Auli’i Cravalho Delivers Sea-Sational Performance of “Part of Your World” during ABC’s “The Little Mermaid Live!”

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Auli’i Cravalho has delivered a memorable under the sea adventures

ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live! premiered on Wednesday with the 18-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer in the title role as Ariel.

During the broadcast, the Moana star donned the Disney princess’s famous purple seashells and mermaid tail to deliver a technologically wonderous performance of “Part of Your World.”

“What would I give if I could live out of these waters?/ What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?/ Betcha on land, they understand/ Bet they don’t reprimand their daughters/ Bright young women/ Sick of swimmin’/ Ready to stand,” Cravalho sang as she soared across the sea — with the help of an intricate, on-stage fly system.

For the rest of the number, she swam around the stage to audience cheers below before settling back onto the rock for the song’s hopeful closing moments.

The Little Mermaid Live! also starred Queen Latifah as Ursula, Graham Phillips as Prince Eric, Shaggy as Sebastian and John Stamos as Chef Louis.

Rhenzy Feliz to Star in the Netflix Movie “Sorta Like A Rock Star”

Posted on September 21, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Rhenzy Feliz is ready to rock…

The 21-year-old Dominican American actor will star opposite Auli’i Cravalhoin the Netflix movie Sorta Like A Rock Star.

Feliz, best known for his work on Hulu’s Marvel’s Runaways,joins a cast of new additions that includes five-time Golden Globe winner Carol Burnett and Fred Armisen.

Feliz and Cravalho will star in the story of a teenage girl who, despite her difficult circumstances, is preternaturally optimistic about the world. She often helps those around her, resulting in strong bonds with a disparate group of outsiders in her community, until she faces a devastating loss and must confront her own challenges.

The film will also star Justina Machado, Judy Reyes, Gerald Isaac Waters, Taylor Richardsonand Anthony Jacques.

Director Brett Haley’s feature, which begins shoot next month, is an adaptation of Matthew Quick’s novel of the same name.

Auli’i Cravalho to Star in ABC’s Live “The Little Mermaid” Special

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Auli’i Cravalho is heading under the sea…

The 18-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer is set to star as Ariel in ABC’s The Little Mermaid live special.

In addition to Cravalho, who rose to acclaim as the voice of the title character in Disney’s Moana, the special will also star Queen Latifah as Ursula and Shaggy as Sebastian.

The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live!, featuring a mix of live action, animation and puppetry, will air on November 5 to mark the classic Disney animated feature’s 30th anniversary.

ABC originally announced in May 2017that it would stage a live production of the beloved underwater tale under the long-dormant Wonderful World of Disneybanner, which was slated for October 3, 2017. In August of that year, the network announced that the live event had been put on hold.

Since joining ABC last December as President of Entertainment, Karey Burke has expressed strong support for live specials. Her commitment was likely reaffirmed in May after the success of Jimmy Kimmel’s live staging of two classic Norman Lear sitcoms on the network, which spawned two more installments.

Burke today said that if The Little Mermaid is a success, it too can lead to do more live musicals based on Disneyfilm titles on ABC. “If it works, I expect we will do more of them and we will work closely with the feature department about timing,” she said.

Billed as a tribute to the original animated classic and its music, The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! will feature live musical performances by its star-studded cast interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film.

The hybrid format will combine intricate sets and costumes created for the special with music from the original animated film and the Tony Award-winningBroadway stage version, composed by eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken.

Howard Ashman’s film lyrics will also be showcased, with Glenn Slater, lyricist for the Broadway adaptation, as a contributor.

Cravalho is already in the extended Disney Princessesfamily having voiced Moana in the hit animated movie.

Following her breakout role in Moana, Cravalho performed the film’s anthem, How Far I’ll Go, at the Oscarsand starred in the NBCmusical drama series Rise. It was just announced that she is the lead of the Brett Haley Netflixfilm Sorta Like a Rock Star.

The announcement of The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! going forward comes as Disney is gearing up for production of a live-action feature adaptation of The Little Mermaid for director Rob Marshall, Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda and Menken. Halle Bailey has been set as Ariel in the movie, Awkwafina as Ariel’s seagull friend Scuttle, and Jacob Tremblay as Ariel’s friendly fish pal Flounder, while Melissa McCarthy has been rumored for the role of UIrsula and Harry Stylesfor Prince Eric.

Burke is not worried about ABC’s live Little Mermaid special and the upcoming movie cannibalizing each other. “Ours is distinctly different from the feature film,” she said.

