Ricky Bowen

**Richard "Ricky" Bowen** is a main character from the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. He is portrayed by Joshua Bassett

Ricky is a student at East High who plays the role of Troy Bolton in the fall musical High School Musical despite having no interest in musical theater which later changed. He played the beast in Beauty and the Beast and Kristoff in Frozen. His best friend is Big Red and he formerly dated his friend since kindergarten, Nini. Ricky's parents are divorced, and he lives with his dad in Salt Lake City, while his mother lives in Chicago with her new boyfriend Todd.

## Personality

A snarky sweetheart, a B-minus student, a skateboarder and a star. Ricky's been dating fellow junior Nini for a year. When she unexpectedly breaks up with Ricky on the first day of school, after he tells her that he wants to take a break in their relationship over the summer. Ricky launches a bold plan to get Nini back — by auditioning to star opposite her in the school's production of High School Musical. Ricky's class-clowning covers a deep fear that he's not actually great at anything, except coasting by on charm. Constantly attempting get-rich-quick schemes with best friend and fellow skater Big Red. Stays up too late binging GoPro stunt videos on YouTube.

## Biography

* Before the Show
* Season 1
* Season 2
* Season 3

### Before the Show

Ricky has been friends with Nini since kindergarden and they started dating a year ago. At the beginning of summer Nini writes the song  I Think I Kinda, You Know for him and posts a video of her singing the song on Instagram. At the end of the video she tells Ricky that she loves him. Ricky is shocked by her sudden confession and he wants a break. (The Auditions)

## Physical appearance

Ricky has curly brown hair and brown eyes. He typically wears Vans, Sweatshirts and, typical skater apparel. he usually has his skateboard with him.

## Songs

* I Think I Kinda, You Know (Duet)
* Truth, Justice and Songs in Our Key
* When There Was Me and You
* Just for a Moment
* Get'cha Head in the Game
* Breaking Free
* We're All in This Together

* The Perfect Gift
* Bet On It
* High School Musical 2 Medley
* Belle
* Even When
* Even When/The Best Part
* The Mob Song
* Let You Go
* Something There
* Second Chance

### Season 3 (2022)

* Finally Free
* For the First Time in Forever/Do You Want to Build a Snowman
* What Do You Know About Love?
* It's On
* This is Me
* Kristoff Lullaby
* Everybody

## Relationships

### Nini Salazar-Roberts

*Main article: Nini-Ricky Relationship*
Nini and Ricky have been friends since their childhood, but only started dating in high school. They broke up at the start of the show in season 1 due to Ricky not being able to say 'I Love You' to her. After trying to deny their feelings for each other, they reconcile. During season 2, they start dating again, but have consistent relationship issues and ultimately decide to break up.

### Gina Porter

*Main article: Gina-Ricky Relationship*
Gina had a crush on Ricky in the first season. She told him about it, but he just got back together with Nini. During their time at Camp Shallow Lake they grew closer to each other again. They kiss in the end of season 3, leading to them dating in secret in season 4.

### Big Red

*Main article: Big Red-Ricky Relationship*
Ricky and Big Red have been best friends since their childhood. Whenever he has family or love problems, Big Red has been there for him.

### E.J. Caswell

*Main article: E.J.-Ricky Relationship*
Ricky and E.J. started out as enemies. due to E.J. dating Nini and Ricky getting the main role in the fall musical, but they later became friends.

## Appearances

* "The Read-Thru"
* "The Wonderstudies"
* "Blocking"
* "Homecoming"
* "What Team?"
* "Thanksgiving"
* "The Tech Rehearsal"
* "Opening Night"
* "Act Two"
* "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"

## Musicals

 Season 2 | Spring of 2020
 Season 3 | Summer of 2020
 Season 4 | Fall of 2021

## Trivia

* Ricky's real name is Richard, but Nini thinks that no one under 40 should be named Richard.
* It was mentioned in The Tech Rehearsal, that Ricky had a crush on a very talented Minnie Mouse he saw at Disneyland
* Joshua Bassett who plays Ricky, improvised half of Ricky's "I Love You" scene
* Both Joshua Bassett,and his costar Olivia Rodrigo, who plays Nini, wrote the song Just for A Moment
	+ The creator of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Tim Federle named both Ricky's parents Lynne Bowen and Mike Bowen after his parents.
	+ He has a fear of change, mostly attributed to his parents are separated/divorced.
	+ His first crush was Nini, and his second crush was Minnie Mouse.
	+ His real name is Richard Bowen, and his nickname "Ricky" was given to him by Nini in kindergarten.
	+ He can skateboard.
	+ He enjoys arranging songs to play on his acoustic guitar.
	+ He can play both the Guitar and Piano.
	+ He was cast as the lead male role four times in Season 1, 2, 3 and 4.
	+ He helped Carlos Rodriguez write a song about how he feels about Seb Matthew-Smith called "In a Heartbeat" in The Transformation.
	+ He broke his wrist in The Transformation when he fell on Ashlyn Caswell when the harness broke.
	+ He is Lily's favorite actor at East High School.