Chino, a young and ambitious Korean American who grew up in a foster family on Los Angeles’ Eastside, hopes to grow his successful taco stand, “Chino’s Underground Tacos,” into a brick-and-mortar restaurant. When Yesenia Tapia, a Mexican-American social media influencer, accuses Chino of cultural appropriation and pandering to a gentrifying neighborhood, he must convince the community of his cultural authenticity in a multi-faceted and complicated city.

With its vibrant ‘L.A. River Night Market’ setting and easy flow between three languages (English subtitles provided), Tacos La Brooklyn looks at cultural identity, interracial dynamics, gentrification, street vendors, social media and cancel culture — all through a distinctly Los Angeles lens.

”There’s a huge crossover between Latino and Asian cultures on L.A.’s East side,” Fidel Gomez, Director of Tacos La Brooklyn says, recalling a recent commemoration event for the 80th anniversary of the Zoot Suit Riots held in Little Tokyo. “It was attended not only by Chicanos but by Japanese “Cholos” and lowrider enthusiasts — a subculture touched on in the play. To be able to tell a story from multiple cultural viewpoints is really exciting.”

“I wanted to celebrate the different neighborhoods of L.A. through street vending, language, and the overlap between cultures that we often experience in our city,” explains Ulloa. “In the end, this is a story about exploring identity and how we find (or choose) our family.”

Tacos La Brooklyn stars Gavin Lee as Chino; Esperanza America as Yesenia Tapia; Xavi Moreno, Zilah Mendoza and Alejandra Flores as fellow LA River Night Market vendors Mike, Monse and Lencha; Sal Lopez as Chino’s abuelito; Paul Dateh, Ariel Kayoko Labasan and Sayaka Miyatani as Japanese Cholos Whisper, Benjiro and Mariko; and Jesus “Chuy” Perez as El Musico.

The creative team includes scenic designer Natalie Morales; lighting designer Pablo Santiago; sound designer John Zalewski; projection designer Hsuan-Kuang Hsieh; and costume designer Maria Catarina Rodrigues. The assistant director is Nicolas Ruano. The stage manager is Alexa Wolfe assisted by Valerie Vega.

Tacos La Brooklyn opens on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m., with performances thereafter on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. through October 29. Six preview performances take place from September 21 through September 29 on the same schedule. Tickets range from $22–$48, except opening night which is $58 and includes pre- and post-performance receptions, and previews, which are Pay-What-You-Will starting at $10.

Tacos La Brooklyn was developed by Latino Theater Company’s Circle of Imaginistas playwriting group and produced in association with East West Players. Fidel Gomez directs the world premiere of performances will continue through Oct. 29, with six low-priced previews taking place from September 21 through September 29.

The Los Angeles Theatre Center is located at 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. Parking is available for $8 with box office validation at Joe’s Parking structure, 530 S. Spring St. (immediately south of the theater).

For more information and to purchase tickets, call (213) 489-0994 or go to www.latinotheaterco.org.

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Morales will debut live Oct. 11. alongside current hosts former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila, fitness instructor Amanda Kloots, actor Jerry O’Connell and comedian Sheryl Underwood. The national show features the prominent personalities discussing current events, pop culture, family, celebrity and trending topics of the day. The hosts exchange stories and share their opinions on issues and events in the headlines. The show also features celebrity guest interviews, musical performances and cooking segments, as well as human interest stories. Morales is the only professional journalist on the show’s hosting panel. 

Morales is the second new host to join the show to join The Talk in three months. In July, O’Connell replaced Sharon Osbourne, who left the show after having a controversial on-air exchange with Underwood.

LATINO INCLUSION
With Morales’s arrival, The Talk will finally catch up with its rival The View on ABC on Latino representation. The latter New York-produced show has featured two Latinas in its 20-plus-years history–actress Rosie Perez was brought in in 2014 and political commentator Ana Navarro has been a co-host since 2018.

The Talk is broadcast live weekdays at the CBS Studio Center in Studio City, California. Morales has lived in Los Angeles since 2016.

“It’s an extraordinary opportunity to be joining this team at The Talk,” said Morales, a journalist who speaks Spanish and Portuguese, was born in Taiwan and spent much of the first 18 years of her life living overseas in Panama, Brazil and Spain as the daughter of an Air Force family. “I love the new energy and direction and couldn’t be more excited to join Sheryl, Amanda, Jerry and Akbar,” she added. “I’m looking forward to many good times while talking about the days’ topics, and I can’t wait to get going.” 

Morales was born in Taiwan while her Air Force family was stationed there. She graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and Latin American studies.  

LONG CAREER AT NBC
Morales comes from NBC Universal, a media company in which she spent 15 years as an anchor and national correspondent in some of the network’s most prominent national shows. Most recently she was West Coast anchor of NBC News’ Today, a correspondent for Dateline NBC as well as the anchor of Behind Closed Doors with Natalie Morales. 

