Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer Returning to Broadway’s “Beetlejuice” This Spring

Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer is juiced for her next role…

The 44-year-old half-Puerto Rican musical theater actress/singer will be back on stage in Broadway’s Beetlejuice when it returns this spring.

Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Broadway, Beetlejuice,Rodriguez Kritzer, who originated the roles of Delia/Miss Argentina, will be joined by much of the cast that was in place before the March 2020 pandemic shutdown.

Joining the previously announced Alex Brightman in the title role and Rodriguez Kritzer will be fellow returnees Kerry Butler, David Josefsberg, Adam Dannheisser, Kelvin Moon Loh, Danny Rutigliano and Dana Steingold.

New to the production will be Elizabeth Teeter as Lydia Deetz, Michelle Aravena as Miss Argentina and Zonya Love as Maxine Dean/Juno.

The musical begins performances at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre on Friday, April 8.

Aravena has appeared on Broadway in A Bronx Tale, Rocky, Jersey Boys and A Chorus Line.

The full cast of Beetlejuice also includes Kate Bailey, Will Blum, Ryan Breslin, Natalie Charle Ellis, Brooke Engen, Eric Anthony Johnson, Andrew Kober, Elliott Mattox, Mateo Melendez, Ramone Owens, Commodore C. Primous III, Nevada Riley and Graham Stevens.

Based on the 1988 film starring Michael Keaton, the musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, an offbeat teenager whose life changes when her family moves into a home inhabited by a recently deceased couple and the green-tinted-haired demon Beetlejuice. The musical features an original score by Eddie Perfect, and a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, with choreography by Connor Gallagher.

Beetlejuice originally opened at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre on Thursday, April 25, 2019, and closed along with the rest of Broadway in March 2020 due to the pandemic shutdown.

The Music Man currently occupies the Winter Garden, necessitating Beetlejuice‘s change of venue.

Villafañe Signs with United Talent Agency

Ana Villafañe has new representation…

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

Ana Villafañe

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!”

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.

Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, Ana Villafañe and Josh Segarra

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

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.

Gloria Estefan Emilio Estefan

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.