Matthew Lopez Earns Tony Award Nod for Writing Musical Adaptation of Classic Film “Some Like It Hot”

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Matthew Lopez is embracing the effects of a Broadway hit…

This year’s Tony Awards nominees have been announced, with the 46-year-old Puerto Rican playwright and screenwriter earning a nod.

Lopez is nominated alongside Amber Ruffin for Best Book of a Musical. He wrote the musical adaptation of the 1959 classic film Some Like It Hot.

In all, Some Like It Hot earned 13 nominations, making it the top-nominated Broadway project.

Kevin Del Aguila, meantime, is nominated in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical category.

The Latino actor is nominated for his performance as Osgood in Some Like It Hot.

David Zayas has earned a Tony Award nod.

The 60-year-old Puerto Rican actor is up for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for his work in Cost of Living.

Emilio Sosa is a two-time nominee this year…

The 56-year-old Dominican costume and fashion designer is nominated twice in the Best Costume Design of a Play for his work on Ain’t No Mo and Good Night, Oscar.

The 76th Annual Tony Awards were announced on CBS Mornings today by Funny Girl star Lea Michele and MJ‘s Tony Award winner Myles Frost.

The Tony Awards will air live from the United Palace in New York City’s Washington Heights on Sunday, June 11, at 8:00 pm EST/5:00 pm PST on CBS, and will stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. The ceremony will be hosted by Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose.

Here’s a look at all the nominees:

Best Musical
& Juliet
Producers: Max Martin & Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Jenny Petersson, Martin Dodd, Eva Price, Lukasz Gottwald, 42nd.club, Independent Presenters Network, Jack Lane, Library Company, Shellback, Shivhans Pictures, Sing Out, Louise!, Kim Szarzynski, Taylor/Riegler, Tenenbaum/Keyes, Barry Weiss, John Gore Organization

Kimberly Akimbo
Producers: David Stone, Atlantic Theater Company, James L. Nederlander, LaChanze, John Gore, Patrick Catullo, Aaron Glick

New York, New York
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Tom Kirdahy, Wendy Federman & Heni Koenigsberg, Crossroads Live, Playing Field, Stephanie P. McClelland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Waiting in the Wings Productions, Colin Callender, Gilbert and DeeDee Garcia/Sue Vaccaro, Peter May, Rileyfan, Silverhopkins+/Hunter Johnson, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Eric Passmore, Thomas Swayne, Elliott Cornelious/SunnySpot Productions, Santino DeAngelo/Cynthia Tong, Craig Balsam, Richard Batchelder, Concord Theatricals, Creative Partners Productions, Marguerite Hoffman, Jessica R. Jenen, John Gore Organization, MGM on Stage, James L. Nederlander, Linda B. Rubin, Seriff Productions, Shivhans Pictures, 42nd.club/Beards on Broadway, AGL Productions/Brad Blume, Hunter Arnold/Red Mountain Theatre, Cue to Cue Productions/Roy Putrino, Jamie deRoy/Janet and Marvin Rosen, Edgewood/Silva Theatrical Group, Dale Franzen/Henry R. Muñoz, III, Deborah Green/Chris Mattsson, Branden Grimmett/DMQR Productions, Christen James/Gregory Carroll, NETworks Presentations/Lamar Richardson, Ron Simons/Adam Zell, Chartoff-Winkler

Shucked
Producers: Mike Bosner, Jason Owen, AEG Presents/Jay Marciano/Gary Gersh, Jeffrey A. Sine, Richard Smith, Silvia Schmid, Bob Boyett, Jeremiah J. Harris, James L. Nederlander, EST/Emily Tisch, Sony Music Entertaiment, DudaAllen, David W. Busch, Karen Fairchild, HoriPro Inc., Gordon-Helfner, John Gore Organization, Madison Wells Live, S&Co., Terry Schnuck, Jimi Westbrook, ZKM Media