She previously served as host of Access and co-host of Access Live and as news anchor of Today, co-hosting the show’s third hour. Morales joined Today in 2006 as a national correspondent and reported across all of NBCUniversal News’ platforms, including NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and MSNBC. 

In a Today first, Morales followed 20 children from the class of 2020–all of whom were born a year after 9/11–from their first day of kindergarten to graduation, amid a global pandemic nonetheless. In addition to hosting At Home With Natalie, Morales contributed to several major breaking news stories, including the sexual harassment scandals, the 2017 Las Vegas massacre, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the rescue of the Chilean miners in 2010. The latter coverage was seen worldwide and earned a National Headliner Award. 

EXCLUSIVES & NOTABLE INTERVIEWS
In August 2008, Morales had the exclusive jailhouse interview with the infamous convicted murderer and impostor Clark Rockefeller. Her other notable reports include the 2009 presidential inauguration; Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005; the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami; the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005; and the election of Pope Francis in 2013. She also reported on the royal wedding in 2011 and the birth of Prince George in 2013.  

As a part of the Shine a Light campaign in 2014, Morales ran in the Boston Marathon and raised over $70,000 for victims of the 2013 bombing. Morales has won three Daytime Emmy Awards as part of Today’s recognition as the best morning news program. She won a Robert F. Kennedy Award in international journalism for her report on Honduran lobster divers for Rock Center with Brian Williams in June 2013. She has won three Gracie Awards, one for Outstanding Series for her Dateline NBC special, “My Kid Would Never,” and two for her reporting in 2016 and 2017. 

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Natalie Morales join the Talk family,” said executive producers Heather Gray and Kristin Matthews. “We have been fans of her and her work for years. Her varied skill set and versatility are a great addition to our talented panel. Natalie’s intelligence, passion and enthusiasm always shine through in all her work, and we are fortunate to have her on the team. In addition to her role as an exceptional broadcaster, we believe her perspective as a wife and mother will provide a special connection with our audience.” 

The Talk airs weekdays, 2-3 p.m., ET and 1-2 p.m. PT/CT, on the CBS Television Network. It is available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. The show is produced by CBS Studios. 

Featured Photo: Natalie Morales (Credit: CBS)

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The award-winning collaboration between Carino and Adam is a love story about a long-distance friendship that just happens in spite of life getting in the way.

Morales directs Duplass in this film which is based on a teacher-student relationship that flourishes into something bigger. Written by Morales and Duplass the story is told in a series of online Spanish lessons. The film is produced by Mel Eslyn and Duplass Brothers Productions

Spanish Lessons was a SXSW Narrative Spotlight Audience Award and also won the Provincetown Best Narrative Film Audience Award.
Provincetown Best Narrative Film Audience Award.

Spanish Lessons opens in select theaters nationwide on September 10 from Shout! Studios.

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Vanessa Ramos Universal TV Deal

Vanessa Ramos is finding a home with Universal Television, a Universal Studio Group division where the writer/producer scored a multi-year overall deal. Ramos, known as Co-Producer on Superstore, Supervising Producer on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and most recently, Co-Executive Producer on Kenan, will develop projects for Universal TV for different platforms. 

“We are thrilled to continue building our relationship with Vanessa, who is an extremely talented writer and has contributed greatly to every project she’s been a part of,” said Jim Donnelly, EVP of Comedy Development, Universal Televsion. “Her sense of humor and range of ideas will add greatly to our roster at Universal Televsion, and we are excited to be a part of her future.” 

The comedic writer began her television career as a staffer on the Comedy Central Roast, the Emmy-nominated series of celebrity roast specials. As for new projects, Ramos recently exec produced a single-camera workplace comedy for NBC with David Caspe (Black Monday), John Fox (Dolemite is My Name) and John Davis (Game Night). 

Ramos currently serves as a Co-Executive Producer of Mr. Mayor and has written on the TV shows Big Mouth, Bordertown, Crashing and Superstore, which had it’s series finale last month. 

“I could not be more thrilled to make it official with Universal Television,” said Ramos to Deadline. “The whole team has been nothing but supportive and nurturing of my voice as a writer throughout my career, and no one said anything when I pitched a show while wearing sweatpants. I’m looking forward to collaborating on all sorts of fun projects together.”

Ramos is repped by UTA and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Annie Gonzalez Joins ABC Comedy Pilot ‘Bucktown’ 

ABC’s Bucktown has two more coming! Annie Gonzalez (Gentefied) and newcomer Sofia Capanna will join Jane Lynch (Glee), Shannon Woodward (Westworld) and Nicole Richie (The Simple Life) in the new ABC multi-cam sitcom. 

Bucktown follows Amy, played by Woodward, who moves back into her mother’s home after her boyfriend dumps her right before a big promotion. Amy reconnects with her teenage niece living there as her sister is doing her latest stin in rehab.

