Tag Archives: Darren Criss

Chita Rivera Among the Stars Taking Part in Fundraising Concert for Joe Biden, “In Our America: A Concert for the Soul of the Nation”

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Chita Rivera is Biden her time before the upcoming presidential election…

The 87-year-old half-Puerto Rican Broadway star will be among the stars of the Great White Way who’ll stage a fundraising concert for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, with plans to stream the event on October 21.

Chita Rivera

The event, which starts at 8:00 pm ET, is organized by the group Broadway for Biden and is called In Our America: A Concert for the Soul of the Nation, with donations going to the Biden Victory Fund.

In addition to Rivera, the lineup of the concert includes Derrick Baskin, Laura Benanti, Victoria Clark, Glenn Close, Chuck Cooper, Darren Criss, André De Shields, Renée Elise Goldsberry, John Goodman, Jayne Houdyshell, Jennifer Hudson, James Monroe Iglehart, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Norman Lear, Norm Lewis, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Rita Moreno, Karen Olivo, Ashley Park, Steven Pasquale, Carrie Preston, Kelani Queypo, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Phillipa Soo, Ephraim Sykes, BD Wong, the Broadway Dreams Foundation Choir, and the casts of Six and KPOP.

Liesl Tommy, director of the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic Respect (with Hudson in the lead role), will direct the show. Tommy is the executive producer along with Julie Boardman, Nolan Doran, Halle Morse, and Jennifer Mudge.

The concert will stream on YouTube via news publisher NowThis, on Facebook via Broadway for Biden and NowThis, and on Broadway Unlocked.

In a statement, Tommy said, “It is a tremendous honor to direct this incredible collective of performers and artists, who are coming together to amplify the promise of Broadway and a nation that are future-looking, accessible, and deeply inclusive.”

The evening will include original material, stagings of musical numbers that have never been seen, and previews of productions bound for Broadway. Among those contributing are Chad Beguelin, Tony Kushner, Lynn Nottage, Robert O’Hara, Stacey Rose, Aurin Squire, DeLanna Studi, Paula Vogel and John Waters.

Christopher Gattelli, Lorin Latarro, Ray Mercer, and Abbey O’Brien will provide original choreography, with music direction by Jason Michael Webb. Chris Boardman and Charlie Rosen will provide orchestrations. Sean McLaughlin will serve as director of photography and Grady Bowman will be associate choreographer.

The event is in the vein of a fundraiser in 2012 for Barack Obama’s reelection campaign, called Barack on Broadway, that was produced by Margo Lion and others.

Tony Revolori to Appear Opposite Darren Criss in Quibi’s “Royalties”

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Tony Revoloriis earning royalties…

The 23-year-old Guatemalan American actor has signed on for a recurring role opposite executive producer/co-writer Darren Criss and Kether Donohue in Quibi’s Royalties. 

Tony Revolori

Royalties isa satirical take on the oft-untold story of songwriters behind the world’s biggest hits. It follows the ascent of a ragtag songwriting duo – Sara (Donohue) and Pierce (Criss) – as they navigate the strange and hilarious challenges of creating a truly great song, week after week.

Each episode will feature real-life entertainment personalities portraying fictitious (and ridiculous) music stars, along with original songs penned by Criss.

No details were provided about Revolori’s role.

Production is currently underway in Los Angeles.

Revolori played Flash Thompson in Spider-Man: Far from Home and starred as Zero the Lobby Boy in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. His credits also include The Long Dumb Road, Table 19 and Low Riders.

FX to Premiere Edgar Ramirez’s Limited Series “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” in January

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Edgar Ramirez will be in fashion this January…

FX has slotted Wednesday, January 17, 10:00 pm ET for the premiere of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, starring the 40-year-old Venezuelan actor.

It’s the second installment of the acclaimed limited series from Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.

Edgar Ramirez as Gianni Versace

The 10-episode Versace series examines the shocking July 1997 assassination of Gianni Versace (portrayed by Ramirez) on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion by sociopath and serial killer Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss).

Penelope Cruz and Ricky Martin also star.

Tom Rob Smith penned the script and Murphy directs the premiere episode. The series is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.

Versace was initially scheduled to air after the Katrina installment of the limited series, which tells the story of America’s response to the devastating 2005 storm, but Versace was much farther along in production and Katrina was pushed to early 2018.

FX’s first ACS installment The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story received 22 Emmy nominations and won nine Emmys among a slew of awards.

Martin to Star in Ryan Murphy’s FX Limited Series “Versace: American Crime Story”

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Ricky Martin is bracing for a life of American Crime…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actor has been cast in Versace: American Crime Story, the third installment in the FX limited series from Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.

