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By Michael Lopez

Don't cry for Ricky Martin, Argentina, he's about to kick off a major revival of Evita! The Puerto Rican crooner sent out some very exciting tweets this week about his involvement in a new Broadway production of the show.

"Buen día mi gente. Hoy será un día intenso! Empiezo con Evita frente al piano y lo termino en un avión a Italia,"he posted.

It has been reported that Ricky will be taking on the role of Che, who was played by Antonio Banderas in the 1996 Madonna film. The stage version of Evita is much more intricate and originally launched back in 1978. Since its inception, the Eva Perón musical has nabbed numerous Tony Awards and played all over the world.

Ricky's version would arrive in 2012 and include choreography by the legendary Rob Ashford. Martin certainly isn't a stranger to the Broadway stage. He famously took on the role of Marius Pontmercy in the 1996 production of Les Misérables.

Would you like to see Ricky Martin on Broadway? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Broadway, Eva Perón, Evita, Música, Ricky Martin, Theatre

By Simone Hilliard

Reality star, TV host, actress, basketball wife and mother: LaLa Vazquez couldn't have more any more on her plate, until now. Our favorite fomer MTV VJ has joined the cast of "Love, Lost and What I Wore" and will be taking her talents to the great white way this Fall.

The play, which opened at the Westside Theater back in 2009, is based on a book of the same name by Ilene Beckerman. The stage version, written by Nora and Delia Ephron, takes on the book's concept of telling women's stories of love and loss by building those stories around their closets, clothes and accessories.

"Love, Loss and What I Wore" is performed by a rotating cast of five all-star actors, who perform in five-week cycles. Members of the rotating cast have included Fran Drescher, Stacy London, Jane Lynch, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sherri Shepherd, Brooke Shields, and Jamie-Lynn Sigler. LaLa's run will last from October 5th-30th.

Before her Broadway run, you can catch LaLa and her husband Carmelo Anthony chronicling their lives as newlyweds in LaLa's Full Court Life which premieres on VH1 August 22nd.

Will you see LaLa on Broadway? Let us know below, or @MTV3.

Tags Broadway, Carmelo Anthony, LaLa, LaLa's Full Court Life, Loss and What I Wore, Love

By Simone Hilliard

Not only is Alicia Keys giving a surprise performance at New York City's Joe's Pub Tuesday (June 28) to celebrate the re-release of her multi-platinum five-time Grammy award winning debut album Songs In A Minor, but the talented mami is also adding a new title to her ever-growing repertoire, Broadway Producer.

Keys joins the likes of Jay-Z and Bono who have also taken their talents to the great white way; Hov co-producing 2009's "Fela!" and Bono producing the score for the often plagued production of 2011's "Spiderman."

Alicia will co-produce "Stick Fly," Lydia R. Diamond's account of an affluent African-American family's weekend at their Martha's Vineyard home. The premise of the play reads,

"The adult sons, aspiring novelist Kent and golden boy plastic surgeon Flip, have each brought their respective ladies (one black and one white) to meet the parents. Food, drink and Trivial Pursuit tangle with class, race and identity politics in this contemporary comedy of manners."

On why she chose to get involved with Broadway production, Keys admitted that she is passionate about "Stick Fly" because it "portrays black America in a way that we don't often get to see in entertainment".

The 30-year-old singer/ songwriter continued in a statement:

"This is a story that everybody can relate to. I know it will touch all audiences who will find a piece of themselves somewhere inside this house."

"Stick Fly," which has already played and received critical acclaim in Chicago, Boston and D.C., will open on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in December, with previews beginning on November 18.

Will you attend? Sound off in the comments, or @MTV3.

Tags Alicia Keys, Bono, Broadway, Fela!, Grammy, Jay Z, Songs in a Minor, Spiderman, Stick Fly

By Michael Lopez

Anyone tuning in to last night's Tony Awards knew they were in for a high-energy show. Honoring Broadway's hottest musicals, the event always brings out intricate dance numbers, over-the-top glitz, and unpredictable comedy from the theatre world's greatest entertainers. And this year's event delivered the goods exactly as promised.

Neil Patrick Harris earned major praise for his high-powered hosting skills. The How I Met Your Mother star kicked off the night with a wild dance number that declared the event as "not just for gays anymore." He also partook in a very memorable singalong with former Tonys MC Hugh Jackman.

Comedian Chris Rock also got quite a bit of laughs when he presented the award for Best Musical. Joking about missing the NBA Finals game, he said to the crowd,

"If you had told me two years ago I'd miss the best basketball game ever to hang out with Nathan Lane, I would have said that you're crazy. But that's what happened. I remember my first musical like it was yesterday, because it was yesterday."

The Best Musical Award happened to be handed out to a Latino. Composer Robert Lopez won the night’s top honors (along with South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone) for the comedy The Book Of Mormon. A huge winner last night, Mormon also took home honors for orchestration, lighting design, sound design, and scenic design.

Lopez is no stranger to the Tonys, he had previously won an award for his work on the musical Avenue Q. And proving he’s not just limited to the theatre world, Robert’s songs will soon be hitting the big screen in Disney’s newest adaptation of Winnie the Pooh.

Other big winners of the night included Ellen Barkin, who took home Best Actress for The Normal Heart, and John Larroquette, who won Best Actor for How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. But interestingly, it was the presenters who grabbed the most attention.

Brooke Shields created quite a bit of chisme when she dropped the "f-bomb" on stage and Tr3s fave John Leguizamo had the crowd roaring with some rapid-fire jokes from the podium. Add to that strong dance numbers from the plays Catch Me If You Can and How To Succeed… and you've got yourself one heck of an entertaining night. Let's see the stuffy Academy Awards try to top that!

