Nini Salazar-Roberts

**Nini Salazar-Roberts** is a character portrayed by Olivia Rodrigo on the Disney+ series *High School Musical: The Musical: The Series*.

## Physical Appearance

Nini has brown eyes, as well as brown hair to match. She is an average height. She usually wears sweaters, jeans and quirky clothing, like most other teenagers.

## Biography

### Season 1

#### The Auditions

On the first day of junior year, Nini tells Kourtney all about her "showmance" filled summer with E.J. Caswell and her time at theater camp. She decides to tell her ex-boyfriend, Ricky Bowen about him until the right time which was instantly neglected as soon as Ricky decided to say "hey" as soon as he saw her in the halls. It turns out, Ricky just wanted a "pause," but mistranslated into a break up. This all started six weeks before the first day of junior year, when Ricky and Nini were at the latter's house on their one year anniversary. Nini gives him a gift of a song titled "I Think You Kinda, You Know" in a video format of her singing and playing ukulele publicly on Instagram. After the video stops playing, she says, "I do, Ricky. I love you." Ricky followed the statement with an "Oh," leaving Nini heartbroken. Back to reality, Nini sees this in a positive light. She takes it as a fresh start, and everyone is on the same page.

Being the theater nerd Nini is, she was obviously excited when Miss Jenn announced that this years show was going to be High School Musical: The Musical. She wants to audition for Gabriella Montez.

At lunch, Kourtney is telling her and E.J. what she's done over summer break, but immediately talk about auditions for the musical right after she finishes. E.J. suggests that they go in costume to the auditions. Nini quickly turns that idea down, not wanting to jinx anything about her getting the role she is hoping for. E.J. then comforts her by saying that they are a package, meaning that if one of them doesn't get a role or is cut from the show, the other is not going to participate as well. E.J. also shares some more comforting remarks by saying that they have a better chance than last year since all the talented seniors are out of their way. After their conversation, they share a kiss.

After E.J. gets whisked away by some fellow jocks, Nini asks for Kourtney's opinion on him. Kourtney explains how she doesn't want another boy to hurt her after Ricky crushed her. Kourtney claims that Nini didn't come out of her bedroom for forty-eight hours after the break up. Nini then tells her that it's different now, and that she is her own person. E.J. then pulls her into a conversation with another athlete.

After school, she has a talk with her grandmother, Malou, about her first day back as well as a dream of being alone on this big, Broadway stage where she opens her mouth, and nothing comes out. She's been having since she was little. Malou explains that this dream means that there is something about being heard feels off-limits to Nini. Nini's mothers, Carol and Dana arrive with twelve glazed donuts after after their car broke down in front of the donut shop.

The next day, Nini, E.J. and Kourtney are at auditions. E.J. boasts about not having any competition which Nini hesitantly agrees.

**The Read-Through**

There’s tension amid the cast and Miss Jenn needs to get their heads in the game. Miss Jenn commences rehearsals for the musical with a cast read-through of the script. Nini tries to avoid Ricky, as she is unimpressed that he auditioned to get closer to her, rather than for the benefit of the production. Nini criticizes Ricky for not taking the production seriously, which leads him to contemplate quitting. However, Gina convinces Ricky to continue participating in the hope that his romantic attempts cause Nini to quit, allowing her to assume the role of Gabriella. This backfires when Nini is impressed by Ricky's newfound efforts to practise the dance routines. E.J. is jealous of Ricky being cast as Troy, and after suspecting that Ricky has been messaging Nini behind his back, he plans to steal Nini's phone and check her messages. Gina steals Nini's phone on E.J.'s behalf, and offers an alliance; to help him remove Ricky from the musical so that he can play Troy opposite Nini. Meanwhile, Miss Jenn acquires a prop from the original film, Gabriella's phone, to be displayed throughout the show's run.

#### The Wonderstudies

You can bet on it, trouble is brewing. Now in possession of Nini's phone, E.J. listens to a heartfelt voicemail that Ricky leaves for her and deletes it; before returning the phone to lost and found out of guilt. Nini arrives late to rehearsals after Gina reschedules the session, aware Nini would not receive the update while missing her phone. Nini feels intimidated when Gina choreographs a complicated dance routine, and steals some of her belongings in retaliation, believing Gina stole her phone. E.J. convinces Nini to return the items, and writes a song for her, "A Billion Sorrys", when he realizes he must confess his own actions. After E.J. hints that he listened to the voicemail, Ricky inadvertently reveals to Nini that E.J. stole her phone. Meanwhile, Mr. Mazzara confronts Miss Jenn about the prop phone she acquired; finding a receipt for her purchase of the item online after she claimed it was a gift from one of the cast members of the original film. Mr. Mazzara rebukes Miss Jenn when he discovers she was merely an extra in the film and suggests her position at the school was awarded based on the false claim that she had a larger role. He pressures her to inform her drama students.

