Many of today's young Broadway fans first got bitten by the theatre bug when they watched the 2006 Disney Channel original movie High School Musical and its two sequels, ending in 2008. Disney begins its previously announced nationwide open casting search for a new installment, High School Musical 4, April 18.

Disney is seeking actors, singers and dancers ages 14 to 17. Video auditions will be accepted via the Disney Applause App, available on both iOS and Android. Guidelines on how to submit the audition video and a brief scene will be available at DisneyChannel.com/opencall starting April 18 through May 2. There is no fee to audition. Applicants must receive permission from a parent or legal guardian before participating.

Peter Barsocchini, who wrote all three previous movies, is co-writing the new script with Dan Berendsen (Baby Daddy). Jeffrey Hornaday (Disney’s Teen Beach Movie series) has stepped in as director and choreographer. Deadline reported, "The movie will again be set at East High and follow the school’s famous Wildcats," but no further details were given. The film will introduce a "new cast of characters and actors to a new generation," according to Variety.

A High School Musical 4 sequel was announced in 2010, but was never produced.

The original films starred Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens (then billed as Vanessa Ann Hudgens). Hudgens starred on Broadway in Gigi, and on TV in Grease Live! No word on whether they will have any participation in the new film.

The original film was seen by 7.7 million viewers; its soundtrack went triple platinum. It was the first TV soundtrack to hit #1 on the Billboard album chart.

No timetable for the the broadcast debut of the new film was announced.