Did you watch last night’s Tony Awards? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Book Of Mormon, Broadway, Chris Rock, Hugh Jackman, John Leguizamo, Neil Patrick Harris, Robert Lopez, Theatre, Tony Awards

By Michael Lopez

They say sometimes life imitates art and, in the case of William Levy, taking on the role of a "ladies' man" may very well prove that point. As we've all heard, Levy has become quite the heartbreaker these days and now he's under consideration to play a troubled "gigolo" in a Mexican version of the play, Sweet Bird Of Youth.

The character of Chance Wayne was first made famous by Paul Newman back in the 1960's. But now, it looks like Latin producer Omar Suarez wants William to flex his drama chops for the role. Suarez had previously worked on Aracely Arámbula's play Perfume de Gardenias and feels that a stage production with Levy would have massive appeal.

"Con William acordamos hacer una obra que le permitiera un crecimiento como actor," Omar told Univision. "Ya hicimos una primera comedia, Un Amante A La Medida, donde el público ni siquiera lo dejaba hablar, esta vez queremos que sea algo más serio, donde él tenga un lucimiento, así como todos los que estén integrados."

Suarez says that he has already spoken with William about the play. Though nothing has been solidified as of yet, there is a definite possibility that Mexico City residents could see some live Levy when the curtain goes up this October.

Would you like to see William flex his acting skills on the stage? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Chisme, Omar Suarez, Sweet Bird Of Youth, Theatre, William Levy

By Michael Lopez

Never judge art by its title. Though The Vagina Monologues may sound like a naughty late night movie, it’s actually a critically-acclaimed play about female empowerment. And now the 15-year-old production has attracted novela star Adamari López for a starring role.

Set to take place at Miami’s Trail Theatre, the new three-day run of the show in Spanish will feature Adamari as well as Latina actresses Charytín Goico and Sonya Smith. López, who grew up performing plays in her native Puerto Rico, was attracted to the project by producers Manuel Mendoza and Raul Gonzalez.

Mendoza and Gonzalez are no strangers to the Monologues. Back in January, they staged another Latina-heavy version of the play featuring Roselyn Sanchez and Lili Estefan. Originally conceived by writer Eve Ensler, Monologues focuses on one-woman stories relating to love, birth, and domestic violence.

Obviously from the title you can tell that this play isn’t for children. But its bold honesty has drawn rave reviews and attracted top female talent from across the Hollywood spectrum. Actresses like Meryl Streep, Michelle Rodriguez, and Kate Winslet have all participated in performances.

Mendoza and Gonzalez’ version puts a special emphasis on the Latina culture and proved to be quite a hit when it ran in Miami earlier this year. And seeing all of the drama that Adamari has been through recently, we’re sure she can identify with some of play’s heavier subject matter.

Would you like to see Adamari in The Vagina Monologues? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Adamari Lopez, Cultura, Hot Stuff, Manuel Mendoza, Raul Gonzalez, Theatre, Vagina Monologues

By Michael Lopez

Following a string of successful autobiographical one-man shows, John Leguizamo returns to the stage this week for the debut of his new play Ghetto Klown.

Taking aim at John’s most famous costars, Ghetto Klown lovingly skewers everyone from Kurt Russell to Steven Seagal to the legendary Al Pacino, using original photographs and videos from his films as a backdrop to his over-the-top storytelling.

“Take off your makeup and be yourself, John," Leguizamo says, doling out his best Pacino impersonation. "You’re a clown, you’re a clown, Huah! Huah!”

Delving into his experiences on the cult classic Carlito’s Way, John explains the highs and lows of acting alongside Hollywood legends. He also discusses the personal side of the 1993 film, since he met his second wife on the set.

“I opened up to her because she was so vulnerable,” John says on stage. “I’d never felt I could really be my whole self with anyone. And she told me she felt she’s been waiting to exist her whole life.”

John also weaves in interesting stories about his first acting gig on Miami Vice and donning a dress alongside Patrick Swayze for To Wong Foo. Currently playing at Manhattan’s Lyceum Theater, Ghetto Klown is already getting rave reviews and will entertain New York audiences through July.

What was your favorite John Leguizamo movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Al Pacino, Carlito's Way, Ghetto Klown, Hot Stuff, John Leguizamo, Theatre

By Michael Lopez

Of course we all love John Leguizamo's wild film performances and cartoon voices, but everybody knows this versatile actor shines brightest on stage. After an eight-year break from performing his own material, John is heading back to Broadway for his new solo show, Ghetto Klown.

Look back at Leguizamo’s one-man shows and you’ll see a real history of the performer’s life. Open, honest, and totally outrageous, John's comedy has covered everything from his Latino upbringing (he was born in Bogotá, Colombia to a Colombian mother and a Puerto Rican father) to his decision to start a family, and it was his 1991 off-Broadway show, Mambo Mouth, that first got him noticed by casting directors.

So what’s Ghetto Klown all about? Considering that the last play he wrote, Sexaholix … a Love Story, revolved around the birth of his children, we imagine this one will delve deeper into fatherhood now that John’s kids are almost teenagers.

Ghetto Klown is set to debut at Broadway's Lyceum Theater on February 21 and run for a total of 12 weeks. Get tickets here.

What's your favorite John Leguizamo performance? Comment below or @MTV3.

Tags Broadway, Ghetto Klown, Hot Stuff, John Leguizamo, Theatre