STAGE TUBE: Corbin Bleu - 'My Focus is the show,' Talks HEIGHTS

Corbin Bleu is the first star of the popular High School Musical film franchise to hit Broadway as he has stepped into the role of bodega owner Usnavi in IN THE HEIGHTS. BroadwayWorld.com brings you his most recent interview with PIX in which he discusses how he prepped for the role, and details of his long audition.

Bleu will star in the show from January 25 - April 25, 2010. Corbin Bleu starred in the Emmy-award winning Disney Channel Original Movie "High School Musical" and its sequel, "High School Musical 2" alongside Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale. Bleu plays, Chad , the devoted basketball player and best friend to Troy (Efron). "High School Musical 2" premiered to 18 million viewers, making it the highest rated Disney Channel Original Movie in history and overall highest rated program in cable history.

On stage, Bleu starred in the Off-Broadway production of "Tiny Tim is Dead" as well as "Brothers of the Knight" with Debbie Allen. He attended the prestigious Debbie Allen Dance Academy and then attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts as a theatre Major. Due for release in early 2009 will be Bleu's second album distributed by Hollywood Records. Bleu's debut solo album entitled "Another Side," was released in May 2007. The album featured the hit single "Push it to the Limit" from his film "Jump In!" He recently released the single "Run It Back Again" from the Disney Channel Original Movie "Minutemen" which was one of the top 10 downloaded songs on iTunes. Bleu was recently nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award for "Best New Artist."

In the Heights opened on Broadway to wide critical acclaim on March 9, 2008, and continues to play the Richard Rodgers Theatre. In addition to winning the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show's creator, won the Tony Award for Best Music and Lyrics; Andy Blankenbuehler won for Best Choreography; and Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman won for Best Orchestrations. The original cast recording won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, and Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to produce a feature film based on the smash hit musical.

In The Heights plays the Richard Rodgers Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit www.intheheightsthemusical.com.

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