Rodriguez, is a highly sought talent who has starred as Liza Minelli in Netflix’s Halston. Broadway credits include Spring Awakening (revival), The Addams Family, In the Heights, A Chorus Line (revival) and Good Vibrations. Other memorable turns include West Side Story (Anita; Kennedy Center), A Chorus Line (Diana; Hollywood Bowl) and What We’re Up Against (Off-Broadway). On television, Rodriguez is best known for Smash, Daybreak and Trial & Error and recurring role on Quantico, Younger, Chasing Life, The Mysteries of Laura, Married and Gossip Girl.  She is very happy to return to the role of Cinderella, which she played on Broadway. 

Originally debuting in 1987, Into the Woods intertwines classic storybook characters (Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood) into a profound exploration of childhood, parenting and the power of the tales we tell ourselves.  When asked which the many messages presented by Sondheim’s heartfelt score most resonates with her, Rodriguez said, “For me, the message is really conveyed in the lyrics to the song No One Is Alone which are: ‘Witches can be right, Giants can be good, You decide what’s right, You decide what’s good.’ The beauty of the show is how it leans into the complexity of moral situations and fairytales. Not everything is as it seems, and we have to be willing to see the humanity of people, even if they are not on ‘our side’ as is suggested in the song.”

With origins going as far back as Greece in 7 BC, the character of Cinderella now inhabits no less than four contemporary musicals: Cinderella (updated 2013), Into the Woods (1987), Bad Cinderella (2021) and, currently running on Broadway, Once Upon A One More Time. Modern storytellers seem attracted to her very modern dilemma: although a prince is offering her “happily ever after” she wants to be sure this is really the ending she wants. So much so, that in many of the original versions of the tale, she goes to the prince’s ball three times, and runs away each time. Sondheim expresses her contemporary conundrum through the lyric, “But how do you know what you want, till you get what you want and you see if you like it?” Who in our world of too many choices can’t relate to that question?  

I asked Ms. Rodriguez what about this fairytale female icon she feels has warranted so much exploration? “That’s a good question!” Krysta replied. “I’m not really sure what makes people so fascinated with the rags to riches story. Probably the desire to rise from whatever station we are in. But what I love about this version of Cinderella, or at least how I play her, is that she is never really a princess. She’s a resourceful, humorous, flawed young woman who begins life with no agency and finds her true voice at the end.”

The music and lyrics to Into the Woods are recognized to be among genius Sondheim’s most complicated, replete with counter-point, internal rhyming, irony and emotional complexity.  Rodriguez likes performing the very demanding score for its richness, saying, ”Sondheim’s work is so layered you could dig forever and not hit the bottom. That’s incredibly satisfying for an actor especially when you’re doing a long run of a show. You can pick any word or phrase and it could mean something new every night. Plus, there are so many lessons, I almost view this as a spiritual text! It can be referenced in any phase of life or situation. It’s truly a privilege to perform it.”

And Angelinos are privileged to see an outstanding musical star in Krysta’s performance in Into the Woods thru July 30th. See it soon because as Cinderella warns us, “Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor!” 

This production is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Sondheim. Tickets to the final week of Into the Woods are available at centertheatregroup.org.

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Camila Cabello’s Cinderella Pushed Back 

Camila Cabello’s portrayal of Cinderella has been pushed back until July 16. The live-action remake, written and directed by Kay Cannon, is a modern musical version of the classic fairy with a star-studded cast. 

The Señorita singer will play the titular character and will be joined by Billy Porter, Indian Menzel, Nicholas Galitzine and Minnie Driver. 

The original release date is Feb. 5, but Sony Studios have delayed the release due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Though details about the film have been kept under wraps, it is said that Cabello is going to have an integral part in the music of the film. We’ll have to wait until July to see the Cuban artist serenade us in the long-anticipated fairytale.

Selena Gomez Announces Spanish EP

Selena Gomez’s officially announced her highly anticipated Spanish EP is set to release on March 12. Revelación (Revelation) will explore Gomez’s latinidad as she dives deep into her Mexican roots. 

The announcement of Revelación comes shortly after she dropped her single De Una Vez, produced by Tainy, on Jan. 16 and Baila Conmigo on Jan. 29 with rapper Rauw Alejandro. The latter has already amassed over 19 million YouTube views within three days of its release. 

“This has been something I’ve wanted to do for 10 years, working on a Spanish project, because I’m so, so proud of my heritage, and just genuinely felt like I wanted this to happen,” Gomez told Apple Music. “And it happened, and I feel like it’s the perfect timing. Just with all the division in the world, there’s something about Latin music that globally just makes people feel things, you know?”

Rosario Dawson to Star in New Ahsoka Limited Series for Disney Plus

Star Wars fans were thrilled to see Rosario Dawson transform into Ahsoka Tano for The Mandalorian and now fans will get even more of the Rent actress. 

Disney announced that Ahsoka will get her own live-action series on Disney Plus. The limited-series will be created and executive produced by The Mandalorian creator and executive producer Dave Filoni (Clone Wars and Rebels). 

Official release dates haven’t been announced, but Disney hinted that the next chapter will debut on Christmas 2021 and will connect with another Star Wars series Rangers of the New Republic.

— By Ana Perez

Featured Photo: Instagram, Self

The post Three Latinas: A Princess, A Revelación, and a Limited Series first appeared on .