Author Archives: Tom Castaneda

Auliʻi Cravalho’s “Moana 2” Tops $1 Billion at the Global Box Office

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Auliʻi Cravalho has a billion reasons to smile…

With this weekend’s box office performance, Disney’s Moana 2, with a voice cast by the 24-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress and singer, has topped $1B at the global box office, becoming the third release of 2024 to reach the mark.

Auliʻi CravalhoThis new milestone means Disney scored a hat trick of $1B worldwide grossers from 2024; the only studio with movies released during the year that crossed the coveted threshold.

In total, 56 movies have ever crossed $1B worldwide. Moana 2 is the 32nd from Disney (including three from the Fox acquisition) as well as being the 4th from Walt Disney Animation Studios (along with Frozen 2, Frozen and Zootopia).

Moana 2Breaking out Moana 2 details, the Dwayne Johnson/Auli’i Cravalho-starrer now counts $442.8M domestic through Sunday and $567.1M from the international box office for a running total of $1.01B worldwide.

The current weekend hooked $7.9M from 52 overseas markets; a 32% drop in the eighth frame.

Moana 2 — from directors David G. Derrick Jr, Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller — began rollout in late November, notching the highest-ever reported animated opening weekend at the global box office. It set myriad other records at the time of release and continued riding a wave throughout the holidays.

It also helped Disney become the only studio of 2024 to top $5B in worldwide box office, the first time that any studio has surpassed the five-century mark since 2019.

Moana 2 is the 2nd highest grossing animated release of all time in Brazil and France, and the highest grossing Walt Disney Animated Studios release ever in France, Australia, Brazil and Mexico as well as across the Latin American region, Greece, Slovakia, South Africa, Turkey, UAE, New Zealand, Peru, Chile, Central America, Ecuador, Bolivia and Uruguay.

The Top 5 international markets to date are: France ($61.2M), UK ($50.5M), Germany ($43.1M), Australia ($30.9M) and Japan ($30.7M).

Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” Rises to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart

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Bad Bunny has reached the summit once again…

Following its first full week of activity, the 30-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos climbs 2-1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated January 25, scoring Bad Bunny his fourth leader on the list.

Bad BunnyBad Bunny’s album was released on an off-cycle Sunday (Jan. 5), and, thus, it arrived on the chart a week ago with only five days of activity (as the chart’s tracking week runs Friday through Thursday).

In the tracking week ending January 16, Debí Tirar Más Fotos earned 203,500 equivalent album units (up 67%) in the U.S., according to Luminate — largely driven by streaming activity.

The set was only available as a standard 17-song streaming album, and as a digital download for purchase (widely through all digital retailers, as well as Bad Bunny’s official webstore). Traditional album sales drove just under 8,000 of the album’s activity for the week.

Bad Bunny previously led the Billboard 200 with Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana (in 2023), Un Verano Sin Ti (2022) and El Último Tour del Mundo (2020)

Of Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ 203,500 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Jan. 16, SEA units comprise 195,000 (up 72%, equaling 264.03 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it holds at No. 1 on the Top Streaming Albums chart for a second week), traditional album sales comprise 7,500 (down 3%, falling 6-8 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 1,000 (up 123%).

The 264.03 million streams of the album’s songs mark the largest streaming week for any album since Kendrick Lamar’s GNX arrived with 379.72 million (Dec. 7, 2024 chart), and the largest for any Latin music album since Bad Bunny’s own Un Verano Sin Ti debuted with 356.55 million (May 21, 2022 chart).

Like in its opening chart week, Debí Tirar Más Fotos was sale priced for $4.99 in the iTunes Store, as well as in Bunny’s webstore.

As Debí Tirar Más Fotos is mostly in the Spanish language, it is the 28th mostly non-English-language album to hit No. 1, and the first of 2025. Four mostly non-English titles topped the list in 2024, and all were Korean-language efforts. Of the 28 mostly non-English-language albums to reach No. 1, 18 are mostly Korean, six mostly (or all) Spanish, one mostly Italian, one entirely French and two mostly a blend of Spanish, Italian and French.

Carlos Alcaraz Defeats Jack Draper at Australian Open to Set Up Quarterfinal Clash Against Novak Djokovic

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Carlos Alcaraz is set to face former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic for the first time at the Australian Open.

In the eighth installment of the riveting, intergenerational rivalry between the 21-year-old Spanish professional tennis player and his 37-year-old Serbian nemesis, the meeting will not only be the first at Melbourne Park, it will also be the first in the quarterfinals of a tournament,

Carlos AlcarazEach of Alcaraz and Djokovic’s other meetings came in either a semifinal or final.

