‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’: Who Is Nini Playing in ‘Beauty and the Beast’?
Miss Jenn has big plans for the East High School drama department. Hot off of the heels of High School Musical’s success, this teacher picked Beauty and the Beast as the spring musical.
With Nini absent from auditions, Miss Jenn had to create a new character for this student. Here’s what we know about Nini’s new role in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series season 2.
Olivia Rodrigo portrays Nini in ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’
The Disney+ original mockumentary introduced viewers to a new cast of Wildcats. That included some students from East High School, like Nini, portrayed by the “Drivers License” singer, Olivia Rodrigo.
After starring in a musical over summer break, Nini auditioned for the lead role of Gabriella and earned the part, starring alongside her ex-boyfriend, Ricky. Opening night wasn’t without its complications, but it did open Nini to new performing opportunities.
Who will Nini play in East High School’s production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’
Because she enrolled in a performing arts high school, Nini wasn’t around when Miss Jenn cast the parts for the spring musical, Beauty and the Beast. As a result, Ashlyn got the role of Belle, and Ricky earned the role of The Beast.
When Nini switched back to East High School, Ricky still wanted her to be a part of the drama department. Although it was technically without Nini’s permission, this character talked to Miss Jenn. Eventually, Nini was given a new role in this stage production. She would play the rose.
Nini created the ‘Rose Song’ for East High’s production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’
This character is known as a songwriter in East High School and at her performing arts high school. As a result, Miss Jenn tasked her with creating a song for this new character.
There was a bit of writer’s block initially. Eventually, Nini came up with “The Rose Song.” After it was posted to social media by Carlos, this song went viral. The actor songwriter behind this hit, though, is Rodrigo.
“It sort of felt like a magical experience when I wrote ‘The Rose Song,’” Rodrigo said during an interview with USA Today. “I wrote the first version chords in 20 minutes the morning after [High School Musical producer Tim Federle] called me and told me about the concept of the song. It felt like it was meant to be.”
This song wouldn’t be the first original that Rodrigo wrote as her character. During season 1, Nini performed the song “All I Want,” written by this actor. Rodrigo and her co-star, Joshua Bassett, created “Just For a Moment,” which also appeared in the Disney+ original mockumentary.
New episodes of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series debut on Disney+ weekly.