Perez to Star in NBC’s Drama Pilot “Drama High”

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Rosie Perez is heading back to school…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican actress has been cast in a lead role in NBC’s drama pilot Drama High, from Friday Night Lights executive producer/showrunner Jason Katims and Jeffrey Seller, producer of the smash Broadway hit Hamilton.

Written by Katims, Drama High was inspired by the story of ground-breaking high school drama teacher Lou Volpe as chronicled in the book Drama High, written by one of Volpe’s students, Michael Sokolove.

The hourlong project revolves around an extraordinary working-class high school drama department and the incredible students who come alive under a passionate teacher and family man whose dedication to the program galvanizes the entire town.

Perez plays Tracey, the high energy with a no-holds-barred mouth current Drama School teacher and a former high school theater person who is finding someone else with passion and vision can still inspire her.

Perez joins previously cast Moana star Auli’i Cravalho.

After filming the pilot, Perez will shoot Bounty Hunters, a 6-episode series for Sky 1 in London with Jack Whitehall.

Cravalho to Star in NBC’s Drama Pilot “Drama High”

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Auli’i Cravalho is signing up for the drama club…

The 16-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer and Moana standout has landed a lead role in NBC’s drama pilot Drama High, from Friday Night Lights executive producer/showrunner Jason Katims and Jeffrey Seller, producer of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash Broadway musical Hamilton.

Written by Katims, Drama High was inspired by the story of ground-breaking high school drama teacher Lou Volpe as chronicled in the book Drama High, written by one of Volpe’s students, Michael Sokolove.

In her television debut, Cravalho will play one of the students, Lilette, in the project.

Cravalho earned an Annie Award for her voice work as the title character in Disney’s Oscar-animated film Moana, her first-ever Hollywood project.

Miranda to Perform “How Far I’ll Go” at This Year’s Academy Awards

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda will go far at this year’s Oscars…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican actor, playwright, composer, rapper, and writer will perform at this year’s Academy Awards, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Miranda, a first time Oscar nominee and creator of the smash Broadway musical Hamilton, will join voices with part-Puerto Rican Moana voice star Auli’i Cravalho, a recent Annie Award winner, to perform one of the Best Original Song-nominated tracks.

Miranda and Cravalho will perform “How Far I’ll Go,” which he wrote for the hit animated film from Disney.

Other performers include Justin Timberlake, Sting and John Legend.

“We’re thrilled to welcome these world-class artists to the Oscars. These performances will not only celebrate the five extraordinary nominated original songs, but also the integral part music plays in movies,” Oscarcast producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd said in a statement.

Jimmy Kimmel will hosts the 89th Annual Academy Awards on February 26. ABC will air the awards show live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Cravalho Wins Annie Award for Her Voice Work in “Moana”

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Auli’i Cravalho has reason to celebrate…

The 16-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress picked up the Voice Acting in an Animated Feature award at this year’s Annie Awards, the highest honor given for excellence in animation.

Cravalho took home the award for her voice acting debut as the title character in the Disney’s Moana, sharing the prize in a tie with Jason Bateman for his work on Zootopia.

In the film, Cravalho plays Moana Waialiki, the high-spirited daughter of the chief of a mystical Polynesian island, who sets sail to an island with a demigod named Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) to help save her family from disaster. The story is full of Disney fantasy, but Cravalho says her character’s journey toward self-discovery — and the fact that she makes that journey alone — is relatable to everyone.

Cravalho, who was discovered almost by accident when Disney talent scouts saw her sing in a YouTube video, is a natural.

“I’m kind of an animated person,” she adds. “I was given this really big blessing that my voice just kind of carries the emotion.”

Meanwhile, Carlos Alazraqui picked it the award for Voice Acting in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production.

The 54-year-old Latino stand-up comedian, actor, voice actor, singer and impressionist won the award for his role as Ponce de León on DreamWorks Animation Television’s The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show.

It’s Alazraqui’s first win in three nominations.