#### Blocking

Nini confronts E.J. about stealing her phone; he expresses his belief that she still has feelings for Ricky. The pair argue before a blocking rehearsal, which results in the pair singing a strained rendition of "What I've Been Looking For" with E.J. stepping in for his understudy role. Miss Jenn disapproves of the cast not taking rehearsals seriously and implores for the students to resolve their personal issues. E.J. tries to apologize, but Nini blocks his phone number, deciding to break up with him. Ricky's mother returns home to reveal that she and his father are separating, and that she will be moving to Chicago. Ricky is discernibly hurt by the news and plans to stay at Big Red's for the night, before relocating to Nini's house after speaking with her mother, Carol. Nini comforts Ricky, and the two share a romantic moment, before she discovers that he has left the house. Nini laments the loss of her relationship and resurfacing feelings for Ricky, by writing the song "All I Want". Meanwhile, Gina devises a new plan to claim the lead role, by convincing E.J. to become her date to the upcoming homecoming dance.

#### Homecoming

Nini decides to miss the homecoming dance and spend the night with Kourtney and Miss Jenn to prevent her overthinking her recent breakup. Miss Jenn attempts to reignite Nini's focus on the production and encourages her to have more confidence in herself at a karaoke lounge. Miss Jenn meets Ricky's father Mike during the night and a romantic connection is instigated between the two. Carlos assists Seb in rehearsing the dance routine for "Bop to the Top" and the pair arrange to attend the upcoming dance together. Carlos is initially disheartened when Seb doesn't arrive, but the pair later reconcile when he merely arrives late. Gina takes E.J. as her date to the dance in the hope that the unwanted drama would force Nini to quit her role, and is disheartened when the plan doesn't work out. Ricky scolds Gina for taking advantage of E.J., and after apologizing, he drives her home and the pair bond. Miss Jenn checks her phone to find missed calls and messages from Principal Gutierrez, who arranges an urgent meeting as a result of her neglecting her chaperone duties for the dance

#### What Team?

Miss Jenn is indefinitely suspended from her position after Principal Gutierrez discovers she lied about her teaching experience and credential during the application process. Carlos is forced to act as stand-in for Miss Jenn's directing duties and delivers the news to the cast when the pressure becomes unendurable. The students discuss the positive impact that Miss Jenn has had on their schooling lives and decide to stand up for her. They band together to stage and rehearse a performance of the song "Truth, Justice and Songs in Our Key" at the school board meeting to convince the panel to continue employing Miss Jenn. The presentation proves successful and Miss Jenn's position is reinstated. At the meeting, Miss Jenn discovers that Mike is Ricky's father. Meanwhile, Nini becomes jealous of Ricky's newfound friendship with Gina when she witnesses him sing an acoustic version of "When There Was Me and You" to her. E. J. decides to clear his conscience by confessing his secrets and lies to Nini.

#### Thanksgiving

It's a Thanksgiving party! But things go from happy to crappy, faster than you can say pumpkin pie. Over the holiday break for Thanksgiving, Ashlyn arranges a party for the theater students. Ricky calls his mother and discovers she is in a new relationship with a different man, and Gina empathizes with Ricky based on her own family's struggles. Nini makes an effort to connect with Gina at the party before Gina's mother calls to tell her she has been redeployed for work and they will be moving again. Big Red bonds with Ashlyn after he learns she is the co-captain of the robotics team. Ashlyn encourages Nini to write a song about herself rather than her relationships, leading her to compose "Out of the Old", and consider applying for a performing arts school based in Denver. E. J. discovers that he has lost a significant amount of his social media following after he continues confessing to his immoral behavior. Meanwhile, Miss Jenn and Mr. Mazzara unexpectedly meet at school during the night to work on their respective extracurricular projects. The pair assist each other in their attempts, and they spend the rest of the night together at the school. They fall asleep watching a movie while an outlet sparks in the workshop.

