Rita Moreno to Perform in PBS’ “Wicked in Concert” Special

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a wicked time for Rita Moreno…

The 89-year-old Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer, a living Latina legend, will take part in PBS’ Wicked in Concert special.

Co-hosted by the Tony Award-winning musical’s original Broadway stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, the musical event will feature performances by Moreno, Mario Cantone, Gavin Creel, Ariana DeBose, Cynthia Erivo, Stephanie Hsu, Jennifer Nettles, Alex Newell, Isaac Powell, Amber Riley, Gabrielle Ruiz and Ali Stroker.

The starry line-up was announced by Nouveau Productions Executive Producer Robert Pullen. The concert special will air on Sunday, August 29 at 9:00 pm ET on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS Video App.

The concert, directed by Baayork Lee, is designed as a celebration of the return of Broadway following the 16-month COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

This special will feature reimagined, never-before-heard Wicked musical arrangements created by music director and conductor Luke Frazier just for this broadcast, with performances filmed in multiple locations including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York City.

Since opening on Broadway in 2003, Wicked, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman based on Gregory Maguire’s novel reimagining some characters from The Wizard of Oz, is the fifth longest-running show in Broadway history.

The musical has been seen by over 60 million people worldwide and has amassed over $5 billion in global sales.

“Glee” Cast to Reunite for Special Tribute to Naya Rivera’s Character Santana Lopez at GLAAD Media Awards

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Naya Rivera will be the focus of a special tribute at this year’s GLAAD Media Awards…

Glee cast members Jacob Artist, Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Vanessa Lengies, Jane Lynch, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Matthew Morrison, Alex Newell, Amber Riley, Harry Shum Jr., Becca Tobin, and Jenna Ushkowitz will reunite at the virtual edition of the awards show on April 8 for a special tribute to the legacy of the Santana Lopez, the character portrayed by the late half-Puerto Rican actress/singer and Glee star, who drowned last July while on an outing with her son on California’s Lake Piru.

The tribute will honor the 10-year anniversary of Santana’s coming out as lesbian in the musical comedy. Glee is a GLAAD Media Award winning series and the reunion will spotlight Santana’s impact on LGBTQ teens and Latinx LGBTQ representation on television. Demi Lovato, who played Santana’s girlfriend on Glee, will introduce the special tribute.

The GLAAD Media Awards will be hosted by Niecy Nash and stream on YouTube on April 8 at 8:00 pm ET. The event will also stream on Hulu on April 8 starting at 10:00 pm ET, and will be available to stream on-demand on the streamer until the end of June.

Bella Thorne’s Crime Thriller “Infamous” Acquired by Vertical Entertainment

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Bella Thorne’s going vertical…

Vertical Entertainment has acquired the North American distribution rights to the 22-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer’s feature film Infamous.

The distributor has set a virtual cinema and VOD release date of June 12 for the film, which was written and directed by Joshua Caldwell.

In the film, Thorne portrays Arielle, a young woman who lives in a small Florida town, stuck in a diner job. Arielle has always wanted more: fame, popularity and admiration. But when she falls for a recently paroled young criminal named Dean, she drags him back into a life of danger, learning that posting their criminal exploits on social media is an easy way to viral fame. They embark on a dangerous adventure together that leads to robbery, cop chases, and murder.

The film also stars Jake Manleyand Amber Riley.

“Bella Thorne is a force to be reckoned with in this high intensity crime thriller that provides a distinct take on the desire for social media fame,” says Rich Goldberg, co-president of Vertical Entertainment. “We’re excited to bring this film to North American audiences.”

Michele at the Center of the Sixth and Final Season of an Ohio-Based “Glee”

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Lea Michele’s heading back to the beginning…

The 27-year-old part-Spanish actress and Glee star will be returning to Ohio for the Fox musical dramedy’s sixth and final season.

The truncated season will revolve around Michele’s character Rachel Berry, who returns to Lima after a “humiliating failure” as a television actress.

The former New Directions star will head back home to figure out what she wants to do next and, after discovering that Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) has disbanded the glee club, undertakes the task of reinstating and leading the group that helped launch her career.

Meanwhile, Blaine (Darren Criss), Sam (Chord Overstreet) and Will (Matthew Morrison) have all found new and surprising gigs in Ohio.

Fox notes that other McKinley High alums will also return for Glee‘s final run.

Michele, Criss, Overstreet, Lynch and Morrison will all return as series regulars and be joined by Chris Colfer (Kurt), Dot-Marie Jones (Coach Beiste), Kevin McHale (Artie) and Amber Riley (Mercedes).

Naya Rivera will return with a reduced role. Max Adler has also booked a major recurring role in the final season, reprising his role as Dave Karofsky.

