“Take Me Out,” Featuring Hiram Delgado, to Open on Broadway in April 2021

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Hiram Delgado is getting in the game…

The Latino actor will star in Broadway’s Take Me Out, which will open on April 22, 2021, with previews beginning March 22.

Delgado will star alongside Patrick J. Adams, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jesse Williams in The Second Stage Theater‘s staging of the Richard Greenberg play.

Take Me Outis directed by Scott Ellis.

In addition to Delgado, Adams, Ferguson and Williams, Take Me Out, at the Second Stage’s Hayes Theater, will feature Julian Cihi, Brandon J. Dirden, Carl Lundstedt, Ken Marks, Michael Oberholtzer, Eduardo Ramos and Tyler Lansing Weaks.

Take Me Out, first staged on Broadway in 2003, follows a New York baseball team called the Empires. When Darren Lemming (Williams), the star center fielder, comes out as gay, the reception off the field reveals a barrage of long-held unspoken prejudices. As Second Stage describes it, “Darren is forced to contend with the challenges of being a gay person of color within the confines of a classic American institution. As the Empires struggle to rally toward a championship season, the players and their fans begin to question tradition, their loyalties, and the price of victory.”

The full creative team for Take Me Out includes scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Linda Cho, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and sound design by Fitz Patton.

It’s the latest production targeting a Spring opening after being interrupted or postponed this year due to Broadway’s COVID-19 shutdown.

The production had been scheduled to begin previews on April 2, 2020 and officially open on April 23, 2020.

Wilson Cruz to Executive Produce Apple’s New LGBTQ-Themed Docuseries “Visible: Out On Television”

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Wilson Cruzis bringing out the visible…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican actor and gay rights activist will executive produce Apple’s new docuseries Visible: Out On Television to its growing slate of original series on Apple TV+.

The five-part television event shines a spotlight on how the LGBTQ movement shaped television and comes from Emmy-nominated filmmakers Ryan White and Jessica Hargrave.

Visible: Out on Televisioninvestigates the importance of television as a medium that has shaped the American conscience, and how the LGBTQ movement influenced what we watch on TV.

Each hour-long episode will explore themes like invisibility, homophobia, the evolution of the LGBTQ character, and coming out in the television industry.

The docuseries includes archival footage as well as interviews with key players from the movement and the screen.

Visible will feature Janet Mock, Margaret Cho, Asia Kate Dillon, Neil Patrick Harris and Lena Waithe as narrators. It will also include never-before-seen interviews with Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, Anderson Cooper, Billy Porter, Rachel Maddow, Don Lemon, Sara Ramirez, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, among others in the community.

In addition to Cruz, the docuseries will be executive produced by Wanda Sykes.

Visible: Out On Television willdebut on February 14, 2020, exclusively on Apple TV+.

Cruz is known for playing Rickie Vasquez on My So-Called Life, and Angel in the Broadway tour production of Rent. His other credits include Star Trek: Discovery, Noah’s Arc, and Party of Five.

ABC Renews Sofia Vergara’s “Modern Family” for 11th and Final Season

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Vergara’s extending her Family time…

ABC has picked up its flagship comedy series Modern Family, starring the 46-year-old Colombian actress, for an eleventh and final season.

The Emmy-winning family comedy will reportedly consist of at least 18 episodes, and could expand to 22 episodes, according to Deadline.com/

Modern Family’s renewal was all but assured when the original adult cast, stars Ed O’Neill, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Vergara, agreed to new deals in December with producing studio 20th Century Fox Televisionto return.

Since then, the studio also has signed co-creators/executive producers Steve Levitanand Christopher Lloydfor another season, and also has made new deals with the original child actors — now all young adults — Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould and Rico Rodriguez.

Ten seasons in, Modern Family remains ABC’s top rated comedy (2.1 adults 18-49 rating in Live+3) and second highest rated series on the network only behind Grey’s Anatomy (tied with The Good Doctor, The Bachelorand The Conners).

“Chris and Steve have created one of the most seminal and iconic comedies in television history,” said Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment. “In its final season, there will be more milestone events that anyone who has been a fan of the series won’t want to miss.”

