Ashlyn Caswell

* Season 4
* Season 3
* Season 2
* Season 1

**Ashlyn Sophia "Moon" Caswell** is one of the main characters in the Disney+ original series *High School Musical: The Musical: The Series*. She is E.J. Caswell's cousin. She was a Sophomore at East High School in Season 1 and Season 2. She 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 of *High School Musical.* In Season 2, she was casted as Belle in East High School's spring production of *Beauty and the Beast.* In Season 3, she was cast in 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*. She is portrayed by Julia Lester.

"I don't know why I keep snapping at you. I never snap at anyone. Not that I'm perfect. I'm far from perfect I forget to use coasters, I only tip 20%, and I didn't learn the Hebrew for my Torah portion at by bat mitzvah

## Background

### 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.

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 and curly auburn blonde hair. 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.

### Talents/Abilities

* Acting
* Baking
* Playing the Piano
* Singing
* Writing Songs
* Robotics

## Biography

### Early Life

Ashlyn Moon Caswell was born sometime between May 21-June 20, 2004 to Debbie and Dennis Caswell. When she was born she ruined the eggs benedict that E.J.'s parents were making that morning. In the fall of 2018, she started high school at East High School.

### Season One

#### The Auditions

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 meaningful look.

#### The Wonderstudies

Ashlyn shows her disappointment towards EJ that he stole Nini's phone and tells him to respect her privacy by not listening to her voicemail. 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 EJ had her phone and asks her to try and forgive him.

#### Homecoming

Ashlyn goes to homecoming where she hangs out with Carlos by comforting him when Seb is late. She gets up and dances with Carlos 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. 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. Later Ashlyn sings "Home" to try to convince Gina to stay in Salt Lake and she agrees to stay.

#### The Field Trip

East high 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. At the end of the episode she helps search for Ricky's missing harness that is needed for the transformation.

#### Second Chances

In 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. At the end of the episode she reveals to Gina 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 EJ, 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 she 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.

## Relationships

### Family

**Dennis Caswell (father)**

**Debbie Caswell (mother)**

**Cash Caswell (uncle)**

#### E.J. Caswell (cousin)

They are very close from the first episode of season 1 as they have grown up together. Even though Ashlyn is upset everyone knows her "E.J's cousin", she does not let that effect her relationship with him.

See: Ashlyn and E.J.

### Friends

**Nini Salazar-Roberts**

See: Nini and Ashlyn

**Seb Matthew-Smith**

#### Ricky Bowen (friend)

They are both cast as the leads in season 2.

#### Kourtney Greene (friend)

After Nini leaves for YAC in season 2, Ashlyn takes Kourtney under her wing and makes sure to include her as she feels like she has "gained a sister [Gina]" and Kourtney has "lost a sister [Nini]."

See: Ashlyn and Kourtney

#### Gina Porter (best friend/roommate)

Ashlyn first met Gina at Auditions for *High School Musical* when they were standing next to each other at Auditions. In Act Two, after the show was over she told Gina that she can stay with her family so she can still go to East High School. They seemed to have grown close in the short time period between season 1 and 2 and Ashlyn describes her as her "number one confidant" and like a "sister." Ashlyn is one of the only people Gina has truly opened up to at East High School.

See: Gina and Ashlyn

#### Carlos Rodriguez (friend)

They are shown to be good friends from the pilot episode as they sit next to each other often during rehearsals.

During the episode Homecoming Carlos is feeling sad that his date Seb Matthew-Smith never showed up to Homecoming. Ashlyn tries to cheer him up by comforting him to make him feel better. She dances with him out on the dance floor during the song "Born to be Brave" at Homecoming.

### Love Interest(s)

#### Big Red (Ex-Boyfriend)

Big Red helps Ashlyn to set up the thanksgiving party and gets her flowers on the opening night of the musical in season 1. They also share a kiss at the end of Act 2. In season 2 they start dating with Big Red feeling nervous about whether or not he is enough for Ashlyn. In The Field Trip, Their relationship gets put the test and passes with flying colors when Antoine hits on Ashlyn. But Big Red gets upset with Ashlyn when in Most Likely To she makes a career board for him that he doesn't want. In Second Chances, he makes a sign of her name in lights for her.

