Auli’i Cravalho: From Broadway to Moana and Beyond

A Multifaceted Journey: Auli’i Cravalho Navigates Film, Broadway, and the Legacy of Moana

It’s been a whirlwind year for Auli’i Cravahlo, filled with exciting opportunities and demanding roles that pushed her creatively. From gracing the Broadway stage in the iconic role of Sally Bowles to reprising her legendary voice acting role as Moana in the highly anticipated sequel, she has proven herself to be a versatile talent.

Cravalho’s journey began in 2024 with the release of Mean Girls: The Musical, where she played Janis ‘Imi’ike, adding a layer of complexity to the beloved movie. The project was followed by her Broadway debut in a Tony-nominated revival of Cabaret, shadowing the legendary performance as Sally Bowles opposite Adam Lambert.

“I remind myself that the work in this industry is always seasonal, so there will be a time in the very near future where I will have nothing, nothing at all,” she shared in a recent interview, reflecting on the fleeting nature of success in the entertainment world.

Cravalho readily admits to the challenges of juggling both the Broadway stage and a voice-over role.

“A couple of months ago, I was still doing recordings for Moana 2 and getting into her voice, and then getting into Sally’s voice in the evening for the show," she said, emphasizing the whirlwind nature of her schedule.

"It made me feel a little schizophrenic: Where’s Auli’i again? Who am I?”

Despite the challenges, Cravalho finds solace in her Hawaiian heritage.

"There’s nowhere—not Los Angeles, not New York, not any of the locations that I filmed at—that makes me feel at home besides Hawaii. So I get back as often as I can," shared the 24-year-old, emphasizing the importance of her roots.

And when she is able to take a break, she knows exactly where she’s going.

“When I do get to have a little bit of time off, I’ve got Wicked on my mind. "

But Cravalho is not afraid to speak out about what truly matters. When fans poked fun at Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for being forlorn during the press tour, Cravalho " needed people to understand what it’s like to be a theater kid. Being a theater kid is emotional. Get off my girls Ariana and Cynthia’s backs. Do you understand me? You don’t know what it’s like to be working on a film for this long, the film is two hours and forty minutes long. If you’re not crying after working with someone for that long, and you’re both theater kids and you’re singing live…I am very passionate about this.”

The return to Moana has been particularly meaningful for Cravalho. "It has been a full decade for me, and for our fans, it’s been eight years since the first film has come out. In the Moana-verse, three years have passed for her in Motunui, so it’s also been really nice to have my growth juxtaposed with hers." cherishes the opportunity, recognizing the impact Moana has had on a global scale.

Beyond the character’s inspiring journey, Cravalho is personally connected to the film in a profound way:

"I RERecorded the first film in Ōlelo Hawai’i. Which is the native Hawaiian language, which is unfortunately a dying language. It was forbidden to be spoken for a few generations, and now Moana is being used as curriculum to help the resurgence of that language come back," Cravalho says.

"I’ve also seen Moana being translated into Indigenous languages like Te Reo Māori, Samoan, Tahitian, and Ōlelo Hawai’i. So she means a lot to me, but she also means a lot to a lot of other people.”

Moana 2 promises to bring a powerful message, even as the music takes on a fresh perspective. “How Far I’ll Go “posed a question” but the power ballad “Beyond,” from Moana 2, answers that question," she commented, reflecting on the evolution of Moana’s journey.

“How far I’ll go? I’ll go beyond," Cravalho mused, encapsulating the spirit of both the character and her own personal journey.

How does Moana’s journey evolve in‍ the sequel, according⁣ to Auli’i Cravalho?

## ‍ ‍”Multifaceted Magic: Auli’i Cravalho Navigates Broadway Dreams and the Legacy of Moana”

**Host:** What an incredible year Auli’i Cravalho has had! From gracing the ⁢Broadway stage to reprising her iconic role as Moana, she ‌truly⁤ embodies versatility. Auli’i, welcome!

**Auli’i:** Thank⁤ you⁣ so much for having me! It’s been quite a whirlwind, yes.

**Host:**⁤ Indeed! You jumped from ⁢_Mean⁤ Girls: ‌The Musical_⁤ to taking on the ⁣legendary Sally Bowles ⁢in _Cabaret_, opposite Adam Lambert no less. What was that transition like?

**Auli’i:** Oh, it was definitely intense but incredibly rewarding! Going from Janis ‘Imi’ike ​to Sally Bowles ‍was a masterclass in exploring different facets of myself as a ​performer. [Her recent interview reminded me of [this](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/voicing-moana-interview/) “

These roles demanded​ so much emotional depth,‌ and I had‌ to be really present in each moment.

**Host: ** It’s amazing ‍to see you embrace such diverse roles.⁤ And then, right alongside all of ⁢that, you’re recording for ⁣_Moana 2_. How did​ you ​manage to ‌juggle all of ⁣those characters? ‌You mentioned​ it felt a bit “schizophrenic”?

**Auli’i:** (laughs) To be honest, it did sometimes feel ​that way! One minute I’m ⁣channeling my inner pixie dust ✨ with Moana, ⁣and the ‌next I’m revisiting the smoky​ bars of Berlin ‌as Sally. It was challenging, but I think that’s what keeps it interesting, you know? [Just as she said in her interview](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/voicing-moana-interview/)

**Host:** Absolutely!

Speaking of Moana, fans are so excited for the‌ sequel. Can you ⁣give us⁤ a glimpse into what’s in store for Moana this time around?‌

**Auli’i:** Hmm,⁣ all I ⁢can say is that if the first⁣ film ⁤was ⁣about ​embracing her ‌past, this one is ⁢all⁣ about looking towards the⁤ future.

**Host:** ‌Intriguing!

And what’s next for Auli’i Cravalho?

**Auli’i:** Well, when I can get some‌ time ​off, I’m dreaming of taking a page from Ursala’s book ⁤and ‍going under the sea ⁣with _Wicked_. But⁤ seriously, I’m always ⁢excited to see what ⁤new stories ​come my way. You know I’m always⁢ coming back to Hawaii ⁢whenever I can to recharge. It’s where​ my heart truly is.​[[[[