Some Like It Hot
Producers: The Shubert Organization, Neil Meron, MGM on Stage, Roy Furman, Robert Greenblatt, James L. Nederlander, Kenny Leon, Hunter Arnold, John Gore Organization, The Dalgleish Library Company Group, Sheboygan Conservatory Partners, Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Bob Boyett, Cue to Cue Productions, Janet and Marvin Rosen, The Araca Group, Concord Theatricals, Marc Howard, Independent Presenters Network, Juanita Jordan, Jujamcyn Theaters, Henry R. Muñoz, III, Ostar, Mariah Carey, D.S. Moynihan

Best Play
Ain’t No Mo’
Author: Jordan E. Cooper
Producers: Lee Daniels, BET: Black Entertainment Television, Len Blavatnik, Ron Burkle, Aryeh B. Bourkoff, 59th & Prairie Entertainment, RuPaul Charles, I’ll Have Another Productions, Jeremy O. Harris, Lena Waithe, Tucker Tooley Entertainment, CJ Uzomah, Ann Cox, Gina Purlia, Bob Yari, Marvin Peart, Colleen Camp, Marvet Britto, Jeremy Green, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Jillian Robbins, The Public Theater, Oskar Eustis, Patrick Willingham, Mandy Hackett

Between Riverside and Crazy
Author: Stephen Adly Guirgis
Producers: Second Stage Theater, Carole Rothman, Khady Kamara, Atlantic Theater Company

Cost of Living
Author: Martyna Majok
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Williamstown Theatre Festival

Fat Ham
Author: James Ijames
Producers: No Guarantees, Public Theater Productions, Rashad V. Chambers, National Black Theatre, Tim Levy, Bards on Broadway, Bob Boyett, Ghostbuster Productions, James Ijames, Cynthia Stroum, Audible, Adam Cohen, Blake Devillier, Firemused Productions/JamRock Productions, The Forstalls, Iconic Vizion/Corey Brunish, John Gore Organization, Midnight Theatricals, David Miner, Robin Gorman Newman/PickleStar Theatricals, Marc Platt, Play on Shakespeare, The Wilma Theater, Colman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, Andy Jones, Dylan Pager, Roundabout Theatre Company, Oskar Eustis, Patrick Willingham, Mandy Hackett, Sade Lythcott, Jonathan McCrory

Leopoldstadt
Author: Tom Stoppard
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Roy Furman, Lorne Michaels, Stephanie P. McClelland, Gavin Kalin, Delman Sloan, Eilene Davidson, Brad Edgerton, Patrick Gracey, Hunter Arnold, Burnt Umber Productions, Cue to Cue Productions, The Factor Gavin Partnership, Harris Rubin Productions, Robert Nederlander, Jr., No Guarantees, Sandy Robertson, Iris Smith, Jamie deRoy/Catherine Adler, Dodge Hall
Productions/Waverly Productions, Richardo Hornos/Robert Tichio, Heni Koenigsberg/Wendy Federman, Thomas S. Perakos/Stephanie Kramer, Brian Spector/Judith Seinfeld, Richard Winkler/Alan Shorr

Best Revival of a Play

August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
Producers: Brian Anthony Moreland, Sonia Friedman, Tom Kirdahy, Kandi Burruss & Todd Tucker, Hunter Arnold, Playing Field, The Factor Gavin Partnership, FBK Productions/42nd.club, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Creative Partners Productions, Harris Rubin Productions, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, Alia Jones-Harvey, Mark Gordon Pictures, Stephanie McClelland, Moore Delman, James L. Nederlander, Seriff Productions, The Shubert Organization, Salman Al-Rashid/Jamie deRoy, Brad Blume/Cliff Hopkins, Jean Doumanian /Fakston Productions, Edgewood/DMQR Productions, Jay & Cindy Gutterman/Caiola Productions, Van Kaplan/Lu-Shawn Thompson, Erik A. King/Finewomen Productions, Marc David Levine/William Frisbie, Syrinda Paige/Kevin Ryan & Diane Scott Carter, Silva Theatrical Group/Tilted, Thomas Swayne/Cynthia J. Tong, Constanza Romero-Wilson

