Mariah Carey Signs On as Co-Producer of New Broadway Musical Comedy “Some Like It Hot”

Things are heating up for Mariah Carey

The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer and actress has signed on as a co-producer of the new musical comedy Some Like It Hot, becoming the latest in a trend of celebrities lending their clout and popularity to support Broadway productions during previews.

Mariah Carey“When Neil Meron shared this new take on the beloved film,” said Carey in a statement, “I knew I had to be a part of it. To see how this show continues to expand on the film’s legacy – pushing boundaries, promoting inclusion, celebrating diversity – I’m proud to help bring Some Like It Hot for today’s world to new audiences.”

Currently in previews at the Shubert TheatreSome Like It Hot officially opens on Sunday, December 11.

Earlier this month, NBA champ Dwyane Wade, actor Gabrielle Union and Drag Race star RuPaul joined the producing team of Ain’t No Mo, a Lee Daniels production of Jordan E. Cooper’s comedy in previews at the Belasco Theatre (opening Dec. 1).

Last season, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas joined the producing team of Douglas LyonsBroadway comedy Chicken & Biscuits while it was in previews at Circle in the Square Theatre.

The impact of celebrity producers – and their exacts roles, duties and financial commitments – is, as yet, unclear. Despite the high-profile additions of the Jonases last fall, Chicken & Biscuits closed more than a month early after struggling at the box office (and with Covid).

Carey, who has won multiple Grammy Awards and sold more than 200 million albums, said she was drawn to Some Like It Hot – a musical adaptation of the classic 1959 film comedy – in part due to her lifelong love of the film’s star Marilyn Monroe.

“I first became familiar with this story through the timeless film starring Marilyn Monroe,” she said in the statement. “She’s been an important touchstone throughout my life, so much so that I acquired her treasured baby grand white piano at an auction.”

The stage adaptation features a book by Matthew López (The Inheritance) and Amber Ruffin (The Amber Ruffin Show), music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw. The cast includes Christian Borle, J. Harrison Ghee and, in the role of Sugar originated by Monroe, Adrianna Hicks.

Some Like It Hot is produced by The Shubert Organization and Neil Meron and co-produced by 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, and, now, Carey.

Disney+ Renews Alisa Reyes’ “Proud Family” Revival, “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” for Second Season

There are more proud moments in Alisa Reyes’ future…

Disney+ has given The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, its Proud Family revival – featuring the 41-year-old Latina actress as part of the voice cast – a second season renewal.

The Proud Family: Louder and ProuderThe news comes only days before the first season’s upcoming finale on Wednesday, April 20. Season 2 has started production.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, from creator Bruce W. Smith and executive producer Ralph Farquhar, picks up the story of its central character, Penny Proud, and includes her madcap family: parents Oscar and Trudy, twin siblings BeBe and CeCe, and grandmother Suga Mama (and Puff).

Of course, it would not be The Proud Family without Penny’s loyal crew Dijonay Jones, LaCienega Boulevardez (Reyes) and Zoey Howzer, among others.

The series touts the voice talents of original cast members Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker, JoMarie Payton, Cedric the Entertainer, Karen Malina White, Soleil Moon Frye, Reyes, Carlos Mencia, Maria Canals-Barrera, Alvaro Gutierrez, Raquel Lee Bolleau and Marcus T. Paulk.

Set to return for Season 2 are Keke Palmer, Billy Porter, Zachary Quinto, EJ Johnson, Asante Blackk, Artist “A Boogie” Dubose, Bresha Webb and Aiden Dodson.

Disney+ also unveiled a buzzy lineup of Season 2 guest stars.

Set to appear are Chance the Rapper, Gabrielle Union, Normani, Leslie Odom Jr., Anthony Anderson, Dominique Dawes, Gabby Douglas, Latina Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, Jane Lynch, Holly Robinson Peete, Maury Povich, Storm Reid, Courtney B. Vance and Spanish actress Liana Mendoza.

In addition to Smith and Farquhar, Calvin Brown, Jr. is co-executive producer and story editor, Jan Hirota is producer, Eastwood Wong is art director, and directors are Latoya Raveneau, Rudi Bloss and Tara Nicole Whitaker.

