Ariana Grande wants to return to the Broadway stage

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 12:13pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ariana-Grande-Plans-to-Pursue-More-Musical-Theatre-Will-Release-Less-Pop-Music-20241106

While appearing on her Wicked co-star Bowen Yang's Las Culturistas podcast, Grande revealed that she plans to put out less pop music in the coming years to focus on musical theatre and acting roles.

"[Broadway] is my heart," Grande revealed. "I'm always gonna make music. I'm always gonna go on stage. I'm always gonna do pop stuff. I pinky promise. But I don't think doing it at the rate that I've been doing it for the past 10 years is where I see the next 10 years going."

She now leaves the door open to return to Broadway, having made her debut in 13 in 2008.

"I think that I would love to [do Broadway] in whatever makes sense, or whatever roles that we see fit, or where I could really do a good job or honor the material, I would really love to because I think it's a lot better for me."

Throughout the past five years, Grande has put out pop records at a frequent rate. She has put out four full-length albums since 2018, only taking a break in for two years to focus on auditioning and filming Wicked.

"I think I love acting, I love musical theatre," she continued. "I think reconnecting with this part of myself who started in musical theater and loves comedy, and it heals me to do that."

[singer234]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 12:22pm

I wonder, if Last Five Years happens to extend, if she and Ethan Slater would be willing to do a short stint. Also, she's obviously very close to JRB.

I also wonder about Jamie Lloyd's Evita...didn't someone say they were looking at a major start who would be returning to musical theatre after a long hiatus? She would definitely fit the bill. Physically she is perfect, vocally she would kill it...the only question is whether they would cast/she would be willing to play someone South American (even though her ethnic background is actually likely fairly similar to the real Eva's). If she's going to return to musicals, she is going to go big...doesn't get much bigger or harder than Evita.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 12:36pm

singer234 said: "I wonder, if Last Five Years happens to extend, if she and Ethan Slater would be willing to do a short stint. Also, she's obviously very close to JRB.

I also wonder about Jamie Lloyd's Evita...didn't someone say they were looking at a major start who would be returning to musical theatre after a long hiatus? She would definitely fit the bill. Physically she is perfect, vocally she would kill it...the only question is whether they would cast/she would be willing to play someone South American (even though her ethnic background is actually likely fairly similar to the real Eva's). If she's going to return to musicals, she is going to go big...doesn't get much bigger or harder than Evita."

 

I don't see her replacing on Broadway but you might be on to something with Evita.

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 1:00pm

If we could finally get a good book to Sweet Charity, I think her infectious personality would be well suited to the role. 

[getatme]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 2:17pm

Would much rather be seeing her and Ethan Slater in The Last 5 Years over the cast we actually have.

[BETTY22]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 3:21pm

Welcome back.....new shows need your star power more than ever. 

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 3:37pm

Bleh.

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 4:46pm

Oh.

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 5:08pm

I don’t think she’d replace but she could totally do Daisy in the Gatsby 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 5:32pm

She mentions Sherie Rene Scott in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in that interview and I think that would actually be a perfect role for her. Especially if she doesn’t want to have to carry the show entirely on her shoulders. Actually, her Wicked costars Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey would be perfect to headline it with her. But she could also just have someone (JRB?) write a show for her. 

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/6/24 at 9:27pm

I was wary on this until her SNL appearance last month. Genuinely one of the all time great female hosts (who are still underrepresented in numbers), capable of being indistinguishable from a top tier cast member. 
 

Ariana is likely going to want a classic diva type role, but I’d rather see her in something that plays to her comic versatility like the SNL appearance did. If only Bells Are Ringing was worth reviving…