Following the completion of the "High School Musical" series, Hudgens confirmed that she was taking a break from her music career to focus more on acting. She played a supporting role in a musical comedy "Bandslam", which was released theatrically on August 14, 2009. Hudgens plays "Sa5m", a 15-year-old awkward freshman with untapped talents. Although "Bandslam" was commercially unsuccessful, Hudgens' performance received praise from critics. David Waddington of the "North Wales Pioneer" noted that Hudgens "outshines the rest of the cast, failing to fit in with the outcast narrative and making the inevitable climactic ending all the more expected", and Philip French of "The Guardian" compared her acting to Thandie Newton and Dorothy Parker. Hudgens made a return to theater productions and starred in the musical "Rent" as Mimi. The stage production ran from August 6–8, 2010, at the Hollywood Bowl. Her involvement in the production drew negative comments, but director Neil Patrick Harris defended his decision with casting Hudgens by saying, "Vanessa is awesome. She's a friend. I asked her to come in and sing to make sure she had the chops for it. And she was very committed and seemed great."