Gina Torres is giving back to the immigrant community…
The 50-year-old Afro-Cuban American actress and Pearson star will participate in a concert being live-streamed Saturday to benefit low-income migrants.
The show will also feature Marcia Cross, Grant Gustin, Cheyenne Jackson, Rachel Bay Jones, Melissa Manchester, Eric McCormack, Caroline Rhea, Liz Callaway,Yuri Sardarov, Dancing with the Stars pros Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach, Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood.
Performers include Jane Lynch, Wayne Bradyand Laurie Metcalf.
The concert is set for 9:00 pm EDT at UCLA’s Royce Hall. It’ll be broadcast via Facebook Liveand at ConcertsforAmerica.com. Proceeds will benefit the National Immigration Law Center.
It’s the latest in a series of benefits created and hosted by Seth Rudetskyand James Wesley, the host and producer of Sirius XM’s “On Broadway” show.
Gina Rodriguez is representing the represented on The CW…
The network has launched #CWOpenToAll, a new on-air, digital, social and print campaign designed to reinforce the network’s commitment to inclusion and representation, featuring the 34-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star.
“We think this campaign really captures the spirit and mission of the CW and why our fans come to us,” said network president Mark Pedowitz. “We are committed to making sure our viewers see themselves represented on screen, and that we also have diverse voices being heard behind the camera.”
Pedowitz points out that 12 out of the CW’s 17 series this season are created and/or executive produced by women or people of color. Additionally, the network sees 47% women series regulars across its shows and 49% people of color series regulars.
“We are proud of the strides we’ve made and are continuing to make, and #CWOpenToAll reflects that, and helps drive the message that we want to be known as a place where all are welcome to be, and all are welcome to watch,” he continued.
#CWOpenToAll will feature a video component, with spots airing during the network’s primetime programming as well as being placed in house ad slots on cwtv.com, the CW and CW Seedapps and on social channels. There will also be a print portion of the campaign, which begins rolling out Monday in major market newspapers and industry trade publications. The message for both is that “the CW is a place for everyone, and all are welcome on-screen and in our audience.”
In addition to Rodriguez and her Jane the Virgincostars Jaime Camiland Justin Baldoni, who kicks off the video, other participating CW talent includes Riverdale’sCamila Mendes, Ashleigh Murrayand Casey Cott; Supernatural’s Jensen Acklesand Jared Padalecki; All American’s Daniel Ezra, Bre-Zand Taye Diggs; Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Rachel Bloom and Vincent Rodriguez III, television’s first transgender superhero, Supergirl’s Nicole Maines, and The Flashhimself, Grant Gustin.
The series centers on Barry Allen (Glee’s Grant Gustin), a Central City assistant police forensics investigator who arrives in Starling to look into a series of unexplained robberies that may have a connection to a tragedy in his past. A comic book fanboy, Barry is obsessed with the Arrow unaware that working with Oliver and Felicity to solve the crime has brought him right into the dangerous world of the vigilante.
Valdes portrays Cisco Ramon, a mechanical engineering genius at S.T.A.R. Labs. He came from a rather poor family, and provides much-needed comic relief around his stiff workplace.
Valdes previously appeared as his character in the Arrow episode entitled “The Man Under the Hood.”
In addition to Gustin and Valdes, the series also stars Jesse L. Martin, Tom Cavanagh, John Wesley Shipp, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Candice Patton, Michelle Harrison and Patrick Sabongui.
The Flash comes from co-creators Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg who, along with Geoff Johns, wrote the pilot episode with Arrow pilot director David Nutter at the helm.
The Latino actor, who currently appears on Broadway in the hit musical Once, has been cast in the CW’s pilot The Flash, which is based on the DC comic.
The project, from Warner Bros. Television, is an origin story about Barry Allen, aka The Flash (portrayed by Grant Gustin), a Central City assistant police forensics investigator who arrives in Starling to look into a series of unexplained robberies that may have a connection to a tragedy in his past.
Valdes will portray Cisco Ramon, a mechanical engineering genius and the youngest member of the team of scientists at STAR Labs.
Valdes, a University of Michigan graduate, previously appeared in the Broadway Across America tour production of the hit musical Jersey Boys.
She’s masteredAdele, Rihannaand West Side Story’s Anita… And now Glee’s oh-so-saucy star Naya Rivera is taking on the music of The King of Pop.
The 25-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/singer’s character Santana Lopez will be going toe-to-toe with Grant Gustin’s conniving character Sebastian on the Fox musical dramedy’s Michael Jackson-themed episode.
Rivera and Gustin will face off in a vocal duel to Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” as Santana tries to protect Blaine’s honor since Sebastian has been trying everything to break up Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss).
The stripped-down-but-still-high-energy number features Santana, Sebastian, two cellists and an empty room full of chairs.
Glee’s Michael Jackson-themed episode airs Tuesday, January 31 on Fox.