A Doll’s House
New Version by: Amy Herzog
Producers: Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Wessex Grove, Julie Boardman, Kate Cannova, Bob Boyett, Hunter Arnold, Creative Partners Productions, Eilene Davidson Productions, GGRS, Kater Gordon, Louise L. Gund, Los Angeles Media Fund, Stephanie P. McClelland, Tilted, Jessica Chastain, Caitlin Clements/Francesca Moody Productions, Caiola Productions/Amanda Lee, Ted & Richard Liebowitz/Joeyen-Waldorf Squeri, Richard & Cecilia Attias/Thomas S. Barnes, OHenry Theatre Nerd Productions/Runyonland MMP, The Jamie Lloyd Company

The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window
Producers: Seaview, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Phil Kenny, Audible, Sony Music Masterworks, Jillian Robbins, Jeremy O. Harris, Larry Hirschhorn and Ricardo Hornos, Shields Smedes Stern Ltd., Kevin Ryan, The Shubert Organization, Willette and Manny Klausner, Marco Santarelli, Be Forward Productions, Concord Theatricals, Creative Partners Productions, Invisible Wall Productions, Salman and Moudhy Al- Rashid, TodayTix Group, Ido Gal, HarrisDonnelly, Sally Cade Holmes, Stella LaRue, LAMF Protozoa, Kati Meister and John Sorkin, Meredith Lynsey Schade, Catherine Schreiber, Dennis Trunfio, MCM Studios, 42nd.club, BAMM Productions, CarterMackTaylorWilliam, HB2M Productions, HK-Undivided Productions, MAJIKK Theatricals, Tanker Kollev Productions, Douglas Denoff, OHenry Productions, Plate Spinner Productions, Runyonland Productions, Mad Gene Media, Scrap Paper Pictures, Joi Gresham, BAM, Gina Duncan, David Binder, Elizabeth Moreau

Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog
Producers: David Stone, LaChanze, Rashad V. Chambers, Marc Platt, Debra Martin Chase, The Shubert Organization

Best Revival of a Musical

Into the Woods
Producers: Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth, New York City Center, Daryl Roth, Hunter Arnold, Concord Theatricals, Nicole Eisenberg, Jessica R. Jenen, Michael Cassel Group, Kevin Ryan, ShowTown Productions, Armstrong, Gold & Ross, Nicole Kastrinos

Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Adam Siegel, Naomi Grabel

Parade
Producers: Seaview, Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Alex Levy, Kevin Ryan, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Interscope & Immersive Records, Erica Lynn Schwartz, Creative Partners Productions, Marcia Goldberg, John Gore Organization, Cynthia Stroum, Tom Tuft, Benjamin Simpson, Nathan Vernon, Brian & Nick Ginsberg, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roth-Manella Productions, Chutzpah Productions, 42nd.club, Ahava 72 Productions, The Andryc Brothers, The Array, At Rise Creative, Caiola Jenen Productions, Coles Achilles, deRoy Brunish Productions, Fakston Productions, Federman Batchelder, Level Forward, Pencil Factory Productions, Renard Lynch, Robin Merrie, Rubin Stuckelman, Runyonland Sussman, Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Bee Carrozzini, New York City Center

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Producers: Jeffrey Seller, Bob Boyett, Diana DiMenna & Plate Spinner Productions/Aaron Glick, Eastern Standard Time, Roy Furman, Thomas Kail, Jim Kierstead/Benjamin Leon IV, TourDForce Theatrical, Maggie Brohn, Andy Jones

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sara Bareilles, Into the Woods
Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo
Lorna Courtney, & Juliet
Micaela Diamond, Parade

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Christian Borle, Some Like It Hot
J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot
Josh Groban, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Brian d’Arcy James, Into the Woods
Ben Platt, Parade
Colton Ryan, New York, New York

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog
Corey Hawkins, Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog
Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy
Wendell Pierce, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Chastain, A Doll’s House
Jodie Comer, Prima Facie
Jessica Hecht, Summer, 1976
Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders

