Ashlyn Moon Caswell is one of the main characters in the Disney+ Original Series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. She is the daughter of Dennis and Debbie Caswell. She is E.J. Caswell's cousin. She is Gina Porter's best friend. Ashlyn is currently a student at East High School. Ashlyn was a sophomore at East High School in Season 1 and Season 2. Ashlyn is a junior at East High School in Season 4. In Season 1, she was casted as Ms. Darbus in East High School's fall production High School Musical. In Season 2, Ashlyn was casted as Belle in East High School's spring production Beauty and the Beast. In Season 3, she was cast for the ensemble in Camp Shallow Lake's production of Frozen. In Season 4, she was casted as Kelsi Nielsen in East High School's fall production of High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
Background[]
Ashlyn is brash and gutsy, Ashlyn's mouthy attitude covers "new kid" self-doubt. A slightly woo-woo horoscope reader, she's finding her place in the school hierarchy. Or trying to. (It helps that her cousin E.J. is a senior.) Worships Sara Bareilles and is an aspiring songwriter on the sly. Can't wait till she's old enough to vote, and she'll march and protest in the meantime. Whether she's cast in the musical or not, she's got her eye on student council. Her most-used app is Headspace, for meditation (and because of her crush on the disembodied Buddha voice). Voted "Most likely to read your palm."[1]
Personality[]
Ashlyn is an extremely kind, determined and level headed person who does not let her nerves get in her way. She loves reading horoscopes and is apart of the the robotics club, baking club and Renaissance's club, but her true passion is singing. Her inspiration and aspiration is singer-songwriter and actress Sara Bareillies. Ashlyn is a true triple threat as she can act, sing and dance. She is really smart.
In the beginning of season one, most people view her as "EJ's cousin" and not as an individual. Her storyline evolves more around EJ's character development than her own as she is often seen giving him advice. Throughout the season, she is shown becoming more confident in herself and around this time her and Big Red's feelings for each other begin to develop. When Big Red and her kiss in Act Two it is seen as a major character development moment for her as she finally goes after something she wants without worrying what others will think of her.
Physical appearance[]
Ashlyn has brown eyes, curly strawberry blonde hair and light skin. She is average height and has a very unique clothing style reminiscent of the boho and hippie styles. She is often seen with a colorful hair extension in her hair.
Powers and abilities[]
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Ashlyn Moon Caswell was born sometime between May 21, 2004-June 20, 2004 to Debbie and Dennis Caswell. In the fall of 2018, Ashlyn started high school at East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah
Season One[]
The Auditions[]
Ashlyn stands next to Gina the second Miss Jenn sees Ashlyn in the line up at the auditions she describes her as having "uncommon depth" and picks her for the role of Ms. Darbus immediately. Miss Jenn also asks her to write "an Act Two power ballad" for the character after finding out she plays the piano.
The Read-Through[]
When EJ begins to complain about his relationship problems she tells him, "dating her [Nini] doesn't mean you own her" and turns away his plan to steal Nini's phone as it goes against her morals and she does not want to ruin their relationship.
She preforms her original song "Wondering" she wrote for her character Ms. Darbus with Nini later on in the episode. In this scene, Nini and Ashlyn share a look that can only be described as "extremely fruity."
The Wonderstudies[]
E.J. picks up Ashlyn after school where she finds out that he stole Nini's phone. Then Ashlyn shows her disappointment towards E.J. that he stole Nini's phone and tells him to respect her privacy by not listening to her voicemail. Then Ashlyn gets out of the car and tells E.J. that she is walking home. E.J. tells Ashlyn that he wants to write a song for Nini and he asks her if she will help him. Later that day E.J. performs a song he wrote for Nini to Ashlyn called A Billion Sorrys. Even though she is disappointed in E.J., she still supports him in trying to become a better person.
Blocking[]
Ashlyn feels guilty that she that she didn't tell Nini that E.J, had her phone and asks her to try and forgive him.
Homecoming[]
Ashlyn goes to homecoming where she comforts Carlos when Seb is running late. She gets up and dances with Carlos on the dance floor so he is not alone.
What Team?[]
After finding out Miss Jenn may be getting fired, Ashlyn meets up with the rest of the drama club at Big Red's house to try to find a way to save her.
Thanksgiving[]
Ashlyn decides to throw a Thanksgiving party at her house for the drama club. Big Red comes over early to help set up and complements the way she smiles. He tells her that her song "Wondering" is like a Sara Borealis song, which is something Ashlyn has always wanted someone to say about her music. Ashlyn tells Nini that she should write a song about herself instead of anyone else.
The Tech Rehearsal[]
At the tech rehearsal, Ashlyn complements Big Red as he works on lighting for the show. She comforts Miss Jenn during her crisis and loans Miss Jenn her lucky crystals, which always help her.
Opening Night[]
On opening night, Ashlyn is a little annoyed that her cousin E.J. is continuously on his phone during the show.
