Exclusive Interview With Ariana Grande!

Ariana Grande is originally from Boca Raton, Florida and has been singing in musicals and concerts around Florida most of her life! She starred in the Broadway show 13 and has recently been cast to do a show for Nickelodeon with Victoria Justice. I got the chance to talk to Ariana about how she got her start in performing.

How did you get your start performing?
Ariana: When I was eight years old I was on a cruise ship and I was singing at a karaoke place because I didn’t want to go to the kids club. I sang the Titantic actually, which is kind of funny actually because I was on a cruise ship! Actually Gloria Estefan was there. We didn’t know but someone came over and said “can we speak to your daughter”. It was Gloria Estefan and she says “Honey I just wanted to let you know that you have so much more than I did at your age. You have to keep going because you were meant to do this.” She kind of inspired me and I’ve always loved performing, so that’s kind of how I started.

Tell me about 13.
Ariana: I was involved with 13 for almost a year. It was so different then, I really enjoyed being a part of the process all the way through because I got to be a part of the changes. It was crazy how much it changed. In the reading we were all playing six different parts. I had to be a rapper, I had to be an old grandma, it was just so fun. I didn’t even go in to audition for the dance but they cast me anyway for the Goodspeed production Connecticut. Then we did Goodspeed run and then we came to New York! I have so many scripts from that show, it’s insane.

What’s the biggest difference between doing a performance on stage or for the camera?
Ariana: Both kinds of performances are amazing. Broadway is amazing because you’re performing for such an intimate group of people. You’re living in the moment and whatever happens happens, and you go on. You can’t say cut and redo it, you have to be on the whole time. It’s for a small group of people and you’re feeding off their energy.

When your filming its also really awesome because an audience of like a million people are going to see it. And you have to stay there the whole day and you get up really early and go into hair and makeup at the crack of dawn. It’s really fun, both ways.

Do you hope to make an album?
Ariana: I really want to be a recording artist, it’s what I’ve wanted to do my whole life. Music is my passion and it drives this whole career, like why I want to do! The community theater was doing musicals so I kind of started acting with that. I definitely want to be a recording artist. Like 24/7 there’s music going on in my head, which is kind of distracting! I love music.

Who are your role models?
Ariana: Justin Timberlake. I love him! He has the music that’s so in and hip right now, but also at his concerts he like slows it down and opens up the piano and belts out this number. Also Imogen Heap and Mariah Carey.

If you could play any role – what would it be?
Ariana: I would have to say Elphaba in Wicked. That’s a given, it’s such an amazing role. The singing is heavy duty and I would love to do that.

I see you have a Twitter account, what’s your favorite way to interact with fans?
Ariana: I love it when they come to the stage door, that’s always amazing. But I also love using the Internet to talk to fans because they can write to you and you can respond, and then when they come to the stage door I know them! I love Facebook and Twitter, I just started Twitter like two days ago!

What would you tell all your teen fans?
Ariana: Anything can happen. Do what you love and if you want to make that your life, then keep doing it and eventually something will happen. If you really love what you’re doing, stay true to it and you’ll definitely get to show everyone.

Image Credited to PMKHBH