Lissette Feliciano to Write & Direct Film Adaptation of Gloria & Emilio Estefan Broadway Musical “On Your Feet”

Lissette Feliciano is ready to get you on your feet.

The 33-year-old Latina writer, director and actress will write and direct On Your Feet, a feature adaptation of the same-name Broadway musical that’s in early development at Sony Pictures, Deadline has learned.

Lissette Feliciano, A jukebox musical that tells the inspiring true story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, two Cuban immigrants who launched themselves to international musical stardom from humble beginnings, On Your Feet will be produced by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, as well as John and Jordan Davis of Davis Entertainment, with John Fox executive producing.

Premiering in November 2015 at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway, where it ran for more than 750 performances, the show specifically hones in on Gloria’s Estefan’s trajectory from her early days in Miami to her breakthrough as the lead singer of the Miami Sound Machine — a crossover artist, blending Latin and pop music —  and ultimately, her triumphant return to the stage after a near-fatal accident. The musical delves into the challenges she faced as a young artist, including her struggles to balance her cultural identity, family expectations, and artistic ambitions, and at the same time explores her romantic relationship with Emilio.

With a book by Alexander Dinelaris, the show features such hit songs from the Estefans as “Conga,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” and “Get On Your Feet.”

Directed by Jerry Mitchell, it went on to earn a Tony Award nomination for Choreography, as well as seven Outer Critics Circle Award nominations and three Drama League Award nominations, before going on to tour the U.S. and internationally.

Feliciano is best known for Women Is Losers, the 2021 indie drama that marked her feature directorial debut. Set in ’60s San Francisco, the film watches as a once-promising catholic school girl, Celina Guerrera (Lorenza Izzo), sets out to rise above the oppression of poverty and invest in a future for herself that sets new precedents for the time. Also starring Bryan Craig, Chrissie Fit and Simu Liu, the film premiered to critical acclaim at SXSW and was acquired by Max following its successful nationwide festival run.

An NYU Tisch alum and a Tribeca Film Institute AT&T Untold Stories grant recipient, the filmmaker is repped by Verve and Adelman Matz.

Miguel Pinzon Lands Recurring Role on Season Five of Freeform’s “Good Trouble”

Miguel Pinzon is getting into some (good) trouble

The Latino actor has joined Season 5 of Freeform’s Good Trouble in a recurring role.

Miguel PinzonPinzon will play Ethan, a former friend of Davia’s (Emma Hunton) from her days in New York who is in L.A. workshopping a musical he wrote.

His first appearance will be in Episode 3, which airs on March 30.

Good Trouble follows the residents of downtown Los Angeles’ The Coterie as they juggle career, love and friendship and learn that standing up for what you believe in requires making a little noise and getting into trouble.

The series stars Cierra Ramirez, Zuri Adele, Sherry Cola, Tommy Martinez, Hunton, Josh Pence, Beau Mirchoff, Bryan Craig and Priscilla Quintana. Maia Mitchell left at the end of Season 3.

Pinzon previously had a recurring role in the second season of Hulu’s WokeHis other recent credits include guest starring on 9-1-1: Lone Star, recurring on YouTube Red’s Swipe Right, Freeform’s Mystery Girls and the Melissa McCarthy/Ben Falcone pilot Amy’s Brother.

Good Trouble airs Thursdays at 10:00 pm on Freeform and next day on Hulu.

HBO Max Acquires North American Rights to Lorenza Izzo’s Latest Film “Women Is Losers”

Lorenza Izzo is winning at Los(er)ing…

HBO Max has acquired the North American rights to Women Is Losers, the 1960s-set indie drama starring the 31-year-old Chilean actress and model.

Lorenza Izzo

Hailing from writer-director Lissette Feliciano, her debut feature, Women Is Losers has its world premiere at this year’s SXSW.

In addition to Izzo, the film also stars Chrissie Fit, Bryan Craig and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu. The streamer will now debut the film exclusively on the platform on October 18.

Set in 1960s San Francisco, the plot centers on a once-promising Catholic schoolgirl (Izzo) who sets out to rise above the oppression of poverty and invest in a future for herself that sets new precedents for the time. The filmn is inspired by real women and the Janis Joplin song of the same title. Steven Bauer, Liza Weil, Cranston Johnson, Alessandra Torresani, Shalim Ortiz and Lincoln Bonilla also star.

Feliciano and David Ortiz are producers.

“We set out to make a film that was as bold, funny, and honest as the women that inspired it,” said Feliciano, who also discussed the film at Deadline’s SXSW Studio earlier this year. “We could think of no better time in our nation’s history for this film to reach the women of America. This is one you’re going to want to watch with your family. We’ve found the perfect partner in HBO Max who are known for their provocative and entertaining content. This film is an inter-generational story and at its core is about always having hope no matter how big the obstacles. Lorenza Izzo, Chrissie Fit, Simu Liu, and Bryan Craig give their hearts in these performances. I can’t wait for you all to see them.”

ABC Picks Up Roselyn Sanchez’s “Grand Hotel” to Series

Life is Grand for Roselyn Sanchez

ABC has picked up the drama Grand Hotel, starring the 45-year-old Puerto Rican actress and former Devious Maids star, to series.

Roselyn Sanchez

Executive produced by Eva Longoria, the series also stars Mexican actor and Oscar nominee Demian Bichir.

Based on the Spanish series Gran Hotel, the bold, provocative drama is set at the last family-owned hotel in multicultural Miami Beach. Charismatic Santiago Mendoza owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi, and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. The hotel’s loyal staff round out a contemporary, fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior.

In addition to Bichir as Santiago Mendoza and Sanchez as Gigi Mendoza, the series also stars Denyse Tontz, Bryan Craig, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Lincoln Younes, Shalim Ortiz, Anne Winters, Chris Warren, Feliz Ramirez and Justina Adorno.

Ken Olin directed the pilot, with the series being produced by ABC Studios.