Lindsay Mendez is having an Outer this world moment…
The Outer Critics Circle has named announced its award winners, with the 40-year-old half-Mexican American Tony Award-winning actress coming away with one prize.
Mendez was named Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off Broadway Musical for her performance in Merrily We Roll Along.
The Circle is made up of writers on New York theater for out-of-town newspapers and national publication.
In all, Some Like It Hottopped the winners list with five, in all – with Leopoldstadtcoming in second with three awards.
Winners of the 72nd Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards will be honored at a ceremony on Thursday, May 25 at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center’s New York Public Library for The Performing Arts.
Here’s the complete list of winners:
Outstanding New Broadway Musical Some Like It Hot
Outstanding New Broadway Play Leopoldstadt
Outstanding New Off Broadway Musical The Harder They Come
Outstanding New Off Broadway Play Downstate
John Gassner Award for New American Play (Preferably by a New Playwright) Fat Ham by James Ijames
Outstanding Revival of a Play (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Topdog/Underdog
Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) Parade
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical Harrison Ghee – Some Like It Hot
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical Alex Newell – Shucked
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play Sean Hayes – Good Night, Oscar
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play Brandon Uranowitz – Leopoldstadt
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off Broadway Play Bill Irwin – Endgame
Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off Broadway Play Todd Freeman – Downstate
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off Broadway Musical Jonathan Groff – Merrily We Roll Along
Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off Broadway Musical Lindsay Mendez – Merrily We Roll Along
Outstanding Solo Performance Jodie Comer – Prima Facie
Outstanding New Score Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman – Some Like It Hot
Outstanding Book of a Musical Robert Horn – Shucked
Outstanding Scenic Design (Play or Musical) Beowulf Boritt – New York, New York
Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) Gregg Barnes – Some Like it Hot
Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) Tim Lutkin – Life of Pi
Outstanding Sound Design (Play or Musical) Joshua D. Reid – A Christmas Carol
Outstanding Video or Projection Design (Play or Musical) Andrzej Goulding – Life of Pi
Outstanding Orchestrations Bryan Carter and Charlie Rosen – Some Like It Hot
Outstanding Director of a Musical Michael Arden – Parade
Outstanding Choreography Susan Stroman – New York, New York
Outstanding Director of a Play Patrick Marber – Leopoldstadt
Special Achievement Award B.H. Barry, one of the world’s foremost fight directors, in recognition of a distinguished six-decade career capped off with Camelot at Lincoln Center Theater.
Lindsay Mendez will be rolling along in September…
The upcoming Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Merrily We Roll Along starring the 40-year-old half-Mexican American actress and singer, Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff will play its first performance at the Hudson Theatre on Tuesday, September 19, producers have announced.
Directed by Maria Friedman, the production played a sold-out Off Broadway run at New York Theatre Workshop last year. The preview date for the strictly limited, 18-week Broadway engagement was announced by producers Sonia Friedman Productions, David Babani, Patrick Catullo and Jeff Romley.
Merrily We Roll Along features music and lyrics by Sondheim, a book by George Furth, and is based on the original play by George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart. The revival is choreographed by Tim Jackson
In addition to the previously announced stars (Radcliffe will play Charley Kringas; Groff, Franklin Shepard; and Mendez, Mary Flynn), the production will feature Krystal Joy Brown as Gussie Carnegie, Katie Rose Clarke as Beth Shepard, and Reg Rogers as Joe Josephson. The cast will also include Sherz Aletaha, Leana Rae Concepcion, Morgan Kirner, Corey Mach, Talia Robinson, Amanda Rose, Jamila Sabares-Klemm, Brian Sears, Evan Alexander Smith, Christian Strange, Koray Tarhan, Vishal Vaidya, Natalie Wachen, and Jacob Keith Watson.
Spanning three decades in the entertainment business, Merrily We Roll Along charts “the turbulent relationship between composer Franklin Shepard and his two lifelong friends — writer Mary and lyricist & playwright Charley.” The production describes the musical as an “inventive cult-classic ahead of its time” featuring such Sondheim songs as the title number, “Old Friends,” “Not a Day Goes By,” and “Our Time.”
