Desmin Borges Starring in Indie Drama “On the End”

Desmin Borges has reached the end

The 40-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor is starring in On the End, an indie drama for Moontown Productions and Wise Child Studios.

Desmin BorgesThe film, Ari Selinger’s feature debut as writer-director, has wrapped production in Montauk, NY.

The film’s leads include Tim Blake NelsonMireille EnosJames Badge DaleLois Smith and Anna Chlumsky.

In addition to Borges, who starred in Shotgun Wedding, the support cast includes Matthew Maher, Glenn Fleshler, Michelle Hurd and Sawyer Spielberg.

Inspired by a true story, On the End centers on Tom (Nelson), a down-on-his-luck Montauk mechanic who finds unexpected love with Freckles (Enos), a fellow outcast. Their budding romance faces a dire threat when local elites conspire to forcibly remove Tom from his beachfront home and auto repair shop. As Tom and Freckles fight back, their love story evolves into a David vs. Goliath battle against greed and power in the rapidly changing town known locally as “The End.”

In a statement on the origins of the project, Selinger told Deadline, “I met a mechanic named Tom Ferriera on Navy Beach back in 2011. Little did I know his life would become the blueprint for On the End, a real-life fable set in a hidden corner of the Hamptons. Although it begins in 2008, the film explores issues of class disparity and gentrification that resonate just as powerfully today. At its core, though, it’s a raw and poignant love story. For my first feature, having collaborators like Tim and Mireille was something out of a dream. I can only hope the audience feels the same magic that I felt filming on the beach in Montauk.”

Borges’ previous credits include You’re the Worst, Utopia, The Time Traveler’s Wife and Living with Yourself.

Gigi Zumbado to Star in Simon West’s “Bride Hard”

Gigi Zumbado is going hard

The Cuban American actress has been added to the cast of Simon West’s Bride Hard, starring Rebel Wilson.

Gigi ZumbadoZumbado is among a list of cast newcomers that includes Anna Camp, Justin Hartley, Anna ChlumskyStephen Dorff and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

In addition, the film also features Sam Huntington, Sherry Cola and Michael O’Neill.

Bride Hard stars Wilson as a badass secret agent who is a force to be reckoned with as a mercenary group takes hostage her best friend’s lavish wedding. The indie feature was cleared for a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement.

The film was written by Shaina Steinberg from a story by Steinberg and CeCe Pleasants.

Bride Hard just wrapped production in Savannah, GA.

WME Independent is handling worldwide sales; production financing is provided by East West Bank.

Zumbado’s previous credits include Pitch Perfect 2 and The Rookie.

Darwin del Fabro to Star in John Logan’s LGBTQIA+ Horror Film Set at Gay Conversion Camp

Darwin del Fabro is bringing the screams…

The Brazilian stage and screen actor/singer will star in John Logan’s feature directorial debut, the LGBTQIA+ horror film set at a gay conversion camp.

Darwin del Fabro

The film, which will stream on Peacock, will also star Kevin Bacon, Anna Chlumsky, Theo Germain, Carrie Preston Quei Tann, Austin Crute, Anna Lore, Monique Kim and Cooper Koch.

The feature will be written by Logan, a three-time Oscar nominated  scribe.

del Fabro was in the original Brazilian productions of Shrek The Musical, Fiddler on The Roof, The Wizard of Oz and was in the hit Brazilian soap opera, Ligações Perigosas (based on Les Liaisons Dangereuses).

He recently starred as Puck in a Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Juneberry Collective, as Adam in The Feather Dosen’t Fall Far From The Tree at Signature Theatre and Dominic in Real the play at the Tank.

Jason Blum and Michael Aguilar are producing Logan’s untitled movie.

Paramount+ Renews Natalie Morales’ “Rugrats” Revival for Second Season

Natalie Morales is staying animated…

Paramount+ has renewed the revival of the classic Nickelodeon series Rugrats, featuring the 36-year-old Cuban American actress among the voice cast, for a second season.

Natalie Morales

The revival, which follows the titular tots and their imaginative shenanigans, features original cast members E.G. Daily, Nancy Cartwright, Cheryl Chase, Cree Summer and Kath Soucie as Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Susie, Phil and Lil, respectively.

