Author / mvfour

by mvfour

The Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, Gets Her Own Barbie — Just in Time for Hispanic Heritage Month

But the honor bestowed on the legendary singer transcends her contribution to Latin music and recognition for acclaimed Hispanics, solidifying our culture and influence in America.

Mural of Celia Cruz; Photo: M.Vizcaino

Celia Cruz’ Barbie doll symbolizes much more than the legendary performer putting the music genre on the map. Although she passed in 2003, 20 years later, she’s still seen as a beacon of hope and a staunch advocate for freedom, especially in historically challenging times.

Mattel’s Inspiring Women series inclusion of the Celia Cruz doll reflects the Cuban icon’s legacy and stronghold on Latin music. They’ve struck commerce gold with the Barbie doll. No longer available on the toy retailer’s website and perpetual backorder, the Celia Cruz Barbie is in high demand and sold out from other popular retailers. Walmart has it. But it’ll cost you. Almost double, in fact (original Mattel price: $35). My partner recently purchased it as I’ve admired the singer all my life and we share the same heritage.

So, what does the Celia Cruz Barbie look like?

Celia Cruz Barbie; Photo: Courtesy of Mattel

Known for her dazzling, colorful outfits and elegant wigs on stage, Mattel recreates the singer’s signature look with an eye-popping red and gold dress, matching gold block-heeled sandals, and pristine blonde wig, complete with a gold microphone in hand and images of the performer in the sixties and seventies throughout the box seal the packaging’s aesthetic.

Celia Cruz, born 1925 in Barrios Suarez, Havana, Cuba, was one of four children. Lover of music and dance from an early age, she acquired her first pair of shoes by performing for a tourist in Cuba. From then on, Celia’s passion for singing led her to perform in school productions, notably Havana’s National Conservatory of Music. Her talent caught the attention of musicians and producers after winning a radio contest called the “Tea Hour.” She joined the Las Mulatas Del Fuego group and became the first female lead singer of La Sonora Matancera, Cuba’s most famous orchestra.

On the heels of her success with the orchestra and while touring in Mexico, Cruz decided not to return to Cuba as the Cuban Revolution was in full swing in 1960. Enraged at Celia’s defection and realizing he had lost one of the country’s national treasures, the vindictive dictator banned the singer from returning to the island. And she never did. She made America her permanent home and joined the Tito Puente orchestra in the mid-1960s. Cruz’s dazzling costumes, high-energy performances, and magnetic personality catapulted the group’s popularity. The label (Fania) dedicated to salsa, a sound mixing Cuban and Afro-Latin beats, emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s when she recorded one of her trademark hits, “Quimbera.” Unfazed by being the only female performer in a large band (unheard of at the time in the male-dominated industry), Celia’s fame continued to ascend — touring internationally and performing with the biggest names in music.

Fania All Stars in 1980; Photo: Celia Cruz Biography

The multi-Grammy-award-winning celebrated songstress’s career spans six decades with 80 albums, earning 23 Gold Records. She pioneered the music genre of salsa globally, paved the way for other artists, and amplified her Afro-Latinidad heritage through song, dance, and dress. Mattel creating a doll in her honor is an incredible source of pride for me and countless Latinos, further establishing her star power and legacy. Check out Mattel’s website to buy the Celia Cruz Barbie and other dolls from their Inspiring Women Series.

by mvfour

One of the Most Anxiety-inducing Episodes of FX’s ‘The Bear’ is the “Fishes” Episode from Season 2

I dare you to find a more triggering, more in-your-face Christmas episode.

Jeremy Allan White as Carmy Berzatto; Photo: FX.

The Bear follows Carmy Berzatto (Jeffrey Alan White, The Rental, Shameless), a young fine-dining chef from New York who returns to his family’s restaurant/sandwich shop in Chicago after his brother Michael’s death. He encounters a shop in disarray with an outdated menu, older cooks resistant to change, and his deceased brother’s best friend Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Punisher, Girls) and faux-cousin who thrives on and incites chaos.

What’s an ambitious chef to do? Run for the hills or suck up it and make his family restaurant, known as the Original Beef of Chicagoland, into a respected eatery with exquisite cuisine and potential for a Michelin star.

