Paula Abdul Rumored to Be Broadway-Bound in In the Heights

Is Paula Abdul heading to Broadway? RadarOnline.com is reporting that the former pop princess and American Idol judge is gearing up to make her Broadway debut in In the Heights, replacing Priscilla Lopez as Camila in the Tony-winning musical for a short stint.

Abdul attended a performance of In the Heights on March 17 with Kenny Ortega, who will direct the upcoming movie version of the musical. Rumors are also circulating that Abdul could be his choreographer of choice on the film, although Ortega choreographs many of his own films, including the three titles in the High School Musical franchise.

A pop star of the 1990s with hit singles like “Straight Up,” “Cold Hearted Snake” and “Rush Rush,” Abdul is best known these days for the eight years that she served as a judge on the TV talent show American Idol. Although she has never appeared on Broadway, she was tapped to star in a Broadway-bound tour of Sweet Charity in the late-1990s, which was ultimately cancelled.

In the Heights tells the story of three hot summer days in the lives of the residents of Washington Heights, a tight-knit community at the top of Manhattan. Abdul would play Camila, a married Latina who runs a taxi dispatch service with her husband and struggles with her college-aged daughter’s ambitions. In the show, Camila sings the solo song “Enough.”

In the Heights currently stars Corbin Bleu as Usnavi, Janet Dacal as Nina, Marcy Harriell as Vanessa, Christopher Jackson as Benny, Andrea Burns as Daniela, David Del Rio as Sonny, Lopez as Camila, Olga Merediz as Abuela Claudia, Rick Negron as Kevin and Courtney Reed as Carla.

A production spokesperson was unavailable for comment.