See: Big Red and Ashlyn

#### Val (Former Crush)

Ashlyn is annoyed with Val all summer and is angered by how seemingly perfect Val is. Maddox makes a comment towards Ashlyn about taking her romantic feelings for Val out on Val in a negative way. This causes Ashlyn to panic wondering if this is true even though she is dating Big Red. In Color War Ashlyn and Val hug and fireworks go off and Ashlyn realizes that she does have feelings for Val and might be queer.

See: Ashlyn and Val

## Appearances

### Season 1

* The Auditions **(Appears)**
* The Read-Through **(Appears)**
* The Wonderstudies **(Appears)**
* Blocking **(Appears)**
* Homecoming **(Appears)**
* What Team? **(Appears)**
* Thanksgiving **(Appears)**
* The Tech Rehearsal **(Appears)**
* Opening Night **(Appears)**
* Act Two **(Appears)**

### Season 2

* New Year's Eve **(Appears)**
* Typecasting **(Appears)**
* Valentine’s Day **(Appears)**
* The Storm **(Appears)**
* The Quinceañero **(Appears)**
* Yes, And... **(Appears)**
* The Field Trip **(Appears)**
* Most Likely To **(Appears)**
* Spring Break **(Appears)**
* The Transformation **(Appears)**
* Showtime **(Appears)**
* Second Chances **(Appears)**

### Season 3

* Happy Campers **(Appears)**
* Into the Unknown **(Appears)**
* The Woman in the Woods **(Appears)**
* No Drama **(Appears)**
* The Real Campers of Shallow Lake **(Appears)**
* Color War **(Appears)**
* Camp Prom **(Appears)**
* Let It Go **(Appears)**

## Songs

### Season 1

* Wondering
* Born to be Brave
* Truth, Justice and Songs in Our Key
* We're All In This Together

### Season 2

* Something in the Air
* High School Musical 2 Medley
* Belle
* 1-2-3
* Red Means Love
* Home
* The Mob Song
* You Ain’t Seen Nothing
* Something There

### Season 3

* What Time Is It/Start the Party Mashup
* For the First Time in Forever/Do You Want to Build a Snowman? (Mashup)
* Rising
* It's On
* This is Me

### Season 4

* Now or Never (Auditions)
* Nightmares Come to Life
* Call It What You Want
* A Night to Remember
* Last Chance
* We're All in This Together (Finale)
* High School Musical (Finale)
* Love You Forever
* Born to Be Brave (Finale)

## Filmography

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

## Quotes

* "I'm dying. I'm deceased. Yes."
* "Dating her doesn't mean you own her."
* "What are feeling except a bunch of molecules doing a sad dance"
* "You're wrong, but all good"
* "I've always been interested in psychology ever since losing my unborn twin... in prison... during a recession"
* "My MALE boyfriend"
* "I don't know why I keep snapping at you. I never snap at anyone. Not that I'm perfect. I'm far from perfect I forget to use coasters, I only tip 20%, and I didn't learn the Hebrew for my Torah portion at by bat mitzvah"

## Trivia

* According to Julia Lester who plays Ashlyn said on Twitter that Ashlyn is a Ravenclaw.
* 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 reveals that she is currently 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 herself on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. It is shown in Season 3 in the episode Camp Prom she identifies as Queer (its confirmed by Tim ) as she has a crush on Val as she stated the reason she kept lashing out on Val as they hugged at the episode of Color War and in Camp Prom episode Carlos Rodriguez gave her a Pride Flag pin to welcome her to the LGBTQ+ community.
* She is one of the four characters that has appeared in every episode so far along with Ricky Bowen, E.J. Caswell, and Carlos Rodriguez.
	+ She is the only female character to have appeared in every episode so far.
* She's a Leo rising, but thought she was a Capricorn rising before The Woman in the Woods.
* In Color War, she reveals that she is Jewish when she mentions her Bat Mitzvah.

## References

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1. ↑ Julia Lester Tweet on Twitter