Best Book of a Musical
& Juliet
David West Read

Kimberly Akimbo
David Lindsay-Abaire

New York, New York
David Thompson & Sharon Washington

Shucked
Robert Horn

Some Like It Hot
Matthew López & Amber Ruffin

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Almost Famous
Music: Tom Kitt
Lyrics: Cameron Crowe & Tom Kitt

Kimberly Akimbo
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire

KPOP
Music & Lyrics: Helen Park & Max Vernon

Shucked
Music and Lyrics: Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally

Some Like It Hot
Music: Marc Shaiman
Lyrics: Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Nikki Crawford, Fat Ham
Crystal Lucas-Perry, Ain’t No Mo’
Miriam Silverman, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window
Katy Sullivan, Cost of Living
Kara Young, Cost of Living

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Jordan E. Cooper, Ain’t No Mo’
Samuel L. Jackson, August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
Arian Moayed, A Doll’s House
Brandon Uranowitz, Leopoldstadt
David Zayas, Cost of Living

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kevin Cahoon, Shucked
Justin Cooley, Kimberly Akimbo
Kevin Del Aguila, Some Like It Hot
Jordan Donica, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Alex Newell, Shucked

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Julia Lester, Into the Woods
Ruthie Ann Miles, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Bonnie Milligan, Kimberly Akimbo
NaTasha Yvette Williams, Some Like It Hot
Betsy Wolfe, & Juliet

Best Direction of a Play
Saheem Ali, Fat Ham
Jo Bonney, Cost of Living
Jamie Lloyd, A Doll’s House
Patrick Marber, Leopoldstadt
Stevie Walker-Webb, Ain’t No Mo’
Max Webster, Life of Pi

Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, Parade
Lear deBessonet, Into the Woods
Casey Nicholaw, Some Like It Hot
Jack O’Brien, Shucked
Jessica Stone, Kimberly Akimbo

Best Choreography
Steven Hoggett, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Casey Nicholaw, Some Like It Hot
Susan Stroman, New York, New York
Jennifer Weber, & Juliet
Jennifer Weber, KPOP

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Miriam Buether, Prima Facie
Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding, Life of Pi
Rachel Hauck, Good Night, Oscar
Richard Hudson, Leopoldstadt
Dane Laffrey & Lucy Mackinnon, A Christmas Carol

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt, New York, New York
Mimi Lien, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Michael Yeargan & 59 Productions, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Scott Pask, Shucked
Scott Pask, Some Like It Hot

Best Costume Design of a Play
Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell, Life of Pi Dominique
Fawn Hill, Fat Ham
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Leopoldstadt
Emilio Sosa, Ain’t No Mo’
Emilio Sosa, Good Night, Oscar

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Some Like It Hot
Susan Hilferty, Parade
Jennifer Moeller, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi, KPOP
Paloma Young, & Juliet
Donna Zakowska, New York, New York

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin, Leopoldstadt
Natasha Chivers, Prima Facie
Jon Clark, A Doll’s House
Bradley King, Fat Ham
Tim Lutkin, Life of Pi
Jen Schriever, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Ben Stanton, A Christmas Carol

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington, New York, New York
Lap Chi Chu, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Heather Gilbert, Parade
Howard Hudson, & Juliet
Natasha Katz, Some Like It Hot
Natasha Katz, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Best Sound Design of a Play
Jonathan Deans & Taylor Williams, Ain’t No Mo’
Carolyn Downing, Life of Pi
Joshua D. Reid, A Christmas Carol
Ben & Max Ringham, A Doll’s House
Ben & Max Ringham, Prima Facie

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Kai Harada, New York, New York
John Shivers, Shucked
Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann, Into the Woods
Gareth Owen, & Juliet
Nevin Steinberg, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Best Orchestrations
Bill Sherman and Dominic Fallacaro, & Juliet
John Clancy, Kimberly Akimbo
Jason Howland, Shucked
Charlie Rosen & Bryan Carter, Some Like It Hot
Daryl Waters & Sam Davis, New York, New York

The nominations are for productions staged on Broadway during the 2022-2023 season.

