Netflix released its film adaptation of “13: The Musical” on August 12, and the film – about a group of college kids who struggle with love, friendship and bar mitzvahs – is full of songs that will remain stuck in our minds. heads for weeks. It also throws us back to the original Broadway production of “13 the Musical.” The show broke barriers at the time, as it was the first (and so far only) to feature an all-teen cast and band. But it’s also memorable for another reason: Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies were both part of the original cast! In 2008, the two joined the show during its pre-Broadway run, and they transferred to the Great White Way. Gillies played Lucy, while Grande played Charlotte.
A year later, the two actors were cast in Nickelodeon’s “Victorious” alongside Victoria Justice. The couple have remained friends since they first met as teenagers. Gillies even appeared alongside Grande in the 2018 video for “Thank U, Next.”
Neither actor has returned to Broadway since “13,” though Grande is preparing to play Glinda in the movie version of “Wicked.” Gillies, meanwhile, continued to work in television and star in “Dynasty.” She even directed two episodes.
Eli Golden, who stars in the Netflix film, told POPSUGAR that Gillies and fellow original cast member Graham Phillips both reached out to the film’s young cast to star in the film. On August 12, Gillies also joked with fans about his time in the musical on Twitter.
Read on to see photos of Grande and Gillies on their “13 the Musical” tour, and watch a throwback clip of them recording the cast album.
