Latest news with #NatalieVenetiaBelcon
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
This ‘Buena Vista Social Club' Star Knows She's Intimidating
As she exits the stage door of 'Buena Vista Social Club,' the Broadway actress Natalie Venetia Belcon can see it in their eyes. The waiting fans thrust Playbills and pens into the hands of her co-stars, but when Belcon comes down the line, she senses their shyness, their wariness. 'They're afraid,' she said. 'It's so weird. I'm like, 'You guys, I'm pretending!'' Onstage, Belcon, 56, plays the middle-aged version of Omara Portuondo, the famed Cuban singer known as 'the queen of feeling.' (Isa Antonetti portrays the teen version.) Belcon's Omara is stately, imperious. 'You're not the kind of woman one forgets,' a bandmate in the show tells her. She can dismiss a person with a tilt of the head, a wave of the hand. The role has earned Belcon a Tony nomination, her first, for best performance by a featured actress in a musical. Belcon is, she insists, not Omara, but some of this same majesty was evident even over a casual afternoon snack of calamari and plantains at Cuba, a restaurant in Manhattan's West Village neighborhood. The waiter seemed honored to shake up a mojito for her. Belcon, dressed like some expensive, resplendent bird in a blue-and-yellow skirt and matching jewelry, looked regal as she sipped it. Then she pointed to the stalk of sugar cane in the glass. 'Oh, I love sugar cane!' she said delightedly. 'I grew up chewing on it. Then you catch yourself in the mirror, like, 'That doesn't look sexy!'' Belcon insists that in her downtime, offstage, away from journalists, she is an everyday sort of woman who prefers oversize T-shirts and yoga pants. She loves to put on her bunny slippers and watch the UFC. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Buena Vista Social Club' director Saheem Ali and writer Marco Ramirez on creating ‘a joyful experience' out of the ‘beautiful' Cuban record
'Right now, we need joy. We need to be in a space with other human beings who are having a joyful experience,' says director Saheem Ali about why the new Broadway musical Buena Vista Social Club has been resonating with audiences. Set in Cuba in 1956 and 1996, the musical tells the story of how the Grammy-winning album of the same featuring iconic Cuban performers came to fruition, while also looking at the tumultuous period of history from which many of those songs were born. Ali and librettist Marco Ramirez spoke with Gold Derby and other journalists at the 2025 Tony Awards Meet the Nominees press event. More from GoldDerby Our 'SNL' hosting wish list includes Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, and 8 more A-list celebrities 'Industry' star Marisa Abela on her breakout Season 3: 'It answers many questions about why Yasmin is the way she is' 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' eyes record-breaking $50 million opening as the Weeknd and Jenna Ortega fizzle in 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Before embarking on the project, Ali knew that the original album was special. He recalls, 'I grew up in Kenya, and my first language is Swahili. When I was a teenager, my dad brought the CD home and I was obsessed with the album and I memorized all the lyrics and I could not stop listening to the music. I felt that this album that has had such a beautiful, prevalent place in the world could exist in its original form in a Broadway musical.' SEE 'Beyond a blessing': Natalie Venetia Belcon on starring as Omara Portuondo in 'Buena Vista Social Club' Ramirez feels similarly about the music. Asked if he knew that the Broadway musical would create so much joy for its audiences, he replied, 'I couldn't anticipate it, but I could hope that the show we put together would muster some of the same reaction to the music itself.' When he started writing the book for the musical, he said, 'So many people told me, 'Oh God, the Buena Vista Social Club is one of my favorite records, I used to listen to it at' insert life event: funerals, weddings, dinner parties, when I was depressed, when I was happy, when I was sad. It just feels like the record and the music itself is kind of this balm even for people who don't speak the language.' Buena Vista Social Club is the most Tony nominated Broadway production of the year, tying Maybe Happy Ending and Death Becomes Her with 10 citations. Gold Derby's current odds predict the musical will win four awards, including Best Featured Actress for Natalie Venetia Belcon, Best Orchestrations, Best Choreography, and Best Sound Design. Its next strongest category is Costume Design, where it ranks third. Although it is tied for the most nominations of any musical, it places fourth in our projections for the top honor of Best Musical, and fifth place in the categories of Best Director for Ali, Best Musical Book for Ramirez, and scenic and lighting designs. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Sadie Sink on her character's 'emotional rage' in 'John Proctor Is the Villain' and her reaction to 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' 'It should be illegal how much fun I'm having': Lea Salonga on playing Mrs. Lovett and more in 'Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends' 'Death Becomes Her' star Jennifer Simard is ready to be a leading lady: 'I don't feel pressure, I feel joy' Click here to read the full article.
CBS News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
5 Carnegie Mellon alumni nominated for Tony Awards
The Tony Award nominations are out, and five Carnegie Mellon University alumni are on the list. The alumni are nominated for 13 awards, marking the 16th consecutive year that CMU graduates have gotten nods in the Tony Awards. "Buena Vista Social Club," "Dead Outlaw," "Death Becomes Her," "Maybe Happy Ending" and "Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical" are nominated for best musical, and CMU grads had a part in all of them. Megan Hilty is nominated for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical for "Death Becomes Her." Natalie Venetia Belcon was nominated for best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical for "Buena Vista Social Club." Jamie DeRoy was the producer of two nominees for best play as well as three best musicals and two best revivals of a musical. Ankit Agrawal was the producer of two best musicals. And Peter Hylenski got two nods for best sound design of a musical with "Just In Time" and "Maybe Happy Ending." "The Carnegie Mellon community is excited to celebrate our talented alumni who continue to shape the future of theatre in front of and behind the spotlight," CMU President Farnam Jahanian said in a news release. "Their passion and artistry exemplify the excellence fostered at CMU's School of Drama, and we look forward to celebrating them at this year's Tony Awards." The 78th Tony Awards will be held Sunday, June 8. Broadway's biggest night will be hosted by "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo. The Tony Awards will air on CBS and Paramount+.
