Vanessa Hudgens can't fight the opening night tears as her Broadway debut in Gigi

Take a bow! Vanessa Hudgens can't fight the opening night tears as her Broadway debut in Gigi receives mixed reviews

By JOANNA CRAWLEY FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 08:59, 9 April 2015 | UPDATED: 08:59, 9 April 2015

She made her name in High School Musical, but on Wednesday night Vanessa Hudgens was all grown up as she made her Broadway debut.

The 26-year-old takes the lead role in a new $12 million production of Gigi, and while her reviews were decidedly mixed, the actress had an unforgettable opening as she lapped up the applause.

Fighting back tears, Vanessa was presented with a huge bouquet of flowers as she took a bow at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York City.

Opening night: Vanessa Hudgens wowed as she made her Broadway debut in a new production of Gigi in New York on Wednesday

Dressed in a dazzling array of costumes for her role of a courtesan-in-training, Vanessa stunned audiences as she finished her first night in a strapless black gown, elbow length gloves and elaborate costume jewellery.

As she lined up with her co-stars to take a bow, the actress was presented with a huge bunch of flowers.

Emotions were running high with Vanessa looking close to tears as she soaked in the applause alongside co-stars Victoria Clark who plays her grandmother Mamita and Corey Cott who stars as love interest Gaston Lachaille.

You did it! The 26-year-old actress was overcome with emotion as she took a bow

Love interest: The actress plays the lead opposite Newsies star Corey Cott, who stars as Gaston Lachaille

Take a bow: Vanessa received rapturous applause after her debut performance at the Neil Simon Theatre

While reviews for the new production have been mixed, Vanessa has earned praise for her take on the part once played by Audrey Hepburn.

British writer Heidi Thomas, who worked on the BBC’s Call the Midwife and the updated Upstairs, Downstairs has given the story a makeover, upping Vanessa's character's age from to 16 to 18 while Gaston is now 25, not middle aged.

The decisions haven't gone down well with all the critics, but Vanessa didn't seem worried on opening night, gushing about her excitement on Twitter as she prepared to hit Broadway for the first time. 

All-star cast: Writer Heidi Thomas' production also features Victoria Clark as grandmother Mamita

Leading lady: The High School Musical star looked every inch the star in her couture costumes

Teary-eyed: Vanessa burst into tears as she finished up her debut performance

Talking to the New York Times last month, the actress gushed of her return to theatre: 

'Doing this has really changed my perspective and my work ethic. It just feels like there's a massive shift happening.'

'Once again finding myself on the stage, as I did when I was a little girl, makes me go: "Oh my God, this is what I want. This is what I want to keep doing." '

Ahead of her opening performance, the 26-year-old showed off her incredible figure in a glamorous floral print dress as she posed for snaps right before the show. 

It's opening night: Vanessa has said being back on the stage feels like a 'massive shift' in her career

Thank heaven! The star has received positive reviews for her performance in the title role

For me? Vanessa looked right at home as she lapped up the applause from a packed theatre

The California native's dark hair was cut shoulder length as she shot cast snaps with co-stars Cameron Adams, Howard McGillin, Corey Cott, Dee Hoty and Victoria Clark.

Meanwhile, on the red carpet for the theatre event was some big stars from television and film, who were clearly eager to attend the show.

Carrie Diaries AnnaSophia Robb sported a stunning mini-dress and a long lacy cape as she stood tall in silver heels.

Thankyou: The star blew kisses as she thanked her friends and family in the audience 

Gorgeous debut: Vanessa made sure to stun backstage at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York City as the clock ticked down to the premiere for Gigi on Wednesday night

Quick change: Vanessa slipped into a strapless number for the afterparty

So excited! The California native's dark hair was cut shoulder length as she shot cast snaps with co-star Cameron Adams

Big night: The two ladies also posed with Howard McGillin, Corey Cott, Dee Hoty and Victoria Clark

Vanessa Hudgens discusses her nerves for lead role in Gigi

While film vixen Carla Gugino took the plunge in a brightly coloured monochrome summer dress.

The 43-year-old, perhaps best known for Sin City and Watch Men, let her brunette curls fall in sexy tangles as she showed off cute bangs.

Orange Is The New Black star Lea DeLaria showed up in dark framed sunglasses and a sharp suit.

And not to be outdone, Barbara Walters even made an appearance in a tasteful purple dress suit teamed with a brooch and beaded necklace.  

