Lin-Manuel Miranda to Take Part in “Broadway for Biden” Fundraising Event

Lin-Manuel Miranda will be performing on Broadway with a special purpose…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican Tony-winning songwriter, actor, filmmaker and playwright will be taking part in a Broadway fundraising concert next month for President Joe Biden.

Lin-Manuel Miranda In addition to Miranda, who created the Tony-winning musicals Hamilton and In The Heights, will feature some of theater’s other biggest stars, including Josh Groban, Ben Platt, Sara BareillesCynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. and Laura Benanti, among others, with the president himself scheduled to attend.

There’s at least one detail being kept under wraps for the moment – the Broadway venue in Times Square has not been identified – the date has been set for Monday, September 18, with ticket prices ranging from $250 for rear mezzanine seats to $7,500 for orchestra center front.

The seating chart at the ticket website indicates that the concert will take place at an indoor theater rather than outdoors in Times Square.

Other stars to be featured at the concert are Annaleigh Ashford, Josh Gad, Alex Edelman, Christopher Jackson, LaChanze, Ruthie Ann Miles, Andrew Rannells and Aaron Tveit.

The one-night-only concert fundraiser is being hosted by Broadway producers and supporters Jeffrey Seller, Thomas Kail, Luz & Luis Miranda, Bruce Cohen & Gabe Catone, Tom Healy & Fred P. Hochberg, Barbara Marcin & Orin Kramer, Stacey & Eric Mindich, Karen & Gary Rose, Janet & Marvin Rosen, Alexandra & Eric Schoenberg, Ted Snowdon & Duffy Violante, Henry Tisch & Sean Walsh.

The Broadway for Biden event is being described by organizers as both a celebration of Biden’s political career and “a call to action, emphasizing the importance of his reelection in 2024.”

Krysta Rodriguez Joins Cast of Current Broadway Production of “Into the Woods”

Krysta Rodriguez is heading into the woods

The 38-year-old Latina actress/singer has joined the cast of the recently extended Broadway production of Into The Woods.

Krysta Rodriguez,Rodriguez will begin starring as Cinderella on September 6, with the show currently scheduled to continue at the St. James Theatre through Oct. 16

Meanwhile, Stephanie J. Block will take over from Sara Bareilles as the Baker’s Wife and Block’s real-life husband Sebastian Arcelus signing on as the Baker (from Brian d’Arcy James).

Also joining on Sept. 6 are Katy Geraghty as Little Red Ridinghood, and Jim Stanek as the Steward. Montego Glover will share the role of The Witch with the current cast member Patina Miller, and Gavin Creel and Joshua Henry extend as the Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince and Rapunzel’s Prince, respectively.

Andy Karl will play the role of the Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince from September 6 through September 15, as Creel fulfills a prior commitment. Creel returns to the production on September 16.

Currently in the cast are Phillipa Soo (Cinderella), Julia Lester (Little Red Ridinghood) and David Turner (the Steward).

The new additions were announced by Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters. The acclaimed and popular New York City Center Encores! production transferred to Broadway last month after a successful spring staging at City Center Off Broadway.

Other upcoming changes: Beginning on September 27, Ann Harada will reprise her role of Jack’s Mother from the City Center Encores! production. Aymee Garcia will continue as Jack’s Mother through September 25.

When Glover joins the cast, Miller will be The Witch for performances on Fridays through Sundays, and Glover will take over the role Tuesdays through Thursdays.

As previously announced, Bareilles, d’Arcy James, and Soo continue through September 4.

Adrian Quesada & His Black Pumas to Perform at ‘Peace Through Music: A Global Event for the Environment’

Adrian Quesada is playin’ for peace…

The 44-year-old Grammy-winning producer and guitarist and his Black Pumas bandmate Eric Burton will perform as part of this year’s Peace Through Music: A Global Event for the Environment online event.

Adrian Quesada, Black Pumas

Quesada and his Black Pumas join Jack JohnsonRodrigo y Gabriela and more are lending their talents to a greater cause.

Playing for Change and the United Nations Population Fund will welcome the talent along with another 200 artists.

The online event and fundraiser seeks to unite the world in taking action for a sustainable future and advance progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Additional performers for the global event will include Sara Bareilles, Slash, The Lumineers, Ben HarperRosanne CashYusuf/Cat StevensTephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction and Tony Kanal of No Doubt.

Producers for the event say more artists are expected to be announced in the near future for the December 15 event.

“During this important time in human history, we are honored to continue our partnership with the United Nations for our 2021 Peace Through Music global event for the environment,” said Playing for Change co-founder Mark Johnson in a release. “Through music, we eliminate boundaries, hierarchy, and status. Through stories and ideas, we learn from our Indigenous ancestors how to listen to the rhythm of our planet.”

The event will be broadcast at 9:00 pm ET (2:00 am GMT on December 16) on the Playing for Change YouTube channel. All net proceeds will go to organizations that prioritize real time solutions that facilitate environmental justice and sustainability.

