Vanessa Hudgens in Grease: Live

Hey Everyone!

So who watched Grease: Live this past Sunday (January 31)?? I did! I, however, did miss the first 15 minutes but was all caught up once I started watching.

For this post, I am not going to write about the whole performance overall (which I thought was great) but I'm going to focus on one actress's performance: Vanessa Hudgens. I may come back and write about the whole production.

Now, if you don't know who Vanessa Hudgens is: she played the role of Rizzo in the Grease: Live production and prior to this role, she was well-known as Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical franchise. She was also in Spring Breakers, Gimme Shelter, Beastly, and more (not listed: Gigi on the Broadway show 'Gigi').

Now, back in 2015 when Grease: Live was announced, there were many discussions on who can play each characters of the beloved movie (it was a play first) so when it was announced that Vanessa would take on the Rizzo role, there were many critiques as many didn't believe she had "it" for the role. Honestly, I knew she would. But then again I support the High School Musical is everything they do so I believed in her.

I was happy that she had a role in this. She's always loved musicals and High School Musical was always called the modern day "Grease" but to me, HSM had a better story (don't hurt me, Grease lovers!) - but honestly why would you change yourself to make the person like you? Don't you want to person to love you for who you are?

ANYWAYS, I still like Grease and everything. Back to Vanessa. I knew she would prove her critics wrong because that's just who she is. Critics make people want to push harder to prove them wrong which she did.

Before I talk about her performance. I have to mention that she was incredible for the timing of everything and rough weekend she had.

Saturday (January 30) night, her Dad Greg Hudgens passed away of Stage 4 cancer. She made the announcement on her Twitter account the following day and also announced that she was still going along with the performance and will do it in her Dad's honor.

I am so sad to say that last night my daddy, Greg passed away from stage 4 cancer. Thank you to everyone who kept him in your prayers.

— Vanessa Hudgens (@VanessaHudgens) January 31, 2016

Tonight, I do the show in his honor.

— Vanessa Hudgens (@VanessaHudgens) January 31, 2016

This made everyone keep their eyes on Vanessa and amazed at how she was able to go on with the show after dealing with the tough loss of her Dad. But it was said that she talked to her family, the producer talked to her and the family, and they all agreed that she would do it for her Dad.

Many have said she stole the show. She showed emotion in her character. More emotion that some thought couldn't possibly be possible. There were those who thought maybe the loss would take her away from the performance but once again she proved them wrong.

Rizzo, the character she played, is the "mean girl" of Grease (the Sharpay in High School Musical for those HSM lovers). Vanessa isn't known to be the "mean girl" so there were thoughts that she couldn't put it off because she has that "good girl" face/image and tone of voice.

But, the moment she came on our televisions - she went right in the "mean girl" act and took the role to heart. She was a believable Rizzo. She had the emotions for the character.

"Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee" was great but I think what made everyone amazed at just how good Vanessa is (acting and singing) was when she sang "There Are Worse Things I Could Do." We saw the raw emotion from her previous night of loss.

Credit: FOX, Grease: Live, Vanessa Hudgens,

and anyone who is connected to production.

Also to YouTube user: Dustin Ginsberg

Many have said that she has definitely matured with her singing since her High School Musical days. I thought she had a great voice then but wow, she definitely nailed this role and song.

Celebrities, critics, friends, and fans all agreed that she was amazing in the role, the song, and being able to go on with the show after the loss of her Dad. She was just a strong superstar. 

There were many tweets and articles in support of her and her family. 

To me, after watching Grease: Live and taking the Vanessa Hudgens fan inside of me out for a moment, I believe that this role and the way people have reacted, she should receive an Emmy nomination as well be getting more movie/theater roles. This may have been the Big Break that she's needed. 

Look out world, Vanessa Hudgens is coming. 

She stole the show and many are in agreement with that statement. It's also not only because of her Dad's death but it's also because of how she handled it like a pro (after she had the conversations with her family and producer). 

Another great thing that Grease: Live did for Vanessa was when the executive producer, Marc Platt asked the family if they could add a special something at the end of the production: 

Dedication at end of production for Vanessa Hudgens'
Dad, Greg Hudgens who passed away the night before.
Credit: FOX, Grease: Live, Marc Platt, and more.

For more of what he said about Vanessa and the rest of the production, you can go to the Variety website.

I hope you had a chance to watch the Grease: Live production and if you did, feel free to leave a comment below on what you thought about the overall production and Vanessa Hudgens. 

To Vanessa and family - 

My (and the readers) deepest sympathies

go out to you and your family. 

He will be missed and I'm sure he's

looking over each one of you.

Rest in Peace Greg Hudgens

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3 

High School Musical 10 Year Anniversary

Hey Everyone!

