The key actors and principal filmmakers behind Disney's mega-successful "High School Musical" franchise got a big Beehive State welcome back to East High School in Salt Lake City on Friday, from none other than Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. himself.

Huntsman then introduced actors Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Monique Coleman and Corbin Bleu, along with director Kenny Ortega, writer Peter Barsocchini and producers Bill Borden, Barry Rosenbush and Don Schain. (Actor Lucas Grabeel was a last-minute scratch on account of the stomach flu.)

Schain said that a large number of states attempted to woo "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" away from Utah, where both "High School Musical" and "High School Musical 2" were filmed. The first film was shot mostly in Salt Lake City, including at East High, while the second was shot largely at the Tuacahn Center for the Arts and other locations around St. George.

Schain said that the producers had hoped to return to Utah because of the "wonderful" experience of making the first two films here, and that Huntsman made it an easy decision by assembling a generous incentives package.

The "High School Musical" series is primarily about the star-crossed romance between basketball star Troy Bolton (Efron) and math geek Gabriella Montez (Hudgens).

The films have achieved a phenomenal level of popularity since the premiere of "High School Musical" in 2006, in part because of their songs -- the multi-platinum soundtrack to "High School Musical" sold more copies in 2006 than any other album released that year.

The first two films debuted on television's Disney Channel, but the third will be given a nationwide theatrical release by Walt Disney Films on Oct. 24.

Ortega, who also directed the period musical "Newsies" for Disney, said that he's excited to be able to make the third "High School Musical" movie for theatrical release, and that he's pleased to be back in Utah.

"I've always enjoyed working in this community," he said. "Everyone here has made us feel welcome."

The cast members have been in Utah to rehearse for the past couple of weeks -- Hudgens and Efron were recently spotted attending a Utah Jazz-Houston Rockets playoff game at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

(Hudgens batted aside the one question from assembled media about their much-publicized off-camera relationship, saying only, "We're here to talk about the movie.")

Filming officially begins today in Salt Lake City.