Ricky Martin

Martin, who starred on ABC’s General Hospital back in 1994-1995, will co-star opposite Édgar Rarmirez, Penélope Cruz and Darren Criss.

The 10-episode Versace examines the shocking July 1997 assassination of Gianni Versace (Ramirez) on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion by sociopath and serial killer Andrew Cunanan (Criss).

Martin will play Versace’s longtime partner Antonio D’Amico; Cruz plays Versace’s sister Donatella.

This is a reunion for Martin and Murphy, who first cast the Latin music superstar in an episode of his Fox series Glee.

Versace, from Fox 21 and FX Productions, is based on the book Vulgar Favors by Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth.

Tom Rob Smith is writing the first two and multiple subsequent episodes, and Murphy, who received an Emmy nomination for directing the opening episode of The People v. O.J. Simpson, will direct the first hour.

Versace will begin production later this month in Los Angeles and Miami for a 2018 premiere. It will follow the second installment in the franchise, Katrina: American Crime Story.

American Crime Story’s core producing team — Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, all Emmy winners for People v O.J. Simpson as Best Limited Series — executive produce Versace alongside Smith.

Martin has sold more than 70 million albums and has done runs on Broadway in Evita and Les Miserables. The “Livin’ la Vida Loca” singer’s most recent 10th studio album, 2015’s A Quien Quiera Escuchar, won Best Latin Pop Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards.

A dedicated global advocate for tolerance via his Ricky Martin Foundation, Martin can be seen in Las Vegas at his residency at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino.

Cruz to Portray Donatella Versace in Ryan Murphy’s “Versace: American Crime Story”

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Penélope Cruz will be making her U.S. television debut in style…

The 42-year-old Spanish actress will star as Donatella Versace, the sister of murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace, in Versace: American Crime Story, the third installment in the Emmy-winning anthology series from Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.

Penelope Cruz

Donatella is a central character in Versace, with the role attracting A-list actresses looking to work with Murphy.

Cruz will star opposite Edgar Ramirez and Darren Criss in the 10-episode limited series, which examines the shocking July 1997 assassination of Gianni (Ramirez) on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion by sociopath and serial killer Andrew Cunanan (Criss).

Versace, from Fox 21 and FX Productions., is based on the book Vulgar Favors by Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth. Tom Rob Smith is writing the first two and multiple subsequent episodes, and Murphy, who received an Emmy nomination for directing the opening episode of The People v. O.J. Simpson, will direct the first hour.

Versace will begin production in April in Los Angeles and Miami for a 2018 premiere. It will follow the second installment in the franchise, Katrina: American Crime Story.

This marks the U.S. television debut for Cruz, who won an Oscar in 2009 for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. In 2016, she finished production on Escobar and Murder on the Orient Express.

Perez & Fellow Broadway Stars Sing DNC Tribute to Victims of Gun Violence

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Rosie Perez is sharing the love at the Democratic National Convention…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican actress, community activist, talk show host, author, dancer and choreographer joined fellow Broadway stars Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel and others to promote peace and support Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Broadway Stars at DNC

Perez and the gang performed their charity single “What the World Needs Now is Love“ as a tribute to victims of gun violence during the D.N.C. on Wednesday (July 27).

Performers included Ben Vereen, Darren Criss, Brian Stokes Mitchell, with each getting a chance to sing the classic song written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, inciting the audience to join arms and sing along in unity.

The joyous performance also included Kristen Bell, Debra Messing, Richard Kind and Stephanie J. Block, Tyne Daly and more.

Michele at the Center of the Sixth and Final Season of an Ohio-Based “Glee”

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It looks like Lea Michele’s heading back to the beginning…

The 27-year-old part-Spanish actress and Glee star will be returning to Ohio for the Fox musical dramedy’s sixth and final season.

Lea Michele

The truncated season will revolve around Michele’s character Rachel Berry, who returns to Lima after a “humiliating failure” as a television actress.

The former New Directions star will head back home to figure out what she wants to do next and, after discovering that Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) has disbanded the glee club, undertakes the task of reinstating and leading the group that helped launch her career.

Meanwhile, Blaine (Darren Criss), Sam (Chord Overstreet) and Will (Matthew Morrison) have all found new and surprising gigs in Ohio.

Fox notes that other McKinley High alums will also return for Glee‘s final run.

Michele, Criss, Overstreet, Lynch and Morrison will all return as series regulars and be joined by Chris Colfer (Kurt), Dot-Marie Jones (Coach Beiste), Kevin McHale (Artie) and Amber Riley (Mercedes).

Naya Rivera will return with a reduced role. Max Adler has also booked a major recurring role in the final season, reprising his role as Dave Karofsky.

