen musical television film High School Musical ( 2006 ) , which premiered on the Disney Channel in January 2006 . The film , which has been described as a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet , saw Efron playing the male lead Troy Bolton , a high school basketball player who feels conflicted when he finds himself interested in participating in the school musical with Gabriella Montez ( Vanessa Hudgens ) , a girl from the scholastic decathlon team . The film , which also starred Ashley Tisdale , Lucas Grabeel , Corbin Bleu , and Monique Coleman in pivotal roles , became a major success and helped Efron gain recognition among teenage audiences . The film 's soundtrack was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA , making it one of the best - selling albums of the year in the United States . Efron 's singing talents were disputed when it was revealed that his voice had been blended with Drew Seeley 's on the soundtrack , but Efron clarified that the songs ( written for a tenor ) were written before he was cast and therefore did not suit his more baritone vocal range . In his subsequent musical films , Efron did his own singing . </P>
who did zac efron play in high school musical
who did zac efron play in high school musical
the male lead Troy Bolton
the male lead Troy Bolton