The musical, considered one of Sondheim’s trickiest to stage due to its reverse-chronology plot, also is being developed as a film – unrelated to the Broadway production – by Richard Linklater and set to star Ben Platt, Paul Mescal and Beanie Feldstein. Like Linklater’s 2014 film Boyhood, Merrily will be filmed over the course of more than a decade.
The 39-year-old half-Mexican American actress, singer and Broadway star has been cast in the highly anticipated off-Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along.
Mendez will play Mary and Jonathan Groff will play Franklin in the project, which will begin previews at New York Theatre Workshop on November 21 ahead of an official opening night on December 12.
The run is scheduled through January 8.
With a score by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, Merrily We Roll Along is based on a play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, and features classic songs like “Old Friends,” “Not a Day Goes By,” and “Our Time.”
It tells the story of a trio of creative friends making their way in New York, and is famously told in reverse chronology.
Mendez won the “triple crown” (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards) for her performance in the 2018 Broadway revival of Carousel.
Mendez and Groff join the previously announced Daniel Radcliffe, who stars as Charley.
Presented in a special arrangement with Sonia Friedman Productions, the Menier Chocolate Factory (Artistic Director David Babani), and Patrick Catullo, Merrily We Roll Along will be directed by Maria Friedman and choreographed by Tim Jackson.
The creative team for Merrily We Roll Along will include Catherine Jayes as music supervisor and Alvin Hough, Jr. as music director, with scenic & costume design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker, and sound design by Kai Harada.
Dave Anzuelo will serve as fight & intimacy director, with Jhanaë K-C Bonnick as stage manager.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, September 21, at noon ET.
Oprah Winfrey Network announced that courtroom drama series All Rise, featuring the 39-year-old half-Mexican American actress, singer and Broadway star, will return for a third season on Tuesday, June 7 at 8:00 pm ET/PT on OWN.
The All Rise season three all-star cast includes Simone Missick as ‘Judge Lola Carmichael,’ Wilson Bethel as Judge Carmichael’s best friend, Deputy District Attorney ‘Mark Callan,’ Jessica Camacho as public defender ‘Emily Lopez,’ J. Alex Brinson as bailiff-turned-public defender ‘Luke Watkins,’ Ruthie Ann Miles as Lola’s J.A. ‘Sherri Kansky,’ Mendez as court reporter ‘Sara Castillo,’ Lindsey Gort as defense attorney ‘Amy Quinn’ and Marg Helgenberger as ‘Judge Lisa Benner.’
Recurring cast also includes Samantha Marie Ware as law clerk Vanessa “Ness” Johnson, Paul McCrane as Judge Jonas Laski, and Suzanne Cryer as Deputy District Attorney Maggie Palmer.
All Rise is a courthouse drama that follows the chaotic, hopeful, and sometimes absurd lives of its judges, prosecutors, and public defenders, as they work with bailiffs, clerks, and police to get justice for the people of Los Angeles amidst a flawed legal system. Among them is ‘Judge Lola Carmichael’ (Missick), a highly regarded and impressive former deputy district attorney who has shown she doesn’t intend to sit back on the bench, but instead leans in, pushing the boundaries and challenging the expectations of what a judge can be.
Season three of the show picks up six months after the events of the sophomore finale and will bring about new beginnings for these judges, prosecutors and public defenders. We return on election night as Judge Carmichael (Missick) awaits the results of her campaign; Emily (Camacho) returns from Puerto Rico with renewed drive and purpose about her career and Luke (Brinson) continues to shake things up through his work in the public defender’s office.
