Lin-Manuel Miranda to Take Part in Stephen Sondheim Virtual Birthday Concert

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is celebrating a living musical theater legend.

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican composer, lyricist, singer, actor, producer and playwright, widely known for creating and starring in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, has signed on to appear on Sunday’s Stephen Sondheim virtual birthday concert.

Miranda, who starred in Mary Poppins Returns, joins a roster of new additions that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Lavin, Laura Benanti, Neil Patrick Harrisand Ben Plattfor the all-star benefit for Artists Striving To End Poverty.

Previously announced stars participating in the concert include Annaleigh Ashford, Melissa Errico, Beanie Feldstein, Josh Groban, Judy Kuhn, Randy Rainbow and Lea Solanga.

Special appearances will be made by Victor Garber, Joanna Gleason, Nathan Lane and Steven Spielberg.

They’ll all join the previously announced Meryl Streep, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald, among many others, in the special virtual concert to celebrate Sondheim’s 90th birthday.

Take Me To The World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration, hosted by Raúl Esparza, is set for this Sunday, April 26, the 50th anniversary of the opening night of Sondheim’s groundbreaking musical Company.

The concert kicks off at 8:00 pm ET, and will be available for free at Broadway.comand the Broadway.com YouTubechannel.

Other artists performing songs from the Sondheim catalog will include Mandy Patinkin, Christine Baranski, Donna Murphy, Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kelli O’Hara, Aaron Tveit, Maria Friedman, Iain Armitage, Katrina Lenk, Michael Cerveris, Brandon Uranowitz, Stephen Schwartz, Elizabeth Stanley, Chip Zien, Alexander Gemignani and, from the cast of Pacific Overtures at Classic Stage Company, Ann Harada, Austin Ku, Kelvin Moon Loh and Thom Sesma.

Esparza starred as Bobby in the 2006 Tony Award-winning revival of Companyand in the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration productions of Sunday in the Park with George and Merrily We Roll Along in 2002, as well as the City Center Encores! production of Anyone Can Whistle and in last year’s Road Show.

“The world is in a hard place,” Esparza said in a statement, “and we are all searching for something great. Well, Stephen Sondheim is greatness personified.”

Mary-Mitchell Campbell will be the music director, with Paul Wontorek serving as director.

The online event will act as a fundraiser for ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty), the organization conceived by Campbell and Juilliard students to transform the lives of youth through art.

Chita Rivera to Perform at the “Concert For America” Benefit

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Chita Rivera is doing her part to help families on the border…

The 85-year-old half-Puerto Rican Broadway sensation will perform in the Concert For America, which will take place on June 30.

Rivera, the first Hispanic woman and the first Latino AmericanKennedy Center Honors recipient,will join a list of participants that includesTina Fey, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Mandy Gonzalez and more.

Hosted by Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley of SiriusXM, the benefit consisting of music, comedy and commentary will take place in New York’s Great Hall at The Cooper Union.

Rudetsky said in a statement, “James and I have been increasingly horrified at what’s going on with these families struggling at the border.” He added that the scheduled Concert For America will coincide with the coming day of national protests, and will benefit the non-profits working with families at the southern border.

General Admission tickets are $25, and limited VIP seats are $250, with proceeds going to Al Otro Lado, Texas Civil Rights Project, ACLU Foundation of Texas and Florence Project, all groups working to protect the civil and human rights of families on the border. Tickets can be purchased here.

The event will livestream on Facebook and at ConcertsforAmerica.com, beginning at 5:00 pm, ET on Saturday, June 30.

Perez & Fellow Broadway Stars Sing DNC Tribute to Victims of Gun Violence

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Rosie Perez is sharing the love at the Democratic National Convention…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican actress, community activist, talk show host, author, dancer and choreographer joined fellow Broadway stars Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel and others to promote peace and support Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Perez and the gang performed their charity single “What the World Needs Now is Love“ as a tribute to victims of gun violence during the D.N.C. on Wednesday (July 27).

Performers included Ben Vereen, Darren Criss, Brian Stokes Mitchell, with each getting a chance to sing the classic song written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, inciting the audience to join arms and sing along in unity.

The joyous performance also included Kristen Bell, Debra Messing, Richard Kind and Stephanie J. Block, Tyne Daly and more.

Miranda Appears in james Corden’s Broadway-Themed “Carpool Karaoke” Segment

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is (car)poolin’ around…

Late Late Show star James Corden, the host for the upcoming Tony Awards, brought the 36-year-old Puerto Rican Broadway star along for his latest Carpool Karaoke segment.

Dedicated to The Great White Way, Corden called on Miranda, Audra McDonald, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jane Krakowski to help get him through city traffic.

While navigating Manhattan, they sang tunes from Miranda’s Tony Award-nominated musical Hamilton, Les Misérables and other Broadway productions.

