Latest news with #JoyMangano
Forbes
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
From Mop To Musical: Lorin Latarro Finds The Heart In ‘Joy'
Betsy Wolfe plays the title role in the new musical Joy Lorin Latarro was on her way to the first rehearsal for the musical Joy when her seven-year-old daughter came down with a fever. Between arranging babysitters and calling the doctor, she was also preparing to direct the show and bring a musical to life. For Latarro, that kind of whirlwind morning felt uncannily like the opening scene of the show—Joy Mangano trying to get her family out the door before heading off to make her dreams take flight. 'All the mothers in our rehearsal room would laugh at how familiar the choreographed chaos is,' says Latarro. 'It's a chaotic but also deeply satisfying.' Lorin Latarro That mix of chaos and purpose drew Latarro to Joy, A True New Musical. The story centers on the real-life inventor and entrepreneur whose unstoppable tenacity transformed her life—and the lives of those around her. After reading Mangano's book and speaking with her on the phone, Latarro was deeply moved by the story of the single mother and inventor who turned a mop into a multimillion-dollar empire. Directing the show now playing at the Laura Pels Theater wasn't just about telling the story of a woman who created a self-wringing mop. It was about showing the strength it takes to build something from nothing—especially when no one believes in you at first. Latarro, who began her career as a Broadway dancer in 14 shows and ultimately became a director/choreographer, was drawn to the honesty of the story. She found inspiration from the complicated family dynamics, the financial pressures, the vulnerability and resilience it takes to keep going. Betsy Wolfe in the title role leads the talented cast which includes Jill Abramovitz, Honor Blue Savage, Adam Grupper, Brandon Espinoza, Paul Whitty, Charl Brown, Jaygee Macapugay, and Gabriela Carrillo. Joy is a story about believing in yourself, even when the odds say otherwise. Also, Latarro hopes that audiences see Joy and feel empowered to take charge of their lives. 'My hope is audiences walk out of the theater and finally listen to their inner voice and begin a new project, idea, or business,' she says. 'Or they push forward through whatever obstacles are currently in their way toward their goal, whether that goal is personal or business related.' Jeryl Brunner: Can you share more about how you got inspired to direct Joy? Lorin Latarro: I met with Ken Davenport, who is a prolific producer and one of the writers of Joy, along with AnnMarie Milazzo. I also read Joy's book, then spoke to Joy on the phone and fell head over heels in love with her determination, grit, kindness, and exuberance. Brunner: Joy is about much more than inventing a mop. It explores family, ambition, and perseverance. How did you build that journey onstage?Latarro: Joy's onstage family is imperfect, as is every family, in their own way. Joy manages to love them and keep them together, even through the messiness of their mistakes and shortcomings. Through Joy's determination, she shifts a generationally learned behavior for her daughter, which is not an easy thing to What was one of the messiest or most magical rehearsal moments you will never forget?Latarro: We all wanted to pour liquid onstage so the audience could see the mops actually work. It's notoriously difficult onstage to deal with watery substances because actors can slip, and it's messy to clean up. We tried many different substances for the various things that we spill onstage, including orange slushies, motor oil, and chocolate syrup. We ended up with an oobleck-type substance. After much messy trial and error, we were all happy we found a solution! Brunner: You are a choreographer and a director. How does each skill fulfill you?Latarro: Choreographing is more surgical. When choreographing, you live inside bars of music, and no matter the libretto, you can structure a song and dance number well. Each song is almost its own little musical with its own beginning, middle, and end. Alternatively, directing is like shooting an arrow through Jell-O. You can be fully prepared and have all these ideas walking in the room, but it all changes based on writers, actors, and collaborators, and 'what works' as you read down a scene. Directing feels more irised out than choreography, and a more holistic experience of the show and its dramaturgical needs. Directing is deeply satisfying in a new way. Communication is key so everyone is stylistically creating the same show. Brunner: How did you know that Betsy Wolfe was your Joy?Latarro: Betsy and I had the pleasure of working together on Waitress. I am a big fan. She's incredibly smart and has genius comic timing. Betsy is also a great leader in the room who works hard and always has a smile on her face. She loves the work. Her vocal chops are truly astonishing too! Brunner: You have directed revivals, brand-new musicals, and now a show based on a living inventor. What tells you a project is worth the time and energy?Latarro: If I am moved by a story, I want to work on it. I don't want to get pigeonholed doing the same thing over and over. It was one of the reasons I wanted to collaborate with choreographer Josh Bergasse on Joy. I wanted to focus completely on directing and feel the collaborative experience from another point of view. Also, I like all kinds of styles of musical theater. Sometimes I spend time inside dark