Star Wilson Bethel will make his directorial debut on an upcoming episode of the show slated to air this summer. Bethel joins fellow actor McCrane (Judge Laski) in stepping behind the lens, as McCrane will again direct an episode following the previous four he helmed in prior seasons. Bethel and McCrane join the directorial lineup including showrunner and executive Dee Harris-Lawrence, executive producer Michael M. Robin, Marie Jamora (Queen Sugar), Lionel Coleman (NCIS: New Orleans), Rob Greenlea (Madam Secretary), Neema Barnette (Black Lightning), Mo McCrae (All Rise) and David Harp (All Rise). This season, Adrian Younge (Luke Cage) joins as Composer and Natalie Montgomery returns as the Music Supervisor.
All Rise is produced by Warner Bros. Television. The series was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at both the 2021 NAACP Image Awards and the Black Reel Awards for Television in 2020.
The first two seasons of All Rise are available to stream on HBO Max and Hulu.
Rosie Perez is helping raise money for the people of the Ukraine…
The 57-year-old Puerto Rican Oscar-nominated actress is among an all-star roster of film, television and theater performers who’ve signed up for a 10-hour telethon to raise money for the victims of the war in Ukraine.
Entitled “Stars in the House,”the special will air on Saturday, March 26 from noon-10:00 pm Eastern.
In addition to Perez, the other celebrities scheduled to appear on the telethon include Steve Martin, Annette Bening, Billy Porter, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Chenoweth, David Hyde Pierce, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin, as well as Tituss Burgess, Kelli O’Hara, Donna Murphy, Annaleigh Ashford, Jessie Mueller, Josh Groban, Judith Light, John Stamos, Lindsay Mendez, Laura Benanti, Norman Lear, Betty Buckley, Mandy Patinkin, Rachel Bloom, Patrick Wilson, Shoshana Bean, James Monroe Iglehart, Brittney Johnson, Santino Fontana, Judy Kuhn and Norbert Leo Butz.
The event also hopes to feature Ukrainians, including Oleg Karpenko, a Ukrainian theater and film actor who co-starred with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Servant of the People.
The special can be viewed and listened to on the series’ site, the Stars in the House YouTube channel, as well as SiriusXM Stars109.
Donations made during the event will benefit the International Rescue Committee and its humanitarian efforts for those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Stars in the House is a live-streamed concert series created by SiriusXM Broadway host Seth Rudetsky and producer James Wesley that has raised over $1 million for the Actors Fund’s COVID-19 relief program and other nonprofits.
It’s just one way the theater community has tried to help Ukrainians: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS awarded $300,000 in emergency grants to ameliorate the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and a portion of ticket sales for “The Minutes” will go to Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.
OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network has closed a deal for a 20-episode third season of the Warner Bros Television-produced legal drama All Rise, starring the 38-year-old actress.
Streaming rights to the new episodes will be shared by WBTV sibling HBO Max and Hulu.
The bulk of the series’ cast, including Missick, Wilson Bethel, Camacho, J. Alex Brinson, Ruthie Ann Miles, Lindsay Mendez and Lindsey Gort, are set to return. Since the options on the actors had expired in June following the drama’s cancellation by CBS, they had to make new deals and all reportedly scored raises.
Not coming back is Marg Helgenberger, who in July was cast in NBC’s drama pilotGetaway. The door is reportedly open to Helgenberger and any other All Rise alums to appear on the new season subject to availability.
Dee Harris-Lawrence, who is also executive producer/showrunner on OWN/WBTV’s acclaimed series David Makes Man, is set to return as executive producer/showrunner of All Rise‘s third season.
All Rise follows the chaotic, hopeful and sometimes absurd lives of its judges, prosecutors and public defenders as they work with bailiffs, clerks and cops to get justice for the people of Los Angeles amidst a flawed legal process. It centers on Judge Lola Carmichael (Missick), a highly regarded and impressive deputy district attorney who doesn’t intend to sit back on the bench in her new role, but instead leans in, immediately pushing the boundaries and challenging the expectations of what a judge can be.