Carmy decides to stick it out. Season one of this dramedy, slow-paced at first, delves into the relationships, egos, and inevitable turmoil that ensues when new hires (young talented sous chef Sydney, played by Ayo Edebiri, Big Mouth, Abbott Elementary) and old hats in the kitchen don’t see eye-to-eye. Not to mention, there’s a stabbing. Loads of temper tantrums and unpaid bills, broken dishes, and splattered food everywhere in an attempt by Carmy to bring order to the kitchen.

L to R, Sarah Paulson (Michelle), Jamie Lee Curtis (Donna), Jeremy Allan White (Carmy); Photo: FX.

In Season Two, the second episode titled “Fishes” flashes back five years to Berzatto’s family Christmas dinner. It’s the crème de la crème of guest star appearances, from Jamie Lee Curtis, playing emotionally unstable mother Donna, to Bob Odenkirk’s relentlessly pot-shot-throwing Uncle Lee and Sarah Paulson’s calm and collected, hip aunt Michelle, this ensemble of character-actors pulled out all the stops in this frantic episode. However, the pacing didn’t allow viewers to breathe through the scenes. It’s a whirlwind of crazy kitchen food timers, spliced editing, and a crescendo of nonstop emotions, especially between Michael (Jon Bernthal, The Punisher, Walking Dead) and Lee (Bob Odenkirk), where a physical assault is imminent. It’s exhilarating to watch the nonstop, unpredictable turn of events. Something the creators of The Bear and writers strive for.

According to Christopher Storer (creator, writer, and director, Eighth Grade) and Joanna Calo (co-showrunner, writer, Bojack Horseman).

“We wanted the first episode of the series to grab you right away — a way for people to know that they’re going to want to sit down for this and pay attention,” according to Calo.

For Storer, every character is equally flawed.

Nobody’s fixed, and everyone’s a work in progress. Every second counts… It is a natural extension. The thing we talk about a lot is that winning is losing, so even though they have this new opportunity, it still creates a lot of the same problems… Season 2 is about the chance to start fresh and what that means. What does Carmen and Sydney’s dream restaurant look like? But also, at the same time, what does a dream restaurant in 2023 look like? I think that’s the thing they’re battling with.”

Awarded 13 Emmy nominations, you can stream both seasons of The Bear on Hulu and Disney+.

by mvfour

‘All Up in the Biz’ — Tells the Tale of Talent, Influence, Adversity, and Controversy Before Hip Hop Pioneer Biz Markie’s Untimely Death

Filmmaker Sacha Jenkins chronicles The self-proclaimed “Clown Prince of Hip Hop’s” legacy through candid interviews with colorful animations, a Biz Markie puppet, and old videos of the rapper in proper form.

Image of Biz Markie; Photo: Showtime Networks.

The Humanbeat beatbox. Ascending to fame with the improvised quirky yet melodic sounds he could belt at any given moment and his universal hit, “Just A Friend,” Biz Markie was more than just his goofy exploits. And ‘All Up in the Biz’ captures the multi-faceted performer’s essence through his career’s ups and downs.

Many Hip Hop heads like myself are still celebrating Hip Hop’s indelible mark the music genre has made on pop culture and pretty much every facet of life. And while Hip Hop’s official birthday was on August 11th, with a 50th anniversary celebrated worldwide, homage and tributes are still on the horizon for the rest of the year. One recent commemoration was held on August 31st, tentatively proclaimed Biz Markie Day, by the New York Mayor’s office as they announced the proclamation at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem.

Biz Markie Day T-Shirt; Photo: Just A Friend Foundation.

Champions and supporters of this campaign include the late rapper’s wife, Tara Hall, who leads his Just A Friend foundation, established to provide resources for foster kids as once Biz Markie was. Plus, organizers of the event ImageNation, a cultural nonprofit entertainment hub in Harlem, advocating for and helping to sponsor spectacular community cinema and music events and Up In The Biz’s distributor, Showtime.

This late summer Thursday evening leading up to the All Up In the Biz screening attracted people of all ages and races. From men in their Zulu nation get-ups and women outfitted in head-to-toe African bohemian and contemporary fashion, dancing non-stop to the nostalgic grooves of DJ Hollywood and listening intently to the rhythmic verses of the Last Poets, who celebrate 55 years together this year, it was an ode to Hip Hop nostalgia.

