Natalie Mendoza to Star as Satine in Broadway’s “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Mendoza is seeing rouge…

The 42-year-old part-Spanish Australian actress/singer has been cast as the lead role of Broadway’s Moulin Rouge! The Musical, filling the vacancy left when the Tony Award-nominated Karen Olivo resigned in April.

With the casting of Mendoza, the full Moulin Rouge! cast is in place for the resumption of performances on Friday, September 24, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

The musical originally opened on July 25, 2019, but performances were suspended in March 2020 when Broadway went dark due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

Mendoza joins a principal cast that also includes Aaron Tveit, Danny Burstein, Sahr Ngaujah, Tam Mutu, Ricky Rojas and Robyn Hurder.

The casting is a bit of a homecoming for Mendoza, who portrayed a can-can dancer named China Doll in Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film Moulin Rouge!

“From the moment Natalie was cast as China Doll in Moulin Rouge! the film, we knew we had discovered a major young talent,” Luhrmann said in a statement. “That young talent has now blossomed into the lead in our Broadway production. I could not be more thrilled that Natalie will be lowered in that glorious swing as Broadway’s Sparkling Diamond.”

Said Mendoza, “Having been involved with the film from its early conception, the role of Satine has always been close to my heart. This rare jewel of an opportunity to play a character like her on Broadway feels like a full circle moment. With this stunning group of bohemian artists and this uniquely conscious creative team I couldn’t be in better care.”

Mendoza, raised in Australia, previously worked with the Broadway musical’s director Alex Timbers when she appeared as Imelda Marcos in Here Lies Love at London’s Royal National Theatre.

He starred on the BBC One drama series Hotel Babylon and The Descent horror film franchise.

On the film side, she’ll next be seen in the buzzy Cannes Film Festival film Annette, directed by Leos Carax and starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard.

Mendoza’s other credits include Michael Winterbottom’s futuristic thriller Code 46, Miramax’s The Great Raid and, on television, ABC’s production of South Pacific, ITV’s McDonald & Dodds, CBS’ Blue Bloods and in upcoming episodes of Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan.

On stage, additional credits include Miss Saigon, Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark and Ghost.

Florencia Lozano to Appear in Netflix’s Drama Series “Breathe”

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Florencia Lozano is breathe-ing easy…

The 51-year-old Latina actress, best known for portraying Téa Delgado on ABC’s daytime series One Life to Live, has landed a recurring role in Breathe, Netflix’s one-hour drama series from Blindspot creator Martin Gero and writer-executive producer Brendan Gall, and Warner Bros. Television.

Lozano will recur alongside 40-year-old Colombian actor Juan Pablo Espinosa on the series, which stars Melissa Barrera.

In Breathe, written by Gero and Gall, when a small plane crashes in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, a lone woman (Barrera) must battle the elements and odds to survive. Barrera’s Liv is a razor-sharp Manhattan attorney who finds herself profoundly out of her comfort zone when her plane crashes and she must battle for survival.

Lozano and Espinosa will play Liv’s mother and father, respectively.

Lozano co-wrote and stars in Life After You, which was awarded Best Feature and Best Actress at the Nice International Film Festival. She will next be seen in the feature Here After. Her previous television credits include the starring role of Claudia Messina on Netflix’s Narcos, as well as Madam Secretary, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Law & Order: SVU, among others.

Espinosa most recently starred in Focus Features’ comedy Half Brothers. His other recent credits include Apple TV’s Acapulco, Cocaine Godmother opposite Catherine Zeta Jones, and a recurring role as Luis Carlos Galán on Netflix’s Narcos. In Latin America, he’s known for his work on El Secretario, A Corazon Abierto and La Fan with NBC/Telemundo, among others.

Juani Feliz Lands Recurring Role on Amazon’s Comedy Series “Harlem”

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Juani Feliz is heading to Harlem…

The Dominican actress has landed a recurring role on Amazon’s Harlem, the comedy series from Tracy Oliver, Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions and Universal Television.

Feliz joins a roster of new cast additions that include Andrea Martin, Robert Ri’chard, Kate Rockwell and Sullivan Jones.

They’ll join previously announced Whoopi Goldberg and Jasmine Guy, who also recur.

Created, written and executive produced by Oliver, Harlem, formerly the Untitled Tracy Oliver Project, is a single-camera comedy following the lives of four black women, friends from their college days at NYU, as they navigate sex, relationships and chasing their dreams.

Feliz is Isabela, a local politician on track to beating AOC’s record as the youngest member of U.S. Congress and a new friend of Quinn’s.

Feliz was a series regular on the ABC pilot, Until the Wedding. She has also recurred on CBS’ Blue Bloods and NBC’s Shades of Blue.

On the film side, her credits include the thriller Canal Street, The Purge: Election Year, The Polka King and indie feature Quiet In My Town.

Ruby Cruz to Appear on HBO’s Limited Series “Mare of Easttown”

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ruby Cruz is heading to Easttown…

The Latina actress has joined the supporting cast of HBO’s Mare of Easttown, its upcoming limited series starring Kate Winslet.

Written by Brad Inglesby, and directed by Craig Zobel, Mare of Easttown stars Winslet as Mare Sheehan, a small-town Pennsylvania detective whose life crumbles around her as she investigates a local murder. The limited series is an exploration into the dark side of a close community and an authentic examination of how family and past tragedies can define our present.