Looking gorgeous: Film vixen Carla Gugino took the plunge in a brightly coloured monochrome summer dress

SJP would approve! Carrie Diaries AnnaSophia Robb sported a stunning mini-dress and a long lacy cape as she stood tall in silver heels

Suited and booted: Orange Is The New Black star Lea DeLaria showed up in dark framed sunglasses and a sharp suit

Elegant: Barbara Walters even made an appearance in a tasteful purple dress suit teamed with a brooch and beaded necklace

Showdown: Betsy Wolf (L) and Carly Hughes (R) both took the plunge in low cut tops

Taking a break from Raising Hope: Martha Plimpton also attended the show

Looking classy: Actress Carly Rose Sonenclar (L) and Ana Gasteyer (R) both wore tasteful summer dresses

Sharp: Kate Mulgrew sported an all-black pantsuit

REVIEW: VANESSA HUDGENS DOES WELL BUT CAN'T SAVE GIGI

BY MARK KENNEDY, AP DRAMA WRITER 

Whoever decides to revive Gigi these days gets a great score by the songwriters behind My Fair Lady and an immediate problem. It's a little girl problem.

The Alan Jay Lerner-Frederick Loewe 1973 stage adaptation of their beloved, Oscar-winning movie musical of 1958 features an aging bon vivant and noted seducer named Honore singing Thank Heaven for Little Girls.

Not in 2015 he's not.

So in order to save the score, the creators of a new Gigi that opened Wednesday at the Neil Simon Theatre have done a gut renovation on the book by Colette. They've taken out the creepy factor, but they've taken out the zing, too.

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens does pretty well in her Broadway debut, handling her singing duties admirably while maturing from girlish brat to Audrey Hepburn-ish stunner during intermission. She's game for a cartwheel or sprinting across the stage, but she might want to lose the strange accent since no one else is doing it.

She's surrounded by good actors, too, including a head-turning performance by Corey Cott, who proves a terrific actor and singer in a frothy show, as well as the always-wonderful Victoria Clark and a gloriously catty Dee Hoty.

Direction by Eric Schaeffer is crisp - a scene with five exasperated lawyers is a treat - and choreography by Joshua Bergasse is excellent, especially in a nifty dance transition from sunny seaside to rainy city. Derek McLane's set of sweeping, iron-lattice stairs and lots of parasols is beautiful, and Catherine Zuber's gowns and foppish suits are very becoming.

All the parts are good. They just, maddeningly, don't add for a stunning show. Both acts end rather unremarkably, like a fallen soufflé, (especially the messy The Night They Invented Champagne, which disappoints like an eggless soufflé) and the passion between the two lovers at the story's center never seems to really boil. Gigi doesn't have time to fall in love.

Set in Paris in 1900, Gigi centers on a teenage girl being groomed to serve as a mistress to wealthy men. Her mother (Clark) dislikes the idea, but her aunt (Hoty) wants young Gigi encased in jewels. Gigi seems to want to go along for the ride.

Cott plays a family friend - the bored, wealthy playboy, Gaston - who realizes halfway through that he's fallen in love with Gigi. Gaston has usually been played by an older man, but Cott and Hudgens are closer in age and make it work. The song Gigi, in which Gaston realizes he's smitten, is a triumph.

Meanwhile, Gigi's mother has rekindled a long romance with Honore (Howard McGillin) who irritatingly and unnecessarily frames the show ('And there you have it,' he says, helpfully. 'No one ever really knows what happens in the heart.' Actually, no one really knows what you're doing here.)

But that creepy playboy - played by Maurice Chevalier in the film - has been stripped of Thank Heaven for Little Girls by playwright Heidi Thomas, who wrote the PBS/BBC show Call the Midwife and has birthed many new ideas here.

He and Gigi's mother do share the delightful duets I Remember It Well but they also sing I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore, which used to be his alone, another sign he's been demoted.

Thomas seems to want to focus on the glorious, ooh-la-la Paris, not the unseemly, bed-hopping, adultery-awash Paris with real consequences. Strange, since this is, after all, a tale of high-end grooming and prostitution.

Thomas has tasked Gigi's mom and aunt to sing Thank Heaven for Little Girls, and, to be honest, they seem a little stunned by the assignment, though they're up to the task. Clark also is given Say a Prayer for Me Tonight, which was sung by Gigi herself in the film with Leslie Caron. The reason Gigi's mom sings it now is not entirely clear.

Thomas has tweaked the story to add nods that Gigi and Gaston - the next generation of affluent Parisians - hope for progress, but it's not enough, not like the recent Clark-led musical Cinderella, which was overhauled effectively for a modern audience.