Following the eclectic mix of artists on stage came a projection of All Up In the Biz, directed by Sacha Jenkins (Bitchin’: The Sounds and Fury of Rick James, Word Is Bond), a Hip Hop historian, visual artist, and preservationist of the music genre.

Young Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie; Photo: All Up in the Biz documentary.

The film begins with old footage of Biz Markie’s early life, moving from Harlem to Long Island’s Patchogue region. He found a passion for music, coming into his own as a human beatbox, rapper, and DJ. While performing, he encountered 17-year-old Big Daddy Kane and Rakim, who went to the same high school as Biz, encouraging both to raise their profile in New York City clubs by rapping. Hip Hop powerhouses Big Daddy Kane and Rakim acknowledge Biz Markie’s influence on their careers. Others like Dougie Fresh and Roxanne Shanté, a prominent Juice Crew member and Biz Markie was part of, reflect on and reminisce about the rapper’s passion for music, collectibles, and his undeniable gift for beatboxing.

But Marcel Theo Hall took the moniker Biz Markie, a name rooted in his mother calling him a busybody when he was young and neighborhood friends giving him the name Markie for short; life wasn’t always a bed of roses. The rapper was battling Type 2 diabetes for most of his life and had fallouts with a few rappers, shady business dealings with music producers, and the repercussions of unlicensed music samples. Despite it all, the beloved rapper persevered and kept reinventing himself, as the documentary illustrates. Click here to check out this in-depth portrait of Biz Markie’s contributions to Hip Hop and eventful life, now streaming on Showtime and Paramount+.

by mvfour

Watch ‘Painkiller’ to Learn How One Family’s Thirst for Money Led to the Onset of One of the Worst Opioid Crisis in America

Based on actual events, Netflix’s film six-episode series chronicles the Sackler family’s formulation of the lethal opioid Oxycontin and the beginning of a global epidemic.

L to R: Taylor Kitsch, Matthew Boderick, and Uzo Aduba in PainKiller. Photo: Netflix

Directly or indirectly, we’ve all known someone afflicted with addiction. Some can overcome it, while others are ravaged by its effects and perish. Over a million deaths are attributed to opioid abuse to date, according to NPR. In the limited series Painkiller, 300,000 million of these deaths are due to the lethal narcotic OxyContin. Who do we have to thank for this vile, dangerous drug? The Sackler family, known as Purdue Pharma, is the medication’s creator and distributor.

The first episode begins with federal investigator Edie Flowers, played grippingly and powerfully by Uzo Aduba (Orange Is The New Black, In Treatment), on her way to meet with lawyers and investigators going after the Sackler family. Doubtful these new law officials will get anywhere, Edie tells the tale of her decades quest for justice for the Sacklers.

Matthew Broderick as Richard Sackler and Uzo Aduba as Edie Flowers in Painkiller. Photo: Netflix

Arthur Sackler originated the drug Valium, which gained popularity in the 60s and 70s. Contemplating a new way to make money with a new drug as Valium sales were declining in the 1980s, the psychiatrist and drug marketer was at a standstill. Unable to bring a new drug to market with the same fanfare as Valium before his death, his nephew Richard Sackler was ready to swoop in and take the company reins. Richard Sackler, played smarmily, alarmingly indifferent, and delusional to the dangers of this new medication by Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, WarGames), is the real-life villain no one asked for. As the president of Perdue Pharma and the driving force behind the creation of OxyContin along with Arthur’s two brothers, Mortimer and Raymond, in 1996. The Sacklers would alter the drug crisis for the worse.

Determined to bring the drug to market at all costs, Richard Sackler seemingly bribes the FDA scientist approving the drug, knowingly aware of OxyContin’s dangerous ingredients (such as heroin). Besides introducing this new narcotic to the public, the Sackler family enlisted a young and charming sales force to coerce doctors to prescribe the drug to rural communities and eventually throughout the U.S. The series intertwines the effects of OxyContin through multiple narratives. The ruthless Sacklers, a relentless U.S. Attorney representative out for justice, a young sales trainee (West Duchovny, A Mouthful of Air, Vegas High) drawn to the lure of easy money, and a once thriving small-business owner (Tyler Kitsch, Friday Night Lights, American Assassin) battling addiction after recovering from an on-the-job accident and the subsequent damage that befalls him and his family and many others like him.