Co-creator Ryan Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter at the Emmys on Monday that he doesn’t currently know what the final scene of the series will be. “I did. I don’t anymore, but I think it will be emotional,” he said.

Murphy told reporters in April that the final season would feature a time jump and focus more on the original castmembers, shifting the focus from its previous relocated home in New York.

“The final season is really its own story and its own location, and while the New York stuff will be alive, the final season is not New York-centric at all,” Murphy said. “It really [will be] a lovely, fitting season that … dwells on the original people that were on the show and what happens to them and how they give back. That really is the last season. … We’ll revisit some of the new kids that came and went. There’s a return of the Jane-Matt characters in a big way. It’s really interesting, a very sweet, satisfying ending to the story.”

Murphy’s original vision for the end of the series featured Rachel and Finn’s (the late Cory Monteith) “star-crossed lovers getting together and having a happy ending and them both getting their dreams.” He added, “The fact that that can’t be is a big pain in all of our hearts.”

Glee‘s final season returns midseason on Fox. An exact premiere date has not yet been determined.

Rivera to Perform “Valerie” on the 100th Episode of “Glee”

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Naya Rivera is preparing to reinterpret one of her most memorable Glee performances…

The 27-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/singer will offer a new take on her acclaimed performance of Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson’s version of “Valerie” for the Fox musical dramedy’s 100th episode.

In the second season episode entitled “Special Education,” Rivera sang lead on the track by The Zutons during the New Directions’ performance at the 2010 Western Ohio Sectional Championship.

Rivera also performed the track in the Glee: The 3D Concert Movie, which was released in 2011.

This time around, she’ll perform the song alongside Heather Morris (Brittany).

In addition, Rivera will also perform Britney Spears’ “Toxic” with Morris and Diana Agron (Quinn), and “Be Okay” with Lea Michele.

The music in the two-part episode was chosen by the show’s fans, who were asked to pick 10 of the show’s 30 most beloved performances to be remixed and featured on the series’ landmark episode.

Set to air on March 18 and 25 at 8 p.m., the 100th episode will center on Jane Lynch‘s principal Sue Sylvester, who after years of disdain for the New Directions and Matthew Morrison‘s Will Schuester, finally succeeds in ending the glee club in Lima.

Many original castmembers — Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum Jr. (Mike), Mark Salling (Puck), Dancing With the Stars winner Amber Riley (Mercedes), Agron (Quinn) as well as Kristin Chenoweth (April) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Holly Holliday) — will return to say their final goodbyes to Will and each other in the emotional episode.

To honor the milestone, Columbia Records will release Glee: The Music Celebrating 100 Episodes, which will include brand-new versions of Glee favorites from the original cast — including Journey‘s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Pink‘s “Raise Your Glass” and the original song “Loser Like Me.”

The album will be released on March 25.

Here’s the complete 100th Glee tracklist:

1. “Keep Holding On”* featuring Mark Salling (Puck)
2. “Valerie”* featuring Naya Rivera (Santana) and Morris (Brittany)
3. “Defying Gravity”* featuring Lea Michele( Rachel), Chris Colfer (Kurt) and Riley (Mercedes)
4. “Raise Your Glass”* featuring Morrison (Will) and Chenoweth (April)
5. “Toxic”* featuring Rivera (Santana), Morris (Brittany) and Agron (Quinn)
6. “Happy” featuring Paltrow (Holly), Chenoweth (April), Morrison (Will), Darren Criss(Blaine) and Riley (Mercedes)
7. “Party All the Time” featuring Paltrow (Holly)
8. “Total Eclipse of the Heart”* featuring Morrison (Will) and Chenoweth (April)
9. “Loser Like Me”* featuring Criss (Blaine), Kevin McHale (Artie), Chord Overstreet(Sam) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina)
10. “Be Okay” featuring Michele (Rachel) and Rivera (Santana)
11. “I Am Changing” featuring Riley (Mercedes) and Colfer (Kurt)
12. “Just Give Me a Reason” featuring Agron (Quinn) and Salling (Puck)
13. “Don’t Stop Believin’”* featuring Michele (Rachel), Criss (Blaine), Colfer (Kurt), Morrison (Will), McHale (Artie) and Ushkowitz (Tina)

* Season-five version

Glee returns from its midseason break on February 25 in its new night and time on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Rivera to Appear at The Trevor Project’s TrevorLIVE Gala Event

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Naya Rivera will be taking the stage at the Trevor Project’s annual gala fundraiser.

The 26-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer will join her fellow Glee stars Jane Lynch, Darren Criss, Amber Riley and Chris Colfer, as well as American Idol alum Adam Lambert at TrevorLIVE, on December 8 at the Hollywood Palladium.

