‘Moana’ star lands TV series role after Oscars performance
Auli’i Cravalho performs songs from best original song nominee “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana” at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Auli’i Cravalho, the teen whose celestial voice animated the title character in “Moana,” struck a gig as another protagonist, this time in a TV series.
After stunning the Oscars audience last Sunday with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “How Far I’ll Go,” Cravalho was handpicked to star in NBC’s “Drama High.”
According to Deadline, “Drama High” is based on the life of high school drama teacher Lou Volpe, written by his former student Michael Sokolove. A dedicated teacher in his town, Volpe intensely trains middle-class students into talented and extraordinary performers. Cravalho, 16, will take on the role of Lilette, a young lady who aspires to become a singer and actress.
Jason Katims will serve as the series’ executive producer together with producers Flody Suarez and Jeffrey Seller.
READ: ‘Moana’ a Disney hit but portrayal irks the Pacific
Out of the thousands of aspirants who auditioned for the Disney role last year, the Hawaiian native was selected to lend her voice with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who portrayed the Pacific demigod Maui. The story follows Moana, a chieftain’s daughter, and her simple quest to find Maui, after a blight strikes her island, in the hope of saving her people.
“Moana” made waves among fans grossing over $100 million (P5 billion) in the United States. Gianna Francesca Catolico /ra
