Pic marks feature debut of stage actress

By Jill Feiwell

Thirteen-year-old Nikki Webster, whose solo performance at the opening ceremonies in Sydney helped kick off this year’s Olympic Games, is set to star in the African adventure film “Vanilla Gorilla” for “Grease” helmer Randal Kleiser.

Pic, skedded to go before cameras in February, marks the moppet’s feature debut — she previously appeared on stage in the tuners “Les Miserables” and “The Sound of Music.”

“Gorilla” tells the story of a captive albino primate who, with the help of a young girl, escapes his confinement from a zoo in Capetown, South Africa.

Pic, penned by Craig Gardner, is being produced by Normandi Brown, Tony Sloman, Gardner and exec producer Sam Kute for L.A.-based production house Neon Entertainment, in association with the Sharmat Organization. T.J. Mancini and Erika Brannan will co-produce.

Kleiser’s directing credits include “White Fang,” “The Blue Lagoon” and “Honey I Blew Up the Kids.”

Source: Variety