Miranda Earns Four Tony Award Nods as “Hamilton” Makes History

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is this year’s Tony Awards darling…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican composer, lyricist, librettist, rapper, and actor received four nominations for the 70th annual Tony Awards, which were announced Tuesday morning by Andrew Rannells and Nikki M. James.

Miranda, a two-time Tony Award winner for In The Heights, is nominated in the Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical categories.

Hamilton, who created the smash hit musical, leads the race with a historic 16 nominations, followed by Shuffle Along with ten and She Loves Me with eight.

But Miranda isn’t the only Latino nominee…

Sergio Trujillo picked up a Tony Award nod for Best Choreography.

The Colombian choreographer earned the recognition for his work on On Your Feet! The Emilio and Gloria Estefan Musical.

Honoring the best of the Broadway season, the awards will be handed out in a June 12 ceremony at 8:00 pm ET, airing live on CBS (tape-delayed on the West Coast) from New York City’s Beacon Theatre.

James Corden will make his debut as the annual event’s emcee.

Here’s the complete list of nominees:

Best Play
Eclipsed
The Father
The Humans
King Charles III

Best Musical
Hamilton
Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Waitress
School of Rock – The Musical
Bright Star

Best Revival of a Play
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
Arthur Miller’s A View From the Bridge
Blackbird
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Noises Off

Best Revival of a Musical
The Color Purple
Fiddler on the Roof
She Loves Me
Spring Awakening
Dames at Sea

Best Book of a Musical
Bright Star, Steve Martin
Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda
School of Rock—The Musical, Julian Fellowes
Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, George C. Wolfe

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Bright Star
Music: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
Lyrics: Edie Brickell
Hamilton
Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
School of Rock—The Musical
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Glenn Slater
Waitress
Music & Lyrics: Sara Bareilles

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Gabriel Byrne, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Jeff Daniels, Blackbird
Frank Langella, The Father
Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III
Mark Strong, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Lange, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Laurie Metcalf, Misery
Lupita Nyong’o, Eclipsed
Sophie Okonedo, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
Michelle Williams, Blackbird

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Alex Brightman, School of Rock—The Musical
Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof
Zachary Levi, She Loves Me
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Laura Benanti, She Loves Me
Carmen Cusack, Bright Star
Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple
Jessie Mueller, Waitress
Phillipa Soo, Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Reed Birney, The Humans
Bill Camp, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
David Furr, Noises Off
Richard Goulding, King Charles III
Michael Shannon, Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Pascale Armand, Eclipsed
Megan Hilty, Noises Off
Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans
Andrea Martin, Noises Off
Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Brandon Victor Dixon, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress
Jonathan Groff, Hamilton
Christopher Jackson, Hamilton

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me
Jennifer Simard, Disaster!
Adrienne Warren, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Beowulf Boritt, Thérèse Raquin
Christopher Oram, Hughie
Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge
David Zinn, The Humans
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Es Devlin & Finn Ross, American Psycho
David Korins, Hamilton
Santo Loquasto, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation
of 1921 and All That Followed
David Rockwell, She Loves Me

Best Costume Design of a Play
Jane Greenwood, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Michael Krass, Noises Off
Clint Ramos, Eclipsed
Tom Scutt, King Charles III

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Tuck Everlasting
Jeff Mahshie, She Loves Me
Ann Roth, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Paul Tazewell, Hamilton

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Katz, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Justin Townsend, The Humans
Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
Jan Versweyveld, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Howell Binkley, Hamilton
Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Ben Stanton, Spring Awakening
Justin Townsend, American Psycho

Best Direction of a Play
Rupert Goold, King Charles III
Jonathan Kent, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Joe Mantello, The Humans
Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed
Ivo Van Hove, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge

Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, Spring Awakening
John Doyle, The Color Purple
Scott Ellis, She Loves Me
Thomas Kail, Hamilton
George C. Wolfe, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Best Choreography
Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton
Savion Glover, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Hofesh Shechter, Fiddler on the Roof
Randy Skinner, Dames at Sea
Sergio Trujillo, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan
Best Orchestrations
August Eriksmoen, Bright Star
Larry Hochman, She Loves Me
Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton
Daryl Waters, Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Broadway Cast Recording of “On Your Feet!,” Feat. Villafañe, to be Released in April

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Villafañe will have you on your feet, even if you’re nowhere near the Great White Way…

The original Broadway cast recording of On Your Feet!, the musical based on Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s life and starring the Cuban/Salvadoran-American actress and singer will be released on April 29 via Masterworks Broadway.