Taylor Kitsch as Glen Kryger in Painkiller. Photo: Netflix

Created by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster and directed by Peter Berg, Painkiller is based on the book “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radeen Keefe. It’s an eye-opening TV series illustrating the devasting effects of this pill marketed to treat pain, resulting in an avalanche of destruction to those prescribed or introduced to the drug and the friends and family who had to witness the catastrophic outcomes. Not to mention, the Sacklers still face limited accountability from the Department of Justice today. Click here to stream Painkillers on Netflix.

by mvfour

Film Review: Netflix’s ‘They Cloned Tyrone’ Expertly Treads Between Reality and Illusion

On the surface, this sci-fi mystery seems like another urban crime drama, but what bubbles underneath will shock and delight fans.

Movie Poster for They Cloned Tyrone; Photo: Netflix

After Fontaine (John Boyega, Star Wars Episode VII — The Force Awakens, Attack the Block ), a drug dealer in the fictitious city of Glen, robs and runs over a rival dealer, retaliation is inevitable. But before payback comes to fruition, Fontaine stops at a motel to collect money from Slick Charles, a pimp more interested in drinking and partying than worrying about paying off his debts. Slick is played charismatically and entertainingly by Jamie Foxx. The Oscar-winner, and one of the film’s producers, multi-layered portrayal of this particular pimp perfectly balances the debonair and boisterous tough guy.

Fontaine (Boyega) is subsequently shot by the head rival drug dealer (Isaac J. Alphonse Nicholson, Just Mercy, P-Valley) outside the motel parking lot. But comes back to life and briefly encounters a version of his injured, bullet-laden self on the street. When he knocks on Slick’s door at the motel again, the pimp is dumbfounded. Fontaine doesn’t realize he’s already been there.

Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo, Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles, and John Boyega as Fontaine; Photo: Netflix

Slick enlists his reliable escort, Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris, Wandavision, If Beale Street Could Talk), to help Fontaine figure out what’s happening. The on-screen dynamic between Slick and Yo-Yo is enjoyable to watch; his pimp hand is weak, and she knows it but still has to oblige and pay him for her work while poking fun at his detective skills.

The unusual trio forms a bond as they discover a secret elevator behind the refreshments from the local convenient store to a lab where there are a variety of human-like Back clones housed in life-size capsules, overseen by white scientists. After Fontaine finds his clone on a stretcher, he replays a series of repetitive events in his head that he can’t explain, similar to Bill Murray’s character Phil in Groundhog Day, but way less light-hearted and more sinister.

Teyonah Parris as Yo-Yo, Jamie Foxx as Slick Charles, and John Boyega as Fontaine; Photo: Netflix

John Boyega, the British-Nigerian actor who rose to stardom with the Star Wars sequel trilogy, is scarily good in They Cloned Tyrone as the hardened and stoic Fontaine. The soundtrack deserves mention as well. Classic 70s and 90s tunes permeate the film giving it a slick urban film noir feel. Director and co-writer Juel Taylor (Creed II, Space Jam: A New Legacy) paints a gritty world of a community in disarray with limited options — that seems to exist and is designed with these characteristics by the government. Other notable characters making a splash: David Alan Grier as the charlatan preacher and Keifer Sutherland (Nixon) as the ruthless government messenger to keep the clones in check.

They Cloned Tyrone is now streaming on Netflix. Click here to watch and learn more!

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by mvfour

Eva Longoria’s New Film ‘Flamin’ Hot’: From Janitor to Marketing Exec, Richard Montañez is the Snack Hero of the 21st Century

How One Man’s Dream to Spice Up the Cheeto Came to Fruition.

Flamin’ Hot Movie Poster; Photo: 20th Century Studios.

As a kid traveling to Mexico, I was always intrigued when the locals would add Tajín spice (a unique blend of 100% natural chili peppers, lime & sea salt) to fruits and almost all of their cuisine. Spice is a staple for Mexicans. I’m Cuban, and we’re used to heavy seasoning, but not food that would set your mouth ablaze. The film triggered memories of my almost choking on a mango with Tajín and thinking, ‘I might die, but this is delicious.’