5-2

David Zayas to Star in the Action Film ” Force of Nature”

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

David Zayasis a force of nature…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican actor will star opposite Mel Gibson, Kate Bosworth and Emile Hirsch in Emmett-Furla-Oasis’ Force of Nature.

Zayas, best known for his role on Dexter, will play John the Baptist in the Michael Polish-directed action film about a gang of thieves who plot a heist during a hurricane, only to have a cop complicate events.

Zayas’ character is part of the bank heist crew, described as a ruthless, cold guy who’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if means sacrificing people on his team.

The film is currently shooting in Puerto Rico.

Zayas is a former New York police officer, and he began his acting career with LAByrinth Theater Company in 1992. His film credits include The Expendables, Michael Clayton, 16 Blocks, The Savages and Martin Scorsese’s Bringing Out the Dead. He’ll next appear in Paramount Players’ Body Cam.

He played Angel Batista on the Emmy-winning Showtimes eries Dexter, was recently seen as Sal Maroni on Fox’s Gotham, portrayed Sheriff Aguirre on Netflix’s Bloodline, and Eduardo Magana on Hulu’s Shut Eye among several credits. While working on the crime drama The Beat, Zayas met Emmy-winning television writer and producer Tom Fontana, who went on to create the role of Enrique Morales on HBO’s Oz especially for him.

David Zayas Lands Recurring Role on Syfy’s Upcoming Series “Deadly Class”

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

David Zayas is ready to have a devil of a time…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican actor, best known for his work on Dexter, has landed a recurring role on Syfy’s upcoming series Deadly Class, which is based on the Image Comics graphic novel by Rick Remender and Wes Craig.

Deadly Class is described as a coming-of-age journey full of ancient mystery and teen angst. Set in a dark, heightened world against the backdrop of late ‘80s counterculture, it follows the story of Marcus (Benjamin Wadsworth), a teen living on the streets who is recruited into Kings Dominion, an elite private academy where the world’s top crime families send their next generations. Maintaining his moral code while surviving a ruthless curriculum, vicious social cliques and his own adolescent uncertainties soon proves to be vital.

Zayas will play El Alma Del Diablo. Leader of the Mexican cartel, El Alma del Diablo is Chico’s father. He runs his family just like his cartel – with an iron fist.

Benedict Wong, Lana Condor, Maria Gabriela de Faria, Luke Tennie, Liam James and Michel Duval also star.

Adapted for television by Remender and Miles Orion Feldsott— who are also are executive producers and showrunners alongside Mick Betancourt— Deadly Class hails from Sony Pictures Television and Universal Cable Productions.

Zayas was recently seen in the roles of Sal Maroni on Fox’s Gotham, Sheriff Aguirre on Netflix’s Bloodline and Eduardo Magana on Hulu’s Shut Eye. On the film side, he’ll next be seen in Paramount Players’ Body Cam.

Deadly Classis set to premiere January 16 on Syfy.

David Zayas to Star in Paramount Players’ Drama “Body Cam”

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

David Zayas is joining the force…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican actor has landed a role in Paramount Players’ Body Cam drama, which stars Mary J. Blige and Nat Wolff.

Malik Vittahl is at the helm, directing from a screenplay by Nic McCarthy and John Ridley, based on Richmon Riedel’s spec script.

The plot centers around several LAPD police officers who are haunted by a malevolent spirit that is tied to the murder of a black youth at the hands of two white cops. All of them are caught on a body cam video that was destroyed in a cover-up.

Zayas, a former New York Police officer, will play Sgt. Kesper.

Best known for his role as Angel Batista on Showtime’s Dexter, Zayas has appeared in films like The Expendables, Ride, Tallulah, starring Ellen Page and Allison Janney, and Sony’s Annie remake. He also stars in the upcoming indie Shine.

Ortiz to Guest Star on TBS’ “The Guest Book”

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz has signed in…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican actor will guest star on TBS’ The Guest Book, the new 10-episode comedy series from My Name Is Earl’s Greg Garcia.

