Raúl Esparza News

In honor of NBC's SMASH welcoming Broadway veterans Jeremy Jordan, Krysta Rodriguez, and Andy Mientus to their ranks - in addition to Megan Hilty, Christian Borle, and numerous other guest stars - we thought we'd compile a list of additional theater stars we'd love to see tapped for a role in honor of the second season kicking off next week!

One of stage and screen's brightest young stars shines in his Indianapolis cabaret debut. Leslie's show features songs from his roles on Broadway (Rent, Leap of Faith,) the hit NBC musical drama Smash, along with songs by his idols including Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson. Armed with a voice that scintillates with subtle power and brilliant clarity, Leslie is worthy of the spotlight.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents its annual 2013 Spring Gala "A Celebration of Your Favorites" emceed by Alan Cumming (Cabaret) on Monday, March 11th, 2013 at the Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street, NYC). The evening will be a celebration of the company's artistic achievements under Artistic Director Todd Haimes' 30 years of leadership and the future ahead.

Raul Esparza, Jose Feliciano, Juan Diego Florez, Melanie Griffith, George Lopez, Mario Lopez, Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Robert Rodriguez, Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, Ballet Hispanico, Coral Contigas, Coro de Ninos de San Juan, the Esperanza Azteca Youth Orchestra, and the Pan American Symphony Orchestra headlined 'In Performance at the Kennedy Center,' an event that honored the presidential inauguration and Latino arts and culture last night, January 20. You can watch the full concert below, which included performances from a slew of Broadway favorites. Click below to check it out!

Watch the Livestream today of the Latino inaugural concert in Washington DC at 7 pm via Facebook or http://entretenimiento.univision.com!

On LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT's upcoming episode, 'Criminal Hatred,' the SVU detectives go undercover to arrest a man who targets and brutally attacks other men. They gather enough evidence for ADA Barba (Raul Esparza) to file charges, but the case begins to spiral as he contends with a deceptively tough defense attorney (guest star Vardalos.) Also starring Mariska Hargitay (Detective Olivia Benson), Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro), and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins). Also guest starring Victoria Rowell ('The Young and The Restless') and Fred Norris ('The Howard Stern Show'). 'Criminal Hatred' airs Jan. 30 on NBC.

Ballet Hispanico will join other entertainers to headline 'In Performance at the Kennedy Center,' an event honoring the presidential inauguration and Latino arts and culture, on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 7pm. Actress Eva Longoria will host the evening.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham; UTR Festival Director, Mark Russell) began performances for the 2013 UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL last night, January 9. Now in its ninth year, this acclaimed downtown festival committed to tracking new theater from across the U.S. and around the world will run for 12 days through January 20 at The Public Theater at Astor Place. Excluding Life and Times, all single tickets to UTR shows are $20; Member tickets are $15. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the opening night celebration below!

CenterStage is laughing off the winter blues with a performance of the Tony Award winning show, Company. Love will be in the air tonight, January 10-20, 2013 at the Jewish Community Center (3600 Dutchmans Lane) from tonight, January 10 through the 20th, 2013.

NBC has just debuted a very first look at their upcoming series HANNIBAL, featuring one of the most fascinating literary characters: psychiatrist-turned-serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. In this new drama from Bryan Fuller ('Pushing Daisies,' 'Heroes'), based on the characters from Thomas Harris' classic novels, we see where this incredible story began. Check out a first look below!

Actress Eva Longoria , San Antonio philanthropist and business leader Henry R. Munoz III and San Juan attorney and activist Andres W. Lopez , in partnership with the nation's leading Latino organizations, announced today that Raul Esparza , Jose Feliciano , Juan Diego Florez , Melanie Griffith , George Lopez , Mario Lopez , Rita Moreno , Chita Rivera , Robert Rodriguez , Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner , Ballet Hispanico, Coral Contigas, Coro de Ninos de San Juan , the Esperanza Azteca Youth Orchestra, the Pan American Symphony Orchestra and other entertainers will headline 'In Performance at the Kennedy Center,' an event honoring the presidential inauguration and Latino arts and culture on Sunday, January 20, at 7:00 p.m.