shows like Tommy or Assassins, sometimes comedies like Heart of Rock and Roll, and sometimes I love finding new ways into revivals like Into the Woods. At the end of the day, I believe great theater makes people feel big feelings. I look for shows that have a lot of heart and soul. Theatre can change minds and open hearts. Brunner: When you begin dreaming up a scene, what is your starting point?Latarro: I always start by reading the script and lyrics without listening to the songs. I don't want to be seduced by the music before I experience the story. Then once I understand the story, I go back and reread the script with the interpolated song demos. Then I listen to the music over and over again. Brunner: What kind of creative environment do you try to cultivate?Latarro: I love the art of collaboration. It excites me endlessly. I like being in a room with people who also love the work. I am into the 'yes and' mentality. Someone has an idea, and we work on it until it grows and grows. I work hard because if I'm going to be away from my family, then I'm going to make it count. From left: Jill Abramovitz, Honor Blue Savage, Brandon Espinoza, Jaygee Macapugay, Brandon Espinoza, ... More and Adam Grupper
New York Times
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Joy' Review: A Rags-to-QVC-Riches Story
A cynic could question the very existence of a musical about the inventor of the Miracle Mop. But consider that there have been movies about Beanie Babies ('The Beanie Bubble'), Flamin' Hot Cheetos ('Flamin' Hot') and Pop-Tarts ('Unfrosted'), and 'Joy: A New True Musical' does not seem so random anymore. And unlike Cheetos, the self-wringing mop at least made women's lives a little bit easier — for it is they who still handle most of the housecleaning. The title inventor and entrepreneur is Joy Mangano, who had already inspired the 2015 film 'Joy,' in which she was portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence. In Ken Davenport and AnnMarie Milazzo's show, it's the Tony Award nominee Betsy Wolfe's turn to don the title character's sensible slacks. Wolfe ('& Juliet'), a dead ringer for Mangano, has a down-to-earth warmth and precise comic timing, and she is a confident singer. She is the main reason to catch the wholesome, low-boil production now running at the Laura Pels Theater. The word 'miracle' comes up so often in the show — starting with the mop's name and ending with the grand finale, 'Go Make a Miracle' — one might assume the action is set in Lourdes instead of on Long Island. Joy's rags-to-QVC-riches story did not hinge on divine providence, but on very human ingenuity, guts and persistence. We first meet our heroine in the early 1990s, and her life is a mess: She's has split from her ne'er-do-well husband, Tony (Brandon Espinoza); just lost her job with an airline; and is stuck between her separated parents, the philandering Rudy (Adam Grupper) and the agoraphobic Toots (Jill Abramovitz). Fortunately her imagination can't be tamped down, and Joy — always bursting with gadget ideas — comes up with a design for a more efficient mop. After failing to find distribution, she finally gets a break when QVC lets her peddle her ware on TV. Davenport's book takes a few liberties with Mangano's journey, but they don't impact the big picture — or appear to trouble Mangano, who's plugging the show on her website. The stage Joy has only one child, Christie (Honor Blue Savage), instead of the real-life three; Ronni (Gabriela Carrillo) has morphed from Mangano's longtime friend to a supportive QVC employee. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Miracle Mop Inventor Joy Mangano's 18,000-Square-Foot Long Island Home Is Headed to Auction
After failing to sell for $20 million a few years ago, a red brick mansion that dates to the Gilded Age on Long Island's Gold Coast is hitting the auction block. Swan Manor has been owned by the Miracle Mop creator Joy Mangano since 2000, but she's once again trying to part ways with the nine-acre Nissequogue estate. Originally designed by the renowned architect Stanford White back in 1917, few of his elegant details remain. Today, the extensively modernized main house and its outbuildings total a whopping 22,000 square feet, and it's going up for auction with Concierge Auctions and Kyle Roskot of the Agency, with starting bids expected from $4 million to $7 million. Mangano also recently listed the home for $12 million, and it could still sell for that price before hammering down. More from Robb Report Silent's New Flagship Is a Next-Gen 80-Foot Solar-Electric Catamaran This $8 Million Palladian Masterpiece in the Cotswolds Comes With a Herd of Sheep BMW Just Unveiled a Bonkers New Superbike With a Nitrous Oxide Power Boost 'My entire life has been devoted to saving people time with the invention of my products. Deciding to sell my home through a luxury auction is very exciting to me. I love that an auction can help condense the timeframe and reach more incredible people throughout the world who can discover this one-of-a-kind property,' Mangano said in a statement. 