“All Rise has been a great performer, achieving strong ratings and growing its share from season one to two. Featuring a strong character front and center, Judge Lola Carmichael’s story reflects our audience with powerful affirmation,” said Tina Perry, president, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. “A special thanks to Warner Bros Television and our incredible showrunner and longtime partner Dee Harris-Lawrence. We can’t wait to get started on season three and bring this show back for long-standing and new fans alike.”
Negotiations between OWN and Warner Bros Television started three months after All Rise was canceled by CBS and OWN parent Discovery days later announced its plans to merge with Warner Bros’ TV parent, AT&T-owned WarnerMedia.
“We are incredibly thrilled that All Rise will be back in court, and we are so thankful to our great partners at OWN for ruling in favor of another season of this powerful drama,” said Brett Paul, President, Warner Bros Television. “Dee Harris-Lawrence and the creative team have done an incredible job of telling important stories about timely subjects which have been brought to life by Simone Missick and the show’s outstanding ensemble cast. We can’t wait for audiences to see what the All Rise team has in store for season three. And we are also grateful to our partners at HBO Max and Hulu, without whose support this would not be possible.”
The 55-year-old Uruguayan actor and former Major Crimesstar has signed on to star in The Grotto, the first feature written and directed by Tony Award-winning actress Joanna Gleason.
Del Arco will star opposite Betsy Brandt, Dan Bucatinsky, Steve Kazee and Susan Sullivan in the film.
The film centers on Alice (Brandt), who uncovers her recently deceased fiancé’s secret past when she inherits part ownership of a forgotten nightclub in the Mojave Desert.
Del Arco will play Victor, the owner of the nightclub, with Bucatinsky portraying Alice’s new best friend, Kip. The roles played by Kazee and Sullivan have not yet been disclosed.
Actors set to appear in supporting roles include Miguel Sandoval, Caroline Aaron, Michael Nouri, Amy Aquino, Lindsay Mendez (Broadway’s Carousel) and Kevin Chamberlin.
It will enter production in Los Angeles in a matter of days.
“The cast for ‘The Grotto’ is an embarrassment of riches. I have had these characters in my mind for the past few years and always believed that by some miracle, the right actors were going to show up. And they have — with big thanks to our casting directors,” said Gleason. “The chance to work with these actors led by the incomparable Betsy Brandt is a dream come true.”
Gleason’s first feature comes on the heels of several directorial outings in television. Back in the ’90s, she helmed episodes of the series Love & War(CBS), The Louie Show(CBS) and Oh Baby(Lifetime).
The 39-year-old part-Spanish America actor will perform at Show of Titles, a special livestreamed musical event next month benefiting The Actors Fund.
Fontana joins a lineup of nearly 30 stars – from Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, Darren Criss, Kelsey Grammar and David Alan Grier to Jake Gyllenhaal, Joshua Henry and Phillipa Soo – who will perform title songs from more than 20 musicals.
The event will feature title songs of Broadway musicals spanning nine decades, from “Lady Be Good” to “The Light in the Piazza.”
The line-up also includes Annaleigh Ashford, Len Cariou, Isabelle Huppert, Norm Lewis, Rob McClure, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Melba Moore, Jessie Mueller, Eva Noblezada, Kelli O’Hara, Laura Osnes, Steven Pasquale, Michael Rupert, Ernie Sabella, Lea Salonga, Will Swenson, Aaron Tveit, Leslie Uggams, Vanessa Williams and Patrick Wilson.
Making special appearances will be Broadway Inspirational Voices, Candice Bergen, Danny Burstein, Bryan Cranston, Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Angela Lansbury, John Lithgow, Lindsay Mendez, Phylicia Rashad, Ben Vereen, BD Wong and Florian Zeller.
Conceived by Broadway’s Best Shows producer Jeffrey Richards, Show of Titles will be directed by Lonny Price, with music direction by Jason Howland, and livestreamed on June 8, 8:00 pm ET on Stellar for a limited time only.
Tickets went on sale May 17 for $29 ($39 starting May 21), with all sales donated to The Actor’s Fund.
