New Role for Carly Rae Jepsen: Cinderella

December 29, 2013

The pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen, who rose to fame in 2012 with her pop single “Call Me Maybe,” will go from the concert stage to the theater stage early next year, when she makes her Broadway debut in the title role of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” the show’s producers announced on Sunday.

Ms. Jepsen will step into the glass slippers beginning Feb. 4 for a 12-week run, joining the previously announced Fran Drescher, who will also make her debut on that date and has been cast as the cruel stepmother. Ms. Jepsen is to replace Laura Osnes, who will complete her yearlong run in January.

According to a news release, Ms. Jepsen, 28, grew up with dreams of acting on Broadway and performed in high school productions of “Annie,” “Grease” and “The Wiz” in British Columbia before turning her focus to creating her own music. She also attended the Canadian College of Performing Arts after high school.

“It was essentially musical theater training with studies in singing, dancing and acting,” she said by email on Sunday. “My favorite part of the school year was our trip to New York, where we met Broadway performers and toured the theaters.” She cited her love of Cinderella’s story as a reason for choosing this particular 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.”

Ms. Jepsen is also working on a new album planned for release next year. “Call Me Maybe” sold over 10 million copies in 2012, when it was the best-selling digital single worldwide.