Ashley Tisdale of 'Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure': I love Alec Mapa!

LOS ANGELES — “I love Alec Mapa!" revealed Ashley Tisdale, who is known for her portrayal of Sharpay Evans, the high school drama queen in the “High School Musical" franchise. “He is insane. He is so funny," Ashley disclosed. “During our serious moments, I just couldn’t keep a straight face because he always makes me laugh. It was so amazing working with him." Ashley, who is reprising her popular character in the Disney Channel original movie, “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure," couldn’t contain her excitement as she talked about Filipino-American comedian Alec, who portrays Gill Samms, the stressed out director of the Broadway show. Alec, who is known for his television roles in “Ugly Betty" and “Desperate Housewives," has also appeared on the big screen in “Marley & Me," “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan" and “Tru Loved." On Broadway, Alec is recognized for his portrayal of “M. Butterfly." Misadventures of Sharpay Also starring Austin Butler (“JONAS") and Cameron Goodman (“Mad Men" and “NCIS"), the Michael Lembeck (“The Santa Clause 2")-helmed television movie tells of the misadventures of Sharpay as she travels to New York to pursue a Broadway career but instead realizes that it’s her dog, Boi, who gets the role and not her. Portraying her perky Yorkshire terrier, Boi, are two newcomer dogs who were trained for the role — newbies Howie and Herbie. “They are a lot of fun and they are really great," Ashley said. “They are brand new. They have not done a movie before. It’s definitely harder to work with them because they are very rambunctious. But they were fun!" For this television movie, Ashley also wears “two hats" — as an actor and as an executive producer. “It was really challenging to be wearing two hats," she admitted. “It was a big learning experience for me. In 2008, I put up my own production company, Blondie Girl Productions, and I have been developing TV series, reality series, and movies." “It is so crazy because as the lead actor, you have to be in the moment. As an executive producer, you have to step out of the moment. As an actress, I wear my diva hat. Then as an executive producer, I wear by big decisions hat," Ashley continued. Vanessa not in 'Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure'? When we asked her about an article that mentioned that her former “High School Musical" colleague, Fil-Am Vanessa Hudgens, was supposed to be in the said movie but could not attend because of conflicts in her schedule, Ashley clarified that Vanessa was not supposed to be in the movie. “There is a cameo in the movie but it’s not her. It’s only about Sharpay going to New York City," she said. However, she added: “Vanessa is always welcome to join us." She admitted that she keeps in touch with her former HSM co-star. “We just live down the street from each other," she revealed. As for working with director Michael Lembeck, she said, “Michael found it challenging to do a movie about a character from a franchise. He is so great and awesome. He gave me a lot of control in portraying my character since I have played this character for four times already." Ashley also admitted that she was the one who recommended Austin Butler for the role of Peyton Leverett, the New York University film student who follows her around filming her and who becomes her best friend in New York. “Yes, I was the one who recommended him for the part," she said. “We worked together in ‘Aliens in the Attic’ and I knew Austin would be great for the part. He is talented and good-looking. After reading the script, I can see him playing the part. He may be younger than me but we look the same age so that works. Plus, if we had Zac Efron in ‘High School Musical,’ we needed somebody as cute!" Disney Channel’s “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventures" will premiere on May 28 at 7:30 p.m. and will be out on DVD in the Philippines on Aug. 2. — JE, GMA News