Flamin’ Hot follows Richard Montañez (Jesse Garcia), a Mexican-American man’s corporate journey to revolutionize the popular American snack based on his book: A Boy, a Burrito, and a Cookie: From Janitor to Executive. Actress/producer/ director Eva Longoria made her feature directorial debut and brought Richard’s story to the big screen.

Richard Montañez (Jessie Garcia) and Judy Montañez (Annie Gonzalez); Photo: 20th Century Studios.

We meet Richard as a boy in 1960s Los Angeles in Guasti, California, a community of grape pickers struggling to make a living. Montañez has ten siblings. Life was hard, rife with racism and run-ins with the law. Making matters worse, he grew up with gangs and limited opportunities to make money legally. However, the one positive thing in his life was his childhood sweetheart, Judy (Annie Gonzalez), and partner-in-crime until she became pregnant. With his father’s derogatory comments about him in his head and unflinching determination, Richard decides to make a change. He seeks the help of a fellow gangbanger who left “the life” behind by working at the Frito Lay plant. Richard lands the janitor job and gravitates toward the most intelligent man on the plant floor, an engineer named Clarence Baker (Dennis Haysbert), who educates him on the ins and out of production.

Richard Montañez (Jessie Garcia) with Clarence Baker (Dennis Haybert); Photo: 20th Century Studios.

After hearing that Frito Lay sales are down and the plant might close, Montañez develops a spicy concoction with his family in their kitchen and create a new product that celebrates their Mexican heritage. The idea didn’t take off initially, as corporate naysayers didn’t invest in the product’s marketing and promotion. Undeterred, Richard finds another way to get consumers’ attention. His drive to succeed is unparalleled, and the film affirms this message.

Flamin’ Hot is an American immigrant story that relates, inspires, and speaks to American tenacity by proving people wrong and making it anyway! The story’s pacing is perfect, and the characters are lovable and funny.

Yet, the film is full of controversy. In 2021, after Richard Montañez’s book was released, a Los Angeles Times reporter published an article titled: “The man who didn’t invent Flamin’ Hot Cheetos,” claiming his year-long investigative reporting, along with Frtio Lay’s internal investigation concluded that Montañez’s dates are off as well as his association CEO, Roger Enrico (Tony Shalhoub), who in the movie greenlit Montañez’s game-changing idea.

Richard Montañez holding a Flamin’ Hot Cheetos bag; Photo: 20th Century Studios.

Following the article’s publication, Richard Montañez responded:

“I don’t care what room you’re in; somebody in the room will always try to steal your destiny. People may even say you never existed. I want you to do this: Write down your history because if you don’t, somebody else will. Remember that. And also, remember this, the best way to destroy a positive message is to destroy the messenger. Never allow that to happen to you. I’m certainly not going to let it happen to me.”

PepsiCo, Frito-Lay’s parent company, later stated:

“Far from being an urban legend, Richard had a remarkable 40-plus-year career at PepsiCo and made an incredible impact on our business and employees and continues to serve as an inspiration today. His insights and ideas on how to better serve Hispanic consumers were invaluable and directly resulted in the success of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. To be clear, we have no reason to doubt the stories he shares about taking the initiative to create new product ideas for the Cheetos brand and pitching them to past PepsiCo leaders.”

Sure. Hollywood is known to embellish true stories to dramatize plots, but corporations are notorious for poaching ideas from employees without giving them their due credit. And why would Richard Montañez go on a limb if his version wasn’t authentic? You be the judge. Flamin’ Hot is streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Watch it now!

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by mvfour

What to Binge Memorial Day Weekend if You’re Into Comedy? ‘Unstable’ or ‘Wellmania’ Fit the Bill

Stream both these funny and poignant shows on Netflix if you can spare the time this long holiday weekend.

From L to R: Celeste Barber in Wellmania and Rob Lowe in Unstable, photos: Netflix

I love a good series that refrains me from checking the remaining episodes and making time breeze by. Furthermore, I’m all in when the pacing, dialogue, and scenery are just right. Let’s not forget the superb acting mixed in, contemplating the characters’ actions long after the show has ended.

