Rita Moreno News

Today, we're featuring Rita Moreno, circa 1980. Moreno earned her Oscar in 1962 for her iconic portrayal of saucy Anita in 'West Side Story,' a role which drew on memories of the racial taunts she endured as a young Puerto Rican immigrant living in a Bronx 'barrio.' Her 1972 Grammy honored her performance on 'The Electric Company Album,' based on the long-running PBS children's literacy television series on which Moreno played multiple roles in a memorable cast that included Bill Cosby and Morgan Freeman. The Tony came for her 1975 satiric turn as flamboyant, talentless Puerto Rican bathhouse singer Googie Gomez in Broadway's 'The Ritz.' A six-time Emmy nominee, she won her first of the Television Academy's honors in 1977 for one of her many guest appearances on 'The Muppet Show.' The following year, she earned a second Emmy for her dramatic guest performance on 'The Rockford Files.'

The SAG Awards Ceremony Auction, the final auction in the online series benefiting the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, begins today, January 16 at 9 p.m. (ET) / 6 p.m. (PT) at sagawards.org/auction.

Morgan Freeman will present the SAG 50th Life Achievement Award to Rita Moreno at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

Following the world premiere co-production at Kansas City Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse, playwright and performer Daniel Beaty brings The Tallest Tree in the Forest to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Beaty, whose work has been seen at Arena Stage as a playwright with his play Resurrection and as a performer in his award-winning solo play Emergency, channels close to 40 characters in The Tallest Tree in the Forest in a 'tour de force' (San Diego Reader) performance, giving audiences an intimate look at one of the most dynamic and controversial figures in history-artist and activist Paul Robeson. Tony Award nominee Moises Kaufman (playwright and director for Broadway's 33 Variations, which received its world premiere at Arena Stage in 2007) directs this music-infused new play that features 14 songs and an onstage band. Developed and produced by Tectonic Theater Project, The Tallest Tree in the Forest runs tonight, January 10-February 16, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater and will play the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles following the Arena Stage run.

Casting has been announced for the upcoming national tour of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, the explosive Broadway hit, which makes its Washington premiere February 18 - 23 at National Theatre as part of the Broadway at the National subscription series.

The day Leonard Bernstein died, a sense of gut-wrenching loss pervaded the musical world. Anyone who had watched and listened to his extraordinary music making could not help but be affected by his passion and reverence for music. Those of us lucky enough to have known and worked with him and availed ourselves of his wisdom, still hold deep affection and respect for him, along with a feeling that we have been blessed many times over.

LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 sings in the New Year beginning Sunday, January 5 at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

While more than 50 InDepth InterViews were conducted in the 2013 calendar year and it is impossible to choose favorites, today we are highlighting some of the most uniquely arresting and singularly revealing conversations featured in BroadwayWorld's most popular and expansive interview series - including Patti LuPone, Darren Criss, Josh Groban, Audra McDonald, Cameron Mackintosh, Stephen Sondheim, Joan Rivers, Jeremy Jordan, Megan Hilty, Bebe Neuwirth and many more!

On Saturday, January 11, 2014 the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will host the organization's first Backyard Ball Performance and Gala to be held at the YoungArts Campus (2100 Biscayne Boulevard). The 2014 Arison Award Honorees are Pritzker Award Winning architect Zaha Hadid and Academy Award Winning singer, dancer, and actress, Rita Moreno. This year's Alumni Honoree is actor, singer and 1997 YoungArts Winner in Theater, Andrew Rannells. The celebratory evening of artistic immersion will bring together prominent artists, community leaders, philanthropists and celebrities to recognize the 2014 YoungArts Winners. The gala is YoungArts' largest annual fundraiser and the culmination of YoungArts' signature program YoungArts Week which provides 171 of the nation's most outstanding young artists in the literary, performing, visual and design arts with life-changing experiences, including master classes, workshops, inter-disciplinary activities, performances and exhibitions.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are excited to welcome home San Francisco's own, legendary, award-winning, extraordinary performer Connie Champagne to Feinstein's at the Nikko for one performance only - tonight, December 18 at 8 p.m.

The National YoungArts Foundation today announced its 2014 YoungArts Winners. Out of approximately 11,000 applications, 687 young artists from 46 states have been recognized for their outstanding work and accomplishments in one of ten disciplines across the literary, performing, visual and design arts fields. A complete list of the Winners is available online at this link.

A new trailer for Twentieth Century Fox's RIO 2, featuring a flock of top actors and musical talents new to the franchise. Check out the trailer below!

Sasha Alexander, star of the TNT original drama 'Rizzoli & Isles,' and Clark Gregg, star of the ABC series 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,' revealed the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® nominations this morning, Wednesday, Dec. 11 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood at 8:50 a.m. ET.

Following the world premiere co-production at Kansas City Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse, playwright and performer Daniel Beaty brings The Tallest Tree in the Forest to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Beaty, whose work has been seen at Arena Stage as a playwright with his play Resurrection and as a performer in his award-winning solo play Emergency, channels close to 40 characters in The Tallest Tree in the Forest in a "tour de force" (San Diego Reader) performance, giving audiences an intimate look at one of the most dynamic and controversial figures in history-artist and activist Paul Robeson. Tony Award nominee Moises Kaufman (playwright and director for Broadway's 33 Variations, which received its world premiere at Arena Stage in 2007) directs this music-infused new play that features 14 songs and an onstage band. Developed and produced by Tectonic Theater Project, The Tallest Tree in the Forest runs January 10-February 16, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater and will play the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles following the Arena Stage run.

The School of Arts and Enterprise-Department of Theatre presents the inaugural show of their 2013-14 season, the award winning The Laramie Project, by Moises Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris and Stephen Belber. The Laramie Project is directed by Phil Miller, The School of Arts & Enterprise New Director of Theatre. The Laramie Project features an 11-member cast comprised of some of the brightest young actors in the San Gabriel Valley.

The Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to present film great Leslie Caron (An American In Paris, Gigi, Fanny) in a comic and heartfelt valentine to the human condition, SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). Additional exciting casting news to be announced shortly! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews tonight, November 26 and will open on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, December 29, 2013 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

The School of Arts and Enterprise-Department of Theatre presents the inaugural show of their 2013-14 season, the award winning The Laramie Project, by Moises Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris and Stephen Belber. The Laramie Project is directed by Phil Miller, The School of Arts & Enterprise New Director of Theatre. The Laramie Project features an 11-member cast comprised of some of the brightest young actors in the San Gabriel Valley.

With LES MISERABLES' stirring success at the box office last year and upcoming, all-star film versions of INTO THE WOODS, JERSEY BOYS, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, ANNIE and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, we couldn't resist rounding up a few of our favorite stage-to-screen adaptations.

Rita Moreno (West Side Story) is set for a Q&A today, November 3 to talk about her role in the 1961 film adaptation of Tennessee Williams' SUMMER AND SMOKE. The discussion will take place at the BFI Southbank and is being held in honor of the film's director Peter Glenville.

For the eighth year, singer and recording artist Russ Lorenson comes home for the holidays with his annual show, Christmas in San Francisco, for two performances only at 7:30pm on December 13 & 14 at Pa'ina Lounge & Restaurant, 1865 Post Street in San Francisco. The guest artists for this year's show are San Francisco jazz legends Wesla Whitfield, Mike Greensill and Veronica Klaus. Tickets are $25-$45 and available online at http://ChristmasInSF.com or by calling (415) 674-3863.