The project, produced by ABC Signature, is also executive produced by Marc Provissiero (Pen15) and Mandy Summers (The Greatest American Hero). 

Gonzalez recently finished shooting the second season of Netflix’s Gentefied, a series that follows three cousins who work together to keep their Grandfather’s popular Boyle Heights taco shop in business as the neighborhood becomes more gentrified.

Annie Gonzalez is repped by the Smith & Hervey/Grimes Talent Agency.

Natalie Morales Takes Lead in CBS Untitled Comedy 

Natalie Morales (The Little Things) has landed a lead role in CBS’s comedy pilot based on Sarah Cooper’s book How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings. Also, cast in lead roles are Amy Landecker (Transparent) and Alice Lee (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist). 

The single-cam comedy will follow three women who are at different stages in their careers at a male-dominated company who help each other navigate modern gender politics in their professional and personal lives.

Morales will play Joanna, a conflict-averse, people-pleasing middle manager at the small tech company Lucent Muse. She lives with her boyfriend of two years, a sweet, loyal guy who might be too sweet and loyal for her.

Sarah Cooper penned the untitled series based on her book How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings with Cindy Chupack and Amy York Rubin directed. Morales also serves as a producer alongside Chupack, who serves as showrunner, and Executive Produces with Cooper and Nina Tassler, Denise Di Novi, via PatMa Productions. 

Morales’ acting credits include playing Detective Jamie Estrada on The Little Things and Michelle Gutierrez on Netflix’s Dead To Me. She directed and starred in Language Lessons, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won the Audience Award at SXSW. The Florida native is an exec producer and director on Plan B, a feature comedy on Hulu that will be released in spring 2021. She is repped by CAA.

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The all-new series, already in pre-production, reimagines the classic animated 1990s series about the lovable toddlers whose everyday life happenings amount to great adventures in their imaginations and little world. Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, the all-new Rugrats is a Paramount+ Original Series. It is expected to premiere on the latter streaming service this spring.

Morales (Dead to Me) will play Betty, the mother of the fraternal twins Phil and Lil, a former wrestler and a feminist. The Cuban-American actress is part of the latest all-star roster joining Rutrags: Ashley Rae Spillers (Vice Principals) and Tommy Dewey (The Mindy Project) as Tommy’s parents; Tony Hale (Arrested Development) as Chuckie’s father; Anna Chlumsky (Veep) and Timothy Simons (Veep), as Angelica’s parents; Nicole Byer (Nailed It!) and Omar Miller (Ballers) as Susie’s parents; and Michael McKean (Better Call Saul) as Grandpa Lou Pickles.

The new additions join the original voice cast members of the series: E.G. Daily as Tommy, Nancy Cartwright as Chuckie, Cheryl Chase as Angelica, Cree Summer as Susie and Kath Soucie as both Phil and Lil.

MOMS & DADS
Rutrags may center on the kids but their parents are also indispensable.

“The all-new Rugrats is packed with comedy, music and adventures that only babies can embark upon, and the role of the grown-ups is an essential piece of the series,” says Ramsey Naito, Nickelodeon Animation president.

Morales will be a new voice for her character, Betty.

“This incredibly talented group of actors provides a fresh and very funny take on these iconic roles, combining humor with heart to bring the characters to life in a whole new way,” said Liz Paulson, Nickelodeon’s senior vice president of talent and casting.

The original Rugrats TV series launched in 1991 and has been a successful media franchise with three films and a toy line. It’s won four Daytime Emmy Awards, six Kids’ Choice Awards. It also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

A SXSW STANDOUT
Morales is an award-winning actress who has scored recurring roles in series like White Collar, 90210, Parks and Recreation and Santa Clarita Diet. She has worked in the films Battle of the Sexes, Stuber and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, in the latter as a voice actress.

More recently, the Florida-born actor played Michelle Gutierrez in six episodes of the series Dead to Me and other roles in Mr. Mayor and Quibi’s Home Movie: The Princess Bride. Her feature directorial debut Language Lessons, about a teacher of an adult Spanish class who strikes an expected friendship with a student, premiered at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. That romantic drama earned her the Audience Award to Narrative Spotlight at the SXSW Film Festival. She has also received nominations for other works to the Imagen Foundation Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Created by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain, the all-new Rugrats is executive produced by Eryk Casemiro (Rugrats) and Kate Boutilier (Rugrats) with Dave Pressler (Robot and Monster) and Casey Leonard (Breadwinners) serving as co-executive producers, Rachel Lipman (Rugrats) as co-producer and Kellie Smith (The Fairly OddParents) as line producer. Production is overseen by Mollie Freilich, senior manager of current series animation at Nickelodeon. Casting is overseen by Paulson.

Featured Photo: Natalie Morales. Courtesy: Catie Lafoon/Nickelodeon

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