Co-creator Ryan Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter at the Emmys on Monday that he doesn’t currently know what the final scene of the series will be. “I did. I don’t anymore, but I think it will be emotional,” he said.

Murphy told reporters in April that the final season would feature a time jump and focus more on the original castmembers, shifting the focus from its previous relocated home in New York.

 

“The final season is really its own story and its own location, and while the New York stuff will be alive, the final season is not New York-centric at all,” Murphy said. “It really [will be] a lovely, fitting season that … dwells on the original people that were on the show and what happens to them and how they give back. That really is the last season. … We’ll revisit some of the new kids that came and went. There’s a return of the Jane-Matt characters in a big way. It’s really interesting, a very sweet, satisfying ending to the story.”

 

Murphy’s original vision for the end of the series featured Rachel and Finn’s (the late Cory Monteith) “star-crossed lovers getting together and having a happy ending and them both getting their dreams.” He added, “The fact that that can’t be is a big pain in all of our hearts.”

 

Glee‘s final season returns midseason on Fox. An exact premiere date has not yet been determined.

Michele & Darren Criss Perform “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at Taste For A Cure Benefit

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Lea Michele is doing her part offer a musical taste for the cure…

The 27-year-old part-Spanish actress/singer and her Glee co-star Darren Criss joined voices at the 19th annual “Taste For A Cure” benefit gala to help raise more than $700,000 for UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center at the Beverly Wilshire Friday night.

Lea Michele & Darren Criss

As an all-star crowd of Hollywood elite dined on a sumptuous menu paired with 14 distinguished vintages from six of France’s premier wine-making regions, Criss asked who in the audience would donate to hear Michele join him on stage for a duet.

Co-chair Dana Walden bid $5,000 and the pair performed a touching version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.

Michele voices Dorothy in the new animated Oz-inspired movie, Legends Of Oz: Dorothy’s Return.

She posted a snippet of the performance on Instagram and wrote, “And then this happened!”

In all, more than 450 guests attended the event, which also included the participation of How I Met Your Mother’s Alyson Hannigan, Community’sJoel McHale and actor/comedian Tom Papa.

Lovato Claims Four Teen Choice Awards

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It’s an extra special quinceañera for Demi Lovato…

The 20-year-old part-Mexican singer, actress and The X Factor judge proved to be the big winner at Sunday night’s Teen Choice Awards.

Demi Lovato

Lovato, who was nominated for six awards, was named Choice TV Personality – Female
 for her work on The X Factor, Choice Female Artist, Choice Single: Female Artist 
for her hit song “Heart Attack” and Candie’s Choice Style Icon.

The new hardware brings Lovato’s overall Teen Choice Award haul to 15, dating back to win for Choice TV – Breakout Star Female in 2009 for her performance on the Disney Channel’s Sonny With a Chance.

Meanwhile, Selena Gomez walked away with two awards during Sunday night’s ceremony, which was broadcast on Fox.

The 21-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress walked away with the prizes for Choice Break-Up Song 
for her hit single “Come and Get It” and Choice Female Hottie.

Other Latino winners include Glee’s Lea Michele for Choice TV Actress: Comedy, Glee newcomer Blake Jenner for Choice TV Breakout Star and Bruno Mars for Choice R&B Artist.

Fox said more than 150 million votes were cast online for the awards, which were hosted by Glee‘s Darren Criss and Pretty Little Liars’ Lucy Hale.

Here’s a look at the complete list of winners:

MOVIES

Choice Movie: Action
 “Iron Man 3”
Choice Movie Actor: Action
 Robert Downey, Jr., “Iron Man 3”
Choice Movie Actress: Action
 Anne Hathaway, “The Dark Knight Rises”
Choice Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
 “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”
Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
 Taylor Lautner, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”
Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy 
Kristen Stewart, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”
Choice Movie: Drama
 “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
Choice Movie Actor: Drama
 Logan Lerman, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
Choice Movie Actress: Drama
 Emma Watson, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
Choice Movie: Comedy
 “Pitch Perfect”
Choice Movie Actor: Comedy
 Skylar Astin, “Pitch Perfect”
Choice Movie Actress: Comedy 
Rebel Wilson, “Pitch Perfect”
Choice Movie: Romance
 “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”
Choice Movie Actor: Romance
 Robert Pattinson, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”
Choice Movie Actress: Romance 
Kristen Stewart, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”
Choice Movie Villain
 Adam DeVine, “Pitch Perfect”
Choice Movie Scene Stealer
 Kellan Lutz, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”
Choice Movie Breakout Star 
Nicholas Hoult, “Warm Bodies” 

