If the glass slipper fits.
Carly Rae Jepsen’s overnight success was 2012’s Cinderella story, so it’s fitting the “Call Me Maybe” singer would find herself in a similar role on Broadway.
The pop princess begins her 12-week run, February 4th, playing the title role in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, a re-telling of the classic fairy tale with original songs from the legendary duo behind musical theatre staples like The Sound of Music, Oklahoma! and The King and I.
The Justin Bieber protégé will be replacing critical darling, Laura Osnes who’s inhabited the role since the show opened in March at The Broadway Theatre. Since its premiere, the musical has earned nine Tony Award nominations including one for Osnes.
Jepsen broke the news on her Instagram account, December 29th posting, “I’m ready to spill my NYC secret. I am going to be playing Cinderella on Broadway starting Feb. 4th! Dream come true.”
She continued in a press release, writing, “Broadway has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and I look forward to working with this incredibly talented cast to tell this classic tale. These last few years have been a real fairy tale come to life for me, so I feel especially blessed to play this part and be reminded that you must never stop dreaming!”
However, she won’t be the only one stepping onto the Broadway stage for the first time. Fran Drescher will also premier as Jepsen’s wicked stepmother, Madame. Cinderella will be a first for both of them.
While better known to audiences for her third-place finish on Canadian Idol in 2007 as well as her more recent pop music success, the Mission, B.C. native has a background in musical theatre, attending the Canadian College for the Performing Arts in British Columbia and snagging roles in Annie, The Wiz and Grease.
She took America by storm last year when her pop anthem, “Call Me Maybe” became a viral sensation and Bieber’s mentor Scooter Braun (with some encouraging from the pop prince himself) signed her to his record label, Schoolboy Records.
2014 is already looking bright for the 28-year-old, she’s also finishing her next album which she hopes to release later in the year.
– Kyle Sharp
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