Hosted by comedienne Kathy Griffin, the event raises funds for The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Lynch will be honored by the organization.

Lambert, along with Riley, Smash star Megan Hilty and Glee alum Cheyenne Jackson, will take the stage for special performances.

Others scheduled to make an appearance include Dot-Marie Jones and Harry Shum, Jr., of Glee, Sarah Michelle Gellar of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Crazy Ones; Hannah Simone of New Girl; Andrew Rannells of Girls; Allison Janney of Mom and Masters of Sex; TV host Ricki Lake and Jennifer Coolidge of American Pie.

The show will be produced by So You Think You Can Dance judge Adam Shankman, whose directing and producing credits include Rock of Ages, Hairspray, Glee and the 2010 Academy Awards.

The red carpet and pre-show will be shown via livestream.

Rivera Returning to “Glee” Next Season

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Naya Rivera’s headed back to school…

Even though she graduated from William McKinley High School, the 25-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer/actress will be returning to Fox’s Glee next season.

Following the hit musical dramedy’s last season, which saw several of the show’s seniors graduate, series co-creator Ryan Murphy extended an open invitation to all 15 regulars, including Rivera, to return for Season 4. And, it looks like virtually all accepted the offer and are set to return, although not everyone will be in every episode.

Along with Rivera, other returning Glee stars include Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Darren Criss, Amber Riley, Jenna Ushkowitz, Jayma Mays, Dianna Agron, Mark Salling, Harry Shum Jr. and Heather Morris.

Each actor’s workload will vary as the show works to accommodate the large cast and make room for new characters, including American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez. Glee has already booked Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker for multi-episode arcs.

In addition to storylines reasons, some cast members may have reduced presence on the show as they pursue other projects, including features, theater and music.

Rivera & Michele Perform a Moving Rendition of Whitney’s “How Will I Know”

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s been a little more than two months since Whitney Houston’s untimely passing… But Naya Rivera, Lea Michele and their Glee co-stars are paying tribute to the late songstress.

Next week’s episode of Fox’s hit dramedy will be dedicated to Houston, with the cast performing eight songs from Whitney’s extensive catalog of music, including Rivera and Michele’s rendition of “How Will I Know.”

In the episode entitled “Dance with Somebody,” the 25-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer/actress and 25-year-old part-Spanish actress/singer partner with co-stars Amber Riley and Chris Colfer to perform their stirring, slowed-down version of Houston’s up-tempo classic.

Along with “How Will I Know,” the Glee cast will perform “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “Saving All My Love For You,” “So Emotional,” “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay,” “I Have Nothing” and “My Love Is Your Love.”

Glee’s Whitney Houston tribute will air on Tuesday, April 24 at 8:00 pm on Fox.

Rivera’s a “Survivor” on Glee…

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

It’s hard to believe Naya Rivera started her stint on Glee as a background actor/singer… She’s now one of the show’s brightest stars!

The 24-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress has not only conquered Adele’s music and breathed new life into the role of West Side Story’s Anita, but now she’s taking on Beyonce and Gloria Gaynor in one fierce mash-up on Fox’s hit musical dramedy!

During next week’s episode, Rivera’s character Santana Lopez, who could soon be singing alongside Gloria Estefan, and her all-girl glee club The Troubletones perform a mix of two iconic anthems—Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”—as they gun for a big win at Sectionals.

There’s no denying Rivera, Amber Riley and the rest of the divalicious ladies give a rousing performance that could give them a win over their fellow McKinley High glee club, New Directions.

Don’t miss the Sectionals episode of Glee next Tuesday, December 6 at 8:00 pm ET/PT on Fox.

Rivera Sings Adele in Glee’s 300th Musical Number…

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Here’s something to be gleeful about: Naya Rivera will take part in Glee‘s 300th musical performance.

The 24-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress—who stole the show as “Anita” during this week’s West Side Story episode—and her co-star Amber Riley will sing an oh-so-awesome Adele mashup during next week’s episode.

Performing as part of the Trouble Tones, McKinley High’s new all-girl glee club, Santana and Mercedes will perform a mashup of the British soul singer’s hits “Rumor Has It” and “Someone Like You.”

It’s the third time FOX’s hit musical comedy series has featured Adele’s music.

During an event to mark the milestone last month, Columbia Records’ Rob Stringer said it was a “happy coincidence” that the label handles both Adele and the music for Glee, while Riley noted the performance stemmed from an email she received.

“Someone emailed me a video of Adele saying she wanted me to sing her song, so I emailed it to Ryan and Brad and I think that’s how we got ‘Rumor Has It’/’Someone Like You,’ ” recalled Riley.

Glee‘s 300th musical performance will appear during Tuesday’s episode of Glee at 8:00 pm ET on Fox.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Amber Riley