Zurin Villanueva Is Cast As New Yolanda In 'CROWNS'

During an all-day open casting event at the Lincoln Theatre on Saturday, January 3, 2009, 60 young, ambitious actresses auditioned for the role of Yolanda, the teenage character central to ReGina Taylor's musical Crowns. Winner of four Helen Hayes Awards, including Best Resident Musical, Crowns runs March 27-April 26, 2009 at Arena Stage at the Lincoln Theatre.

After open auditions in the morning, 21 women were called back to sing, dance and perform a monologue before a panel of judges, including Artistic Director Molly Smith, Crowns Director Kenneth Lee Roberson, Crowns Music Director E'Marcus Harper and Arena favorite Marva Hicks (Arena's The Women of Brewster Place). Of the many talented actresses who auditioned, Zurin Villanueva stood out for her unquestionable talent and won the role of Yolanda as well as an Actor's Equity card.

"Zurin Villanueva is a complete delight-A big bright talent with a wonderful voice and great presence," said Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith. "We are thrilled she comes to us from Howard University to become our Yolanda."

Originally from Brooklyn, New York where she attended LaGuardia High School for the performing arts, Villanueva is a senior Musical Theater major at Howard University. Her previous professional theater experience includes being an understudy in the recent Metro Stage production of The Stephen Schwartz Project. Other theater credits include Songs for a New World (Tank Theater); Working, Hamlet, A Chorus Line, Gum and The Bear (Howard University). She has also trained with the British American Drama Academy and the Dance Theater of Harlem. She is also a member of D.I.V.A. Incorporated.

Crowns is sponsored by WJLA and NewsChannel 8.

The Arena Stage 2008/09 Season is sponsored by The Family of H. Max and Josephine F. Ammerman, Andrew R. Ammerman, and Hubert (Hank) and Charlotte Schlosberg.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Molly Smith, Washington, D.C.-based Arena Stage has become the largest theater in the country dedicated to American plays and playwrights. Founded in 1950 by Zelda Fichandler, Thomas Fichandler and Edward Mangum, Arena Stage was one of the nation's original resident theaters and has a distinguished record of leadership and innovation in the field. With the opening of the new Mead Center for American Theater in 2010, Arena Stage will be a leading center for the production, development and study of American theater. Now in its sixth decade, Arena Stage serves a diverse annual audience of more than 200,000. For more information please visit www.arenastage.org.

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