Lin-Manuel Miranda Returning to Broadway in Simon Rich’s “All In: Comedy About Love”

Lin-Manuel Miranda is returning to Broadway… 

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican Tony Award-winning Broadway star will lead the second company of Simon Rich’s All In: Comedy About Love on Broadway this January, taking over when John Mulaney finishes up his limited run in a production featuring a revolving cast of actors.

Lin-Manuel MirandaThe production, directed by Alex Timbers, begins performances on Wednesday, December 11 at the Hudson Theatre with the previously announced Mulaney-led cast of Fred Armisen, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Richard Kind and Chloe Fineman.

In a second roster of cast members for the final five weeks of the production, Miranda takes over on Tuesday, January 14, running through Sunday, February 16.

Appearing on various dates during Miranda’s run will be Aidy Bryant, Andrew Rannells, Sam RichardsonJimmy Fallon, David Cross, Tim Meadows and Hank Azaria

Produced by Seaview and Lorne Michaels, the world premiere of the Rich comedy is a series of stories “about dating, heartbreak, marriage and that sort of thing,” adapted from the short stories of Rich and performed by a rotating cast.

Per the synopsis: “Sometimes they will play pirates, sometimes they will play dogs, and there’s one where we make them talk in British accents. But even though the show’s kind of all over the place, it’s meant to tell one simple story: that the most important part of life is who we share it with. We hope everybody will relate to it, even if it was their date’s idea to come and they are starting out from a place of quiet resentment.”

The musical duo The Bengsons (Abigail and Shaun Bengson) will perform songs live on stage from The Magnetic Fields (composer, Stephin Merritt), including from the album 69 Love Songs.

The dates for the initial cast are: John Mulaney (December 11 – January 12) Fred Armisen (December 11 – January 12) Renée Elise Goldsberry (December 11 – 30) Richard Kind (December 11 – January 12) Chloe Fineman (January 2 – 12).

Miranda will be joined by the following cast: Aidy Bryant (January 14 – February 2), Andrew Rannells (January 14 – 26), Sam Richardson (January 14 – February 2), Jimmy Fallon (January 28 – February 2) David Cross (February 4 – 9), Tim Meadows (February 4 – 16) and Hank Azaria (February 11 – 16).

All In is produced on Broadway by Seaview and Lorne Michaels with New Yorker Studios. Micah Frank and Caroline Maroney will produce on behalf of Broadway Video.

Natalie Mendoza to Star as Satine in Broadway’s “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”

Natalie Mendoza is seeing rouge

The 42-year-old part-Spanish Australian actress/singer has been cast as the lead role of Broadway’s Moulin Rouge! The Musical, filling the vacancy left when the Tony Award-nominated Karen Olivo resigned in April.

Natalie Mendoza

With the casting of Mendoza, the full Moulin Rouge! cast is in place for the resumption of performances on Friday, September 24, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

The musical originally opened on July 25, 2019, but performances were suspended in March 2020 when Broadway went dark due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

Mendoza joins a principal cast that also includes Aaron Tveit, Danny Burstein, Sahr Ngaujah, Tam Mutu, Ricky Rojas and Robyn Hurder.

The casting is a bit of a homecoming for Mendoza, who portrayed a can-can dancer named China Doll in Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film Moulin Rouge!

“From the moment Natalie was cast as China Doll in Moulin Rouge! the film, we knew we had discovered a major young talent,” Luhrmann said in a statement. “That young talent has now blossomed into the lead in our Broadway production. I could not be more thrilled that Natalie will be lowered in that glorious swing as Broadway’s Sparkling Diamond.”

Said Mendoza, “Having been involved with the film from its early conception, the role of Satine has always been close to my heart. This rare jewel of an opportunity to play a character like her on Broadway feels like a full circle moment. With this stunning group of bohemian artists and this uniquely conscious creative team I couldn’t be in better care.”

Mendoza, raised in Australia, previously worked with the Broadway musical’s director Alex Timbers when she appeared as Imelda Marcos in Here Lies Love at London’s Royal National Theatre.

 

He starred on the BBC One drama series Hotel Babylon and The Descent horror film franchise.

On the film side, she’ll next be seen in the buzzy Cannes Film Festival film Annette, directed by Leos Carax and starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard.