Organizations include Conservation International, American Rivers, World Wildlife Fund, Reverb, and the Playing For Change Foundation.

“Climate change multiplies existing inequalities and vulnerabilities, disrupts access to life-saving health services and limits people’s ability to exercise their fundamental rights and choices,” said UNFPA executive director Dr. Natalia Kanem in a release. “We know we must work together to achieve real change, and music has the power to unite, energize and inspire us as we confront these challenges together and work towards a better future.”

The hourlong event, which will feature artists from 35 different countries, will also include special documentaries that help capture the “beauty and fragility of the environment.”

This year’s event follows 2020’s Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice, which featured more than 200 musicians — including Aloe Blacc, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Brandi Carlile, Carlos and Cindy Blackman Santana, Gary Clark Jr. and Ringo Star — from more than 40 countries and received 4 million-plus views, raising more than $1 million for charity partners.

Pedrito Martinez to Perform at This Year’s Love Rocks NYC Concert

Pedrito Martinez will bring some love to the Big Apple

The fifth annual Love Rocks NYC concert will feature a performance by the 47-year-old Cuban percussionist, drummer, singer, dancer, bandleader, songwriter, composer, and educator.

Pedrito Martinez

Martinez joins a lineup that includes Sara Bareilles, Jon Bon Jovi, Gary Clark Jr., Yola and more, according to the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation.

The benefit concert for God’s Love We Deliver, which was founded during the AIDS epidemic in 1985 in efforts to deliver meals to vulnerable people, will stream on Fans.Live from the historic Beacon Theatre on June 3.

Jeff Garlin, Michael Imperioli and Bernie Williams will host the show this year, with special guest Tina Fey.

Love Rocks NYC will not only support and honor the work of the nonprofit, which is celebrating its 36th anniversary this year, but also NYC frontline workers who have been tirelessly aiding the city throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interested parties can sign up to receive a free livestream link here, but a donation to God’s Love We Deliver of $20, which equals two meals, is encouraged.

The star-studded lineup for Love Rocks NYC 2021 will also include Joe Bonamassa, Billy Gibbons, Warren Haynes, Emily King, Ledisi, Tash Neal, Fantastic Negrito, Ivan Neville, Robert Randolph, Nathaniel Rateliff and Jimmy Vivino. More performers will be announced at a later date.

Jorge Diaz to Star in Pilot for HBO Max’s “Head of the Class” Sitcom Reboot

Jorge Diaz is moving to the head of the class

The 37-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the cast of HBO Max’s multi-camera comedy pilot Head of the Class, a reboot of the popular 1980s ABC sitcom.

Jorge Diaz

Diaz joins a roster of new additions to the cast that includes Dior Goodjohn, Brandon Severs, Adrian Matthew Escalona and Christa Miller.

They join previously announced Isabella Gomez, Gavin Lewis and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport in the reboot which hails from American Vandal writers Amy Pocha and Seth Cohen, Bill Lawrence and his Doozer Productions; and Warner Bros. Television, which produced the original series.

Written by Pocha and Cohen, based on the original series created by Rich Eustis and Michael Elias, the reimagined Head of the Class revolves around a group of overachieving high school students who meet their greatest challenge — a teacher Alicia Adams (Gomez), who wants them to focus less on grades and more on experiencing life.

Diaz plays Elliot Olsen, a goofy English teacher who loves his job and is genuine to a fault. Goodjohn is Robyn Rook. Stem queen turned Twitch streamer, Robyn’s the defacto leader of the class – though she’d never admit it. Severs will portray Terrell Smith, is a year-round athlete, who is uber-positive and all about team mentality. Escalona is Miles Mendelson, the shy, introverted, overthinking coder, who’d rather spend time with computers than people. Miller recurs as Principal Maris, an intimidating, tough love boss that always puts the students first.

Diaz has appeared on a number of hit comedies including the CW’s Jane The Virgin, NBC’s The Good Place and Netflix’s Arrested Development. He also starred as SPC Israel Garza in Nat Geo’s Critics Choice-nominated Iraq war drama, The Long Road HomeOn the film side, Diaz portrayed Hector Estrella in Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, earning a nomination for an Imagen Foundation Award for his performance.

Escalona was first discovered in 2018, when a video of him singing “She Used To Be Mine” from the Broadway musical Waitress went viral with almost 4 million views and counting. He went on to be invited by Waitress writer and composer Sara Bareilles to make a guest appearance during her tour stop in Pittsburgh, near his home town. Head of the Class is Escalona’s first major TV role.

John Leguizamo to Present at Sunday’s Tony Awards Ceremony

John Leguizamo is ready to (re)present…

The 53-year-old Colombian actor and stand-up comedian will serve as a presenter at this Sunday’s Tony Awards ceremony.

John Leguizamo

Leguizamo, who previously earned two Tony Award nods, is nominated this year for Best Play for his one-man show Latin History for Morons.