First Up — Wellmania

The Celeste Barber-driven comedy follows Liv Healy, a lifestyle journalist and food critic — living and playing hard in NYC, heading back to her native Sydney, Australia, for her best friend’s birthday party, only to suffer a health scare that leaves her stuck in the country. The eight-episode series chronicles her journey back to the States while trying to get healthy. The show is one misadventure after another, with family members and friends grappling with their issues, making Liv examine some childhood trauma. Barber is enigmatic in this role — from rocking wild funky outfits to her lousy decision-making and outright funny quips, she’s effortlessly funny and worth watching.

If you don’t know Celeste Barber, she’s the social media content creator that gained a massive following after recreating and parodying ridiculous celebrity and influencer posts like the one below:

From L to R: Kendall Jenner and Celeste Barber recreating the viral image, photo: Barber’s Instagram

Before poking fun at prominent personalities, Celeste Barber got her start in entertainment in the Australian medical drama All Saints as paramedic Bree Matthews and as a writer-performer on The Matty Jones Show. Celeste has since become an internet sensation with 9.5 million followers on Instagram. She’s funny and unapologetically herself. And indeed, why audiences respond to her.

Next up: Unstable

From L to R: Rob Lowe and son John Owen Lowe in Unstable, photo: Netflix

Veteran actor Rob Lowe assumes the role of Ellis Dragon, an eccentric CEO and founder of a biotech research firm acting erratic and on the verge of being ousted by board members. Anna Bennet, his reliable and whipsmart CFO, played by the talented English actress Sian Clifford (Fleabag), tries to remedy the situation by enlisting his son Jackson, who lives in New York, to prevent his father from spiraling further and save the company. The father/son relationship is strained. The most important person in their lives, wife to Ellis and mother to Jackson, recently passed, and they are coping as best as they can — but not in the healthiest way.

Unstable is refreshing, especially in a sea of contrived wannabe comedies recently released. The dialogue is punchy and quick-witted. Although, the father-son duo doesn’t go below the surface and could dig deeper into their grief. Rob Lowe is kooky and unpredictable, similar to his memorable Chris Traeger character in the series Parks and Recreation. Lowe’s real-life son, John Own Lowe, lands the socially awkward Jackson, who makes an impression and stirs up trouble between workplace besties scientists Luna (Rachel Marsh) and Ruby (Emma Ferreira).

Wellmania (created by Brigid Delaney and Benjamin Law) and Unstable have interesting premises and feature diverse, dynamic characters — a big step in Hollywood casting initiatives. Hopefully, Netflix will return these shows for a second season and beyond. Follow me for more fresh takes on amazing entertainment stories.

by mvfour

Review: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Bad Cinderella’ Disrupts Fairytale Tropes — With Themes of Inclusivity and Acceptance

Prepare to Alter Your Preconceived Notions of the Classically Dutiful Prince Charming and Cinderella.

A new rendition of the timeless fairytale recently debuted on the Broadway stage. Famed composer Andrew Lloyd brought the musical from London’s West End stateside to delight and enchant new audiences with surprisingly entertaining twists to the story.

And If you follow or even write about Broadway as I do, you may have read that ‘Bad Cinderella’ took a lashing from the press for deviating from the original story. Or that the casting wasn’t traditional. Traditional in the sense that it wasn’t an all-white cast or didn’t follow the boy-meets-girl or boy-saves-girl formula often beaten to a pulp in storytelling. Instead, boy-and- girl save one another.

Andrew Lloyd Webber took a chance on casting the first Latina to play the lead as Cinderella, Linedy Genao (Dear Evan Hansen, In the Heights), and her love interest, Prince Sebastian is African-American, played by Jordan Dobson (Hadestown, A Beautiful Noise). In the musical, Dobson is Prince Charming’s uncharismatic socially-awkward brother, while Prince Charming is revered, perfectly chiseled, and slain at war — or was he?

