Congrats to "High School Musical" co-star KayCee Stroh - she and producer Ben Higginson were married Friday in the Salt Lake Temple, according to People.com.

Stroh and Higginson, both 24, met through mutial friends at a concert in 2007. They got engaged last summer, during filming of "High School Musical 3," in which Stroh plays peppy cheerleader Martha Cox.

After the temple ceremony, the pair had a ring ceremony with family and friends - including "HSM" cast members Monique Coleman, Ryne Sanborn and Bart Johnson.

(Photo: Swenson Photography)

Labels: High School Musical

The big New Year's Eve event in Salt Lake City is First Night, centered at the Gallivan Center (239 S. Main St.) with DJ Rebel, Mana Poly All-Stars, Rumba Libre, Band of Annuals and Afro Omega (pictured at right) performing. The event also stretches to Temple Square, The Gateway and The Leonardo. Admission is $10 for all venues. TRAX is running until 1 a.m., and your First Night button gets you on the train free.

Here's what else is on tap for New Year's Eve:

- Legends New Year’s Eve 2008 with DJ Keoki, Mars & Mystere and DJ Hardware, starting at 7 at Saltair, 12408 W. Saltair Drive, Magna. Tickets are $35, at the door and 24Tix.

- NYE 2007 Black & White Masquerade Ball, featuring DJ Sky Nellor, is at Harry O’s, 427 Main St., Park City. Doors open at 8:30. Tickets are $60, at the door and 24Tix.

- Swing-revival band Royal Crown Revue (pictured at left) plays The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City, starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $35, or $60 per couple, at the door.

- The Newphoria New Year's Eve Dance, with performances by David Archuleta and V-Factory and an appearance by actress Ashley Tisdale (of "High School Musical" fame, pictured at right), starting at 9:30 at the McKay Events Center, 800 W. University Parkway, Orem. Tickets are $12.75, at SmithsTix. (Before the Newphoria show, starting at 7, Rockapella and Osmonds 2nd Generation perform a concert at the McKay Events Center; tickets are $20, at SmithsTix.)

- "The Downtown Affair" New Year’s Eve - with DJ Sayo, DJ Jello. DJ Juggy, DJ Latu - bounces through three Salt Lake City clubs (The Hotel at 155 W. 200 South, Elevate at 149 W. 200 South and Lumpy’s Downtown at 145 W. Pierpont Ave.), starting at 9. Tickets are $30, at the door and 24Tix.

- The Black & Blue Fetish Ball, starting at 10 at In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $10, at the door.

Labels: David Archuleta, High School Musical, Tonight's schedule

Just two months ago, she was head cheerleader at East High. Now Salt Lake City-raised actress KayCee Stroh - who plays the bouncy Martha Cox in the "High School Musical" films - is planning her wedding.

Stroh, 24, is marrying producer Ben Higginson in January, back home in Salt Lake City. On this blog, she details all the wedding plans - the cake, the bridesmaid dresses, the photographer, the flowers, the invitations - and stresses the importance of a good wedding planner.

"Think of it as 'the Thelma to your Louise' or 'Your partner in crime,' " Stroh wrote of her wedding planner.

Labels: High School Musical

In the Culture Vulture column in today's print edition of The Salt Lake Tribune, I look at the rousing success of "High School Musical 3" - which, at $42 million, could have the biggest opening weekend ever for a movie made primarily in Utah.

Who benefits from that success? A lot of people, from The Walt Disney Company to the Utah film industry to the folks at East High School (where the movie was filmed).

Labels: High School Musical

- East High School cashes in on its movie stardom with the "High School Musical 3" kickoff carnival, from 5:30 to 8 at the school, 840 S. 1300 East, Salt Lake City. There will be a haunted house, cupcake walk, photo ops with East High cheerleaders and basketball players, and a "HSM" tour of the filming at the school. Admission is $1.

- New York state folk/country rockers The Felice Brothers play (with Deer Tick as the opening act) at 7 at the Fort Douglas Post Theatre, 245 S. Fort Douglas Blvd. on the University of Utah campus, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $8, at SmithsTix or at the door.

- JazzSLC brings the Clayton Brothers Quintet - featuring bassist John Clayton (on the right) and his alto-sax-playing brother Jeff - at 7:30 at the Sheraton Hotel, 150 W. 500 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $25, at 24Tix.

Labels: High School Musical, Tonight's schedule