Corbin Bleu and Sarah Hyland Reminisce Over Meeting During High School Musical 3 (Exclusive)

Corbin Bleu and Sarah Hyland go back in time!

While speaking with PEOPLE at the 2024 Drama Desk Awards on Monday, June 10, the theater performers revealed that they met on set High School Musical 3: Senior High more than 16 years ago.

Hyland, 33, says she was a teenager at the time who went on set to visit a friend who was in the cast. “That’s how I spent spring break my senior year,” laughs Hyland. “I didn’t, you know, like go to Florida and go wild or anything like that.”

“That would also be my spring break,” reassures Bleu, 35.

“But like, my child from the theater [thing] is just being with other theater kids in Salt Lake City and just singing songs. We would literally just sing songs to each other,” the Modern Family adds the alum, noting how they all sang each other’s songs to audition for the film.

Sarah Hyland in “Little Shop of Horrors”.

Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Sarah Hyland says Wells Adams had a ‘very sexual’ reaction to her Little shop of horrors Character voice

“Again, it was a bunch of teenagers in the same hotel and they were running through the halls,” says Bleu.

“Literally running through the halls,” Hyland quickly adds. “We apologize profusely to the people who stayed there in their time who were not part of it High school musical 3.”

Corbin Bleu and Sarah Hyland.

Jerod Harris/Getty; Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Two of the performers had starring roles in the off-Broadway production Little shop of horrors revival. On May 26, Bleu left the production and left the role of Seymour Krelborn to Andrew Barth Feldman.

Meanwhile, Hyland took over the role of Seymour Krelborn’s love interest, Audrey, opposite Feldman, 22. She took over the role after Jinkx Monsoon left with Bleu.

High School Musical 3 Cast: Lucas Grabeel, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens, Director Kenny Ortega, Zac Efron, Second Row: Corbin Bleu (curly hair), Monique Coleman (right), Back Row: Olesya Rulin, Chris Warren Jr., Ryne Sanborn in 2009.

John Bramley/Walt Disney Co./Everett

Corbin Bleu reveals that there is High school musical Group text — here’s who else is chatting (exclusive)

The PEOPLE Puzzler has arrived! How fast can you solve it? Play now!

Both Hyland and Bleu spoke to PEOPLE on Monday about the personal significance of the series.

“I have been a fan of musicals since childhood. I mean, it definitely shaped my love for musical theater,” shares Bleu. “Of course, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman are just pure geniuses.”

“Earworms in the show, it’s such an economical show. There are no lulls or dull moments,” he continues, adding, “For me, it’s just a brilliant blend of comedy and pure horror that we love to watch.”

Corbin Bleu in ‘In The Heights’ on Broadway in 2010. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Hyland adds that she, too, “has loved this show ever since [she] was also a kid.” But she admits to PEOPLE that her love affair with the Ashman Menken duo began Little Mermaid.

“My mom recognized that in me right away and said, ‘Okay, well, now we’re going to move on Small store, I don’t care how old you are,’ the actress admits. “I immediately fell in love with it — and was lucky enough to also see the 2003 Broadway revival and fell in love even more.”

“It’s been my dream role since I was a little girl, and to come after all these amazing performers of people and actresses of all different kinds of Audreys and Seymours. It’s generally an amazing amazing thing to be a part of – let alone my dream role,” she concludes.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education