The story follows Cinderella, a scruffy, leather-wearing outcast who doesn’t adhere to Belleville’s (the fictitious kingdom in the musical) societal rules of beauty and fitting in. She’s a misfit. Constant troublemaker. Someone who talks back to her stepmother and vandalizes Prince Charming’s statute with the words: Beauty Sucks! Though deep down she longs to be accepted and find people who love her as she is, Cinderella finds solace in her friendship with Prince Sebastian since they were kids. But their infatuation for one another is threatened when Prince Sebastian’s mother, the Queen, decides to marry him off to a maiden in Belleville. Cinderella comes to a cross-road. I won’t spoil what happens next.

But here are some highlights worth mentioning:

Bad Cinderella, written by Academy-Award-winning screenwriter Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Killing Eve), does take liberties with the dialogue. Phrases such as “Badass” and “You’re giving peasant” are part of the musical’s lexicon. Or the chorus, known as the Hunks, played by shirtless, buff male dancers gloriously basking in objectification. Lastly, when the seemingly ominous fairy godmother, played by Christina Acosta Robinson (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), states she doesn’t perform plastic surgery. It’s reflective of the modern age we live in. Isn’t it?

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical numbers: “Only You, Lonely You” and “Far Too Late,” sung by Dobson and Genao, will trigger your emotions. The wickedly sassy number: “I Know You,” sung by the Stepmother, Carolee Carmello (Lestat, Finding Neverland), and the Queen, Grace McLean (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), is a scene stealer. McLean and Carmello are intoxicatingly devilish in these roles — and they know it!

The set and costume design (by Gabriela Tylesova) is an extension of each character in this colorful and charming musical — intricately woven props adding drama and tension to each scene.

Bad Cinderella is worth the ride into the world of reenvisioned fairytales. The characters are memorable. Each of their quirky nuances melds into a unique story. Playing at the Imperial Theatre, Bad Cinderella runs for two hours and thirty minutes with one intermission and will be on Broadway through September 2023. Get your tickets now!

Credits:

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics by David Zippel. Book by Emerald Fennell and Alexis Scheer. Directed by Laurence Connor. Choreography, Joann M. Hunter; sets and costumes, Gabriela Tylesova; lights, Bruno Poet; sound, Gareth Owen; hair and wigs, Luc Verschueren; U.S. music supervision and direction, Kristen Blodgette; production stage manager Bonnie L. Becker.

Cast: Linedy Genao, Jordan Dobson, Carolee Carmello, Grace McLean, Sami Gayle, Morgan Higgins, Cameron Loyal, Christina Acosta Robinson. Savy Jackson, Raymond Baynard, Mike Baerga, Lauren Boyd, Tristen Buettel, Kaleigh Cronin, Josh Drake, Ben Lanham, Ángel Lozada, Cameron Loyal, Mariah Lyttle, Sarah Meahl, Christian Probst, Larkin Reilly, Julio Rey, Lily Rose, J. Savage, Tregony Shepherd, Dave Schoonover, Paige Smallwood, Aléna Watters, Alyssa Carol, Gary Cooper, Robin Masella, Michael Milkanin, Chloé Nadon-Enriquez, Lucas Thompson.

All Photos By Bad Cinderella’s PR Team.

by mvfour

A Tale of Two Sisters: Worlds Apart in Upbringing, Three Hours Between Us in Distance

I hadn’t seen my sister in over three years. The pandemic made it difficult. I recently decided to change that and travel to our motherland: Cuba, to see her.

Old Havana, November 2022

I grew up without my sister. Politics and second marriages changed our childhood upbringing forever. I left for the United States when I was four, her 13 when she adjusted to her new life without our father. I learned on this trip that he didn’t tell her he was leaving with his new wife and four-year-old daughter to the States. A fact she shared with me on this trip. “Cowardice,” she said. “That’s the only way I can describe our father’s actions.” I couldn’t challenge her. I had to agree. I thought, what if I were in her shoes? I would feel the same.

It was unfair to her. To only have a father until the age of 13, whereas I had him until I was 30. And although I had him longer than my sister, that didn’t mean we lived happily ever after. He was conflicted. Leaving a child behind couldn’t have been easy. He never expressed this loss to my mother or me, but I always felt something was missing, a longing he could never fulfill.