Here, it's all about the bubbly Champagne. Everyone keeps singing about it but when it arrives, it's lukewarm and flat. Thank heaven for other choices.

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Selena Gomez wins twice at Young Hollywood Awards + Winners list

She's only 21! Selena Gomez dresses older than her years in conservative skirt and top at Young Hollywood Awards

By ELEANOR GOWER

PUBLISHED: 00:33, 2 August 2013 | UPDATED: 12:52, 2 August 2013

She may have only just turned 21-years-old, but Selena Gomez is ageing fast - at least in the wardrobe department.

The former Disney star looked a lot more conservative than many of her peers as she arrived on stage at the Young Hollywood Awards on Thursday dressed in a conservative black dress. 

The ensemble featured a high necked detail and pencil skirt, with only a touch of leather and some studded detail adding some edge to the outfit. 

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Slim and trim: The clinging black dress made the most of Selena's svelte figure

Older than her years: Selena Gomez looked far more mature than her 21-years as she appeared at the Young Hollywood awards in a knee length pencil skirt and tight high necked top

Demure: Leather and studs added an edge to Selena's ensemble 

Eye-catching arrival: Selena looked in serious mood when she turned up at the awards

Black strappy sandals, round dangly earrings and a low backcombed ponytail completed the look. 

It was the third change in one day for the star who had earlier appeared in a long white lace maxi-dress, while later, she was spotted arriving at a taping of the Jimmy Kimmel show in shorts, spiky heels and a blue jacket. 

At the Santa Monica, California ceremony, Selena was awarded gongs for Fan Favourite Album and Most Anticipated tour.

 Big winner: The former Disney star collected the award for Fan Favourite Album and Most Anticipated Tour Award

Hippy chick: Selena stepped out earlier in the day wearing a cool white lace dress

... before changing to shorts a sweater and strappy heels and then jeans as she arrived to record an appearance on show Jimmy Kimmel 

But while Selena was dressing older than her years, fellow attendee Alyssa Milano looked far younger.

The 40-year-old Charmed star sexed up a Stella McCartney black trouser suit with some precariously placed panels.

The actress showed off her slim figure in the ensemble which featured cut out sections in petal shape and a backless detail.

Flashing the flesh: Alyssa Milano stepped out in a black pants suit complete with petal shaped panels as she arrived at the Young Hollywood Awards 2013 in Santa Monica on Thursday afternoon   

A bright touch: Alyssa Milano teamed her sombre ensemble with a pair of yellow high heels 

Black and white delight: Lucy Hale looked stunning in a black lacy skirt and white top teamed with strappy sandals 

Not so young Hollywood: Tara Reid sported a black top and shapeless blue skirt for the event

A pair of neon yellow high heels added a pop of bright colour to the look.

The star's flawless skin ensured she fit right in with the menagerie of much younger celebrities amassing on the red carpet for the ceremony, televised by U.S. network The CW and honouring rising stars in film, music and television. 

Pretty Little Liars actress Lucy Hale was a little more demure, arriving in a white crochet top and black skirt teamed with black strappy heels

The future's bright: Kelly Osbourne cut a striking figure in a canary yellow dress with her lilac hair pulled into a near beehive as she posed with fiancé Matthew Mosshart

Eye catching: Kelly showed off her fashion prowess in an off-the-shoulder yellow frock and metallic platforms 

Accolades: Kelly accepted the award for Style Icon, while Emily Camp won the One To Watch award

Still on the scene: Former Hills star turned fashion designer Lauren Conrad accepted the UnBottle the World Award 

Team Justin vs Team Selena at Young Hollywood Awards

Kelly Osbourne, meanwhile, cut a striking figure in a canary yellow off-the-shoulder knee length dress, with her purple hair pulled into a neat beehive style. 

She happily posed alongside fiancé Matthew Mosshart, who looked smart in a dark suit and striped shirt.

Kelly was awarded the Style Icon Award for her fashion prowess. The star is a co-host on E! show Fashion Police alongside Joan Rivers.

Positively blooming: AnnaSophia Robb looked pretty as a picture in a pretty white, pink and yellow floral dress teamed with gold heels 

Star of the show: The Carrie Diaries star was confident and relaxed posing for a bank of photographers on the red carpet

Self portrait action: The star ensured she had a souvenir snap for her own collection 

Cuddling up: AnnaSophia posed for a snapshot with  snappily dressed Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder backstage 

Thursday's ceremony was the second award bash Kelly had attended in as many days.

On Wednesday, she attended the Do Something Awards where she received a gong for raising awareness for multiple sclerosis - her brother Jack has been diagnosed with the disease. 