“Well, this is not the right player to play in a quarterfinal, I guess,” a grinning Alcaraz said, looking ahead to Tuesday’s encounter. “But facing Novak, for me, it’s not going to change anything if I’m playing him [in a] quarterfinal or semifinal. Probably change a little bit if it is a final, obviously. Being in a quarterfinal, I’m going to approach the match the same as I did in the previous matches against him, and let’s see.”

Alcaraz reached his 10th career Grand Slam quarterfinal, tied for the most by a man before his 22nd birthday, by advancing when 15th-seeded Jack Draper stopped playing because of a hip injury after dropping the first two sets Sunday afternoon.

Djokovic, who is being coached in Melbourne by old rival Andy Murray, did his part at night in Rod Laver Arena, needing to work a little longer but getting through just the same with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over No. 24 Jiri Lehecka.

There is plenty at stake at this tournament for both No. 3 seed Alcaraz and No. 7 seed Djokovic.

Alcaraz seeks to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam with at least one trophy from all four of the most prestigious events in tennis. His four so far came elsewhere: two at Wimbledon by virtue of wins over Djokovic in the 2023 and 2024 finals, and one apiece at the US Open in 2022 and the French Open last year.

Djokovic, meanwhile, is trying to claim an 11th title in Melbourne to become the first player in tennis history with 25 major singles championships. He leads the overall head-to-head against Alcaraz 4-3, including a victory in the final at the Paris Olympics last August to claim a gold medal for Serbia.

At the majors, though, Alcaraz leads 2-1.

“If I think about everything he has done in tennis, I couldn’t play. I mean, 24 Grand Slams, the most weeks at No. 1 — everything. He almost broke every record in tennis. I’m trying not to think about that when I’m in the match. I’m just trying … to beat him,” Alcaraz said. “I know my weapons. I know that [if] I’m able to play good tennis against him, I’m able to beat him.”

Karla Sofía Gascón Earns two Dorian Awards Nods from GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics

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Karla Sofía Gascón has two chances to take home a Dorian Award.

GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics has announced the nominees for the 2025 Dorian Awards, with the 52-year-old Spanish actress earning two nods.

Karla Sofia GascónGascón is up for Performance of the Year for her work in Netflix’s Emilia Perez. She’s also up for the “We’re Wilde About You” Rising Star Award.

Colman Domingo is also a two-time nominee.

The 55-year-old Emmy-winning Belizean-Guatemalan American actor and activist is nominated in the Performance of the Year category for his work in A24’s Sing Sing. He’s also up for the Wilde Artist Award, which recognizes a truly groundbreaking force in entertainment.

Zoe Saldaña is up for Supporting Film Performance of the Year for her work in Emilia Perez.

Julio Torres is nominated in the GALECA LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer category.

The 37-year-old Salvadoran writer, comedian and actor’s first feature film, Problemista, was released in the United States by A24 on March 1, 2024.

Torres wrote and directed the film, a surrealist comedy, in which he portrays Alejandro, a Salvadoran creative struggling to succeed in New York City before his work visa expires, alongside Tilda Swinton.

The Dorians go to both mainstream and LGBTQ-themed content, celebrating what the group calls “the expert Q+ eye on entertainment.”

Winners will be announced February 13, GALECA’s members tentatively are scheduled to toast winners and nominees in a Sunday brunch three days later.

Here are the nominees for the 16th annual Dorian Awards:

FILM OF THE YEAR
Anora (Neon)
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
The Substance (Mubi)

LGBTQ FILM OF THE YEAR
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
Emilia Peréz (Netflix)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Love Lies Bleeding (A24)
Queer (A24)

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist (A24)
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance (Mubi)
Luca Guadagnino, Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)

SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR (original or adapted)
Anora (Neon)
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
Conclave (Focus Features)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
The Substance (Mubi)

LGBTQ SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Love Lies Bleeding (A24)
Problemista (A24)
Queer (A24)

NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
All We Imagine as Light (Sideshow / Janus Films)
Emilia Peréz (Netflix)
Flow (Sideshow / Janus Films)
I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Neon)

LGBTQ NON-ENGLISH FILM OF THE YEAR
Crossing (Mubi)
Emilia Peréz (Netflix)
Queendom (Greenwich Entertainment)
Vermiglio (Sideshow / Janus Films)
All Shall Be Well (Strand Releasing)

UNSUNG FILM OF THE YEAR
To an exceptional movie worthy of greater attention
Didi (Focus Features)
Hundreds of Beavers (Cineverse, Vinegar Syndrome)
My Old Ass (Amazon MGM Studios)
Problemista (A24)
Thelma (Magnolia)

