High School Musical star Zac Efron up for West End Joseph role?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:13pm

Original source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/latest/2008/09/06/high-school-musical-star-zac-efron-up-for-west-end-joseph-role-115875-20726341/

High School Musical heart-throb Zac Efron is being lined up for his dream job – as the new star of hit West End show Joseph.

Zac, 20, got in touch with Andrew Lloyd Webber about the role after hearing the current Joseph, Lee Mead, is due to leave in January.

The pair met last month and are now working out a deal. A source close to Lloyd Webber said: “It is a marriage made in musical heaven. Zac loves the role and is keen to clock up some stage time in London.

“For Hollywood actors a spell in the West End offers credibility and can be extremely lucrative.”

Lee, 27, who won the BBC’s Any Dream Will Do competition last year, will play Joseph at the Adelphi Theatre until mid-January.

After that Lee – who is Denise Van Outen’s boyfriend – is due to go on the road with the stage show Jesus Christ Superstar.

Zac is famous for playing basketball team captain Troy Bolton in the High School Musical movies. He has been dating his co-star Vanessa Hudgens, 19, since the first film came out in 2006.

ZAC, 20
BORN:San Luis, Obispo, California
SALARY: £3m a year
LOVE INTEREST: Vanessa Anne Hudgens
DAD'S JOB: Power station engineer.
PREVIOUS: Miming in High School Musical as his real voice was too low.

LEE, 27
BORN: Southend-on-Sea, Essex
SALARY: £500,000 a year
LOVE INTEREST: Denise Van Outen
DAD’S JOB: Drives lorries for post office.
PREVIOUS: Had already worked for Lloyd Webber in a touring version of Joseph.


Updated On: 9/6/08 at 09:13 PM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:14pm

LOL

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:18pm

I seriously hope you don't believe that.

[scott68]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:21pm

“For Hollywood actors a spell in the West End offers credibility and can be extremely lucrative.”

HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA

I mean... I'm so glad! All the best to everyone involved!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:30pm

WOW. You can't possibly be serious. I don't think that's a good idea at all.

Well, if he's working with Andrew Lloyd Webber, maybe he can get some voice training? At least he can carry a tune; he's got something to work with. But his voice is awfully thin from what I've heard, not a stage voice at all.

I'm pretty sure Zac Efron hasn't been dating Vanessa Anne Hudgens since the first High School Musical film, either. Didn't he come out of the closet to some magazine? Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 11:27pm

He wants to be viewed as a 'serious' actor, so he'd most definitely not be going for Joseph.

The West End part is true though, he does want to prove he has acting chops (which I think he has, he's a decent actor, but not been given anything more than 'teen heart throb' as of yet).

I imagine he wants to have the publicity/respect/adoration Daniel Radclife got from Equus....only without the nudity.

Good on him though.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 11:32pm

Only without the nudity.

Well, that just takes the fun out of everything...

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 11:36pm

It does, doesn't it?

=(

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 11:41pm

I bet if that happened, little girls would beg their parents to go. Then when the parents find out...

[gypsy4]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 12:34am

since when can zac efron sing.

[NGD2225]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 1:23am

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha................... HA! Too funny. **wipes tear""

[A Fleur De Toi]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 1:37am

Oh my god no.

but i might just pay to watch that

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 1:39am

Next, he'll be Kippy in the revival of Take Me Out.

[Weez]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 9:47am

This is the second time I've heard this rumour. I find it very disturbing, but take some comfort in the fact it's coming from the Mirror. The only less reliable source I can think of is the Daily Star!

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 9:53am

Highly doubt it's true.

I don't actually mind Zac, but Joseph? I wish they'd just close it after Lee leaves...

[alterego]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 10:05am

Didn't he sing in the HAIRSPRAY movie?

[Weez]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 10:09am

Yes, but I'm sure you don't really need us to tell you that being in a movie musical and being in a stage musical are two VASTLY differing beasts.

And even having been confronted by Marc "just the facts, ma'am" Shaiman, certain people here are STILL adamant that Efron is tone-deaf and worthless and should be shot for daring to get anywhere NEAR a "proper" musical.

[SteamHeat2]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 1:24pm

please no

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 1:31pm

I actually quite like his voice.

It annoyed me in the first HSM, then it turned out it wasn't actually his voice...and in the second HSM and Hairspray when I heard what he really sounds like, I was pleasantly surprised.

Obviously it's not stage musical level, but it's pretty decent! Good dancer too, and counter to certain peoples opinions...he's a decent actor, and we all know he's good looking.

Good all rounder, but maybe should lean towards movie musicals/pop career rather than stage.

But as I sad before, good on him for wanting to give it a go!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 6:34pm

I agree that he's a good dancer, and he does have a decent voice (I liked him in Hairspray), but it's a very... thin voice. I'm not sure how it'll hold up onstage. Especially in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. But he could surprise us all, you never know.

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 2:28pm

If this is true, I'm actually quite pleased. I think he'd be good for the part (he probably won't be performing every show a week), as well as bringing in the younger generation to musical theatre. Also, if this goes well, there's bound to be talk of a mounting in New York with him at the helm (side note: wasn't there plans for a production via reality tv but Webber's plans were sidelined by the disgrace of the Grease reality show?). Anything to get another production of Joseph...Dreamcoat is fine with me :)

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 2:32pm

He'd be going there so that he can legally drink while he's out at dinner. What's up with that hair?

[Weez]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 2:57pm

The problem is if he does do it, then I'll be forced to go see the show. My nine year old niece would never speak to me ever again if she found out it had happened and we'd missed it. Boo. XP

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 9/8/08 at 3:58pm

Ok this is scaring me now.

More and more places are reporting on it.

I don't know whether im more annoyed that its happening...or that I won't be able to be in London throughout his West End stint :P

As good as he is at what he does, I really don't forsee how he's going to sing that score 8 times a week.

The key will need to be lowered a bit too.

Loincloth scene...yes please.