The album, which features Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine’s classic tracks in a new light, was recorded live at the Broadway Marquis Theatre and produced by the Estefans.

The musical chronicles the Estefan’s journey to stardom and features a string of hits like “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “1-2-3,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Mi Tierra,” “Don’t Want To Lose You Now,” and “Reach.”

Following the family tradition, it also includes an original song, “If I Never Got To Tell You,” written by Gloria and her daughter Emily Estefan.

The live album also features the musical’s orchestra, which includes several members of The Miami Sound Machine.

On Your Feet!, which premiered last November, features Villafañe in the role of Gloria and Josh Segarra as Emilio Estefan.

Villafane & Her “On Your Feet!” Cast Members Dazzle at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Villafane knows how to get you on your feet!

The Cuban/Salvadoran-American actress and singer wowed audiences, both on the streets and at home, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Villafane, the star of Broadway’s On Your Feet! — the biotuner about the courtship and rise to superstardom of the Miami Sound Machine’s Gloria and Emilio Estefan — led off NBC’s coverage of the iconic holiday parade.

Villafane, starring as Gloria, and the cast sang a medley of songs that included “Conga” and “Turn The Beat Around.”

“We are going to be opening the Thanksgiving Day Parade which is like bucket list item No. 1,” Villafañe told Fox News Latino before the parade. “I’m still that girl who puts on Christmas pajamas that watches the whole parade start-to-finish and I’m 26.

The lively opening number was followed by performances by the cast of fellow Broadway musicals Finding Neverland, Fiddler on the Roof and The King and I.

Villafañe Signs with Publicity Firm PMK*BNC

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Villafañe may soon be landing more press…

The Cuban-American actress and singer has signed with publicity firm PMK*BNC.

Villafañe is thisclose to becoming one of Broadway’s next big thing with her debut on the Great White Way this fall in the Gloria Estefan bio-musical On Your Feet!, in which she stars as the Latin pop legend.

She also starred in the Hulu drama South Beach this summer and will play the female lead in Dolphin Entertainment’s live-action adaptation of the Mattel superhero toy brand Max Steel.

Villafañe Signs with United Talent Agency

Posted on August 15, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Villafañe has new representation…

The Cuban-American singer, dancer and actress has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA).

Villafañe currently stars as a series regular on Hulu’s hit series South Beach.

On the film side, she’ll next be seen in Max Steel, opposite Maria Bello and Andy Garcia.

She also portrays singer Gloria Estefan, opposite Josh Segarra in On Your Feet! The Story Of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, a new musical about the powerhouse pop singer and her producer husband (and the Miami Sound Machine) that earned excellent reviews earlier this summer in its Broadway tryout in Chicago. The show, with book by Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman Or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is staged by Jerry Mitchell (direction) and Sergio Trujillo (choreography).

Villafañe, who attended the same Miami high school as Gloria Estefan, won the role through a filmed audition when she could not make the Miami call.

The show begins previews October 5 at the Marquis Theatre and is slated to open on November 5.

Villafañe to Portray Gloria Estefan in the Broadway Musical “On Your Feet!”

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Miami Sound Machine moment for Ana Villafañe…

The Cuban-American singer, dancer and actress has been cast as Gloria Estefan in On Your Feet!, the highly anticipated Broadway musical about the Latin music superstar and her equally talented husband, producer Emilio Estefan.

Villafañe, who attended the same Miami high school as la Estefan, wasn’t able to make the open casting call last fall but sent a video audition, according to an announcement Monday from the production team. She got the call to audition for director Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray) and the Estefans, and was cast in the show.

She’ll star opposite Josh Segarra, who will portray Emilio.

The musical — a rare Latino-themed Broadway offering that will surely benefit from Estefan’s global status — is based on the life story of the seven-time Grammy-winning singer and her husband, who owns 19 of his own Grammys. It’s slated to open at Broadway’s Nederlander-operated Marquis Theatre on November 5, following previews beginning October 5. I

n addition to staging by Mitchell, the show will have choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis), with a book by Oscar winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman). Prior to Broadway, the show will try out at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre from June 2-July 5.