#### The Tech Rehearsal

It’s the start of something new… again… as the cast is forced to find a new location for the show. The cast discovers that the East High theater was damaged by a fire over the holiday, leaving them unable to undertake rehearsals. Carlos arranges for the production to be hosted at the abandoned El Rey Theater downtown. Miss Jenn leads a technical rehearsal, but is hesitant to work at the theater due to an unpleasant memory regarding the original film premiere, where she discovered that her line in the movie had been cut. E. J. gains possession of Miss Jenn's personal casting notes and is dismayed to learn that she regarded him as unable to connect with the emotional material of the play. Nini and Ricky privately rehearse a scene together and rediscover their romantic connection while reminiscing about their friendship. Miss Jenn discovers Kourtney's singing ability during the rehearsal, before Kourtney makes a call to the performing arts school Nini was interested in. After falling unconscious in a dazed state, Miss Jenn dreams of performing the song "Role of a Lifetime" with Lucas Grabeel, which later inspires her to redirect the production back to East High.

#### Opening Night

Tcast is all in this together for opening night but, of course, nothing goes as planned. On the opening night of the production, E. J. finds himself stepping into the role of Troy for act two. Eight hours earlier, the theater students prepare for their first performance. Miss Jenn secures the East High gymnasium as the performance venue, and asks Mr. Mazzara to help Big Red with the technical equipment. Ricky writes a song for Nini, "Just for a Moment", while Nini prepares a gift for Ricky; but the pair are hesitant to share these with each other. Miss Jenn asks Kourtney to play Taylor in the place of Gina, who has already moved away. Kourtney is relieved when Gina unexpectedly arrives mid-show to resume her role for the dance break of "Stick to the Status Quo". Nini is excited to learn that Kourtney invited the dean of the performing arts school to view the performance, but finds herself daunted by the pressure. Ricky is pleased to have his parents attend the show, but is unnerved when Lynne's new partner arrives during his solo of "Get'cha Head in the Game". Feeling disheartened, Ricky implores E. J. to finish the performance in his place.

#### Act Two

After a production full of surprises, even more shockers await. E. J. begins playing the role of Troy for act two, while Ricky confronts his mother about bringing her new partner, Todd, to the show. Gina encourages Ricky to at least watch the rest of the production, but once inside, he witnesses E. J. step aside from his role during "Breaking Free" to allow Nini and Ricky to finish the performance together. Gina thanks E. J. for purchasing the plane ticket which allowed her to return. Mr. Mazzara is shocked to witness Big Red's technical skills and invites him to join the robotics club. Nini is upset when the dean of the performing arts school leaves mid-performance. After the show, Ricky comforts Nini before he declares his love for her and the pair kiss. Ricky admits that he was initially afraid to express his feelings. Ashlyn receives a bouquet of flowers from Big Red, and the pair later share a kiss. Principal Gutierrez confronts Miss Jenn and Mr. Mazzara, aware that they caused the school fire. Nini is surprised to see the dean return after the show. She congratulates Nini on the performance and offers her a place at the performing arts school, beginning in a month's time.

Source: https://www.hotstar.com/in/tv/high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series/1260021231

### Season 2

New Year's Eve

The East High theater students celebrate the beginning of the holiday break with a performance of "Something in the Air". Miss Jenn oversees the reconstruction of the school theater's stage while planning for their next production; High School Musical 2. She encounters her high school boyfriend and former stage rival Zack, who has returned to rival school North High to lead the school's drama department in their production of *The Little Mermaid*, in the hope of winning the Alan Menken Award for high school theater productions. Intimidated, Miss Jenn decides to shift East High's production to Beauty and the Beast to compete against her rival. During a New Year's Eve party at Ashlyn's house, she announces the choice for the spring musical and reveals that she has entered the group into the competiton. Ricky struggles with the news that his father will be downsizing to a smaller home. After hiding the news about her acceptance into the performing arts school from Ricky, Nini suddenly reveals to him at the party that she will be moving to Denver.

## Relationships

Ricky Bowen - Rini (Jolivia)

Ricky and Nini were dating, but broke up when he couldn't say 'I love you' back to Nini. They later broke up on the first day of their junior year. They got back together at the end of s1, but their relationship is threatened when Nini got accepted to Youth Actor's Conservatory in s1 e10.

E.J. Caswell

Nini and EJ met at a theater camp they both attended over summer. They got together after Ricky and Nini went on a 'break' before the summer. Nini broke up with EJ when she realized that he stole her phone and listened to a voice message Ricky had left for her.

Kourtney

Kourtney is Nini's best friend and has been since they both were very young.