The Guest Book emerged from Garcia’s habit of writing fictitious stories in the guest books of various rental cabins in an effort to freak out the next renters. Now he is bringing some of those stories to life on screen centering on the vacation home Froggy Cottage and its visitors. While the house and cast of characters living in this small mountain town remain the same, each episode will feature a different set of vacationing guests.

The anthology-style show, written by Garcia and executive produced by him and Alix Jaffe, will premiere in August.

It will star Kellie Martin (Army Wives), Charlie Robinson (Hart of Dixie), Aloma Wright (Suits), Carly Jibson (Broadway’s Hairspray), Lou Wilson (Tween Fest), Garret Dillahunt (The Mindy Project), Laura Bell Bundy (Scream Queens) and Eddie Steeples (My Name Is Earl).

Martin will play Officer Kimberly Leahy, who serves on the police force in the small mountain town of Mount Trace. Robinson is Wilfrid, an easygoing, friendly gentleman who manages a group of mountain rental cottages with his wife, Emma, played by recurring guest star Wright. Jibson is Vivian, a tough, strong-willed woman who runs a bikini bar called Chubbys with her stepson Frank, played by Wilson.

In addition to Ortiz, other guest stars include Danny Pudi (Community), Jenna Fischer (The Office), Tommy Dewey (The Mindy Project), Lauren Lapkus (Orange Is the new Black), Michaela Watkins (Casual), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), Michael Rapaport (Sully), Kate Micucci (Raising Hope), Jaime Pressly (My Name Is Earl), Stockard Channing (The Good Wife), Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead), David Zayas (Gotham), Shannon Woodward (Westworld), Margo Martindale (The Good Wife) and Stephnie Weir (The Comedians).

Zayas Cast in Sian Heder’s Film “Tallulah”

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s Tallulah time for David Zayas…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican actor and former Dexter star has been cast in the film Tallulah, from writer-director Sian Heder.

Ellen Page stars as Tallulah, a free-spirited, urban adventurer who rescues a baby from the girl’s self-absorbed and reckless mom (Tammy Blanchard). But people think she kidnapped the child, so she passes the baby off as her own with her ex-boyfriend’s mother (Allison Janney).

Rounding out the cast is Evan Jonigkeit, Zachary Quinto, Uzo Aduba and John Benjamin Hickey.

No word on Zayas’ role yet.

Colón-Zayas Wins Lortel Award for “Between Riverside and Crazy”

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Liza Colón-Zayas has a Crazy reason to celebrate…

The Puerto Rican actress, married to actor David Zayas, has won the Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Between Riverside and Crazy, which was named outstanding play.

The Lortels, now 30 years old, are underwritten by the Lucille Lortel Foundation and are named for the late owner of the former Theatre De Lys, now the Lucille Lortel, on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village.

Along with the Village Voice Obie Awards, the Lortels are focused on plays that open in New York City outside the 40-theater Broadway district.

Meanwhile, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway-bound musical Hamilton, which is heading uptown for a summer opening after a sold-out run at the Public Theater, took home10 awards, including outstanding musical. The book, music and lyrics were written by the In The Heights creator.

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican composer, rapper, lyricist, and actor, a Tony Award, Grammy and Emmy winner, was named Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for his performance in Hamilton.

The awards in 18 categories, plus three special honors, were presented Sunday night at New York University’s Skirball Center during a ceremony hosted by Emmy nominated actors Anna Chlumsky and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Here’s a look at the winners:

Outstanding Play: Between Riverside and Crazy
Outstanding Musical: Hamilton
Outstanding Revival: Into the Woods
Outstanding Solo Show: Josephine and I
Outstanding Director: Thomas Kail, Hamilton
Outstanding Choreographer: Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play: Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play: Tonya Pinkins, Rasheeda Speaking
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical: Phillipa Soo, Hamilton
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play: Jacob Ming-Trent, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: Liza Colón-Zayas, Between Riverside and Crazy
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Outstanding Scenic Design: Jan Versweyveld, Scenes From a Marriage
Outstanding Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, Hamilton
Outstanding Lighting Design: Howell Binkley, Hamilton
Outstanding Sound Design: Nevin Steinberg, Hamilton

Special Awards:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Terrence McNally
Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee Jeanine Tesori
Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award: Nancy Nagel Gibbs

Zayas Lands Mobtastic Role in Fox’s Batman Prequel Series “Gotham”

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

David Zayas is heading to Gotham City…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican actor and Dexter alum has joined the cast of Fox’s Batman prequel drama series Gotham.

