Carly Rae Jepsen set for Cinderella on Broadway

Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen has announced she will make her Broadway debut in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

The Call Me Maybe singer tweeted that it was a “dream come true”.

She will take over the role of Cinderella from Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes from 4 February 2014 for 12 weeks.

Grammy Award nominee Jepsen, 28, began performing in musicals at school before focusing on her own music career.

She starred in Annie, Grease and The Wiz and also attended the Canadian College of Performing Arts.

She told the New York Times: “My favourite part of the school year was our trip to New York, where we met Broadway performers and toured the theatres.”

She said her love of the Cinderella story was her reason for choosing the production as her Broadway debut. “It’s so hopeful and inspiring,” she said. “I’ve always been one to believe in the impossible, so I relate to her character completely.”

The role, originally written for television, was first played by British actress Julie Andrews and was broadcast in the US in 1957.

In 1997, singer Whitney Houston produced a version starring singer and actress Brandy Norwood in the title role.

Jepsen will join the cast alongside Fran Drescher who will play Cinderella’s stepmother, and is best known as The Nanny on the long-running CBS TV comedy of the same name.

Jepsen first shot to fame in 2007 when she came third on Canadian Idol. Her single Call Me Maybe was the best-selling digital single worldwide in 2012.

(Source: BBC News)