Add Zac Efron to the list of candidates eager to star in a movie adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical “Memphis.”
The “High School Musical” heartthrob attended Tuesday night’s performance, his second visit to the show in a month. His girlfriend, Vanessa Hudgens, accompanied Efron, as well as Adam Shankman, a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance” and the producer of Efron’s flicks “Hairspray” and “17 Again.”
Insiders speculate that Efron is interested in the lead role of Huey Calhoun, a 1950s-era Memphis radio DJ played onstage by Chad Kimball.
Sources said Efron hung out with the cast during intermission and gushed over female lead Montego Glover. “When Montego came over, Efron said, ‘I just can’t stay away from the show,’ ” reports a witness.
Efron also attended the show in July on the same night he and “Musical” co-star Corbin Bleu spent $2,000 at Flashdancers.
Although there are no concrete plans yet to adapt “Memphis” for the big screen, Efron isn’t the only actor in the hunt. Justin Timberlake saw the show in May, about the same time director Oliver Stone checked it out.
Insiders say Stone has taken meetings with “Memphis” writers Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, who’s also the keyboardist for Bon Jovi, and Stone mentioned Timberlake as a potential Huey Calhoun. A rep for Stone confirmed he met with Bryan and expressed interest in doing a film adaptation.
Interest only increased when “Memphis” was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won four, including Best Musical.
A rep for “Memphis” confirmed that Efron has attended the show twice. Efron’s rep had no comment.