A five-time Emmy winner for Outstanding Comedy Series, Modern Family stars O’Neill as Jay Pritchett, Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Vergara as Gloria Pritchett, Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett, Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker, Hyland as Haley Dunphy, Gould as Luke Dunphy, Winter as Alex Dunphy, Rodriguez as Manny Delgado, Aubrey Anderson-Emmonsas Lily Tucker-Pritchett and Jeremy Maguireas Joe Pritchett.

“For 10 years, our characters have bravely faced turning points in life and moved through them to great personal enrichment; we have chosen a different path by doing one more season of Modern Family,” said Lloyd.

Added Levitan, “Even after 10 years together, we realized there are still some things our writers don’t yet know about each other’s sex lives.”

Rico Rodriguez Re-Ups for Two More Seasons on ABC’s “Modern Family” with a Big Pay Increase

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Rico Rodriguez will be making bigger bank deposits soon…

After lengthy on-and off-negotiations, the original children’s cast of ABC’s flagship comedy Modern Family, including the 18-year-old Mexican American actor, has been locked in for two more years by 20th Century Fox Television with new contracts that include salary increases.

The studio turned its attention to securing Rodriguez and his fellow kid castmates after closing new two-year deals with stars Ed O’Neill, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Sofia Vergara in May that paved the way for a two-year Modern Family renewal by ABC.

Like with their older co-stars, who secured salary increases of over 40%, from about $350,000 an episode in the most recent Season 8 to about $500,000 in Season 9, the young actors scored significant pay increases that take them over $100,000 an episode.

The re-ups for Rodriguez, who plays plays Gloria’s (Vergara) wise-beyond-his-years son Manny, and the younger cast members keep the entire original cast of Modern Family, whose contracts were up after Season 8, intact for the upcoming ninth and tenth seasons of the Emmy-winning comedy series.

Production on Season 9 is slated to begin in early August.

Ferrera Among Celebrities Appearing in A Capella Video in Support of Hillary Clinton

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrera is fighting for Hillary Clinton…

The 32-year-old Honduran American actress appears in a special Elizabeth Banks-produced a cappella music video in support of the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States.

In a nod to the Pitch Perfect films she produces, Banks, along with Bruce Cohen and Mike Thompkins, recruited a long list of Hollywood actors and singers, including the former Ugly Betty star, for an a cappella version of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song.”

In addition to Ferrera, other Hollywood elit appearing in the video include Eva Longoria, Kristin Chenoweth, Rob Reiner, Mandy Moore, Alan Cumming, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Idina Menzel, Renee Fleming, Aisha Tyler, Jane Fonda, Sheryl Crow and, at the very end, Sia with a loud and proud, “Go Hillary.”

Miranda Appears in james Corden’s Broadway-Themed “Carpool Karaoke” Segment

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is (car)poolin’ around…

Late Late Show star James Corden, the host for the upcoming Tony Awards, brought the 36-year-old Puerto Rican Broadway star along for his latest Carpool Karaoke segment.

Dedicated to The Great White Way, Corden called on Miranda, Audra McDonald, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jane Krakowski to help get him through city traffic.

While navigating Manhattan, they sang tunes from Miranda’s Tony Award-nominated musical Hamilton, Les Misérables and other Broadway productions.

The video has already garnered more than 2.4 million views on YouTube.

Colón-Zayas Wins Lortel Award for “Between Riverside and Crazy”

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Liza Colón-Zayas has a Crazy reason to celebrate…

The Puerto Rican actress, married to actor David Zayas, has won the Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Between Riverside and Crazy, which was named outstanding play.

The Lortels, now 30 years old, are underwritten by the Lucille Lortel Foundation and are named for the late owner of the former Theatre De Lys, now the Lucille Lortel, on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village.

Along with the Village Voice Obie Awards, the Lortels are focused on plays that open in New York City outside the 40-theater Broadway district.

Meanwhile, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway-bound musical Hamilton, which is heading uptown for a summer opening after a sold-out run at the Public Theater, took home10 awards, including outstanding musical. The book, music and lyrics were written by the In The Heights creator.

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican composer, rapper, lyricist, and actor, a Tony Award, Grammy and Emmy winner, was named Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for his performance in Hamilton.

