Grande performed with the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theater,playing her first role as the title character in Annie. She also performed in the musicals The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast.At the age of 8, she performed at a karaoke lounge on a cruise ship and with various orchestras such as South Florida's Philharmonic, Florida Sunshine Pops and Symphonic Orchestras, and she made her first national television appearance singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the Florida Panthers.She attended Pine Crest School and North Broward Preparatory School.
By age 13, she became serious about pursuing a music career, though she still concentrated on theater.When she first arrived in Los Angeles to meet with her managers, she expressed a desire to record an R&B album: "I was like, 'I want to make an R&B album,' They were like 'Um, that's a helluva goal! Who is going to buy a 14-year-old's R&B album?!'".In 2008, Grande was cast in the supporting role of cheerleader Charlotte in the musical 13 on Broadway,for which she won a National Youth Theatre Association Award.When she joined the musical, Grande left North Broward Preparatory School, but continued to be enrolled; the school sent materials to her so she could study with tutors.She also sang various times at the New York City jazz club Birdland.
