Rosie Perez to Take Part in “Stars in the House” Telethon to Benefit Victims of the War in Ukraine

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

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.

Rosario Dawson to Lead Virtual Online Table Read of Holiday Classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rosario Dawson is bringing the wonderful…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist will star opposite Jason Sudeikis in an all-star virtual online table read of the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life.

The special event will benefit The Ed Asner Family Center (TEAFC), which promotes mental health and enrichment programs to children with special needs and their families.

The one-night-only event is set for December 5, with a cast that also includes Mark Hamill, Martin Sheen, Mandy Patinkin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Phil Lamarr, Ben Mankiewicz, Ron Funches, Ed Harris, and Sudeikis’ real-life uncle George Wendt. The Cheers actor will play Uncle Billy to Sudeikis’ George Bailey.

The Asner benefit is presented in partnership with Turner Classic Movies and sponsored by MeTV, and this year also will honor Mike Darnell, President of Unscripted and Alternative Television at Warner Bros., and his family.

The cast will include Darnell’s daughter and Social Director of TEAFC, Chelsea Darnell, autistic actors Spencer Harte and Domonique Brown along with neurodivergent TEAFC members Ryan Booth and Lucas Salusky. Victor Nelli will return to direct. Tom Bergeron hosts.

“My father’s passing has left an indescribable hole in my heart,” said Matt Asner, son of Ed Asner & Co-Founder of The Ed Asner Family Center. “For our annual fundraising gala this year, I want to honor my father’s legacy as both a legendary actor and a staunch advocate for people of all abilities.”

Tickets start at $25, with commemorative holiday gift items also available. Also planned is a silent auction and a musical intermission.

The live virtual table read begins at 5:00 pm PT on Sunday, December 5. Ticket information can be found here.

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Take Part in Stephen Sondheim Virtual Birthday Concert

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is celebrating a living musical theater legend.

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican composer, lyricist, singer, actor, producer and playwright, widely known for creating and starring in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, has signed on to appear on Sunday’s Stephen Sondheim virtual birthday concert.

Miranda, who starred in Mary Poppins Returns, joins a roster of new additions that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Lavin, Laura Benanti, Neil Patrick Harrisand Ben Plattfor the all-star benefit for Artists Striving To End Poverty.

Previously announced stars participating in the concert include Annaleigh Ashford, Melissa Errico, Beanie Feldstein, Josh Groban, Judy Kuhn, Randy Rainbow and Lea Solanga.

Special appearances will be made by Victor Garber, Joanna Gleason, Nathan Lane and Steven Spielberg.

They’ll all join the previously announced Meryl Streep, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald, among many others, in the special virtual concert to celebrate Sondheim’s 90th birthday.

Take Me To The World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration, hosted by Raúl Esparza, is set for this Sunday, April 26, the 50th anniversary of the opening night of Sondheim’s groundbreaking musical Company.

The concert kicks off at 8:00 pm ET, and will be available for free at Broadway.comand the Broadway.com YouTubechannel.

Other artists performing songs from the Sondheim catalog will include Mandy Patinkin, Christine Baranski, Donna Murphy, Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kelli O’Hara, Aaron Tveit, Maria Friedman, Iain Armitage, Katrina Lenk, Michael Cerveris, Brandon Uranowitz, Stephen Schwartz, Elizabeth Stanley, Chip Zien, Alexander Gemignani and, from the cast of Pacific Overtures at Classic Stage Company, Ann Harada, Austin Ku, Kelvin Moon Loh and Thom Sesma.

Esparza starred as Bobby in the 2006 Tony Award-winning revival of Companyand in the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration productions of Sunday in the Park with George and Merrily We Roll Along in 2002, as well as the City Center Encores! production of Anyone Can Whistle and in last year’s Road Show.

“The world is in a hard place,” Esparza said in a statement, “and we are all searching for something great. Well, Stephen Sondheim is greatness personified.”

Mary-Mitchell Campbell will be the music director, with Paul Wontorek serving as director.

The online event will act as a fundraiser for ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty), the organization conceived by Campbell and Juilliard students to transform the lives of youth through art.

Sony Pictures Releases First Full-Length Trailer for Lovato’s “Smurfs: The Lost Village”

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is ready to get her Smurfette on…

The first full-length trailer for Smurfs: The Lost Village, featuring the 24-year-old part-Mexican American singer as Smurfette, was released Monday by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Based on the beloved Belgian cartoon series, the voice cast of the latest project in the Smurfs franchise, includes Lovato, Mandy Patinkin, Jack McBrayer, Danny Pudi, Joe Manganiello and Rainn Wilson.

When Smurfette stumbles upon a familiar-looking creature who leaves behind a map in the Enchanted Forest, the trailer asks the question: “What if they were never alone?” Along with her friends Brainy (Pudi), Clumsy (McBrayer), and Hefty (Manganiello), the Smurfs embark on a mission to find the mysterious lost village.

