Suarez Inks Production Deal with Universal Television

Flody Suarez is going Universal

The Latino producer and former NBC executive and his producing partner Jeffrey Seller have signed a production deal with Universal Television.

Flody Suarez

“Jeffrey’s spectacular track record on Broadway and his knack for finding and nurturing brilliant new talent, such as the creative forces behind Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights and Hamilton, is nothing short of remarkable,” NBC Entertainment and Universal Television chairman Bob Greenblatt said. “There is more and more cross-pollination these days from theater to television, especially at NBC, and we’re excited to see where he and Flody’s instincts and talent relationships will go in the world of television.”

Under Greenblatt, who has strong theater ties and has been involved in a number of Broadway productions, including Hamilton in which he is an investor, theater has had significant presence on NBC. That includes the series Smash as well as live stagings of The Sound of Music, Peter PanThe Wiz Live and the upcoming Hairspray and A Few Good Men.

This marks Suarez’s return to NBC where he was a vice president of development, working on such shows as ER and Just Shoot Me. He is currently a consultant on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and recently consulted for Sony on NBC’s drama The Blacklist.

He has produced several television series, including 8 Simple Rules, The Tick and The Book of Daniel.

Lopez to Provide Original Songs for Disney’s “Frozen”

Robert Lopez is preparing to experience the wonderful world of Disney

The 37-year-old composer and lyricist—who has won three Tony Awards for his first two Broadway musicals, Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon—and his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez will be bringing their musical talents to Walt Disney Animation’s upcoming animated film Frozen.

Robert Lopez

The film, loosely based on 1845′s The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, will feature original songs by the musically inclined couple, which worked on Disney’s 2011 Winnie the Pooh.

Idina Menzel, who won a Tony award for originating the role of misunderstood Elphaba in Broadway’s Wicked, will play the Snow Queen in Frozen, while Kristen Bell will co-star as Anna, a young girl who ventures to find Menzel’s character and end the perpetual winter that has befallen their mythical kingdom, according to the studio.

The Snow Queen

Still uncast in the movie is the role of the leading man, Kristoff, a mountain climber who leads Anna on her quest through snowy peaks and dangerous cliffs to find the legendary Snow Queen.

The digitally animated feature will open in November 2013.