Eva Longoria to Guest Star on Disney+’s “The Proud Family” Revival “Louder and Prouder”

Eva Longoria is preparing for a moment of Proud

Disney+ has locked in a stacked cast of guest stars and new recurring talent for The Proud Family revival Louder and Prouder, including the 46-year-old Mexican American actress/producer, in commemoration of the original animated series’ 20th anniversary.

Eva Longoria

In addition to Longoria, best known for her starring role on Desperate Housewives, the guest-starring voice cast will feature A-listers from the worlds of music, film, TV and sports including LizzoLil Nas X, Chance the Rapper, Normani, Leslie Odom Jr., Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe, Anthony Anderson, Gabrielle Union, Debbie Allen, James Pickens Jr., Courtney B. Vance, Jane Lynch, Marsai Martin, Jaden Smith, Glynn Turman, Lamorne Morris, Brenda Song, Tina Knowles, Holly Robinson Peete, Al Roker, Bretman Rock, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez and Dominique Dawes, among others.

The series is set to launch on Disney+ in 2022

New recurring stars announced include Asante Blackk as Penny’s boyfriend, Kareem; rapper Artist “A Boogie” Dubose as Maya’s gamer brother, Francis “KG” Leibowitz-Jenkins; Raquel Lee Bolleau, who will reprise her role as Nubia Gross; and Marcus T. Paulk, who reprises his role as Penny’s classmate, Myron.

Airing on Disney Channel between 2001 and 2005, The Proud Family followed the misadventures of teenager Penny Proud (Kyla Pratt) and her numerous eccentric family members.

Louder and Prouder is currently in production at Disney Television Animation and will pick up the story of its central character, as it catches up with her parents Oscar (Tommy Davidson) and Trudy (Paula Jai Parker), her twin siblings BeBe and CeCe, her grandmother Suga Mama (JoMarie Payton) and dog Puff, and members of her loyal crew including Dijonay Jones (Karen Malina White), LaCienega Boulevardez (Alisa Reyes) and Zoey Howzer (Soleil Moon Frye), among others.

Other original cast members reprising their roles, as previously announced, are Cedric the Entertainer, Carlos Mencia, Maria Canals-Barrera and Alvaro Gutierrez. Additional recurring cast members new to the world of The Proud Family include Keke Palmer, Billy Porter, Zachary Quinto, and EJ Johnson.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is executive produced by Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar, who served in the same capacity on the original series.

All seasons of The Proud Family are currently available for streaming on Disney+. Disney+ has release a 20th anniversary featurette, in which Louder and Prouder stars reflect on their draw to the original series.

Jessica Alba to Begin Filming Netflix’s “Trigger Warning” This Fall

Jessica Alba is pulling the Trigger

The 40-year-old half-Mexican American actress and entrepreneur will begin filming the action thriller Trigger Warning for Netflix in New Mexico this fall, starring and executive producing her first feature film in a few years.

 

Mouly Surya is directing from a script by Josh Olson and John Brancato.

Alba plays a traumatized veteran who inherits her grandfather’s bar, and is faced with a moral dilemma after discovering the truth behind his untimely death.Jessica Alba

This is believed to be a possible franchise starter with high hopes for its success, considering the reception of the streamer’s other action films, including Spenser Confidential and Extraction.

Best known for her work on James Cameron’s Dark Angel TV series, and the films Sin City and Fantastic Four, Alba recently starred and executive produced Spectrum Originals’ “LA’s Finest,” alongside Gabrielle Union. The series, an action-packed spinoff from Jerry Bruckheimer’s Bad Boys universe, returned for its second and final season this June.

Alba is also attached to the Disney+ documentary series with the working title Parenting Without Borders, which she will host and executive produce. She’s also the entrepreneur behind the billion-dollar Honest Company and Honest Beauty.

La La Anthony to star in Netflix’s Romantic Comedy “The Perfect Find”

La La Anthony is celebrating perfection

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican television personality and actress has joined the cast of Netflix’s romantic comedy The Perfect Find.

La La Anthony

Anthony joins a list of new cast additions that includes Aisha Hinds and Janet Hubert.

Anthony and the gang will star opposite previously announced cast members Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers and Gina Torres.

The film, based on the novel by Tia Williams, centers on a 40-year-old woman with everything on the line—including a high-stakes career, ticking biological clock and bank account—watching to see if she’s willing to risk it all for an intensely lusty secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback for good.