UNSUNG LGBTQ FILM OF THE YEAR
Femme (Utopia)
My Old Ass (Amazon MGM Studios)
National Anthem (Variance, LD Entertainment)
The People’s Joker (Altered Innocence)
Problemista (A24)

FILM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist (A24)
Daniel Craig, Queer (A24)
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing (A24)
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Peréz (Netflix)
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked (Universal)
Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)
Nicole Kidman, Babygirl (A24)
Mikey Madison, Anora (Neon)
Demi Moore, The Substance (Mubi)
Justice Smith, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)

SUPPORTING FILM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Michele Austin, Hard Truths (Bleecker Street)
Yura Borisov, Anora (Neon)
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain (Searchlight Pictures)
Ariana Grande, Wicked (Universal)
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Brigette Lundy-Paine, I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing (A24)
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist (A24)
Margaret Qualley, The Substance (Mubi)
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Peréz (Netflix)

DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
Dahomey (Mubi)
Daughters (Netflix)
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)
Sugarcane (National Geographic)
Will & Harper (Netflix)

LGBTQ DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
Chasing Chasing Amy (Level 33)
Frida (Amazon MGM Studios)
Merchant Ivory (Cohen Media Group)
Queendom (Greenwich Entertainment)
Will & Harper (Netflix)

ANIMATED FILM OF THE YEAR
Flow (Sideshow / Janus Films)
Inside Out 2 (Disney)
Memoir of a Snail (IFC Films)
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Netflix)
The Wild Robot (Universal, DreamWorks)

GENRE FILM OF THE YEAR
(For excellence in science fiction, fantasy and horror)
Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Nosferatu (Focus Features)
The Substance (Mubi)
Wicked (Universal)

FILM MUSIC OF THE YEAR
The Brutalist (A24)
Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios)
Emilia Peréz (Netflix)
I Saw the TV Glow (A24)
Wicked (Universal)

VISUALLY STRIKING FILM OF THE YEAR
The Brutalist (A24)
Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
Nosferatu (Focus Features)
Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
The Substance (Mubi)

CAMPIEST FLICK 
Hundreds of Beavers (Cineverse, Vinegar Syndrome)
Madame Web (Sony)
Megalopolis (Lionsgate)
The Substance (Mubi)
Trap (Warner Bros.)

“WE’RE WILDE ABOUT YOU!” RISING STAR AWARD
Jonathan Bailey
Vera Drew
Karla Sofía Gascón
Brigette Lundy-Paine
Mikey Madison
Katy O’Brian
Drew Starkey

WILDE ARTIST AWARD
(To a truly groundbreaking force in entertainment)
Colman Domingo
Luca Guadagnino
Coralie Fargeat
Jane Schoenbrun
Tilda Swinton

GALECA LGBTQIA+ FILM TRAILBLAZER
(For creating art that inspires empathy, truth and equity)
Vera Drew
Cynthia Erivo
Luca Guadagnino
Jane Schoenbrun
Julio Torres

TIMELESS STAR (Career achievement award)
To be announced February 13 with all winners.

Juani Feliz Tapped to Lead CBS’ Potential “The Equalizer” Spinoff

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Juani Feliz may be equalizing her career soon…

The 36-year-old Dominican actress and Titus Welliver have been tapped as the two leads of CBS‘ potential spinoff from The Equalizer.

Juani FelizThe Queen Latifah procedural will introduce the two new characters, which could anchor their own series, in Episode 516 this season.

Welliver will play Hudson Reed, a former top CIA operative with a dark secret who is connected to Robin McCall (Queen Latifah) by an old mentor.

Feliz plays Samantha Reed who has been trained by her father to be a weapons expert, skilled martial artist and true chameleon all while hiding a mysterious past.

Both Welliver and Feliz have been cast as guest stars with series regular options for the potential spinoff.

Episode 516, written by Joseph C. Wilson who’ll serve as executive producer on the potential series, will air in the spring.

It’s not designated as a backdoor pilot. CBS has been taking a more informal approach with its lead offshoot characters in storylines integrated into regular episodes of the mothership series, something the network has done twice now on Fire Country, first with Morena Baccarin, whose offshoot was picked up to series, and more recently with Jared Padalecki.

A reimagining of the classic series, The Equalizer stars Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to planted spinoff efforts, introducing potential turn.

If the offshoot goes forward, its two-hander format would be a departure from the original 1985 Equalizer series, the current CBS reboot as well as the film franchise, all of which had a single lead, male (first series and movies) and female (the Queen Latifah version).