Here’s a look at the big winners:

Best Animated Feature
ZOOTOPIA

Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Byron Howard, Rich Moore
ZOOTOPIA
Walt Disney Animation Studios

Directing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Patrick Osborne
PEARL
Google Spotlight Stories/Evil Eye Pictures

Best Animated Feature-Independent
THE RED TURTLE
Studio Ghibli – Wild Bunch – Why Not Productions

Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production
BOB’S BURGERS  Episode: Glued, Where’s My Bob?
Bento Box Entertainment

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Children
ADVENTURE TIME
Episode: Bad Jubies
Bix Pix Entertainment Cartoon Network Frederator Studios

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
TUMBLE LEAF
Episode: Mighty Mud Movers / Having a Ball
Amazon Studios and Bix Pix Entertainment

Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Jared Bush, Phil Johnston
ZOOTOPIA
Walt Disney Animation Studios

Writing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Lizzie Molyneux, Wendy Molyneux
BOB’S BURGERS
Episode: The Hormone-iums
Bento Box Entertainment

Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production (tie)
Auli’i Cravalho as Moana
MOANA
Walt Disney Animation Studios

and

Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde
ZOOTOPIA
Walt Disney Animation Studios

Voice Acting in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Carlos Alazaraqui as Ponce de León
THE MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN SHOW
Episode: Ponce de León
DreamWorks Animation Television

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Commercial
LOTERIA, “NIGHT SHIFT” Passion Pictures Ltd

Best Animated Special Production
PEAR CIDER AND CIGARETTES Massive Swerve Studios and Passion Pictures Animation

Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
Nelson Lowry, Trevor Dalmer, August Hall, Ean McNamara
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
Laika

Production Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Tuna Bora
PEARL
Google Spotlight Stories/Evil Eye Pictures

Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production
Jan Maas
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
Laika

Character Animation in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Mike Chaffe
DREAMWORKS TROLLHUNTERS
Episode: Becoming, Part 1
DreamWorks Animation Television

Character Animation in a Live Action Production
Andrew R. Jones, Peta Bayley, Gabriele Zucchelli, Benjamin Jones
THE JUNGLE BOOK
Walt Disney Pictures

Character Animation in a Video Game
Jeremy Yates, Almudena Soria, Eric Baldwin, Paul Davies, Tom Bland
UNCHARTED 4: A THIEF’S END  Naughty Dog

Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
Cory Loftis
ZOOTOPIA
Walt Disney Animation Studios

Character Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Victor Maldonado, Alfredo Torres, Jules Rigolle
DREAMWORKS TROLLHUNTERS
Episode: Win, Lose or Draal
DreamWorks Animation Television

Music in an Animated Feature Production
Hans Zimmer, Richard Harvey, Camille
THE LITTLE PRINCE Netflix and On Animation Studios

Music in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Scot Stafford, Alexis Harte, JJ Wiesler
PEARL
Google Spotlight Stories/Evil Eye Pictures

Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
Georg Kaltenbrunner, Michael Marcuzzi, Thomas Bevan, Andrew Graham, Jihyun Yoon
DOCTOR STRANGE – MIRROR DIMENSION
Marvel Studios

Animated Effects in an Animated Feature Production
Marlon West, Erin V. Ramos, Blair Pierpont, Ian J. Coony, John M. Kosnik
MOANA
Walt Disney Animation Studios

Best Animated Short Subject
PIPER
Pixar Animation Studios

Best Student Film
CITIPATI Director: Andreas Feix
Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg

Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
Christopher Murrie
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

Editorial in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Illya Owens
DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE Episode: Sock Burglar
Disney Television Animation

Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
Dean Wellins ZOOTOPIA  Walt Disney Animation Studios

Storyboarding in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Hyunjoo Song
DREAMWORKS TROLLHUNTERS
Episode: Win, Lose or Draal
DreamWorks Animation Television

Winsor McCay Awards
Dale Baer
Caroline Leaf
Mamoru Oshii.

Ub Iwerks Award
Google Spotlight’s Virtual Reality Platform

June Foray Award
Bill & Sue Kroyer

Special Achievement Award
Life, Animated

Disney Releases the Miranda-Penned Single “How Far I’ll Go” from the Upcoming Film “Moana”

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is going far…

Disney has released “How Far I’ll Go,” a track penned by the 36-year-old Puerto Rican actor, composer, rapper and writer for the upcoming movie Moana.

Alessia Cara provides the vocals on the track.

A bouncy, uplifting tune follows Moana‘s plot of a young girl who sets out on a journey to a fabled island to save her people (“If the wind on my sail on the sea stays behind me/ One day I’ll know, if I go, there’s just no telling how far I’ll go”).

The song can be heard in the film twice, with Auli’i Cravalho — the voice of protagonist Moana — singing the track during the film, and Cara’s version playing during the credits.

Moana will feature another song written by Miranda, “You’re Welcome,” which is sung by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The film opens in theaters on November 23, but the soundtrack will be available on November 18.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Auli’i Cravalho