Tag Archives: INTAR Theatre

Melissa Navia to Star in Paramount+’s New Original Series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”

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Melissa Navia is ready to trek around the universe…

The Colombian-American actor, writer, and stand-up comedian has joined the cast of Paramount+’s upcoming new original series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as production officially gets underway in Toronto.

Melissa Navia

Navia joins a cast of series regulars that includes Babs Olusanmokun, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding and Jess Bush.

The series is based on the years Captain Christopher Pike manned the helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Navia and the gang join previously announced cast members Ethan Peck, Anson Mount and Rebecca Romijn, who will be reprising their roles from Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery.

The Strange New Worlds‘ premiere episode is written by Star Trek: Picard EP Akiva Goldsman from a story the Oscar winner wrote with Alex Kurtzman and fellow EP Jenny Lumet. Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers serve as co-showrunners, with Goldsman directing the premiere episode.

The series is distributed by ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group.

Navia’s recent television credits include a recurring role on AMC’s Dietland and guest roles on Showtime’s Billions and Homeland.

In March 2020, she made her Off-Broadway debut in the praised Bundle of Sticks at INTAR Theatre.

Ilana Peña Signs Overall Deal with CBS Television Studios

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Ilana Peña has a new deal…

The Cuban American television creator, the mastermind behind the Disney+ series Diary of a Future President, is expanding her relationship with CBS Television Studios, signing an overall deal with the studio behind the series.

Ilana Peña

Peña also serves as co-showrunner and executive producer of the series, which has been renewed for a second season on Disney+.

The series was inspired by Peña’s own childhood, and follows a young Cuban-American girl as she navigates the ups and downs of middle school and her journey to becoming the future president of the United States.

Prior to Diary of a Future President, Peña served as a writer on the CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and a co-writer of Her Shortswith Rachel Bloom, produced by Refinery29 and Planned Parenthood.

“We first got to know Ilana when she was working on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” said Kate Adler, EVP of Comedy Development, CBS Television Studios. “She is exactly the kind of writer executives dream of: smart, funny, hard-working and inspired. We knew she had a lot to say and couldn’t wait to develop with her. Our suspicions were confirmed when we read her first draft of Diary of a Future President. Now we just need to figure out how to clone her.”

“Since day one on Diary, CBS Studios has been so supportive of my vision and voice,” said Peña. “I am incredibly grateful to the team for giving me a creative home to tell meaningful, inclusive stories.”

Peña’s plays have been produced professionally in Chicago (Goodman Theatre Latino Theater Festival) and New York (INTAR Theatre), among others.

She’s also the co-founder of See What Sticks, a monthly workshop with an audience in Los Angeles.