The series is a co-production of HBO and Paul Lee’s wiip. It will premiere April 18 on HBO.

Cruz will portray Jess Riley, Erin McMenamin’s best friend.

The cast also includes Guy Pearce, Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, Evan Peters, Cailee Spaeny, David Denman, John Douglas Thompson, Patrick Murney, James McArdle, Sosie Bacon, Joe Tippett and Neal Huff.

Cruz recurred in Hulu’s Castle Rock and guest-starred in Blue Bloods.

Audrey Esparza Signs with APA

Posted on October 15, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Audrey Esparza has new representation…

The 34-year-old Latina actress has signed with APA.

Esparza, who has appeared as Tasha Zapata in the NBC crime drama Blindspot, has a number of television and film credits to her name. Additional titles include Blue Bloods, The Americans, Black Box, Public Morals and Amateurs.

Esparza, a New York Tisch graudate, also acted in the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater production of Underneath My Bed.

Amazon Studios Releases First Trailer of Coral Peña’s Coming-of-Age Drama “Chemical Hearts”

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Here’s a look into Coral Peña’s heart(s)…

Amazon Studios has released the first trailer for Lili Reinhart’s coming-of-age drama Chemical Hearts, featuring the Dominican actress.

Based on the novel by Krystal Sutherland, the film hits Amazon Prime Video on Friday, August 21.

Reinhart plays Grace Town, a high school transfer student still recuperating, physically and emotionally, from a car crash that she doesn’t talk about. She meets classmate Henry Page (Austin Abrams), and, as the Amazon description says, Henry soon “learns the heartbreaking secret that has changed her life” and “finds himself falling in love with her — or at least the person he thinks she is.”

Written, directed and produced by Richard Tanne, Chemical Hearts also stars Peña, Sarah Jones, Adhir Kalyan, Kara Young, and C.J. Hoff.

Peña’s previous credits include 24: Legacy, Blue Bloods and The Enemy Within.

Michelle Veintimilla to Star in ABC’s Rom-Com Pilot “The Baker and the Beauty”

Posted on March 11, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Veintimilla has landed a beautyof a role…

The 26-year-old Ecuadorian-Americanactress has been cast as a series regular in ABC’s pilot The Baker and the Beauty, an hour-long romantic comedy based on the Israeli series, from Keshet Studios, Universal Television and ABC Studios.

Written by Dean Georgarisand to be directed by David Frankel, The Baker and the Beauty follows the impossible Miami love story between a simple baker and an international superstar.

Veintimilla will play Vanessa.

Veintimilla has a recurring role on Gotham, which is wrapping up its fifth and final season. Her other credits include Blue Bloods, Seven Seconds and The Gifted.

In film, she’ll next appear in Drunk Parents.

Philip Hernandez Lands Recurring Role on Hulu’s Original Drama Series “The Path”

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Philip Hernandez has found a new path…

The Latino actor has been cast in a recurring role on Hulu’s original drama series The Path for Season 3.

The Path, from Universal Cable Productions and Jason Katims’ True Jack Prods, was created by Jessica Goldberg.

The series examines a family at the center of a controversial movement struggling with relationships, marriage and power, with each episode taking an in-depth look at what it means to choose between the life we live and the life we want.

Hernandez will play Dr. Costa, a sexy South American ocular cancer doctor, a devout follower of Lilith’s (Sarita Choudhury) who gives her medical counsel.

Hernandez is known for his role as inept medical examiner Dr. Guerra from the first season of Gotham. He most recently guest-starred on Blue Bloods and The Blacklist.

Aguire to Star in CBS’ Untitled Family Cop Drama Pilot

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Roberto Aguire is joining the police force…

The Mexican actor will star in CBS’ family cop drama pilot from Bull co-creator Paul Attanasio, Blue Bloods executive producer Leonard Goldberg and co-EP/director David Barrett, and executive producer/director Rodrigo Garcia.

The plot of the CBS Television Studios-produced project centers on the multi-generational members of a Mexican-American family with deep roots in San Diego who intertwine personally and professionally due to their powerful careers in law enforcement.

Aguire will play Gustavo “Tavo” Medina, the middle child and undisputed “brain” of the Medina family who is a computer and technology expert with the San Diego Police Department.

Aguire joins David Castaneda in the pilot.

He most recently had a guest arc on Pretty Little Liars and also starred and co-produced the 2012 Chris Colfer film Struck by Lightning.

Castaneda to Star in CBS’ Untitled Family Cop Drama Pilot

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

May the force be with David Castaneda.

The Latino actor, who has fielded multiple offers this pilot season, has landed a key series regular role in CBS’ family cop drama pilot from Bull co-creator Paul Attanasio and Blue Bloods executive producer Leonard Goldberg & co-EP/director David Barrett.

The Untitled Paul Attanasio Project centers on the multi-generational members of a Mexican-American family with deep roots in San Diego who intertwine personally and professionally due to their powerful careers in law enforcement.

Castaneda will play Bembe Medina, Chief Medina’s (TBD) son, a cop in Tijuana who works his beat with Yuni (TBD), his twin brother.

Rodrigo Garcia executive produces and directs.

Castaneda is coming off a starring role in feature Sicario. His other credits include a recurring role on Jane the Virgin and a guest role on Blindspot.

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