Hyland and Bleu have a long-standing connection that dates back to their time on the set of High School Musical 3: Senior Year over 16 years ago. In a recent interview with PEOPLE at the 2024 Drama Desk Awards, the two theater performers reminisced about their early days in the entertainment industry.
Hyland, now 33, recalls being a teenager when she visited the set to see a friend who was part of the cast. “That’s how I spent my senior year spring break,” she laughs. “I wasn’t trying to go to Florida and get wild or anything like that.”
Bleu, 35, empathizes with her, saying, “That would be my spring break, too.” Despite their young age, the bond they formed during that time was strong. “We would literally just sing songs for each other,” Hyland reveals, highlighting the fun and musical atmosphere on set.
Their friendship has endured over the years, and they continue to support each other in their respective careers. This anecdote sheds light on the early days of their friendship and offers a glimpse into the close-knit community within the entertainment industry.
“But, you know, my thing as a theater kid was just being with other theater kids in Salt Lake City and singing songs together. We would literally just sing songs for each other,” explains the Modern Family star. She goes on to mention how everyone in the cast would perform their audition songs for each other during the filming of the movie.
“It was a hotel full of teenagers, and we would run through the hallways,” Bleu adds.
“We would literally run through the hallways,” Hyland quickly interjects. “We would apologize profusely to the people staying there who weren’t part of High School Musical 3.”
Both actors also had leading roles in the off-Broadway production of the Little Shop of Horrors revival. On May 26, Bleu left the production and passed the role of Seymour Krelborn to Andrew Barth Feldman.
Meanwhile, Hyland took over the role of Seymour Krelborn’s love interest, Audrey, alongside Feldman, who is 22 years old. She assumed the role after Jinkx Monsoon left with Bleu.
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In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, both Hyland and Bleu opened up about the personal significance of the show.
“I’ve been a fan of this musical since I was a child. It really influenced my love for music theater,” Bleu reveals. “Alan Menken and Howard Ashman are true geniuses.”
He continues to praise the show, saying, “The catchy tunes and the seamless storytelling make it such a captivating experience. There’s never a dull moment.”
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Hyland also shares her love for the show, admitting that her admiration for the Ashman Menken duo began with The Little Mermaid.
The actress acknowledges that her mother quickly noticed her love for performing and encouraged her to pursue it, regardless of her age. She instantly developed a deep passion for it and was fortunate enough to witness the Broadway revival of Little Shop in 2003, which further intensified her love for the show.
Since she was a young girl, playing the role in Little Shop has always been a dream of hers. She feels incredibly honored to follow in the footsteps of the talented performers who have portrayed Audrey and Seymour throughout the years. Being a part of this production is an extraordinary experience, and it’s even more surreal to be playing her dream role.