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NBC Answers Our Prayers, Casts Moana’s Auli’i Cravalho in Live-Action Pilot Drama High

That did not take long.

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Just a couple of days ago we were clamoring for someone to cast Moana voice actress Auli’i Cravalho in a live-action role, and already our prayers have been answered: Deadline reports that NBC has tapped the 16-year-old for a lead role in the upcoming pilot Drama High. The news follows Cravalho’s incredibly poised Oscars performance with Lin-Manuel Miranda on Sunday, a reminder that she not only has a great voice but that she’s also completely charming.

NBC’s pilot will tell the story of Lou Volpe, a high school drama teacher whose productions transformed the working-class high school where he worked—think Glee meets Friday Night Lights. It’s based on the book Drama High written by one of Volpe’s former students, Michael Sokolove, which is a must-read for theater lovers as it explores the wide-reaching effects of arts programs in financially struggling Levitttown, PA. The hourlong drama comes from Friday Night Lights producer and showrunner Jason Katims and Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller.

Cravalho will be playing a student, Lilette, who dreams of stardom, a role that will almost certainly show off her singing talent. But she’ll also be in front of the camera for a change, and we already can’t wait to see how far she’ll go.