Composers represented include Lee Adams, Maxwell Anderson, Burt Bacharach, Irving Berlin, Jerry Bock, Bertolt Brecht, Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, Joe Darion, Hal David, Fred Ebb, Gary Geld, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Adolph Green, Adam Guettel, Oscar Hammerstein, Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Herman, John Kander, Burton Lane, Mitch Leigh, Alan Jay Lerner, Frank Loesser, Frederick Loewe, Galt MacDermot, Cole Porter, James Rado,Gerome Ragni, Richard Rodgers, Charles Strouse, Jule Styne, Peter Udell and Kurt Weill.
Rosa Salazar is coming undone for a special preview…
The 34-year-old Latina actress is set to appear at the Paley Center for Media’s 13th annual PaleyFest Fall TV Previews.
The fest will take place on September 5-15 at the Paley Centerin Beverly Hills and feature new shows from the fall 2019 television season as well as returning favorites from broadcast, cable and streaming services.
As an added bonus, the Paley Center in New York will host free PaleyFest Fall TV Previews screenings on September 6-8.
The event will feature screenings of new shows like Salazar’s Amazon series Undone, which will have its special screening on Friday, September 6, 2019. Salazar will then participate in a conversation with fellow cast members Angelique Cabral and Constance Marie, as well as series creators and executive producers Kate Purdy & Raphael Bob-Waksberg, and director Hisko Hulsing.
Undone, an adult animated dramedy series, explores “the elastic nature of reality” through its central character, Alma (Salazar). After getting into a near fatal car accident, Alma discovers she has a new relationship with time and uses this ability to find out the truth about her father’s death.
But Salazar, Cabral and Constance Marie aren’t the only Hispanic talent scheduled to appear.
Jessica Camacho and Lindsay Mendez are scheduled to appear alongside their All Risecast mates on Thursday, September 12.
Hailing from CBS, the legal dramatakes a look inside the chaotic, hopeful and sometimes absurd lives of judges, prosecutors and public defenders as they work with bailiffs, clerks and cops to get justice for the people of Los Angeles amidst a flawed legal process.
Meanwhile, Izabella Alvarez, Carlos Alazraqui and Sonia Manzano will appear on the panel for Nickelodeon’s animated series The Casagrandes preview screening and conversation on Sunday, September 15.
A spin-off of The Loud House created by Chris Savino, The Casagrandes centers on Ronnie Anne and Bobby Santiago as they adjust to their new life in Great Lakes City where they now live with their big, loving and chaotic multi-generational Casagrande family.
Here’s the complete lineup:
NBC Presents Perfect Harmony, Sunnyside and Bluff City Law Thursday, September 5, 2019 6 PM: Preview reception 7 PM: Perfect Harmony screening and conversation
Featured talent from Perfect Harmony includes: Bradley Whitford – Executive Producer, “Arthur Cochran” Anna Camp, “Ginny” Will Greenberg, “Wayne” Geno Segers, “Dwayne” Tymberlee Hill, “Adams Adams” Rizwan Manji, “Reverend Jax” Spencer Allport, “Cash” Lesley Wake Webster, Executive Producer/Creator/Writer Jason Winer, Executive Producer/Director Adam Anders, Executive Producer Jon Radler, Executive Producer
Amazon Presents Undone: Friday, September 6, 2019 6 PM: Preview reception 7 PM: Screening and conversation
Featured talent from Undone includes: Rosa Salazar, “Alma” Angelique Cabral, “Becca” Constance Marie, “Camila” Kate Purdy, Creator & Executive Producer Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Creator & Executive Producer Hisko Hulsing, Director
Spectrum Originals Presents Mad About You: Saturday, September 7, 2019 1 PM: Preview reception 1:30 PM: Preview screening and conversation