According to the Associated Press, The Kennedy Center's process for selecting the Kennedy Center Honors is under review after the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts said in September that Latinos have long been excluded.

CenterStage is laughing off the winter blues with a performance of the Tony Award winning show, Company. Love will be in the air January 10-20, 2013 at the Jewish Community Center (3600 Dutchmans Lane) from January 10 through the 20th, 2013.

One of stage and screen's brightest young stars shines in his cabaret debut. Leslie's show features songs from his roles on Broadway (Rent, Leap of Faith,) the hit NBC musical drama Smash, along with songs by his idols including Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson. Armed with a voice that scintillates with subtle power and brilliant clarity, Leslie is worthy of the spotlight.

According to TVGuide.com, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING's Nia Vardalos has officially signed on for a guest spot on LAW & ORDER: SVU. The Oscar-nominated actress is set to play Counselor Minonna Efron in an upcoming episode, in which she will work alongside D.A. Barba (Broadway's Raul Esparza).

Marsha Stephanie Blake, Eisa Davis, Dashiell Eaves, Frank Harts, Robert Hogan, Jenny O'Hara, Carra Patterson, Amanda Quaid and Victor Williams will be featured in the LCT3 production of Kirsten Greenidge's LUCK OF THE IRISH, directed by Rebecca Taichman. LUCK OF THE IRISH begins performances Monday, January 28 and opens on Monday, February 11 for a six- week limited engagement through Sunday, March 10 at the Claire Tow Theater, LCT3's new home atop the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65th Street).

2012 marked the passing of a number of notable entertainment icons whose influence will be felt for centuries to come, yet unquestionably one of the most pertinent people to pass on insofar as Broadway babies were concerned given his considerable contributions to musical theatre (and far, far beyond) was the one and only EGOT-plus recipient himself - that is: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony-winner; plus a spare Pulitzer Prize, in his case, as a matter of fact - legendary composer/conductor/arranger Marvin Hamlisch. And, last night, byway of PBS and Live From Lincoln Center, audiences across the country were treated to a live gala event celebrating his tremendous Broadway and Hollywood legacy - ONE SINGULAR SENSATION: CELEBRATING MARVIN HAMLISCH. Highlights of the star-studded night included SMASH Brian D'arcy James on a song he debuted in Hamlisch's short-running SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, Michael Feinstein with an emotional take on Hamlisch's self-professed favorite self-penned song, Raul Esparza and Kelli O'Hara on two obscure SWEET SMELL gems and Maria Friedman with a song from Hamlisch's forthcoming musical THE NUTTY PROFESSOR, with book and lyrics by Rupert Holmes, based on the comedic cinema classic by Jerry Lewis, with the moment of the night owing to O'Hara and McDonald joining SMASH lead Megan Hilty on a spine-tingling iteration of the stunning A CHORUS LINE trio "At The Ballet". Through the ears of Marvin, last night we were reminded that nobody did it quite like he did while remembering the way we were - and what we won't forget - while being entertained by some of the best songs of the last century offered by New York's finest performers, musicians and creative talents.

BroadwayWorld's Senior Photographer Walter McBride has picked his favorite onstage photos from the year and you can check out his full collection below! CLICK HERE to check out Part 2.

On LAW & ORDER: SVU's upcoming episode, 'Beautiful Frame,' a rape victim in an SVU case is arrested for the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Suffolk County DA Pam James (guest star Kaczmarek) lands the case and swiftly brings charges against the young woman. Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay) questions the circumstances of the arrest and gathers enough evidence for DA Barba (Raul Esparza) to levy charges in Manhattan against another suspect. The two ambitious DA's square off in separate trials for the same murder, hoping to get a conviction before the other derails their case. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro), and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins). 'Beautiful Frame' is set to air Jan. 9 on NBC.

The choices I have made are based solely on the plays and performances that I actually saw. I cannot see all the great talent that is out there in LA; it is physically impossible, as there exist far too many theatre/cabaret performances for one person to cover. So if a choice of yours is not on my list, chances are, I did not see that play or performance...or, it just did not make the final cut. I also do not separate Equity from Equity waiver; I consider all the productions/performances I select to be of top-of-the-line quality/professionalism.