TELEVISION

Choice TV Show: Drama
 “Pretty Little Liars”
Choice TV Actor: Drama
 Ian Harding, “Pretty Little Liars”
Choice TV Actress: Drama
 Troian Bellisario, “Pretty Little Liars”
Choice TV Show: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
 “The Vampire Diaries”
Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
 Ian Somerhalder, “The Vampire Diaries”
Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi 
Nina Dobrev, “The Vampire Diaries”
Choice TV Show: Action
 “NCIS: Los Angeles”
Choice TV Actor: Action
 LL Cool J, “NCIS: Los Angeles”
Choice TV Actress: Action 
Lucy Liu, “Elementary”
Choice TV Show: Comedy
 “Glee”
Choice TV Actor: Comedy
 Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
Choice TV Actress: Comedy
 Lea Michele, “Glee”
Choice TV: Animated Show
 “The Simpsons”
Choice TV: Reality Competition Show
 “The X Factor”
Choice TV: Reality Show
 “Keeping Up With the Kardashians”
Choice TV Villain
 Janel Parrish, “Pretty Little Liars”
Choice TV Personality – Male
 Simon Cowell, “The X Factor”
Choice TV Personality – Female 
Demi Lovato, “The X Factor”
Choice TV Female Reality Star  
The Kardashians & Jenners, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”
Choice TV Male Reality Star 
Kevin Jonas, “Married to Jonas”
Choice TV Male Scene Stealer
 Chord Overstreet, “Glee”
Choice TV Female Scene Stealer 
Miley Cyrus, “Two and a Half Men”
Choice TV Breakout Star
 Blake Jenner, “Glee”
Choice TV Breakout Show 
“The Fosters” 

MUSIC

Choice Male Artist
 Justin Bieber
Choice Female Artist 
Demi Lovato
Choice Music Group 
One Direction
Choice R&B Artist
 Bruno Mars
Choice Hip-Hop/Rap Artist 
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Choice Rock Group 
Paramore
Choice Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Artist 
David Guetta
Choice Male Country Artist
 Hunter Hayes
Choice Female Country Artist 
Taylor Swift
Choice Country Group 
Lady Antebellum
Choice Country Song
 “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift
Choice Single: Female Artist 
“Heart Attack,” Demi Lovato
Choice Single: Male Artist 
“Beauty and a Beat,” Justin Bieber, featuring Nicki Minaj
Choice Single: Group
 “Live While We’re Young,” One Direction
Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Song
 “Can’t Hold Us,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, featuring Ray Dalton
Choice Rock Song 
“Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons
Choice Love Song 
“Little Things,” One Direction
Choice Break-Up Song
 “Come and Get It,” Selena Gomez
Choice Music Breakout Artist
 Ed Sheeran
Choice Music Breakout Group
 Emblem3

FASHION

Choice Female Hottie
 Selena Gomez
Choice Male Hottie
 Harry Styles
Choice Smile 
Harry Styles

SPORTS 

Choice Female Athlete
 Gabby Douglas
Choice Male Athlete
 David Beckham

OTHER

Choice Comedian
 Ellen DeGeneres
Choice Web Star
 Cimorelli
Choice Social Network
 Twitter
Candie’s Choice Style Icon
 Demi Lovato
Choice Twitter Personality
 Justin Bieber

Lovato to Present and Perform at This Weekend’s Teen Choice Awards

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It will be quite a busy night for Demi Lovato at Sunday’s Teen Choice Awards…

Not only is the 20-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress nominated for six awards, The X Factor judge is also set to take the stage as a performer and presenter.

Demi Lovato

Lovato will perform her latest single “Made in the USA,” a patriotic love song that appears on her fourth studio album Demi.

Lovato took to Twitter to share the exciting news to her fans. “It’s truuue!! I’m performing #MadeInTheUSA on the Teen Choice Awards!! Tune in to Fox on Sun. and get it on iTunes!!” she wrote.

It’ll mark her first live appearance after taking a brief break to get her tonsils removed last month. She’ll join previously-announced performers One Direction, Paramore and Florida Georgia Line.

In addition, Lovato and X Factor finalists Fifth Harmony, will present the Acuvue Inspire Award, which will be given to an inspirational celebrity who has used his or her fame over the past year to make a difference in teens’ lives.

Lovato is nominated in several key categories, including Choice Female Artist, Choice Single: Female, Choice Female Hottie and Choice Smile.

Hosted by Darren Criss and Lucy Hale, this year’s Teen Choice Awards will have stars like Bella Thorne, Nina Dobrev, Ashton Kutcher, Ashley Benson, Liam Hemsworth, Lily Collins and Chloe Moretz presenting the awards.

The 2013 Teen Choice Awards will air live on Sunday, August 11 at 8:00 pm on Fox.