“She walked into the room, and I immediately thought to myself – ‘this is it’,” Mitchell said of Villafañe in a prepared announcement. “Not only was she beautifully reminiscent of a young Gloria, but she embodied her energy and spirit in such a captivating way. And then she fully rose to the occasion by giving a sensational audition.”

Villafañe’s film and television credits include Magic City Memoirs (executive producer Andy Garcia), Los Americans and the upcoming Hulu original series South Beach: Fever as well as the female lead in Max Steel (Mattel), set for global release this summer.

Segarra has appeared in New York in Second Stage Theater’s Dogfight and Lysistrata Jones. On television, he stars in USA’s comedy series Sirens and has a recurring part on NBC’s Chicago PD as well as PBS’ The Electric Company, and guest appearances on Showtime’s Homeland and FX’s The Following. This summer, he’ll appear in the Judd Apatow feature film Trainwreck.

The company will also feature Andréa Burns (In The Heights) as Gloria Fajardo (Gloria’s mother); Alma Cuervo (Beauty And The Beast) as Consuelo (Gloria’s grandmother); Alexandria Suarez as Little Gloria; and Noah Johnston as little Emilio.

David Rockwell (Kinky Boots, On The Twentieth Century) has designed the sets, with costumes by Emilio Sosa (Porgy & Bess), lighting by Kenneth Posner (Wicked, Hairspray), sound by Steve Kennedy and projections by Darrel Maloney. The show is produced by James L. Nederlander and Estefan Enterprises Inc., in partnership with Bernie Yuman.

In anticipation of a wide-ranging social media campaign to publicize the show, the production also released three videos about the Estefan’s and the making of the musical.

Estefan’s Broadway Musical On Your Feet to Open in November

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Estefan is ready to get you on your feet! this fall.

The 56-year-old Cuban singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur and her music producer husband Emilio Estefan’s previously announced Broadway musical On Your Feet! is slated to premiere on Thursday, November 5 at the Marquis Theatre in New York City.

Based on the life of the Latin music power couple, the show’s preview performances will kick off October 5, 2015.

On Your Feet! will tell the story of the Estefan’s rise to stardom, set to the long list of hits performed by Gloria Estefan both as a soloist and as part of Miami Sound Machine, including “Conga,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” and “Mi Tierra,” plus new music.

In a departure from other major Broadway productions, the show is launching an international casting search dubbed “Reach Gloria” (#ReachGloria on Twitter) that will allow performers around the world to submit audition videos online at the production’s website. The casting search is open to all roles, from the leads to the dancers.

In addition, open casting calls will take place at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami Sept. 21 and another at Pearl Studios in New York on Sept. 9.

Searching for acts in Miami, said Gloria Estefan in a statement, was key.

“Our own journey together started in Miami, a city that has been such an inspiration to us both, and it only felt right that the city be a cornerstone of our search for the next generation of bright talent,” she said.

On Your Feet! will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo.

It’s produced by James L. Nederlander and Estefan Enterprises in partnership with Bernie Yuman.

Estefan’s Musical Based on Her Life to Premiere in Chicago Next Summer

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Estefan is ready to get theater audiences on their feet…

The 56-year-old Cuban Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and her music producer husband Emilio hope to have the musical based on their life on Broadway next year.

Producers said Tuesday “On Your Feet!” will premiere in Chicago next summer before landing at a Nederlander theater in the fall of 2015.

Jerry Mitchell, who directed Kinky Boots, will helm the show, with Sergio Trujillo choreographing. The story will be written by Alexander Dinelaris.

The Estefans were both born in Cuba and together became musical luminaries in Spanish and English, winning Grammy Awards and fans across the U.S. with crossover hits like “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga” and “Words Get in the Way,” in addition to helping the careers of other artists including Shakira, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and Jon Secada.

Estefan fought back from a serious spine injury in 1990 to become Latin music’s premier female artist, with more than 100 million career album sales.

She’s also in charge of a string of enterprises, and has a minor stake in the Miami Dolphins NFL team.

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