The awards in 18 categories, plus three special honors, were presented Sunday night at New York University’s Skirball Center during a ceremony hosted by Emmy nominated actors Anna Chlumsky and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Here’s a look at the winners:

Outstanding Play: Between Riverside and Crazy
Outstanding Musical: Hamilton
Outstanding Revival: Into the Woods
Outstanding Solo Show: Josephine and I
Outstanding Director: Thomas Kail, Hamilton
Outstanding Choreographer: Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play: Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play: Tonya Pinkins, Rasheeda Speaking
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical: Phillipa Soo, Hamilton
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play: Jacob Ming-Trent, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: Liza Colón-Zayas, Between Riverside and Crazy
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Outstanding Scenic Design: Jan Versweyveld, Scenes From a Marriage
Outstanding Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, Hamilton
Outstanding Lighting Design: Howell Binkley, Hamilton
Outstanding Sound Design: Nevin Steinberg, Hamilton

Special Awards:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Terrence McNally
Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee Jeanine Tesori
Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award: Nancy Nagel Gibbs

Rodriguez to Appear on NBC’s “Running Wild With Bear Grylls”

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez is running wild…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican-American actress and Fast and Furious star will appear on Season 2 of NBC’s Running Wild With Bear Grylls.

Rodriguez, a self-confessed tomboy, will join famed survivalist Bear Grylls for two days for a one-on-one adventure to be filmed for the popular summer adventure series. No word yet on Rodriguez’s exploration.

Along with Rodriguez, other actors and athletes appearing in Season 2 include Kate Winslet, Kate Hudson, Drew Brees, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed Helms, James Marsden and Michael B. Jordan will also join Grylls for an episode, according to the network.

Each of the actors and athletes will partner with Grylls for two days for a one-on-one adventure, tackling everything from skydiving to repelling as they journey through some of the world’s most unforgiving wildernesses.

This season will take viewers from the jungles of Panama to the far reaches of the Italian Alps and then to the Colorado Rocky Mountains and the Red Rocks of Utah.

Vergara & Her “Modern Family” Castmates Earn Third-Straight SAG Award…

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Hollywood first for Sofia Vergara…

The 40-year-old Colombian actress, her on-screen son Rico Rodriguez and the rest of the cast of ABC’s Modern Family picked up the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series during Sunday’s televised awards show.

It’s the third consecutive win for the Modern Family cast in the comedy ensemble category, putting them in elite company with the only other three-time winning comedy Seinfeld.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson gave the acceptance speech for the group and thanked the show’s competitors including “Big Bang Ratings – er, Theory.” He thanked the departing casts of 30 Rock and The Office, saying he hoped the Modern Family cast could be “half as brilliant and smart and wonderful as you are.” And he joked that his entire cast is indebted to the Screen Actors Guild, except Ed O’Neill and Vergara “who I think has a development deal.”

The 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were televised on TNT and TBS live from the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. The Screen Actors Guild Award — ‘The Actor’ — is presented for outstanding performances in motion pictures and primetime television. The winners for performances in 2012 including the distinctive ensemble awards are chosen by two separate film and television nominating panels, each comprised of 2,100 members from across the United States that were randomly selected this spring.

Here’s a look at the Modern Family cast:

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS / Lily Tucker-Pritchett
JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON / Mitchell Pritchett
NOLAN GOULD / Luke Dunphy
SARAH HYLAND / Haley Dunphy
ED O’NEILL / Jay Pritchett
RICO RODRIGUEZ / Manny Delgado
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
ARIEL WINTER / Alex Dunphy

“Modern Family” Star Rodriguez Gets a Hefty Raise

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Rico Rodriguez will be mucho más rico this year…

The 14-year-old Latino actor and Modern Family scene-stealer has reportedly finalized a deal that would triple his current salary.

Rodriguez—who gave a memorable acceptance speech at the SAG Awards after picking up the coveted trophy for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series—Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould and Ariel Winter are set to earn approximately $70,000 per episode, according to Deadline.com.

The Modern Family children started renegotiating their contracts the day after their adult counterparts reached an agreement with 20th Century Fox, which produces the Emmy-winning series for ABC.

The negotiations for Modern Family’s adult stars Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet resulted in a missed table read for the upcoming Season 4 premiere episode and a lawsuit filed by all five actors.

Vergara and her adult co-stars, who were originally each making $65,000 an episode, are now making in the $170,000-$180,000 range with year-to-year increases and a portion of the show’s back-end.

The new season of Modern Family premieres on Wednesday, September 26 at 9:00 pm ET on ABC.

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