The Season 5 cast also includes Tory Kittles, Adam Goldberg, Liza Lapira, Laya DeLeon Hayes with Lorraine Toussaint.

From Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with CBS Studios, The Equalizer is executive produced by Joseph C. Wilson, Dana Owens (Queen Latifah), Debra Martin Chase, Shakim Compere, John Davis, John Fox, Loretha Jones and Rob Hanning.

The series airs on Sundays at 9:00 pm, moving to 10:00 pm on February 18.

Feliz recurs on Tracy Oliver’s Amazon television series Harlem, currently airing its third season.

Her credits also include series Fleishman Is In Trouble and DMZ and the upcoming A24 feature Civil War and AMC’s The Terror: Devil In Silver. 

Jordana Brewster to Guest Star on CBS’ Drama Series “Elsbeth”

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Jordana Brewster has landed a special guest-starring role…

The CBS drama series Elsbeth has added the 44-year-old half-Brazilian Panamanian actress to its growing list of guest stars for Season 2.

Jordana BrewsterNew episodes return on January 30 at 10 p.m.

Based on the character featured in The Good Wife and The Good Fight, the series follows Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston), the astute but unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD to catch New York’s well-heeled murderers utilizing her unique point of view.

Brewster will play Chloe, a beautiful, elegant “lifestyle consultant,” usually found on the arms of the high rollers on billionaire’s row. Of course, one man’s “lifestyle consultant” is another man’s high-price escort. Chloe will do anything for her clients, even murder.

Elsbeth is produced by CBS Studios.

Brewster is best known for her portrayal of Mia Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Her recent film credits include Simulant with Robbie Amell and Sam Worthington, Who Invited Charlie? with Adam Pally and Cellar Door with Laurence Fishburne.

Her next project is Heart Eyes, which will be released next month.

Her television credits include Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story, Fox’s Lethal Weapon, TNT’s Dallas and ABC’s Secrets and Lies.

Franco Colapinto Joins Alpine as Reserve Driver for Upcoming Formula 1 Season

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Franco Colapinto is officially on F1 reserve…

The 21-year-old Argentine racing driver has joined Alpine as a reserve driver for the upcoming Formula 1 season, the team has revealed.

Franco Colapinto Colapinto will be on stand-by behind Alpine race drivers Pierre Gasly and Australian rookie Jack Doohan should either be unable to contest a race, while also being available for testing duties.

Colapinto’s arrival wilt increase the pressure and scrutiny on Doohan, a product of Alpine’s driver academy and son of motorbike racing legend Mick, who was given an early F1 debut at last year’s finale in Abu Dhabi.

Alpine has been keen to stress this week that Colapinto’s arrival has no bearing on its driver line-up, but reports in Argentina suggest otherwise.

“I am super excited to have the opportunity to join BWT Alpine Formula One Team,” Colapinto, who has signed a multi-year deal with the team, said. “First of all, I want to say thank you to Williams for all their support from the moment I joined the Academy until the last race in Abu Dhabi. They turned my dream of racing in Formula 1 into reality, and I will always be grateful for that.

“Now, it is time for a new chapter, and to take on this challenge with BWT Alpine Formula One Team is truly an honour.”

Colapinto quickly became a popular figure in his native Argentina after replacing Logan Sergeant at Williams midway through 2024.

A string of impressive performances put him on the radar of both Alpine and Red Bull.

Interest from the latter waned after Colapinto crashed in Brazil and Las Vegas, but Alpine has pursued his signature for months.

Sources have told ESPN Williams, who go into the new year with a race line-up of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, required a buyout to release Colapinto from his contract with them.

Much like Liam Lawson with Daniel Ricciardo at RB last year, the presence of Colapinto at Alpine as the season progresses will likely be a source of continuing intrigue.

Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore added: “Clearly, Franco is among the best young talents in motorsport right now.

“It is fair to say his appearance on the Formula 1 grid last year caught many, me included, by surprise and his performances have been very impressive for a rookie driver.

“We have an eye on our future and his signing means we have a great pool of young drivers to call upon and work with in developing the team for future success.”

Alpine’s confirmation came hours after adding Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa as a reserve and test driver.

The Japanese driver, 30, will also take part in first practice at the Japanese Grand Prix for the team on April 4.

Hirakawa was a development driver for McLaren and raced in the World Endurance Championship with Toyota last year. The other Alpine F1 reserve is Paul Aron, who impressed in Formula 2 in 2024.

