This week's announcement regarding celebrities coming to Broadway: Vanessa Hudgens will make her debut on the Great White Way by starring in the title role in Gigi. The show will begin previews on March 19 at the Neil Simon Theatre and will formally open in time for 2015 Tony Award eligibility, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Hudgens has done a tad bit of theatre work in the past, having starred in Rent alongside Neil Patrick Harris when the musical played at The Hollywood Bowl during 2010, but this will be her first appearance on Broadway. The first performances are scheduled to occur on Friday at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and will officially open on January 29.
The move to New York was accelerated by the sudden opening available at the Neil Simon Theatre, which had previously been home to The Last Ship. The musical, a pet project for musicians Sting, had disappointing ticket sales and closed after a mere four months.
Gigi has a successful past on Broadway although not so much for a modern audience. The play debuted in New York during 1951 and starred Audrey Hepburn in her early career. The musical would later be adapted to film during 1958, winning nine Academy Awards. It's now labelled as the "last great MGM movie musical." The musical is based on a novella written by acclaimed French author Collette.
The plot centers around the title character, a courtesan, and Gaston, a wealthy man who falls in love with her. Corey Cott will take on the role of the male protagonist, according to Theater Mania.
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