'This is a beautiful home with so much history. I'm excited by the prospect of a new family having the opportunity to breathe new life throughout the estate and make it their own.' The main residence encompasses almost 18,000 square feet of living space, including a two-story great room, a sunroom, and a large farmhouse-style kitchen. In total, 14 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms are spread among the estate's three structures, including an old barn that was transformed into a three-bedroom guest house and a detached four-car garage with two bedrooms above. Truly a move-in-ready opportunity, Swan Manor is being offered fully furnished. An indoor swimming pool complete with a diving board and plenty of lounge space is contained within a semi-detached pavilion. You can break a sweat in the fully equipped gym and then relax in the massage room or the sauna. And when it comes to more indulgent activities, there's a wine cellar with a tasting room and a Prohibition-inspired bar for throwing back a cocktail or two. Outside, the gardens include a stone waterfall and several patios for alfresco hangs. And just a short stroll down the sloping lawn from the stately mansion is a recently updated tennis court with a covered viewing of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
New York Post
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Miracle Mop titan Joy Mangano is auctioning her LI mansion
A famed inventor and entrepreneur with a new Broadway close-up sure knows how to clean up — and this time she has enlisted an auction house to help. The mastermind of the self-wringing Miracle Mop, Joy Mangano has sold more than $3 billion worth of home products — including 1 billion hangers — and designed everything from guitars with Keith Urban to natural cleaning products with the rapper Pitbull. And, on July 25, Mangano is auctioning her 9-acre Long Island estate with Concierge Auctions, in partnership with broker Kyle Roskot of the Agency. 11 Joy Mangano. Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images 11 Driving up to the estate's gracious entrance. Visual Grip 11 The interiors of the home are breathtaking. Visual Grip 11 The light-filled, two-story great room. Visual Grip 11 The chef's kitchen anchors the home. Visual Grip 11 Gorgeous beamed vaulted ceilings show the home's attention to detail. Visual Grip 11 The bar and game room provides ample space for entertaining guests. Visual Grip The historic property, known as Swan Manor, first hit the market for $20 million in 2022 and it was last asking $11.99 million. It was originally designed in 1917 by Stanford White, who created Washington Square Park's famed arch, the listing notes. While there is no minimum bid, starting bids are expected to be 'between $4 million to $7 million,' a Concierge Auctions spokesperson said. The estate will be auctioned move-in ready and fully furnished. 'I've seen a lot of homes around the world. This is a beautiful estate, and it also feels like a home,' said Mangano, a perfectionist who has spent millions renovating the property, which she bought for $1.35 million in 2000. The gated property is on the hamlet of St. James on Long Island's North Shore, between Manhattan and the Hamptons, in Suffolk County. It includes a 17,790-square-foot, nine-bedroom main house, and a 2,349-square-foot barn-turned-guesthouse that comes with three bedrooms. The main residence features a two-story great room, a sun room and a large chef's kitchen, along with an indoor pool. There's also a formal dining room with a fireplace, vaulted and wood-beamed ceilings, a gym, a sauna and a hot tub — and a wine cellar and tasting room in the finished basement. Outside, there's a tennis court, a pergola deck, walkways and a stone garden waterfall. 'When I first came to this amazing estate, my whole family was here. Now I'm rambling around with my dog. The space is miraculous. It was a dream come true for me and now it's someone else's turn,' Mangano told Gimme Shelter. 11 One of the estate's many bedrooms. Visual Grip 11 The lovely indoor pool is one of many perks. Visual Grip 11 Just in time for summer, there's also a massive chunk of outdoor space for al-fresco hangouts. Visual Grip 11 Swan Manor's grand lawn. Visual Grip The news comes as 'Joy: A New True Musical' debuts on Broadway, starring Tony-nominated actor Betsy Wolfe. It's based on Mangano's life story and follows the success of the 2015 biopic 'Joy' starring Jennifer Lawrence, who received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Mangano and a Golden Globe. 'The only thing that's better than a movie is a musical because it goes on and on,' Mangano quipped, adding that her home is a great place to foster creativity. 'The first time I heard the music for the show was here in my living room at Swan Manor. It was monumental — and now they are getting standing ovations!' she said. Celebrities who have stayed at Swan Manor include Paula Abdul. 'I purchased [the home] myself. I was enamored with everything about it. Everyone who comes here never wants to leave,' Mangano said.
Time Out
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Joy
The story of Joy Mangano, a young single mother who cleaned up as the inventor and entrepreneur of a self-wringing mop, already inspired a 2015 film that earned Jennifer Lawrence an Oscar nomination. Now it is the subject of an original musical with a book by producer Ken Davenport and a score by AnnMarie Milazzo (with additional material by Amanda Yesnowitz), starring Betsy Wolfe (& Juliet) in the title role. Lorin Lotarro, best known as the accomplished Broadway choreographer of shows including Tommy and The Heart of Rock and Roll, takes on directing duties here and leaves the dances to Smash man Joshua Bergasse; the large cast also includes Jill Abramovitz, Charl Brown, Adam Grupper, Brandon Espinoza, Honor Blue Savage, Paul Whitty, Gabriela Carrillo and Jaygee Macapugay.