Numa Perrier is directing, from a script she wrote with Leigh Davenport.

Anthony’s film credits include Spike Lee’s Chiraq and the Think Like a Man films.

On the television side, she is best known for her turns as Dom in Showtime’s The Chi, and as Lakeisha Grant in the Starz crime drama Power. Additional small-screen credits include The Freak Brothers, BH90210 and Unforgettable.

As a television personality, she has also hosted several series including La La’s Full Court Wedding and La La’s Full Court Life.

Gina Torres to Star in Netflix’s Romantic Comedy “The Perfect Find”

It’s a perfect find for Gina Torres

The 52-year-old Cuban-American actress has joined the cast of Gabrielle Union and Keith PowersNetflix romantic comedy feature The Perfect Find

Gina Torres

Torres is reportedly stepping in for Niecy Nash, who departed the project due to a scheduling conflict.

The Leigh Davenport- and Numa Perrier-scripted movie, based on the Tia Williams novel, follows a 40-year-old woman with everything on the line: Her high-stakes career, ticking biological clock, bank account as she risks it all for an intensely lusty secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback. Perrier also directs.

Torres stars as Tommy Vega on 9-1-1: Lone Star and also starred on ABC’s The CatchNBC’s HannibalUSA’s Suits and Firefly and its feature movie Serenity, as well as the Matrix franchise movies.

Raúl Castillo to Star in Elegance Bratton’s “The Inspection”

Raúl Castillo is ready for an inspection…

The 43-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Elegance Bratton’s The Inspection starring Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union from A24 and Gamechanger Films.

Raul Castillo

The film, written by Bratton and based on his own life, will begin shooting later this summer. Bratton just won an Independent Spirit Award for his documentary Pier Kids.

Effie T. Brown will produce and co-finance on behalf of Gamechanger Films. A24 will co-finance and handle worldwide distribution on the film. Chester Algernal Gordon will produce via their Freedom Principle shingle.

Castillo was most recently seen in Netflix’s Army of the Dead and Wrath of Manwhich is still in theaters and also has Mother/Android coming up on Hulu as well as Night Teeth on Netflix.

Emilio Estevez’s “The Public” to Stream on Peacock in September

Emilio Estevez is going public with his latest project…

Peacock has unveiled a slate of original films that will debut on NBC’s streaming service in September, including the 58-year-old part-Spanish American actor’s latest film The Public.

Emilio Estevez The Public

The film, written, executive produced and directed by Estevez, centers around an act of civil disobedience that turns into a standoff with police when homeless people in Cincinnati take over the public library to seek shelter from the bitter cold.

The film stars Alec Baldwin, Estevez, Jena Malone, Taylor Schilling, Christian Slater, Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Gabrielle Union, Jacob Vargas, Michael K. Williams, and Jeffrey Wright.

The Public will premiere on Peacock on Thursday, September 15.

The film had its world premiere on September 9, 2018, at the Toronto Film Festival. It was theatrically released in the United States on April 5, 2019, by Greenwich Entertainment.

Jessica Alba to Star in the Disney+ Docuseries “Parenting Without Borders”

Jessica Alba is breaking out her passport for her latest project.

Disney+ has greenlit the documentary series Parenting Without Borders (working title) starring and executive produced by the 38-year-old half-Mexican American actress, according to Deadline.com.

Jessica Alba

Slated to be filmed in sevearl international locations, Parenting Without Bordersis described as Anthony BourdainParts Unknownfor parenting. 

The travel show will follow Alba, an actress, producer, entrepreneur and mother of three, as she immerses herself with families around the world, exploring the parenting beliefs and practices shaping families today.

Kathryn O’Kane, who was a producer on the Netflix cooking documentary series Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, will serve as director and showrunner of Parenting Without Borders.

Like Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, Parenting Without Bordersis based on a book of the same name.

The 2013 Parenting Without Borders: Surprising Lessons Parents Around the World Can Teach Usby Christine Gross-Loh, Ph.D, reveals the surprising ways in which culture shapes parenting in countries like Finland, Sweden, Germany, France, Japan, China, Italy, and more, and offers research-based insight into what strategies are best for children and why.

Alba stars in and executive produces alongside Gabrielle Union the Spectrum original series L.A.’s Finest.The Honest Company, which she co-founded, is a leading maker of baby products used by parents.