Camila Banus to Star in the Latinx Holiday Movie “A Christmas & Postre”

It’s Christmas in July for Camila Banus.

The 30-year-old Spanish and Cuban American actress and model will headline the independent Latinx holiday movie, A Christmas & Postre from producers Autumn Federici and Jake Helgren under their production banner, The Ninth House.

Camila Banus

Banus, best known for her role as Gabi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives, will star opposite Mark Hapka in the film

Cristina Boada will write the script, which reps Colombian-American Brittany Underwood’s directorial debut.

A Christmas & Postre follows Carmen (Banus) a quirky and lovable pastry chef, dreams of one day opening her very own Puerto Rican influenced postre shop– like the one her family owned on the island. In the meantime, she showcases her treats at a local coffee shop, Coqui, where she works with her sister, Pilar. When local hotel owner, Victor Flores (David Fumero), discovers her talents, she secures a coveted pastry chef position for his grand holiday event known for bolstering the careers of pastry chefs. Carmen is paired with perfectionist chef Jax (Hapka), whom she frequently disagrees with. As they race against the clock to assemble their intricate holiday menu, Carmen and Jax realize they have a lot to learn from one another and eventually come together to create a truly inspired menu just in time for Christmas.

Melissa Marty, Terri Hoyos, and Norma Maldonado will also star.

Eva La Rue Among the Former ABC Soap Opera Stars to Be Featured in Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Benefit

Eva La Rue is joining the Children for a special fundraising event…

The 54-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress will join some of her former All My Children cast members, as well as stars of ABC’s other classic daytime dramas One Life to Live and General Hospital for a Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit.

Eva La Rue

La Rue and her fellow soap opera stars will reunite next month to present a streaming concert of their past musical performances.

ABC Daytime: Back on Broadway will gather musical performances by soap stars including La Rue, Susan Lucci and Anthony Geary during the seven annual benefit concerts staged in New York from 2005-11. The daytime actors will revisit the performances in new interviews as part of the special.

The special will stream free of charge on February 11.

The lineup of performers includes Bobbie Eakes, Melissa Claire Egan, Vincent Irizarry, La Rue, Lucci, Cameron Mathison, Eden Riegel, Chrishell Stause and Walt Willey (from All My Children); Kristen Alderson, BethAnn Fuenmayor, Kathy Brier, Kassie DePaiva, David Gregory, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Catherine Hickland, Mark Lawson, Hillary B. Smith, Jason Tam and Brittany Underwood (One Life To Live); and Bradford Anderson, Brandon Barash and Anthony Geary (General Hospital).

“There are no fans like ABC Daytime fans,” said Lucci in a statement. “Their love and support continue to astonish us. We can’t wait to share these special performances with them and help raise money for so many in need during this difficult time.”

The concerts were staged at New York City’s Town Hall, and included production numbers, Broadway show tunes, ballads and comedy skits. The concert series began in 2005 as a one-night-only benefit to mark the 35th anniversary of All My Children, but fan support prompted ABC to stage the annual event for another six years. Over its seven-year run, ABC Daytime Salutes Broadway Cares raised $1.85 million.

Tom Viola, Broadway Cares Executive Director, said, “We are so thankful to the stars from ABC Daytime for joining us again as we relive moments from this delightful tradition, while helping to provide lifesaving medication, healthy meals and emergency support to those struggling during this ongoing pandemic.”

This free streamed event can be viewed beginning February 11, 8:00 pm ET, here, as well as on Broadway Cares’ YouTube channel, across ABC Owned Television Stations’ 32 connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku and each of the eight station’s websites around the country, including abc7ny.com in New York; and on Good Morning America’s Facebook page.

While the stream is free, donations will be accepted for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, with all proceeds to provide people affected by HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses with healthy meals, lifesaving medication, emergency financial assistance, housing, counseling and more. The donations also support and champion organizations focused on social justice and anti-racism.

Ponce to Star in Nick at Nite’s “Hollywood Heights”

Carlos Ponce is reaching new heights in Hollywood…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican actor/singer has signed on to star in Nick at Nite’s Hollywood Heights—an adaptation of the 1990 Mexican telenovela Alcanzar una estrella, which starred Eduardo Capetillo and Mariana Garza.

Carlos Ponce

Hollywood Heights centers on an adolescent girl named Loren who falls in love with a young rock star Eddie. Loren, played by Brittany Underwood, achieves her dream of becoming a singer-songwriter after winning a contest promoted by Eddie and, of course, romance ensues.

Ponce will play Eddie’s father in Hollywood Heights, which will be broadcast daily.

It’s the latest English-language role for Ponce, who most recently starred in Univision’s telenovela Dos hogares. He previously appeared in the film Couples Retreat and the television series 7th Heaven.