AnnaSophia Robb looked pretty in a pink, yellow and white floral strapless dress teamed with gold heels.

Host with the most: Aisha Tyler didn't look too nervous at the prospect at hosting the show, while TV presenter Cat Deeley looked relaxed in a black top and yellow patterned skirt

All that glitters: Kathy Griffin wore a silver sequinned dress and metallic shoes for the show 

Flower power: Teen Wolf stars Crystal Reed and Holland Roden both opted for blooming designs with Holland wearing Ted Baker

Striking out: The two MTV stars stepped out in summery designs both teamed with strappy heels

High drama: The Cast of Teen Wolf, Crystal Reed, Tyler Hoechlin, Tyler Posey, Dylan O'Brien, and Holland Roden received the Best Ensemble Award 

And The Carrie Diaries star looked confident and relaxed posing for a bank of photographers on the red carpet before taking a self portrait prior to the ceremony.

Tara Reid also got snap happy on the carpet, taking a self portrait of herself with her cell phone.

Fresh from the success of Syfy television movie Sharknado, Tara looked in cheerful mood as she hit the red carpet in a black top and sheer royal blue skirt.

Stars of the small screen: Game of Thrones star Kit Harington and Kevin McHale arrived in dark suits, with the Glee actor adding a wacky touch with a patterned black and white jacket

It takes two: Cody Simpson and his sister Alli arrived together, while Ian Ziering dressed down while wife Erin glammed up

Keeping it casual: Miguel wire a leather waistcoat, ripped jeans and a patterned shirt tied around his waist, while Derek Hough sported a battered leather jacket and jeans 

Suited and booted: Dominic Monaghan looked smart in a grey suit and white shirt, Christopher Mintz-Plasse wore black and Lance Bass also stuck to grey

The floral look seemed to be a favourite for many celebrities clearly enjoying the Los Angeles sunshine. 

Teen Wolf star Holland Roden wore a striking black trousers and top combination decorated with a flowery design while her Teen Wolf co-star Crystal Reed also sported a flowery 1950s style frock. 

The ladies later joined their CW co-stars Tyler Hoechlin, Tyler Posey, Dylan O'Brien to collect the  Best Ensemble Award at the ceremony. 

Decorated: The Game of Thrones actor was honoured with the Actor of the Year award

Who needs James? Dave Franco was overjoyed when he accepted the coveted Fan Favorite Award

Let me entertain you: Cody Simpson performed onstage during the ceremony held at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica 

Teen idol: Austin Mahone, who many have touted as the 'new Justin Bieber' was among the singers 

Clenched: Actor Liam James punched the air after winning the Male Breakthrough Performance Award

Slick: Singer Cody Simpson was delighted to receive the Teen Cancer America Role Model Award

Stars of the small screen Kit Harington and Kevin McHale plumped for dark suits, with the Glee actor adding a wacky touch with a patterned black and white jacket.

It was a successful afternoon for the Game of Thrones actor who stars as Jon Snow in the HBO saga. 

He collected the Actor of the Year Award during the ceremony which also saw performances by Cody Simpson and Austin Mahone. 

Other male actors in attendance included former Lost star Dominic Monaghan who looked smart in a grey suit and Christopher Minz-Plasse who looked striking in an all-black ensemble. 

Three cheers for England: Award winners Kelly Osbourne and Kit Harington showed the Americans how it should be done

Soaking up the sun: Actress Laura Marano, Olympic gold medallist Tara Lipinski and singer Becky G all posed on the carpet

Seeing stars: Revenge star Christa B Allen stood out in electric blue, Friday Night Lights actress Aimee Teegarden wore lacy black and actress Jillian Rose Reed stood out in baby pink 

Young Hollywood Awards - Winners List

Fan Favorite Album Award - Selena Gomez Most Anticipated Tour Award - Selena GomezFan Favorite Award - Dave FrancoCrossover of the Year Award - Lucy HaleActor of the Year Award - Kit Harington Male Breakthrough Performance Award - Liam James  Breakout Artist Award - Austin MahoneFemale Breakthrough Performance Award - Tatiana Maslany Style Icon Award - Kelly OsbourneFemale Superstar of Tomorrow Award - AnnaSophia RobbRole Model Award - Cody SimpsonOne to Watch Award - Bella Thorne

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2382799/Selena-Gomez-21-dresses-older-years-conservative-high-necked-pencil-skirt-Young-Hollywood-Awards.html#ixzz2arFoQSnW
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