Jimmy Gerdes

Jimmy Gerdes is a Junior (Grade 11) at Canby High School. He is really into the High School Plays and he enjoys performing in them. He is friends with Lizzy Coble, Brandon Cutshall, Logan Gilbert, Lauren Rogers, Jared Larson, and Lindsay Tucker.

Freaky Freshmen
In Chapter 9: Cougar Clubs, he is first seen in the Drama Room with Lizzy, Brandon, Logan, Lauren, Lindsay, and Jared. He talks with everyone about the Fall Play known as High School Musical coming up soon and Sierra shortly walks in on them. After she opens up, he and everyone else in the play perform what they have down so far.

In Chapter 11: Getting My Way, he is first seen in the Drama Room with the rest of the group. He comments on how he can't guarantee everyone will get a part in the play. That is, until he sees the list after school and finds out everyone did get a part and he got the lead-role of Troy Bolton, along with Lauren Rogers who was cast opposite, as his character's girlfriend, Vannessa Hudgens. He is later seen in the Make-up Room telling both Lizzy and Lindsay that Rehearsal is about to start.

In Chapter 13: Shopping Night, he gets a phone call from Lindsay after she finds a Karaoke Machine at the mall and requests to use it as a prop for their play. Jimmy accepts and then they hang up.

In Chapter 16: Fighting Passion, he is seen in the Drama Room with the group before school, but leaves momentarily to grab Lizzy's bag and a fork she forgot in the cafeteria. When he gets back, he and Lauren find out news that Lindsay and Jared want to do a re-audition for the lead roles of Gabriella and Troy. After school, they compete and after they both sing songs in pairs, the cast votes and the roles that were originally Jimmy and Lauren's were given over to Jared and Lindsay.

In Chapter 21: Something's Gotta Give (Part 1), he (now also being the play director) is seen backstage of the auditorium telling the cast of their Fall Play that there were going to be some changes made to the rehearsal after a rematch is decided between Lindsay and Lauren and after Lizzy has a talk with him prior to this. This leaves Brandon a little confused and Sierra concerned she would lose her part as Sharpay. Jimmy, who also accepts the fact he's playing Jason Cross now, reassures her that this has nothing to do with her playing her part. He then hands the script for Gabriella over to Lindsay, leaving Lauren to play the part of Martha Cox for the day.

In Chapter 22: Something's Gotta Give (Part 2), he is seen again in the auditorium hosting the competition between Lauren and Lindsay for the role of Gabriella. After the competition, he calls Lindsay up later in the day to let her know she still the part of has the part of Gabriella in this play. He said the reason for this was that he saw more emotion between her and Jared when they were singing than he did when Lauren was up there singing with him.