I remember 10 years ago, I saw the commercial for a new Disney Channel Original Movie and was getting very excited! I have been a fan of Disney Channel for as long as I could remember and their movies were some of my very favorite. So I was always excited when I new one was coming out. But little did I know was that this movie was going to become basically one of the biggest movies in the world. Really, I don't think anyone knew.

What movie was that? High School Musical. 

High School Musical poster
Credit: Disney

High School Musical premiered on Disney Channel on January 20, 2006. The movie is about high school students learning about not sticking to the status quo and being able to doing different things. This comes after the two main characters Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez meet in a Ski Lodge and sing karaoke together on New Year's Eve.

Characters:

Troy Bolton - Zac Efron
Gabriella Montez - Vanessa Hudgens
Sharpay Evans - Ashley Tisdale
Ryan Evans - Lucas Grabeel
Taylor McKessie - Monique Coleman
Chad Danforth - Corbin Bleu
Coach Jack Bolton - Bart Johnson
Ms. Darbus - Alyson Reed
Zeke Baylor - Chris Warren Jr.
Kelsi Nielsen - Olesya Rulin
Jason Cross - Ryne Sanborn
Martha Cox - KayCee Stroh 
MORE

The characters and actors weren't the only important part of the film but it was the Director and Choreographers that pulled everything together. Kenny Ortega, director and choreographer, with choreographers Bonnie Story and Charles (aka Chucky) Klapow took the story and ran with it creating the great movie we know today.

Again, I remember being so excited about the new DCOM but I had no idea how great the movie was going to be and it was! The music, the themes, the acting - it all came together and worked.

January 19th is my Mom's birthday so we went out to dinner to celebrate her birthday and I just remember talking about the new DCOM premiering the next night. My Dad was also excited as he's one who also enjoys Disney Channel's movies as well. So we had planned to watch High School Musical together.

I also had to record the movie because my best friend was going to be away for the weekend and she wanted to watch it. Recording it was either a great thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Because after watching High School Musical the first time, my Dad and I became obsessed. So obsessed that every day after I come home from school, we watched it.

Like literally every day, we watched it. Kept it on our DVR even after my best friend watched it. The one sad part about it was because of the long commercials with the cast, the DVR didn't get the whole movie so for about a few weeks, we were always cut off near the ending and I can still remember Troy and Gabriella coming together to continue "We're All in this Together" and that would cut off right there. I still wait for it to stop there when I watch the movie now.

And I know that we weren't the only ones that found the movie so mesmerizing to watch it so many times. I remember going to school and all my friends talking about it. At lunch time, at my table we would talk excitedly about High School Musical and also spelling out the "Go Drama Club" and exclamation point moment at our table.

"Go Drama Club" scene

Credit: High School Musical and Disney

High School Musical made a difference in the fans' lives due to the messages that the film gives off: be yourself, don't be afraid of trying different things, love yourself, and more. I believe my town and schools were already good with letting us doing different things but I know how much it may have helped other schools across not only the United States but across the world.

High School Musical played a major role in lots of people's lives including my own. I was a huge fan. I created a Myspace fan site, I also made a YouTube channel, and then it lead to me writing Fanfiction stories for the movie. It's given me opportunity to better my writing and getting to know fans from across the country/world. Connections were made.

It continued getting better as they made the record-breaking sequel and then the third movie which was in the theaters on the big screen (I have to admit, I went to see it FOUR times in the theaters).

When I think about how this little DCOM made it into a phenomenon, I ask myself the same question I'm sure the cast asks themselves: Why? Why did it become as big as it did?

Well, of course the cast says the fans help but we have to give a lot of credit to the cast, director, choreographers, and crew because they are the main reason why it was as successful as it was. To me, the best part of the films was that it seemed it was never forced. The "break out to songs" always seemed natural and it was because it was fun to do.

The cast and crew always seemed to have fun filming as seen on the behind the scenes. If we see the cast having fun, then we the fans are going to have fun as well.

So I want to take time to thank the cast and crew for making a fun, enjoyable, and relatable movie because without High School Musical, I'm not sure what a lot of people would be doing or if we even have some of the other shows/movies that we have now.

There's just so much more I can say about the movie but I'm not sure I would be able to put it all in words because the High School Musical franchise was just more and it all started with one movie, High School Musical.

Happy 10 Year Anniversary, High School Musical.

Make sure you tune in to Disney Channel on Wednesday, January 20th to celebrate the anniversary as the cast of the movie came together for a special.

Credit: High School Musical and Disney

Again, thank you High School Musical cast and crew for all of our childhood and even adulthood (yes of course I still watch it - who doesn't?).

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3