Latino Broadway news and stage highlights

2018 Latino Tony Nominations: John Leguizamo, Ariana DeBose, Chita Rivera, Lindsay Mendez

The 2018 Tony nominations have been announced and four Latinos were nominated – John Leguizamo, Ariana DeBose, Lindsay Mendez, and Chita Rivera (Lifetime Achievement). Leading the list with 12 nominations are the new musicals Mean Girls and SpongeBob SquarePants. The 72nd Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban, will be held at Radio City Music Hall on June 10. The ceremony will be telecast live on CBS. Read More

Disney’s ‘Frozen’ Broadway Musical: The First Official Production Photos

*Update: We have new footage of the curtain call Opening Night in Denver. See below.
Here are the first production photos of Disney Theatrical’s new Broadway musical Frozen which you can see above. The pre-Broadway engagement at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts opens tonight and continues through October 1, 2017. This Broadway-bound Frozen, a full-length stage work told in two acts, is the first and only incarnation of the tale that expands upon and deepens its indelible plot and themes through new songs and story material from the film’s creators; in fact, this new stage production features more than twice as much music as the film.  Like the Disney Theatrical Broadway musicals that have come before it, it is a full evening of theatre running over two hours. Read More

Only One Latino Makes The 2017 Tony Nominations

The 2017 Tony nominations were announced this morning with only ONE Latino making the list -Puerto Rican Ruben Santiago-Hudson who directed the six-time nominated August Wilson play, Jitney. The celebration of Tony’s diversity progression died in the musical category this year in comparison to last year’s Hamilton phenomenon. That’s not to say Broadway as a whole hasn’t made an effort to include more African-Americans, Asians, and Latinos in their shows (Chicago, Miss Saigon, Anastasia, et.al). They have and sometimes at the cost of including them in nonsensical roles (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), but at least they’re there. In the play categories, we did witness inclusion in most of the nominations, in particular, Jitney, Oslo, and Sweat. For me personally, Latinos are a forgotten ethnicity in the eyes of the arts today. Lin-Manuel Miranda cannot be the sole torchbearer of the largest majority minority in our nation. It has to change, we have to change it. Read More

Al Pacino Comes Back To Broadway In ‘China Doll’

Al Pacino will return to Broadway in the world premiere of China Doll, a new play by David Mamet (Glengary Glenn Ross), one of the more talented writers in America. It will begin previews on October 20, 2015, with an official opening on November 19, 2015, at The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Read More

NBC Bringing ‘The Wiz’ To Broadway

The Wiz is coming back to Broadway. The last time it was on the stage, it was 1975 and it ended up winning the Tony for Best Musical. This time around Broadway veteran Harvey Fierstein will re-adapt the original book and Tony winner Kenny Leon will direct. No official date yet, but rumored to come sometime around 2016-2017 season. Read More

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘Hamilton’ Heads To Broadway!

The Public Theater and producer Jeffrey Seller announced the world premiere musical HAMILTON will transfer to Broadway, with previews set to begin July 13 prior to an official opening night on August 6 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Read More

Michael Cera Takes The Tragedies Of Youth To Broadway In “This Is Our Youth”

We’ve all been there (or are there or will be there), that time in your life when everything is in limbo as you go from childhood to adulthood in the blink of an eye.  Starting this August, Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin and Tavi Gevinson will bring this everyday reality to the theater.

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First Look at Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ on Broadway!

Get ready for ‘A Whole New World’ on Broadway when Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ has it’s Opening Night on March 20th, with previews beginning February 26th. But since we know you can’t wait to hear all the great songs such as ‘One Jump Ahead,’ ‘Arabian Knights,’ and ‘Friend Like Me,’ we’re giving you a first look at Aladdin’s new photos of the stars Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Courtney Reed (Jasmine) and James Monroe Iglehart (Genie), plus a behind-the-scenes video from the photo shoot. Read More

Billie Holiday Broadway musical set to open October 3rd!

Back in March, my hands were peeling after applauding thunderously at the news that a Billie Holiday musical was finally coming to Broadway. Now I get word that there is a new opening date set for Thursday, October 3rd (6:30PM) with preview performances slated to begin Thursday, September 19th (8PM). Read More