Auli’i Cravalho to Make Broadway Debut as a New Lead in “Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club”

Auli’i Cravalho will be spending her nights at the Kit-Kat Club.

The 23-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer, who rose to acclaim as the lead of the voice cast of Disney’s Moana, and American Idol alum Adam Lambert  will step in the respective roles of Sally Bowles and Emcee in Broadway‘s Cabaret revival on September 16.

Auli’i CravalhoTheir limited engagement runs through March 30.

Gayle Rankin and Eddie Redmayne will give their final performances as Bowles and Emcee in the Tony-nominated Kander-and-Ebb musical two nights earlier.

“I’m thrilled to join the long line of talented women who have taken on the iconic Sally Bowles,’ most recently, the woman I watched with notebook and pen in hand, the dynamite Gayle Rankin,” said Cravalho in a statement. “To join a show with so much history—and such a stellar cast and crew—means it’s quite literally an honor to get my butt kicked each week.”

Lambert added, “Growing up on the musical theater stage, it was always a childhood dream to perform on Broadway. With this production of Cabaret, it finally felt like the right time to accept an invitation to make my debut. The themes of this show have always resonated with me and given the current sociopolitical climate the world is in, feel eerily timely.”

Officially titled Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club, the show moved to Broadway in April from London’s West End, where it dominated the 2022 Olivier Awards. It went on to score nine Tony nominations including Best Revival of a Musical, later winning for Tom Scutt’s scenic design.

The current Cabaret cast also includes Bebe NeuwirthAto Blankson-WoodSteven SkybellHenry Gottfried and Natascia Diaz.

Auli’i Cravalho to Participate in Special Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti Panel Discussion

Auli’i Cravalho will discussing her PEAK performance levels next month…

The Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK) has announced their PEAK Conversations panel, sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios, with the 23-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer among the panelists.

Auliʻi CravalhoTaking place in Los Angeles on May 1, the first celebration of Pasifika women in Hollywood will feature and highlight the achievements of the Moana and Mean GirlsRuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sasha Colby, and Great Scott Productions founder Naomi Scott with moderation by Moana 2 and Thai Cave Rescue screenwriter Dana Ledoux Miller.

The talanoa (or discussion) will focus on issues specific to Pasifika women and their journeys in the entertainment industry.

“May is AAPI Heritage Month yet you’ll find Pasifika (or Pacific Islander) people are rarely prioritized and often erased in celebrations despite us being named in them. Most AAPI organizations have no Pasifika staff or even board members so it’s why PEAK exists. We’re the only Pasifika-led organization doing this work who will advocate for us the way we do. We’re all about uplifting our most marginalized voices so for this event, it made perfect sense to highlight our women who are the backbone of our communities, yet they experience the most disparity when it comes to opportunities and pay,” said Kristian Fanene Schmidt, Co-Founder and Executive Director of PEAK.

The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) reports that on average, for every dollar white non-Hispanic men make, Fijian women earn $0.73, Chamorro women earn $0.66, Samoan women earn $0.63, Native Hawaiian women earn $0.62, and Tongan women earn $0.59.

“I’ve been working a really long time to try to get into positions where I can help other Pasifika writers and creators tell stories and get into rooms. It feels like I finally have that opportunity and have more influence in what gets out there. So I hope to use this moment to show people what we’re capable of and how we can really do anything,” says Ledoux Miller, who is also a Co-Founder of PEAK.

PEAK’s mission is to redefine and expand Pasifika entertainment so that our creatives can thrive, evolve, and drive innovative storytelling that honors the richness and diversity across Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

Paramount+ to Begin Streaming New “Mean Girls” Musical, Starring Auli’i Cravalho, This Week

Auli’i Cravalho is bringing the mean online this month…

Paramount has announced plans to begin streaming its new musical take on Mean Girls, starring the 23-year-old part Puerto Rican actress/singer, in the U.S. and Canada on March 5th, with international markets to be added at a later date.

Auliʻi CravalhoBased on the Tony-nominated Broadway musical and the beloved 2004 film that inspired it, Mean Girls watches as new student Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics,” ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her minions Gretchen (part-Cuban American actress Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika).

When Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), she finds herself in Regina’s crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group’s apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis (Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.

A Tina Fey-penned adaptation of the Rosalind Wiseman book Queen Bees and Wannabes, the original Mean Girls starring Lindsay Lohan as Cady was released in theaters in 2004.

Its musical follow-up, also written by Fey — with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin — made its Broadway debut in 2018. Upon its theatrical release in January, the new film topped the domestic box office for three straight weeks, taking in over $104 worldwide.

Arturo Perez and Samantha Jayne directed thefilm, which also stars Fey, Tim Meadows, Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, Ashley Park, Mahi Alam and Connor Ratliff. Fey again wrote the script and produced alongside Broadway Video’s Lorne Michaels.

Auli’i Cravalho Returning to Lead Voice Cast of Disney’s “Moana 2”

Auli’i Cravalho has more to go

The 23-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer will reprise the voice of Moana in Disney’s Moana 2.

Auliʻi Cravalho

It has been previously reported that Cravalho as in talks to reteam with Dwayne Johnson, who is returning as demigod Maui.

In a CNBC interview ahead of Disney‘s last earnings call, CEO Bob Iger sprung the news that Moana 2 was opening of November 27, during the Thanksgiving holiday season. Disney essentially was over the moon with Moana Disney+ series that it turned into a big-screen movie.

The sequel is directed by Dave Derrick Jr., with music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily BearGrammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina.

Cravalho told fans last May on social media that she wasn’t planning to reprise the role of Moana in the live-action version of the movie.

“When I was cast as Moana at 14, it wonderfully changed my life and started my career,” she said in a video posted on Instagram back then. “In this live-action retelling, I will not be reprising the role. I believe it is absolutely vital the casting accurately represents the characters and stories we want to tell.”

Cravalho, a native of Kohala, Hawaii, continued at the time: “So, as an executive producer on the film, I cannot wait to help find the next actress to portray Moana’s courageous spirit, undeniable wit and emotional strength. I’m truly honored to pass this baton to the next young woman of Pacific Island descent, to honor our incredible Pacific peoples cultures and communities that help inspire her story. And I look forward to all the beautiful Pacific representations to come. Mahalo.”

Released in 2016, Moana grossed more than $687M at the global box office and earned Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and the original song “How Far I’ll Go” by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Cravalho recently starred in Paramount’s winter hit Mean Girls and also starred on the TV series Rise, The Power and the animated series, Hailey’s on It!

Isabella Ferreira Signs With Innovative Artists

Isabella Ferreira is officially innovating

The 20-year-old Latina actress, one of the young stars of Hulu’s teen dramedy Love, Victor, has signed with Innovative Artists for representation.

Isabella FerreiraSet in the same universe as the hit 20th Century Fox film Love, Simon, based on the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky AlbertalliLove, Victor wrapped up a three-season run on the streamer last summer. Created by Love, Simon scribes Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, who also served as showrunners, the show follows the journey of Victor, a high school student coming to terms with his sexuality while navigating the ups and downs of love, family, and friendships.

Starring alongside Michael Cimino as Victor, as well as Ana Ortiz, James Martinez, Rachel Naomi Hilson and others, Ferreira played the role of Pilar, Victor’s sullen younger sister in the throws of teenage angst.

The Philadelphia native also recently starred alongside Rowan Blanchard and Auli’i Cravalho in Crush, the coming-of-age rom-com marking the directorial debut of Sammi Cohen, which was produced for Hulu by companies including American High. In the film released in April of last year, a young aspiring artist is forced to join her high school track team, using it as an opportunity to pursue the girl she’s been harboring a long-time crush on. But she soon finds herself falling for an unexpected teammate and discovers what real love feels like.

Ferreira previously appeared in Jenji Kohan’s Emmy-winning series Orange Is the New Black, as well as the pandemic-inspired anthology series Social Distance, on which Kohan was an EP, both of which were for Netflix.

She’ll next be seen starring alongside Kaitlin Olson, Bobby Cannavale, Scott MacArthur, Mason Thames and more in the upcoming Spyglass film Incoming, a comedy from filmmakers John and Dave Chernin that watches as four freshmen navigate the terrors of adolescence at their first-ever high school party.