Leguizamo joins a list of presenters that includes Christine Baranski, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Jeff DanielsRobert De Niro, Brandon Victor DixonTina Fey, Billy Joel, Patti LuPone and Kerry Washington.

Tony Award Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Andrew Lloyd Webber and Chita Rivera will also take the stage.

The 72nd Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban, will air live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS on Sunday at 8:00-11:00 pm ET/delayed PT.

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Perform at This Year’s Tony Awards

Lin-Manuel Miranda is making his triumphant return to the Tony Awards

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican composer, playwright, actor and singer will perform on Sunday’s Tonycast, almost one year after his hit Broadway musical Hamilton swept the awards.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

The casts of Bandstand, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Falsettos, Groundhog Day The Musical, Hello, Dolly!, Miss Saigon, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 and War Paint will perform during 71st Annual Tony Awards, which CBS will broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall from 8:00 to 11:00 PM.

There’s still no word on what Miranda will perform.

There will be additional performances by The Radio City Rockettes and Tony Award winners Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) and Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton).

There will be additional appearances by Scott Bakula, Sara Bareilles, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bloom, Glenn Close, Stephen Colbert, Brian d’Arcy James, Cynthia Erivo, Tina Fey, Sutton Foster, Josh Gad, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Groff, Mark Hamill, Taraji P. Henson, Christopher Jackson, Allison Janney, Scarlett Johansson, Anna Kendrick, Keegan-Michael Key, Nick Kroll, John Legend, John Lithgow, Patina Miller, John Mulaney, David Oyelowo, Chazz Palminteri, Sarah Paulson, Lea Salonga, Tom Sturridge, Tommy Tune, Olivia Wilde, and 2017 Tony nominees Sally Field, Josh Groban, Bette Midler and Ben Platt.

Although Midler will appear as a presenter in one of the acting categories, she is not scheduled to participate in the Hello, Dolly! segment, which will be led by co-star Hyde Pierce. The blockbuster production’s offer to present the title song, or another of Dolly’s show-stoppers, live via remote from the Shubert Theatre was declined by the Tony producers.

The ceremony will be hosted by Tony and Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey.

The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Pitbull to Perfom on the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular Special

Pitbull is ready to let the sparks fly…

Macy’s annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular just got a little more caliente with the addition of the 35-year-old Cuban American rap superstar on the list of performers.

Pitbull

Mr. Worldwide will be performing at the 40th edition of the holiday special aired on NBC.

Pitbull, Sara Bareilles and DNCE join previously announced performers including Meghan Trainor5 Seconds of Summer, the Radio City Rockettes and Kenny Chesney.

The 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular will air Monday, July 4 at 10:00 pm ET, and will be emceed by Today co-hosts Willie Geist and Tamron Hall.

Additionally, Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias will perform at this year’s Premios Juventud. The “Messin’ Around” singers will perform during the awards show ceremony on July 14 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.

Blacc to Appear as a Musical Guest on the New Season of “Sesame Street”

Can you tell Aloe Blacc how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?

The 36-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter is set to guest star on the long-running educational program for its upcoming 46th season, which premieres in January and has been revamped for HBO.

Aloe Blacc

Blacc is set to appear as a musical guest, performing the song “Everyday Hero.”

In addition to Blacc, this season’s musical guests on television’s most iconic street include Fifth Harmony, Gwen StefaniPharrell and Nick Jonas.

This season also promises a new set, new opening and closing songs and a new character named Nina.

It all begins on January 16 at 9:00 am ET on HBO. The new episodes also will air on PBS, although at a later date.

Here’s the full lineup of musical guests and their songs:

Gwen Stefani, “Be a Good Friend”
Pharrell, “B Is for Book”
Nick Jonas, “Check That Shape”
Fifth Harmony, “That’s Music”
Sara Bareilles, “Just Like Magic”
Ne-Yo, “You’ve Got a Body, So Move It!”
Aloe Blacc, “Everyday Hero”

Hillary Clinton’s First-Ever Spotify Playlist Includes Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud”

Jennifer Lopez is making Loud noise on Hillary Clinton’s MP3 player…

The presidential hopeful officially launched her campaign over the weekend, and as part of that, she also joined Spotify and put together her very first playlist “The Official Hillary 2016 Playlist.”

Jennifer Lopez

The 14-song mix is chock-full of inspirational pop, with powerful lady songs, including the 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer, actress and American Idol judge’s “Let’s Get Loud.”

Other power anthem’s include Katy Perry‘s “Roar,” Sara Bareilles‘ “Brave” and Kelly Clarkson‘s “Stronger.

Elsewhere, the playlist contains “Happy” and “Beautiful Day,” which all continue the themes she’s trying to push in her campaign.

“Let’s Get Loud,” a disco-salsa pop song about never giving up, appeared on J.Lo’s debut album On the 6, which was released in 1999. An accompanying music video was directed by Jeffrey Doe and filmed live at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The track, co-written by Gloria Estefan and Kike Santander, charted on several charts around the world, reaching the top ten on five European countries.

Lopez earned her second consecutive nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording with the song.