Zayas will portray DC Comics character Mob Boss Salvatore Maroni in a recurring role. He’s considered one of the city’s most dangerous gangsters.

In the Batman mythology, Maroni is a street operator who clawed his way into controlling the city’s drug trade and unions. He is second only to Carmine Falcone in power and reach, and second to none in his appetite for violence.

In time, Maroni will develop into one of Batman’s first enemies and become infamous as the man responsible for disfiguring district attorney Harvey Dent, leading to his transformation into Two-Face.

But for now, as he strives to increase his territory in Gotham, he’ll find himself on a crash course with his rival Falcone (portrayed by John Doman) for control of the city.

In the feature film The Dark Knight, the role of Maroni was played by Eric Roberts.

Zayas, a former New York police officer, segued to a career in acting in 1992, originally focusing on theater before expanding to film and television projects. While co-starring on the short-lived UPN cop drama The Beat, Zayas met the show’s executive producer Tom Fontana who went on to create the Enrique Morales character on his HBO series Oz for him. He’s best known though for his role as Angel Batista on Showtime’s Dexter.

He recently recurred on the FX comedy series Saint George. He also appeared in the features The Expendables, Skyline and Michael Clayton and will next be seen in the indie Ride and the Annieremake.

Zayas to Star in the Mob Thriller “The Wannabe”

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

David Zayas is officially a wannabe…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican actor, best known for his role as Angel Batista on Showtime’s Dexter, has joined the cast of the mob thriller The Wannabe.

Zayas joins Golden Door’s Vincenzo Amato, Moonrise Kingdom’s Neal Huff, Goodfellas’ Mike Starr and The Town’s Slaine as the final additions to the film’s cast.

The Wannabe, which will begin shooting on October 28 in Brooklyn, stars Patricia Arquette, Vincent Piazza and Michael Imperioli and will be directed by Nick Sandow, who also wrote the script.

Martin Scorsese and Dean Devlin are executive producing the film, which is set in New York City in the early ’90s and follows a man obsessed with mob culture (Piazza) who attempts to fix the jury in the trial of John Gotti. But his plans are foiled, so he sets off with Rose (Arquette), a neighborhood fixture, on a ride worthy of mob lore.

Zayas, who portrayed Enrique Morales on the HBO prison drama series Oz, recently signed on to Sony‘s new Annie film.

Zayas Starring in George Lopez’s New FX Series “Saint George”

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

David Zayas is one of the saints…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican actor, best known for playing Homicide Lieutenant Angel Batista on Showtime‘s serial killer drama Dexter, has joined the cast of FX‘s George Lopez comedy Saint George, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The comedy centers on the chaotic life of a recently divorced working-class Mexican-American man who becomes a successful entrepreneur.

Lopez is set to portray the man who struggles to balance his demanding ex-wife, his 11-year-old son, his overbearing mother who just moved in and his uncle as well as his new role as a philanthropist “giving back” by teaching history once a week at night school.

Zayas will appear in the recurring role of Junior, Tio’s (Danny Trejo) son and George’s cousin. Junior, like Tio, is a bit quirky and off-center. Both admire the other and take advantage of George’s success and are always brainstorming ways to make money — sometimes legally.

Saint George was co-created by Lopez, Matt Williams and David McFadzean, with the trio set to co-write the first episode of the project, which begins production this month.

Lionsgate Television is set to produce the series.

In addition to Dexter, which wraps its run on Sunday, Zayas most recently guest starred on Fox‘s The Following. His credits include Grimm and Person of Interest.

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