Act Two[]
After the show, it's revealed that a bouquet of flowers delivered to the drama club was actually for Ashlyn from Big Red. Then Ashlyn tells Gina before she leaves that she can spend the night at her house. Then Ashlyn tells Gina that she has this crazy idea that she can live with her next semester so Gina can still go to East High School. In the end credits, Ashlyn catches Big Red tap dancing and she runs to kiss him.
Season Two[]
New Year's Eve[]
Ashlyn and Gina officially start living together and they have already become very close. They both throw a New Year's Eve and everyone from the 'High School Musical' production is there.
Typecasting[]
After a standout audition and her performance of "1-2-3" with Gina and Kourtney, Ashlyn is cast as Belle in Beauty and the Beast. She is in total shock and refuses to believe it. She tells Big Red that she thinks "there has been a mistake" because she was so sure she would be cast as Ms. Potts instead.
Valentine's Day[]
Ashlyn is extremely insecure about being cast as Belle and does not believe she deserves it. Gina and Big Red support her through it and she seems more confident in herself by the end of the episode.
The Storm[]
While stuck at the school during a snow storm, Ashlyn and Big Red get closer while waiting for the power to cut back on and the roads to clear up. She notices Gina isn't telling her anything so she tries to get her to talk to her but ultimately fails.
The Quinceañero[]
As they prepare a surprise birthday party for Carlos, Ashlyn and Big Red go to Salt Lake Slices to make many pizzas for the party. That night they celebrate Carlos in Seb's family barn.
Yes, And...[]
After finding out North High is also doing Beauty and the Beast, Ashlyn begins to doubt herself as Belle again due to the fact that Lily is playing Belle for North High. She begins to take things more seriously and ends up snapping on Gina during the "Yes, And..." acting exercise. After finding out that Gina plans on moving away she quickly tries to apologize to her. Gina finally tells Ashlyn why she has been acting so distant by telling Ashlyn that she confessed to Ricky on Opening Night for High School Musical. Later Ashlyn sings "Home" to try to convince Gina to stay in Salt Lake and she agrees to stay.
The Field Trip[]
Ashlyn and the East High Drama Club decides to sneak into North high to see if they stole their Beast mask. While there, they get wrapped into a dance off after Lily says that she just can't cut it as Belle. Ashlyn meets Antoine, a French exchange student who has a crush on her. He tells Ashlyn that she should dump Big Red and date him instead which shocks her. During the Dance off, Ashlyn almost falls, but Antoine catches her. This makes Big Red jealous.
Most Likely To[]
During East High's Career Day, Ashlyn believes Big Red's career scores are wrong because they aren't as ambitious as hers, so she plans a vision board to help him see all the things he could do. Big Red doesn't like this because he believes that his dreams are exactly what he wants to do, but he feels like his goals aren't big enough for Ashlyn. At the end of the episode, Ashlyn fully supports his goals. She comforts Ricky after finding out that him and Nini broke up.
Spring Break[]
Over spring break she spends time with E.J. while their parents are out of town and he continuously annoys her. After being called out by North High, Ashlyn teams up with Nini to write a song for their Instagram to prove that East High is still in the competition.
The Transformation[]
The girls team up against the boys to try to see who can come up with the best way to showcase the Beast's transformation. Ashlyn tells Gina that she has her blessing to date E.J. Ashlyn laughs about the chocolates joke with Gina, which makes Nini find out. After lifting Ricky up in the air with his harness, the rope snaps, causing Ricky to land on Ashlyn.
Showtime[]
On opening night, Ashlyn has to wear a brace on her wrist from getting landed on by Ricky. She performs "Be Our Guest". She is very nervous on how she should sing a certain line in the show due to how Lily sang it the previous night before, and runs to Nini for advice. She tries to talk to Big Red about her nerves, but he is nowhere to be found. She performs Something There. Then she helps search for Ricky's missing harness that is needed for the transformation.
Second Chances[]
Ashlyn still feels very nervous about how she performed and if it will be good enough to beat Lily at the Menkies, but her stress goes away after she sees what Big Red has been making her all night, a light up sign with her name. At Salt Lake Slices, she feels like they don't need to see what is in the letter from the judges because they have everything, they want right with them. Ashlyn comforts after E.J. cancels his date with Gina because he though he misread the signs. Then Ashlyn goes up to Gina and tells her that she didn't know Gina thought of E.J. as an "older brother", which helped Gina realize that E.J. had it all wrong.
Season Three[]
Happy Campers[]
Ashlyn attends Camp Shallow Lake with E.J., Gina, Carlos, and Kourtney for the first time because of a celebrity guest, as she is normally LARPing during the summer. Because Big Red has to work at his family's pizza place she leaves him behind but plans on sending him a letter every day. When she tells Maddox of her plans to write to him every day she tells her that many people come in saying that but their plans are changed.
