Rita Moreno News

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Steven Spielberg's remake of WEST SIDE STORY is one of his next projects, and a casting notice that went out today confirms those rumors. Casting director Cindy Tolan is seeking actors to play the musical's four leading roles: Maria, Tony, Bernardo and Anita. All four actors must be able to sing, and Maria, Anita and Bernardo must be able to speak Spanish.

King of Cuba, a new comedy by award-winning writer Cristina Garcia, opens with a press night on Saturday, July 21, and runs through August 19 (previews July 19 & 20) at the historic Berkeley City Club. The summer adventure of the Central Works 2018 season King of Cuba, is developed by Ms. Garcia in the Central Works Writers Workshop featuring the lesbian-gender-bending comedian Marga Gomez, and the Grammy-winning "bongocero" Carlos Caro. All are Cubanx celebrities living in the Bay Area. Directed by Gary Graves, the full cast includes Marco Aponte, Leticia Duarte, Elena Garrity, Marga Gomez*, Ben Ortega and Steve Ortiz.(*SAG)

George Street Playhouse has announced that its Annual Gala Benefit - a one-of-a-kind evening featuring stars of Broadway, film and television - will take place Sunday, May 6, 2018, 5 p.m., at The Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick. This year, George Street Playhouse celebrates the Arthur Laurents Centennial - a tribute to the playwright on what would have been his 100th birthday - and honors Dr. Penelope Lattimer, the Playhouse's current Board President, with the Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award.

On this day in 1962, the groundbreaking screen adaptation of Jerome Robbin's West Side Story swept the Academy Awards, taking home a whopping ten wins, including Best Picture. Check out archived footage below to see Rita Moreno, George Charkiris, and the whole West Side Story team take home awards for this silver screen classic!

Every Act of Life, directed and written by Jeff Kaufman. Produced by Jeff Kaufman, Marcia Ross. Will have its world debut at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festical on April 23rd. Every Act of Life presents a revealing portrait of four-time Tony-winning playwright Terrence McNally's groundbreaking life and work of 4-time Tony-winning playwright Terrence McNally: a personal journey through 5-decades of the American theatre, the struggle for LGBT rights, triumph over addiction,  the power of the arts to shape society, and finding love and inspiration at all ages.

TDF, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing the power of the performing arts to everyone, which is celebrating 50 years of service to audiences and the performing arts community in 2018, has announced it will be honoring Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright TONY KUSHNER at its 50th Anniversary Gala on Monday, June 18 at Manhattan's historic Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway @ 36th Street, NYC). Mr. Kushner's masterwork, Angels in America, is currently receiving its first Broadway revival with the National Theatre production at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - has announced the winners of their first annual vocal competition, "NextGen: Finding The Voices of Tomorrow." The First Place female winner is Nia Savoy (Howard University) and the First Place male winner is Evan LaChance (The Catholic University of America).

Following the announcement of kicking off Opening Night with the world premiere of Steven Tyler's documentary OUT ON A LIMB, the Nashville Film Festival continues its lineup for the ten-day festival (May 10-19, 2018) with the announcement of 48 additional feature films in Narrative, Documentary, New Directors and Graveyard Shift competitions. Capturing the essence of today's most relevant social issues, historical stories and more, these 48 films hail from China, South Africa, Netherlands, Denmark, India, France and more, as well as 31 from the U.S. A jury of industry professionals will select the winning films that will take home up to $20,000 in cash and prizes.

One Day at a Time has been renewed for Season 3. Thirteen half-hour episodes, coming in 2019. Returning cast includes Justina Machado, Rita Moreno, Todd Grinnell, Stephen Toblowsky, Isabella Gomez and Marcel Ruiz. Executive Producers include Norman Lear, co-creators/co-showrunners Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce, Michael Garcia and Brent Miller. Produced by Sony Pictures Television for Netflix. 

Starting next month, Book-It Repertory Theatre is hosting Literature to Life/Young Audiences of New York to present a stage adaptation of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. This 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel written by Junot Diaz was adapted and directed for the stage byElise Thoron and will be performed by Elvis Nolasco ("American Crime", "She's Gotta Have It"). This collaboration across the coasts is the first time Book-It has hosted another company in its 28-year history.

One Arm is Moises Kaufman's adaptation of a screenplay by Tennessee Williams, based on his short story of the same title. A navy veteran and boxer who lost his arm in a car accident must resort to hustling on Canal Street to make his living. When a john pushes him too far, though, he finds himself on death row. He escapes into the correspondence of his past clients for spiritual salvation until his number is up. Produced by The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans in conjunction with the TW/NOLF. Directed by Augustin J Correro. 

Academy Award and Golden Globe winning performer George Chakiris and acclaimed dancer, Barrie Chase have been named the honorees for the Professional Dancers Society's (PDS) annual Gypsy Awards Luncheon, it was announced by PDS President, Mitzi Gaynor and PDS Board Chairman, Joni Berry.  Emmy and Grammy nominated choreographer/director/singer Toni Basil will receive the organization's Choreographer's Award.  PDS' 31st Anniversary Luncheon will be held on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel (9876 Wilshire Blvd.) in Beverly Hills, CA.

NiCori Studios & Productions announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, 'Music at the Mansion", on Sunday, March 25, at 3pm at the Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center in Bloomfield, NJ.  Performers include Jennylind Parris, Bob Diamond and Lisa Viggiano .  The Young Musician Moment will be Katherine Stelma.

REPRISE 2.0 is now announced, presenting a season of three classic American musicals at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, by Marcia Seligson, Producing Artistic Director of the new performing arts organization.  REPRISE 2.0 is partnering with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television's Department of Theater (UCLA TFT), chaired by Brian Kite. 

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will conclude their star-studded third season with Let's Misbehave: Cole Porter After Dark at the Orchestra's new home, Arena Stage at The Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth Street SW) on Saturday, May 19 at 8:00 PM. Let's Misbehave will feature guest stars Betty Who (the pop star making her orchestra debut), Liz Callaway (Tony Award nominee, voice of Disney's Princess Jasmine and Anastasia), Ali Ewoldt ((Phantom of the Opera on Broadway), Helen Hayes Awards Winner), Vishal Vaidya (Groundhog Day on Broadway), and Mo Rocca ('CBS Sunday Morning,' NPR's 'Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me!'). Conductor Luke Frazier will lead a 20-piece orchestra in an evening directed by Kelly Crandall d'Amboise. Tickets are on sale now at www.TheAmericanPops.org.

Before presenting the Best Foreign Language Film Nominees, Rita Moreno states filmmaking is a universal language. Regardless of the country of origin or the dialect of the words, all films speak to the human condition.

For the second consecutive year, late-night talk show favorite Jimmy Kimmel returned to host Hollywood's most celebrated night. The 90th Academy Awards®, produced by Oscar®-nominated Michael De Luca and Emmy®-nominated Jennifer Todd, was broadcast live from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California.

Check out the stars take the red carpet at the 90th Annual Academy Awards. 

Watch presenter Rita Moreno discuss her 1962 Oscar win and the gown she wore that year on the Oscars 2018 Red Carpet. 

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents legendary Broadway and screen actress Carole Cook in "Back Where She Belongs: The Life and Times of Carol Cooke" - her New York cabaret debut - at the age of 94! - for two performances only - Tuesday, June 19 and Wednesday, June 20, 2018 @ 7pm.