The video has already garnered more than 2.4 million views on YouTube.

Gloria & Emilio Estefan to Appear at This Year’s Tony Awards

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Emilio and Gloria Estefan may be bringing their life story to The Great White Way in the near future… But first they’ll be appearing as part of Broadway’s biggest night.

The Estefans will be appearing at this year’s Tony Awards.

In addition to the multi-Grammy winning musicians and producers, the upcoming ceremony, honoring the best of Broadway will also feature appearances by Bradley Cooper, Kevin Bacon, Carole King, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Will Ferrell, Liev Schreiber, Emmy Rossum, Kate Mara, Zachary Quinto, Zachary Levi, Lucy Liu, Clint Eastwood, Patricia Clarkson, Leighton Meester, Ethan Hawke, Zach Braff, Matt Bomer, Anna Gunn, Tony nominee Audra McDonald, Fran Drescher, Wayne Brady, Kenneth Branagh, Tony Goldwyn, Vera Farmiga and Alessandro Nivola, it was announced Tuesday.

Hugh Jackman will hosted this year’s show.

The 68th annual Tony Awards, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, will broadcast live from New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on June 8 on CBS.

Ramos to Guest Star on “Private Practice” Series Finale

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Sarah Ramos will be seeking professional help this month…

The 21-year-old half-Latina actress will guest star in the series finale of ABC‘s Private Practice, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In the final installment of Shonda Rimes’ long-running series, titled “In Which We Say Goodbye,” Ramos will portray a patient of Dr. Violet Turner’s (Amy Brennenman).

Ramos has had a recurring role on NBC’s Parenthood. She’s beenportraying Haddie Braverman, who this season was sent off to college and briefly returned home after her mother, Kristina, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Private Practice will wrap its six-season run on January 22 with an episode that will also feature Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) and Dr. Jake Reilly’s (Benjamin Bratt) wedding. Ramos joins guest stars including Diane Farr ad the return of original cast member Audra McDonald.

Ramos’ credits include American Dreamsand Robot Chicken.

First Image Surfaces of Bratt’s “Private Practice” Nuptials

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Bells will definitely be ringing for Benjamin Bratt this month…

The first image has hit the internet of Private Practice’s highly anticipated series finale this month, which will feature the previously reported nuptials between 48-year-old half-Peruvian American actor’s character Dr. Jake Reilly and Kate Walsh’s Dr. Addison Montgomery.

The image features the groom and bride sharing a kiss, presumably after they exchange their vows. The nuptials will be attended by their Seaside Health and Wellness coworkers, including Addison’s best friend Naomi (Audra McDonald), who makes her way back to Los Angeles from New York. Naomi was last seen on the show’s fourth season.

“It was great to spend time with everyone,” Walsh recently gushed about the final episode. “That’s what the last few episodes were about – soaking up the moments.” Hinting that there will be a tear-jerking moment, she advises fans, “Keep the Kleenex handy!”

It will be the second marriage for Addison, who was previously married to Patrick Dempsey‘s Dr. Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy. The couple got divorced after she cheated on him with his best friend Dr. Mark Sloan (Eric Dane).

Walsh previously said why her character deserved the happy ending, “After all Addison has suffered and struggled with throughout the series – all the heartache and hardship — Shonda [Rhimes, Private Practice’s creator and showrunner] really wanted to have her find a meaningful relationship and she got to have her child and find a guy that was her match. It will be very emotional for fans and very satisfying.”

The final episode of Private Practice is called “In Which We Say Goodbye” and will air Tuesday, January 22 at 10 P.M. on ABC.

Martin to Perform at the Tony Awards

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Following his triumphant return to The Great White Way in Evita, Ricky Martin will be performing on Broadway’s biggest night.

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actor will bring his role as Ernesto “Che” Guevara to life at the upcoming Tony Awards, which will be hosted by How I Met Your Mother’s Neil Patrick Harris.

Martin, who made his Broadway debut in Les Miserables, has wowed audiences on Broadway alongside his Evita co-stars Elena Rogers, who plays Eva Perón, and Michael Cerveris, who plays Juan Perón.

To get in character as the controversial revolutionary icon—in a role that has taken him to “another place mentally, physically, and spiritually”—Martin has grown a moustache. But the experience has had more than a physical impact on him.

“I’ve felt emotions onstage that I never felt before, it has strengthened me as a person and as an artist,” Martin said in a press conference in March. “It’s been a great journey. I’m here to grow and to learn. It’s been a fascinating trip,” he added.

In addition to Martin, the list of performers at this year’s Tony Awards include

Cuban-American Broadway star Rául Esparza, Audra McDonald, Matthew Broderick and the casts of Godspell and Ghost The Musical, among many others.

The Tony Awards will take place on Sunday, June 10.

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