Natalie Toro News

Is it actually possible to like something more on repeat viewings? In the case of the traveling national tour production of IN THE HEIGHTS--now performing for a limited engagement at the Orange County Performing Arts Center through August 15--the answer is a very qualified 'yes.' That's quite a feat, considering the show just played an extended run in Hollywood at the Pantages Theatre, featuring its original creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda reprising the lead role. With Miranda's charms and undeniable hip-hop skills on full display, the much celebrated Los Angeles stop was a dazzling thing to behold. So how will the show fare without its main impresario dramatizing this entertaining tale?

Brave, gutsy, passionate to volcanic proportions, singer/actress extraordinaire Natalie Toro brought her new cabaret show The Broken Road to the Inner Circle of the Magic Castle on Monday July 12 for one night only. She captured the focus of the wall-to-wall audience with her opening number 'Life of the Party' from Andrew Lippa's 'The Wild Party' and never lost control. Fiercely funny and fearless in her entire approach, Toro covered her career on the road - cruel and lonely - with an infectious sense of humor. Any actress who can share her negative reviews - actually read them aloud - has my respect and adoration. That takes courage with a capital C and Toro has it in spades.

NATALIE TORO sings about The Broken Road at CABARET AT THE CASTLE Monday, July 12 and Tuesday, July 13 - Doors open at 6:30 with show at 8:00pm. The Inner Circle at the Magic Castle® - 7001 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028

Natalie Toro, the brilliant co-star of In the Heights recently played Broadway in A Tale of Two Cities and has also played Les Mis and A Christmas Carol in New York. She has a mile-long list of credits in tours of shows such as Evita, Jesus Chrsit Superstar, West Side Story and Cats. She's equally at home on the theatrical stage, at Carnegie Hall and in the recording studio, having released several solo CDs - her latest entitled simply Natalie Toro. In our interview, she discusses her role in Heights, her new cabaret show - which will premiere in LA at the Magic Castle's Inner Circle on July 12 - and other roles and theatrical passions.

Once in a while, one of the most fortunate things about west coast debuts of touring shows is when a Broadway hit finally transfers here, bringing with it some of the original stars that helped launch it. For those able to catch the Los Angeles premiere of the 2008 Tony® Award-winner for Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS (now playing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through July 25), the pleasant surprise is the presence of the show's original lead actor, who also happens to be the man who conceived the hit musical, as well as write the show's music and lyrics. Not to disparage those that have (and will) take on the same role, but at the very second Lin-Manuel Miranda appears on stage as Usnavi-the show's central hero and de facto narrator-the electric energy is palpable. In Miranda, we see the show's very heart and soul, filled with the hopes and dreams of the characters he helped personally craft. With his lead, the show literally comes to effervescent life.

NATALIE TORO signs about The Broken Road at CABARET AT THE CASTLE Monday, July 12 and Tuesday, July 13 - Doors open at 6:30 with show at 8:00pm. The Inner Circle at the Magic Castle® - 7001 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028

Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony and Grammy Award-winning show In the Heights has a lot to shout about. First of all, it's a musical with and about Latinos - way overdue -plus it has a terrific book with a heartwarming storyline and a bevy of exceedingly likeable characters, an unusually varied score, joyful choreography and direction, and an ensemble that rocks.

In The Heights, winner of four 2008 Tony Awards® and the 2008 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album, is coming to San Diego Civic Theatre, July 27 through August 1, 2010.

Washington Heights comes to Denver.

An amazing ensemble of Broadway talent will assemble on April 26th to perform the music of Will Reynolds, including: Jeannette Bayrdelle (Hair, The Color Purple) Sara Jean Ford (Finian's Rainbow, Anyone Can Whistle',) Jeremy Jordan (West Side Story, Rock of Ages), Carrie Manolakos (Wicked, Mama Mia) and Zachary Prince (Jersey Boys).

2008 Tony-winning best musical In The Heights has set up shop at University of Texas' Bass Concert Hall through April 25.

An amazing ensemble of Broadway talent will assemble on April 26th to perform the music of Will Reynolds, including: Jeannette Bayrdelle (Hair, The Color Purple) Sara Jean Ford (Finian's Rainbow, Anyone Can Whistle',) Jeremy Jordan (West Side Story, Rock of Ages), Carrie Manolakos (Wicked, Mama Mia) and Zachary Prince (Jersey Boys).

The CD and DVD of the Broadway musical A TALE OF TWO CITIES is now available on the show's official website.

The DC area stages' theatre choices in March are dizzying! There's a new play by Terrence McNally at the Kennedy Center, and an off-Broadway gem at Signature Theatre. Adam Guettel's gorgeous Tony Award-winning harmonies will fill Arena Stage in Crystal City. Fagin and his orphans and zaftig Edna Turnblad and her daughter Tracy - will be singing and dancing at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Baltimore and Columbia, MD, and a blood-thirsty musical will be establishing roots at Ford's Theatre. With over 30 shows opening this month, come visit the DC area's 205 theatre venues, and have a monumental time!

Tony Award winning musical tour deserves an A++

THE COTERIE, an up-and-coming downtown opera-theater company, will present a benefit concert The Coterie Un/Plugged, Volume One: Lauren Worsham and Friends at the Canal Room on February 22nd at 7:30PM. The evening will feature Lauren Worsham (Candide, Spelling Bee) and special guests including Tony nominee Barbara Walsh (Falsettos, Company), Theresa McCarthy (Floyd Collins, Titanic) and Andrew Nolan (Wooster Group's La Didone).

THE COTERIE, an up-and-coming downtown opera-theater company, will present a benefit concert The Coterie Un/Plugged, Volume One: Lauren Worsham and Friends at the Canal Room on February 22nd, 2010 at 7:30PM. Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door.

THE COTERIE, an up-and-coming downtown opera-theater company, will present a benefit concert The Coterie Un/Plugged, Volume One: Lauren Worsham and Friends at the Canal Room on February 22nd, 2010 at 7:30PM. Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door.

THE COTERIE, an up-and-coming downtown opera-theater company, will present a benefit concert The Coterie Un/Plugged, Volume One: Lauren Worsham and Friends at the Canal Room on February 22nd, 2010 at 7:30PM.

BroadwayWorld's 2010 Valentine's Day gift to you, the 5th Annual 'What's the Most Romantic Broadway Love Song Ever?' brings you over 500 stars, industry professionals, and personalities from across the globe, and this year Barbra Streisand, Susan Boyle, Bernadette Peters, Cameron Mackintosh, HAIR, GLEE and many, many more!