The quartet soon encounters perilous and insane adventures along the way, trying to discover the forgotten town before the evil Gargamel (Wilson).

Wilson replaces Hank Azaria, who voiced the evil wizard in the first two film reboots.

The project is directed by Kelly Asbury from a script penned by Stacey Harmon, Karey Kirkpatrick, Chris Poche, Pamela Ribon, David Ronn, and Jay Scherick.

Smurfs: The Lost Village will be released in the U.S. on April 7, 2017.

New Trailer Released for Lovato’s “Smurfs: The Lost Village”

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato’s world is turning blue…

Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation have released a new trailer for Smurfs: The Lost Village, starring the 24-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress.

The new clip for the Kelly Asbury-directed, fully animated film, which features Lovato voicing the character of Smurfette, seems designed to erase memories of the franchise’s latter-day live-action/animated hybrids entries.

The reboot, written by Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon, has been touted as a return in tone to the blue gang’s original comic book adventures.

Sony describes the new movie’s plot thusly: “a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!”

In addition to Lovato, the cast includes Rainn Wilson (Gargamel), Joe Manganiello (Hefty), Jack McBrayer (Clumsy), Danny Pudi (Brainy) and Mandy Patinkin (Papa Smurf).

Smurfs: The Lost Village opens in theaters on April 7, 2017.

Lovato to Voice Smurfette in The Smurfs Reboot “Get Smurfy”

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Smurf’s up for Demi Lovato…

The 22-year-old part-Mexican American actress/singer has joined the cast of Sony Pictures Animation’s fully computer-animated The Smurfs reboot Get Smurfy.

Lovato, who recently launched her own record label, will voice Smurfette.

She joins a cast that includes Mandy Patinkin as Papa Smurf and Rainn Wilson as evil wizard Gargamel.

The castings were announced in conjunction with Global Smurfs Day on Sunday.

“We have gathered a group of filmmakers and artists who have grown up with these loveable characters, and Get Smurfy will be imbued with the same spirit of adventure that first made all of us lifelong fans of these little blue guys…and girl,” says Kristine Belson, president of Sony Pictures Animation.

The film, which hews back to Smurfs creator Peyo Culliford’s original style, will follow Smurfette and her fellow blue creatures as they search the Enchanted Forest for the fabled Smurfs Village. The film will answer some long-held questions about the Smurfs, including why there’s only one girl among them.

“We felt it was important to take a very different approach with this origin story. It returns to the roots of Peyo’s creation in this CG-animated adventure,” explains producer Jordan Kerner in a statement. “I hope it will delight not only fans but audiences worldwide. We couldn’t be more excited with the talented new cast we’re starting to assemble for our ‘Smurfy’ reboot. ”

The film is being helmed by Kelly Asbury.

“The continued popularity of the Smurfs is unmistakeable, and this new outing will return them to the fully animated world that launched them,” said Asbury.

Sony Pictures Animation plans to release the film on March 31, 2017.

Bobadilla Signs with Paradigm Talent Agency

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Daniela Bobadilla has new representation…

The 20-year-old Mexican-born Canadian actress, who currently stars on FX’s Anger Management, has signed with Paradigm Talent Agency, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Bobadilla, who plays the teenage daughter of Charlie Sheen‘s character on the FX comedy series, is leaving ICM Partners to reunite with Iris Grossman, the veteran agent who departed for Paradigm in June.

Other Grossman clients who have already made the move include Mandy Patinkin, Julie Benz and Ed O’Neill.

Last month Bobadilla starred in the Lifetime telepic The Cheating Pact.

Previously she was a series regular on the NBC drama Awake and has guest-starred on Desperate Housewives, Big Time Rush and Emily Owens M.D.

Cannavale Wins Emmy for His Supporting Role on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Bobby Cannavale has a matching pair of golden bookends…

The 43-year-old half-Cuban American actor claimed the second Primetime Emmy award of his career Sunday night for his critically acclaimed performance on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.

Cannavale, who portrayed bloodthirsty, but insecure Gyp Rosetti on the hit drama series, pulled off an upset by beating the pre-show pick Homeland’s Mandy Patinkin and sentimental favorite Breaking Bad‘s Aaron Paul for the Supporting Actor in a Drama award. The other nominees included Breaking Bad’s Jonathan Banks, Downton Abbey’s Jim Carter and Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage.

Even Cannavale seemed shocked to hear his name called and he marveled that Patinkin was the first person he ever saw on stage, before remembering to give a proper acceptance speech and thank his family.

Cannavale earned his first Primetime Emmy Award in 2005 for portraying Will’s police officer boyfriend on Will and Grace.

Along with earning a nod for his work on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Cannavale also earned his second consecutive nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Dr. Mike Cruz on Showtime‘s Nurse Jackie.

It was also recently announced that Cannavale has joined Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz in the big screen remake of Annie.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Mandy Patinkin