Featured talent from Mad About You includes: Helen Hunt, “Jamie Buchman” Paul Reiser, “Paul Buchman”
The CW Presents Batwoman, Nancy Drew, and Katy Keene: Saturday, September 7, 2019 6 PM: Preview reception 6:30 PM: Nancy Drew preview screening and conversation 7:45 PM: Batwoman preview screening and conversation
Featured talent from Nancy Drew includes: Kennedy McMann, “Nancy Drew” Scott Wolf, “Carson Drew” Additional talent for Nancy Drew and Katy Keene to be announced
Fox Presents Almost Family, Prodigal Son, and Bless the Harts: Monday, September 9, 2019 6 PM: Preview reception 7 PM: Almost Family preview screening and conversation
Featured talent from Almost Family to be announced
Hulu Presents Wu-Tang: An American Saga and Dollface: Tuesday, September 10, 2019 6 PM: Preview reception 7 PM: Wu-Tang: An American Saga preview screening and conversation (suggested for mature audiences) 8:30 PM: Dollface preview screening and conversation
Featured talent from Wu-Tang: An American Saga includes: Alex Tse, Co-Creator, Writer, and Executive Producer The RZA, Co-Creator, Writer, and Executive Producer
Featured talent from Dollface includes: Kat Dennings, “Jules”/Executive Producer Brenda Song, “Madison” Esther Povitsky, “Izzy” Jordan Weiss, Creator/Executive Producer Ira Ungerleider, Executive Producer / Showrunner
CBS Presents All Rise and Bob Abishola: Thursday, September 12, 2019 6 PM: Preview reception 7 PM: Bob ♥Abishola preview screening and conversation 8:00 pm All Rise preview screening and conversation
Featured talent from Bob Abishola includes: Billy Gardell, “Bob” Folake Olowofoyeku, “Abishola” Al Higgins, Executive Producer/Co-creator Gina Yashere, Producer/”Kemi”
Featured talent from All Rise includes: Simone Missick, “Lola Carmichael” Wilson Bethel, “Mark Callan” Marg Helgenberger, “Judith Benner” Alex Brinson, “Luke Watkins” Jessica Camacho, “Emily Lopez” Lindsay Mendez, “Sara Castillo” Ruthie Ann Miles, “Sherri Kansky” Greg Spottiswood, Executive Producer Sunil Nayar, Executive Producer
TNT Presents Chasing the Cure: Friday, September 13, 2019 6 PM: Preview reception 7 PM: Preview screening and conversation
Featured talent from Chasing the Cure includes: Ann Curry, Anchor and Executive Producer Kim Bondy, Showrunner and Executive Producer Michael Bloom, SVP, Unscripted Series and Specials, TNT/TBS
ABC Presents mixed-ish, Emergence, and Stumptown: Saturday, September 14, 2019 1 PM: Preview reception 1 PM: mixed-ish preview screening and conversation
Featured talent from mixed-ish includes: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, “Paul Johnson” Tika Sumpter, “Alicia Johnson” Christina Anthony, “Denise” Arica Himmel, “Bow Johnson” Ethan William Childress, “Johan Johnson” Mykal-Michelle Harris, “Santamonica Johnson” Gary Cole, “Harrison Johnson” Karin Gist, Executive Producer, Showrunner Peter Saji, Executive Producer
Netflix Presents Disenchantment: Sunday, September 15, 2019 6 PM: Preview Reception 7 PM: Preview screening and conversation
Featured talent includes: Matt Groening, Creator & Executive Producer Josh Weinstein, Executive Producer Abbi Jacobson, “Bean” Nat Faxon, “Elfo”
She’ll take over the role from Willemijn Verkaik, who will play her final performance on May 26.
Mendez has previously worked with both the composer and director of Wicked, having appeared in the 2011 Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz‘s Godspell, and, more recently in the Off-Broadway musical, Dogfight, staged by Wicked director Joe Mantello.
Wicked opened at the Gershwin Theatre on October 30, 2003 and is currently selling tickets through January 5, 2014.
Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.
Mendez’s credits include the Broadway revival of Grease in 2007, Everyday Rapture and The Marvelous Wonderettes.