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Later this week, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Gigi will open at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street), marking the Broadway debut of Vanessa Hudgens, who plays the title role. Though this is the first time that the actress has tread the boards of the Great White Way, she has been captivating audiences with her musical talents for years, having made her big break as 'Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical franchise.
A California native, Hudgens began her career in musical theatre at the age of eight, performing in productions of Evita, Carousel, The Wizard of Oz, The King & I, The Music Man, Cinderella and Damn Yankees. She made her feature film debut in Catherine Hardwick's Thirteen, starring Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood, and co-starred in the action film, Thunderbirds. She is best known for her role as Gabriella Montez in Disney Channel's breakaway hit, "High School Musical" and its follow up films, "High School Musical 2" and the theatrical release, High School Musical 3: Senior Year. She followed her "High School Musical" success with the critically acclaimed Bandslam, as well as Beastly and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Recent credits include Frozen Ground, directed by Scott Walker, Spring Breakers, opposite James Franco and Selena Gomez and directed by Harmony Korine, and Gimme Shelter, directed by Ron Krauss. In 2010, she won the ShoWest Award for "Female Star of Tomorrow" and the Trendsetter Award at the 2014 Young Hollywood Awards.
In celebration of her big debut, BroadwayWorld is flashing back to the many roles that have brought her to this point. Check out clips of Hudgens in action below!
Still Standing (2002):
The Brothers Garcia (2003):
Quintuplets (2005):
High School Musical (2006):
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody (2006):
High School Musical 2 (2007):
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008):
Bandslam (2009):
Rent (2010):
Beastly (2011):
Suckerpunch (2011):
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012):
Spring Breakers (2012):
The Frozen Ground (2013):
Machete Kills (2013):
Gimme Shelter (2013):
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