Mendoza’s other credits include Michael Winterbottom’s futuristic thriller Code 46, Miramax’s The Great Raid and, on television, ABC’s production of South Pacific, ITV’s McDonald & Dodds, CBS’ Blue Bloods and in upcoming episodes of Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan.

On stage, additional credits include Miss Saigon, Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark and Ghost.

Mateo Melendez to Star in Broadway’s “Beetlejuice” Musical

Mateo Melendez is juicin’up for Broadway…

The Latino actor has been added to the cast of Broadway’s Beetlejuice when the new musical begins previews next month.

Mateo Melendez

Melendez will star alongside last fall’s pre-Broadway cast members Jill AbramovitzKelvin Moon LohDanny Rutigliano and Dana Steingold.

Other cast members include Alex Brightman(in the title role), Sophia Anne CarusoKerry ButlerRob McClureAdam Dannheisserand Leslie Kritzer.

Rounding out the 25-member cast include Tessa AlvesGilbert L. Bailey IIWill BlumJohnny Brantley IIIRyan BreslinNatalie Charle EllisBrooke EngenAbe Goldfarb, Eric Anthony JohnsonElliott MattoxSean Montgomery, Ramone OwensPresley Ryanand Kim Sava.

Beetlejuice starts previews Thursday, March 28 at the Winter Garden Theatre. Opening night is April 25.

Beetlejuice, based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film starring Michael Keaton, is directed by Alex Timbers, with an original score by Eddie Perfect, book by Scott BrownAnthony King, and choreography by Connor Gallagher.

Other credits for the Broadway production include David Korins (scenic design), William Ivey Long (costume design), Kenneth Posner (lighting), Peter Hylenski (sound), Peter Nigrini (projections), Michael Curry(puppet design), Jeremy Chernick(special effects) and Michael Weber(illusions).

García Bernal’s “Mozart in the Jungle” Ordered to Series by Amazon

It’s official… Gael García Bernal will star in his first English-language television series…

Amazon has ordered the 35-year-old Mexican actor’s comedy series Mozart in the Jungle pilot to series.

Gael García Bernal

The Paul Weitz-directed pilot was scripted by Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman and Alex Timbers.

The story was inspired by Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music, oboist Blair Tindall‘s 2005 memoir of her professional career in New York, playing various high-profile gigs with ensembles including the New York Philharmonic and the orchestras of numerous Broadway shows.

In addition to García Bernal as ‘Rodrigo’ a fictionalized version of conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the half-hour comedy series also stars Malcolm McDowell, Saffron Burrows and Bernadette Peters.

Amazon Picks Up Garcia Bernal’s Comedy Series “Mozart in the Jungle”

Gael Garcia Bernal will be making music on television in the near future…

Amazon Studios has picked up to series the 35-year-old Mexican actor’s half-hour comedy series Mozart in the Jungle.

Gael García Bernal

The dramatic comedy was written by Oscar-nominated writer and director Roman Coppola (Moonrise Kingdom, The Darjeeling Limited), actor and musician Jason Schwartzman (Saving Mr. Banks, Moonrise Kingdom, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), and Tony-nominated writer and director Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher).

The project is based on the memoir Mozart in the Jungle by Blair Tindall.

It’s all about sex, drugs—and classical music—and shows that what happens behind the curtains at the symphony can be just as captivating as what happens on stage.

Paul Weitz (About a Boy, Admission) directed the pilot and executive produced.

In addition to Garcia Bernal, the series stars Saffron Burrows, Lola Kirke, Malcom McDowell, Bernadette Peters and Peter Vack.

Garcia Bernal Cast in Amazon Studios Pilot “Mozart in the Jungle”

Gael García Bernal is about to get classical…

The 34-year-old Mexican actor/director has signed on to star in Amazon Studios’ comedy pilot Mozart In The Jungle.

 Gael García Bernal

Based on the memoir by Blair Tindal of the same name, the project is all about sex, drugs and classical music and shows that what happens behind the curtains at the symphony can be just as captivating as what happens onstage.

García Bernal, best known for his roles in Y tu mamá también, Amores perros and Babel, will play Gustavo, an enfant terrible who’s utterly devoted to his art as a conductor — but also to his image.

The pilot was written by Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman and Alex Timbers.

García Bernal, who last appeared on screen in the Oscar-nominated Spanish language film No, will next star in the films The Ardor and Rosewater.