Paramount to Release New “Mean Girls” Film Starring Auli’i Cravalho in January 2024

Auli’i Cravalho is bringing the mean in early 2024…

Paramount plans to release its new Mean Girls film, starring the 22-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer and Moana lead, will be released theatrically on January 12, 2024, during the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend.

Auli’i CravalhoParamount had originally planned to release the film via Paramount+.

In addition to Cravalho, the new film stars Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Jaquel SpiveyTina Fey, Tim Meadows, Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, Avantika, Mahi Alam, Christopher Briney, Bebe Wood, Ashley Park, Connor Ratliff and Jon Hamm.

Arturo Perez and Samantha Jayne are directing the new film, from a script by Fey.

Broadway Video’s Lorne Michaels has returned to produce alongside Fey.

The original Mean Girls film, directed by Mark Waters and penned by Fey off of Rosalind Wiseman’s novel, grossed more than $130 million worldwide and blasted off the careers of Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried while also repping a box office hit for Lindsay Lohan at the time.

Auli’i Cravalho to Star in Paramount’s Film Adaptation of Broadway Musical “Mean Girls”

Auli’i Cravalho is on a mean streak…

The 22-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer has joined the ensemble cast of Paramount Pictures’ new Mean Girls film based on the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical.

Auli’i CravalhoCravalho, who will portray Janis, will be joined by Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp and Jaquel Spivey.

Lorne Michaels is producing with Tina Fey. Erin David, Caroline Maroney and Micah Frank are overseeing for Broadway Video, and Eric Gurian and Jeff Richmond for Little StrangerArturo Perez and Samantha Jayne are directing with Fey writing the adaptation.

The film is based on the stage musical Mean Girls written by Fey, with music by Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Paramount Pictures is adapting the new film for Paramount+.

Best known for voicing the titular character in the Disney hit animated film MoanaCravalho was most recently seen in Netflix’s feature film All Together Now directed by Brett Haley and as Ariel in ABC’s acclaimed television production of The Little Mermaid Live. She can currently be seen in Hulu’s Darby of the Dead.

Lin-Manuel Miranda Tops Billboard’s Year-End Hot 100 Songwriters Chart

Lin-Manuel Miranda is this year’s songwriter of the year…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican songwriter, actor, playwright and filmmaker leads Billboard’s 2022 year-end Hot 100 Songwriters chart.

Lin-Manuel Miranda Miranda, a Pulitzer Prize, Grammys, Tonys and Emmys, finishes the year at No. 1 due to his work on Disney’s Encanto soundtrack, including its five-week Billboard Hot 100 leader “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” credited to Carolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto cast.

Miranda is credited as the sole songwriter on the track, helping boost his chart points (as he does not split chart points with multiple writers).

During its 20-week run on the chart, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” earned the distinction as the biggest Disney song of all time, based on Billboard’s Greatest of All Time methodology.

In total, Miranda earned eight songwriting credits on the Hot 100 in the 2022 chart year, all from Encanto, which all contributed to his placement on the year-end ranking.

Here’s a look at where each song peaked on the Hot 100—Miranda is the only credited writer on each song:

Peak Position, Artist Billing, Title
No. 1, Carolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”
No. 8, Jessica Darrow, “Surface Pressure”
No 20, Stephanie Beatriz, Olga Merediz & Encanto Cast, “The Family Madrigal”
No. 27, Diane Guerrero & Stephanie Beatriz, “What Else Can I Do?”
No. 36, Sebastian Yatra, “Dos Oruguitas”
No. 48, Stephanie Beatriz, “Waiting On A Miracle”
No. 71, Stephanie Beatriz, Olga Merediz, John Leguizamo, Adassa, Maluma & Encanto Cast, “All of You”
No. 100, Carlos Vives, “Colombia, Mi Encanto”

Prior to 2022, Miranda had only landed seven songs on the Hot 100 as a songwriter (he’s billed as an artist on four of them). He first charted in July 2016 with “Love Make The World Go Round” with Jennifer Lopez (No. 72 peak), and then with four songs from Moana soon after: Opetaia Foa’l and Miranda’s “We Know The Way” (No. 93 peak), Alessia Cara’s “How Far I’ll Go” (No. 56), Dwayne Johnson’s “You’re Welcome” (No. 65) and Auli’I Cravalho’s “How Far I’ll Go” (No. 41). After that, he charted with “Almost Like Praying,” featuring Artists for Puerto Rico (No. 20) and “Found / Tonight” with Ben Platt (No. 49)

His work on the Moana songs helped Miranda finish as the No. 28 Hot 100 Songwriter of 2017.

