Vanessa Hudgens plays title character in Broadway musical "Gigi" as announced by the producers.
From "High School Musical" to Broadway musical, isn't that a great accomplishment for the actress-singer?
"I think, as an actor, the ultimate dream is to be on Broadway. I think it's the true test. There are no second takes. You've got to bring everything you've got for the most critical of audiences. It's an honor, if anything. I'm over the moon." Hudgens told ABC News via phone interview.
Hudgen's audition piece for "Gigi" was "I Don't Understand the Parisians", which is a song from the same musical. She admitted that she never expected to get the part. She had doubts whether she'll pass as a Parisian in the 1900s. "I don't think they had many Filipinos there then," she said in a phone interview with Washington Post. She's referring to her roots as her mom Gina is from the Philippines.
"Gigi" is set in Paris at the turn of the last century. She is a teenage girl being prepared to serve as a companion to a bored, wealthy playboy then ending up falling for each other. The 1944 original novel by Colette started as a play in 1951. Audrey Hepburn played the part. It starred Leslie Caron when it was made as a movie musical in 1958. Allan Jay Lerner did the screenplay and lyrics while it was Frederick Loewe for music. It was a huge success as it won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
It was in 1973 when it was introduced as a stage musical that featured Karen Wolfe. It highlighted notable songs like "Thank Heaven for Little Girls", "I Remember It Well", "The Night They Invented Champagne", "It's a Bore", "Say a Prayer for Me Tonight" and more.
According to CBS News, Hudgens begins memorizing her lines and doing vocal exercises twice a day in preparation for "Gigi".
Broadway.com wrote that the tuner will take place at the Eisenhower Theater on January 16, 2015 through February 12, with opening night scheduled for January 29. "Gigi" will be directed by Eric Schaeffer and adapted by Heidi Thomas, a playwright and Emmy-nominated screenwriter. Joshua Bergasse will do the choreography.