Jarren Duran & Boston Red Sox Avoid Arbitration with One-Year Contract Guaranteeing $3.85 Million

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Jarren Duran is seeing red…

The 28-year-old Mexican American professional baseball, an MLB All-Star in 2024, and the Boston Red Sox have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract guaranteeing $3.85 million, a deal that includes an $8 million team option for 2026.

Jarren DuranDuran gets a $3.75 million salary for this year, and the option has a $100,000 buyout.

The option price would increase to $9 million if he finishes among the top 20 in MVP voting, to $10 million if he is among the top 10, to $11 million if among the top five and to $12 million if he wins the honor. If he is not among the top 20 and is picked for second team All-MLB, the option price would be $8.5 million.

He can earn $150,000 in performance bonuses this year for plate appearances: $50,000 each for 450, 500 and 550.

If he is traded, the option would be eliminated and the receiving team would owe him a $100,000 assignment bonus.

Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Duran had asked for a raise from $760,000 to $4 million and had been offered $3.5 million when figures were exchanged last week.

Duran was eighth in MVP voting last year after hitting .285 with 21 homers, 75 RBI, 34 steals, 48 doubles and 111 runs.

Fifteen players remain on track for arbitration hearings.

Bad Bunny’s “DTMF” Debuts at No. 1 on TikTok Billboard Top 50 Chart

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Bad Bunny is making major moved on TikTok…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning rapper, singer, actor and record producer’s “DTMF” becomes the first song to debut at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart since August 2024, bowing atop the January 18-dated survey.

Bad BunnyThe TikTok Billboard Top 50 is a weekly ranking of the most popular songs on TikTok in the United States based on creations, video views and user engagement. The latest chart reflects activity January 6-12. Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard charts except for the TikTok Billboard Top 50.

“DTMF” starts at No. 1 after the release of its parent album, Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, on January 5. It’s the fifth song since the ranking’s inception to debut atop the tally, following FamousSally and YB’s “Wassup Gwayy” (September 23, 2023), Playboi Carti’s “Sky” (Oct. 7, 2023), Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do for Love” (February 24, 2024) and Clean Bandit’s “Symphony,” featuring Zara Larsson (August 31, 2024).

It’s also Bad Bunny’s first No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50, which began in September 2023.

His previous best, “Monaco,” peaked at No. 5 in November 2023

“DTMF” benefits from uploads referencing the song’s lyrics (DTMF is an acronym for the album’s title), with users lamenting the losses of relatives, pets and relationships with photos and videos of their own. Bad Bunny himself posted a video on TikTok reacting to the trend.

“DTMF” concurrently debuts at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 despite just five days of tracking (January 5-9), earning 11 million official U.S. streams in that span, according to Luminate. It’s expected to sport a sizable gain on the Billboard charts dated January 25 (Jan. 10-16), following its first full week of tracking.

Justina Machado to Star in Broadway Production “Real Women Have Curves: The Musical”

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Justina Machado is preparing to take on a curvy new role on Broadway.

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican SAG Award-winning actress and Broadway newcomer Tatianna Córdoba have been cast as the leads in the upcoming Broadway production Real Women Have Curves: The Musical.

Justina MachadoCórdoba will make her debut starring as ambitious high school senior Ana Garcia (a role that marked America Ferrera’s breakout debut in the 2002 HBO film).

Starring alongside her will be Machado as Carmen Garcia, Ana’s hardworking mother who imagines a traditional life for her daughter.

Real Women Have Curves: The Musical is set to begin previews on April 1 at the James Earl Jones Theatre ahead of an opening night on April 27.

The official synopsis: It’s the summer of 1987, and Ana Garcia dreams of flying away from East Los Angeles. But when her family receives a make-or-break order for 200 dresses, Ana finds herself juggling her own ambitions, her mother’s expectations, and a community of women all trying to make it work against the odds.

The production also announced the full creative team for the Broadway run, which will feature direction & choreography by Sergio Trujillo, music and lyrics by Joy Huerta and composer/lyricist Benjamin Velez, book by Lisa Loomer with Nell Benjamin, and music supervision by Nadia DiGiallonardo.

The production will also feature music direction by Roberto Sinha, scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Wilberth Gonzalez and Paloma Young, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by John Shivers, video design by Hana S. Kim, and hair, wig, and make-up design by Krystal Balleza.

The musical is based on the play by Josefina López and HBO’s Real Women Have Curves (screenplay by Josefina López and George LaVoo). American Repertory Theater (A.R.T) at Harvard University produced the musical’s world premiere in 2023.

Machado’s previous credits include the television programs One Day at a Time, Queen of the South and Devious Maids, as well as the films The Purge: Anarchy and Final Destination 2.