Miranda is also credited as a producer on all eight of his Encanto chart hits.

“Colombia, Mi Encanto” was produced by Miranda and Carlos Vives, while the other seven entries were produced by Miranda and Mike Elizondo.

Miranda’s production work enables his finish as the No. 12 Hot 100 Producer of 2022, while Elizondo finishes just behind him at No. 13.

Billboard’s year-end music recaps represent aggregated metrics for each artist, title, label and music contributor on the weekly charts dated November 20, 2021 through November 12, 2022. The rankings for Luminate-based recaps reflect equivalent album units, airplay, sales or streaming during the weeks that the titles appeared on a respective chart during the tracking year. Any activity registered before or after a title’s chart run isn’t considered in these rankings. That methodology details, and the November-November time period, account for some of the difference between these lists and the calendar-year recaps that are independently compiled by Luminate.

20th Century Studios to Stream Auli’i Cravalho’s Supernatural Teen Comedy “Darby and the Dead” on Hulu

Auli’i Cravalho’s latest project is headed to Hulu…

20th Century Studios has announced that its supernatural teen comedy Darby and the Dead, starring the 21-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer and Riele Downs, will stream exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ under the Star banner in all other territories on December 2nd.

Auli’i CravalhoThe film formerly titled Darby Harper Wants You to Know is about a high school student who moonlights as a spiritual messenger. After suffering a near-death experience as a young girl, Darby Harper (Downs) gains the ability to see dead people. As a result, she becomes introverted and shut off from her high school peers and prefers to spend time counseling lonely spirits who have unfinished business on earth. But all that changes when Capri (Cravalho), the Queen Bee of the school’s most exclusive clique, unexpectedly dies in a freak hair straightening accident, resulting in the obvious cancellation of her upcoming “Sweet 17.”

Auli’i CravalhoCapri, however, pleads with Darby from the other side to intervene and convince Capri’s friends to proceed with the party as planned. In order to appease the wrath of the undead diva, Darby must emerge from her self-imposed exile and reinvent herself — which along the way allows her to find new joy back in the land of the living.

The film also stars Chosen Jacobs, Asher Angel, Wayne Knight, Derek Luke and Tony Danza.

Darby and the Dead was directed by Emmy nominee Silas Howard. Becca Greene wrote the script, which was based on a story by Wenonah Wilms.

Cravalho made her acting debut as the voice of the titular character in Disney’s Moana. Her other credits include Rise, All Together Now and Crush.

Hulu to Premiere Auli’i Cravalho’s Newly Titled Teen Romance “Crush” in Late April

Auli’i Cravalho is crush-ing it…

Hulu has announced that the name of the 21-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer’s previously untitled teen romance is now titled Crush.

Auli’i CravalhoHulu will premiere the Sammi Cohen-directed film, which co-stars Rowan Blanchard, will premiere on April 29.

Written by Kirsten King and Casey Rackham, the film centers on a young aspiring artist who is forced to join her high school track team, using it as an opportunity to pursue the girl she’s been harboring a long-time crush on. But she soon finds herself falling for an unexpected teammate and discovers what real love feels like.

Auli’i Cravalho, Crush Auli’i Cravalho, Crush Auli’i Cravalho, CrushCrush also stars Isabella Ferreira, Tyler Alvarez, Teala Dunn, Rico Paris, Addie Weyrich, Aasif Mandvi, Michelle Buteau and Megan Mullally.

Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps and Ryan Bennett produced for American High, with Natasha Lyonne, Maya Rudolph and Danielle Renfrew Behrens for Animal Pictures, Andrew Miano and Britta Rowings for Depth of Field, Katie Newman for 3 Arts Entertainment, and Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon for LD Entertainment.