Into the Unknown[]
In the start of the episode Ashlyn is very excited about being in the documentary and being director by Corbin Bleu. When Gina tells her about how she's planning on getting the lead, she comments on how Gina may be reverting back to her old ways. Ashlyn also comments to Kourtney about this when she hears Gina telling Emmy and Alex that they're each other's competition and not friends. When Jet sings For the First Time in Forever (Jet version) she goes to the piano to play the accompaniment. That night she when talking to Gina and Kourtney about Maddox she calls her "a lot".
The Woman in the Woods[]
Ashlyn eagerly goes to the cast list to see what role she got, only to find out she was put in the ensemble, she tries to play it off saying that the ensemble is a necessary part of the show and that "there are no small parts, only small actors". She congratulates EJ on getting the role of Sven then remarks on how she'll collect pictures of him in the costume to blackmail him with. Later, she tries to journal in order to find a positive side to her being put in the ensemble. Maddox sees how irritated she is and comments that she must be a Leo rising but Ashlyn says she's actually a Capricorn rising and when Maddox inquires more about it she says that she knows herself. After finding out that you're rising signs are based on your birth time she realizes she actually is a Leo rising and goes to The Barn to sing Rising. After Gina and Ricky interrupt her she talks to them about how she hoped that the documentary could be her big break but says that she's happy it could be Gina's instead.
No Drama[]
Ashlyn offers to help Val read stage directions for the read-through if she's too busy but Val tells her she has it all covered. Because of this and Ashlyn being put in the ensemble she gets worried that Val hates her. Later she offers to play piano while EJ and Gina perform Love is an Open Door, Val tells her they have the backing track but Corbin decides to let her play because the piano sounds more "humble". After missing Big Red she goes to help Maddox paint sets as it reminds her of him and Maddox opens up to her about her ex, Madison. That night when complaining to Maddox about Val, Maddox starts suspecting Ashlyn may have feelings for Val.
The Real Campers of Shallow Lake[]
Ashlyn tries to help Maddox learn to fake cry by telling her that her dog died but it gets no reaction out of her. After Gina and Ricky's performance of What Do You Know About Love? her and Val talk about the possibility of Ricky having feelings for Gina and psychology. Later, when Ashlyn tells Val to stop psychoanalyzing the group Maddox steps in and tells Ashlyn that lashing out isn't the right way for her to deal with her romantic feelings.
Color War[]
When Val goes to give Ashlyn a letter from Big Red, Ashlyn emphasizes that her boyfriend is a guy. Later when Miss Jenn comes to visit them Ashlyn talks to her about her identity and Miss Jenn assures her that she is the only one who gets to define her identity. That night while trying to help Val clean up the Color War mess they talk and Ashlyn apologizes for lashing out at Val and says she doesn't even know why she had been doing it. Val gives her a hug while the fireworks go off and Ashlyn realizes that the real reason she was lashing out at Val was because she has feelings for her.
Camp Prom[]
TBA
Let It Go[]
TBA
Season Four[]
TBA
Relationships[]
Family[]
Dennis Caswell (father)
Debbie Caswell (mother)
Cash Caswell (parental uncle)
E.J. Caswell (cousin)
Friends[]
Gina Porter (best friend/roommate)
Big Red (boyfriend/friend)
Val (crush/friend)
Love Interest(s)[]
Big Red (boyfriend)
Antoine (admirer)
Enemies[]
Appearances[]
Season 1[]
- The Auditions
- The Read-Through
- The Wonderstudies
- Blocking
- Homecoming
- What Team?
- Thanksgiving
- The Tech Rehearsal
- Opening Night
- Act Two
Season 2[]
- New Year's Eve
- Typecasting
- Valentine's Day
- The Storm
- The Quinceañero
- Yes, And…
- The Field Trip
- Most Likely To
- Spring Break
- The Transformation
- Showtime
- Second Chances
Season 3[]
- Happy Campers
- Into the Unknown
- The Woman in the Woods
- No Drama
- The Real Campers of Shallow Lake
- Color War
- Camp Prom
- Let It Go
Season 4[]
- High School Musical 4
- HSM v. HSM
- A Star is Reborn
- Trick of Treat
- Admissions
- Trust the Process
- Night of Nights
- Born to
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Her middle name is "Moon" according to the cast listing in "The Auditions".
- She plays Piano.
- She borrowed her Grandma's Glasses when she was playing Ms. Darbus in Season 1 for High School Musical.
- Ashlyn is co-captain of the robotics team, high priestess of the Salt Lake Renaissance Fair and a member of the Baking Club!
- In The Wonderstudies, she was taking AP Psychology.
- She is a fan of Sara Bareilles.
- She is a Gemini which means her birthday is between May 21-June 20.
- She is also one of the three characters to have their zodiac signs revealed, alongside Carlos and Big Red.
- Julia Lester has hinted that Ashlyn identifies somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
- She is Queer.
- Her American Girl type is Samantha Parkington.
- Her Hogwarts house is Ravenclaw.
- She is Jewish. This was revealed, when she mentioned having had a Bat Mitzvah in Color War.
- She is the only female character to appeared in every episode.
References[]
External links[]
Ashlyn Caswell | High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Wiki | Fandom
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