In addition to Morales, the voice cast also features Nicole Byer, Ashley Rae Spillers, Tommy Dewey, Anna Chlumsky, Natalie Morales, Michael McKean and Omar Miller.

Paramount+ also revealed the premiere date for the second batch of Season 1 episodes, including the upcoming Halloween special.

The second batch of episodes, which will drop on October 7, will continue to see the Rugrats using their wild imaginations to defeat an outer-space villain, travel through Chuckie’s dad’s body, embark upon a daring mission to break Angelica out of preschool and more. The half-hour Halloween-themed special sees Tommy work with his friends’ help to save Angelica after she turns into a werewolf at a scary Halloween party as their parents seem to disappear one by one.

The original Rugrats series launched August 11, 1991, and became a phenomenon, spawning consumer products and three hit theatrical releases, cementing its place in pop culture history through its characters, storytelling and unique visual style. Rugrats was in production for nine seasons over the course of 13 years. The series earned four Daytime Emmy Awards, six Kids’ Choice Awards and its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Paramount+ Releases Trailer for Natalie Morales’ Revival of Nickelodeon’s Original “Rugrats” Series

Natalie Morales is cutting a rug(rat)

Paramount+ has released the trailer for its revival of the Nickelodeon original animated series Rugrats, featuring the 36-year-old Cuban American actress.

Natalie Morales

The original series was created by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain.

In the reboot, the series’ tiny tots embark on an Indiana Jones-inspired treasure hunt, a battle against a giant green dog and a high-speed car chase in the colorful, wild worlds of their imagination.

Cast members from the original series return to reprise their roles in the Paramount+ series, which will premiere on May 27. Returning to voice the iconic cartoon toddlers are E.G. Daily (Tommy Pickles), Nancy Cartwright (Chuckie Finster), Cheryl Chase (Angelica Pickles), Cree Summer (Susie Carmichael) and Kath Soucie (Phil and Lil DeVille).

Also joining the cast for the revival are Nicole Byer, Tony Hale and Morales, who will take on the adult roles in Paramount+’s revival.

Hale will play Chuckie’s father, Morales as Phil and Lil’s mother and Byer, with Omar Miller, as Susie’s parents. Ashley Rae Spillers (Vice Principals) and Tommy Dewey, as Tommy’s parents; Anna Chlumsky and Timothy Simons, as Angelica’s parents; and Michael McKean, as Grandpa Lou Pickles round out the voice cast.

Colón-Zayas Wins Lortel Award for “Between Riverside and Crazy”

Liza Colón-Zayas has a Crazy reason to celebrate…

The Puerto Rican actress, married to actor David Zayas, has won the Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Between Riverside and Crazy, which was named outstanding play.

Liza Colón-Zayas

The Lortels, now 30 years old, are underwritten by the Lucille Lortel Foundation and are named for the late owner of the former Theatre De Lys, now the Lucille Lortel, on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village.

Along with the Village Voice Obie Awards, the Lortels are focused on plays that open in New York City outside the 40-theater Broadway district.

Meanwhile, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway-bound musical Hamilton, which is heading uptown for a summer opening after a sold-out run at the Public Theater, took home10 awards, including outstanding musical. The book, music and lyrics were written by the In The Heights creator.

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican composer, rapper, lyricist, and actor, a Tony Award, Grammy and Emmy winner, was named Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for his performance in Hamilton.

The awards in 18 categories, plus three special honors, were presented Sunday night at New York University’s Skirball Center during a ceremony hosted by Emmy nominated actors Anna Chlumsky and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Here’s a look at the winners:

Outstanding Play: Between Riverside and Crazy
Outstanding Musical: Hamilton
Outstanding Revival: Into the Woods
Outstanding Solo Show: Josephine and I
Outstanding Director: Thomas Kail, Hamilton
Outstanding Choreographer: Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play: Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play: Tonya Pinkins, Rasheeda Speaking
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical: Phillipa Soo, Hamilton
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play: Jacob Ming-Trent, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: Liza Colón-Zayas, Between Riverside and Crazy
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Outstanding Scenic Design: Jan Versweyveld, Scenes From a Marriage
Outstanding Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, Hamilton
Outstanding Lighting Design: Howell Binkley, Hamilton
Outstanding Sound Design: Nevin Steinberg, Hamilton

Special Awards:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Terrence McNally
Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee Jeanine Tesori
Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award: Nancy Nagel Gibbs