When I arrived in Cuba, it was unbearably hot. We are well into fall in the U.S., and my body temperature has adapted accordingly. “Oh, it’s breezy now,” my sister said before I arrived. After eight days there, I was still waiting for this breeze. Thirty-one degrees Celsius/88 Fahrenheit doesn’t exactly call for a momentary gust of wind. But that was the least of my discomfort. There was a toilet paper shortage, a lack of bottled water in stores, limited napkins, and four currencies to keep track of. Before I arrived in Cuba, I knew things were in short supply, like the U.S. or the rest of the world, but not to this extent. I was outraged. Where was all the money going into Cuba (over 65% by foreign countries) going towards? “It’s the embargo,” my sister would say. “Do you really think Cuba will thrive if the embargo is lifted? I asked. What about all the government corruption on the island?” My sister stood behind her statement. She also discussed why Putin wasn’t the enemy; Ukraine was. I was speechless. Who is this person? I knew she didn’t share all my Western views, and we both disdained Trump. But saying Ukraine is the villain didn’t sit well with me.

View From El Malecon, Vedado, Cuba November 2022

We stopped talking about politics. It was a mutual decision. We both wanted to enjoy each other’s company, free of tension and disagreements. After all, I had to travel to a communist country to see a sibling I missed and loved. Before he passed, our father made it a point for us to communicate by letters in the 90s to get to know one another, once he couldn’t write her because his diabetes had taken sight from his right eye. We’ve been close ever since. To feel her warmth in person is worth forgoing essentials I sometimes take for granted in the U.S. Until next time, Cuba! May things get better for you.

by mvfour

The ‘School of Good and Evil’ will Convert you into a Fantasy Film Buff in no Time

Mystical beasts. Heroes. Villains. Good vs. evil reimagined? These are just some highlights of this fantasy-driven film Netflix released today.

From left to Right: Refinery29 moderator, director Paul Feig, actors Sophia Anne Caruso, Kit Young, and author Soman Chainani

I was recently invited to an advanced screening and cast Q&A for The School For Good and Evil. Going in with a blank slate and no preconceived notions, I was pleasantly surprised to learn the story has predominantly female leads, with two powerhouse actresses in particular: Kerry Washington and Charlize Theron, who play the school’s deans. Professor Dovey (Washington) is optimistic and lively, while her counterpart Lady Lesso (Theron), is sour and unscrupulous; both oversee the heroes and villains in the making, ready to conquer the world.

Kerry Washington And Charlize Theron In The School For Good And Evil

Bringing this ensemble of magnetic actresses together is acclaimed director Paul Feig, who relishes in the dynamics of female narratives, heavily present in his films like the all-star female reboot of Ghostbusters and the comedy cult-classic: Bridesmaids. Besides directing the film, Paul Feig co-wrote the screenplay with David Magee and Soman Chainani (author of The School For Good and Evil franchise).

The School for Good and Evil follows two best friends from the fictional village of Galvadon, Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso) and Agatha (Sofia Wylie), who share a bond over being outcasts and form a pact when tested and chastised by fellow villagers and decide to have each other’s backs. Sophie is a seamstress disillusioned with her surroundings and already resembles a princess, albeit a shabby one. She dreams of leaving her village and attending the school of Good, while Agatha, appearing to possess witch-like tendencies, is determined to convince her friend to remain in their town and stick it out.

Sophia Anne Caruso And Sofia Wylie

On a fateful night under the blood-red moon, the friends are swept away by mystical creatures that carry them to opposing sides of the school to room with the offspring of Cinderella, Captain Hook, King Arthur, and the Wicked Witch, to name a few — and train to be “pure” or “wicked.” The epic battle between the schools not only tests the girls’ friendship but seemingly reveals their true nature.

Adapted from author Soman Chainani’s Young Adult six-part book series (first published in 2013), he serves as executive producer on the film. According to the author:

“I was inspired to write a fantasy series that would turn fairy tale tropes on their head.”

Can the friendship between these two girls survive? Are the girls in their designated schools?

How can the secrets from their past turn the tide in the fairy-tale world they now inhabit? Although there are princes and nemesis to contend with — the focus is more on female kinship than the quintessential girl-meets-boy, boy-saves-girl narratives we’ve come to expect — I’m here for it. Rounding out the cast is Laurence Fishburne, authoritative and quirky, as a schoolmaster who declares that the only way for Sophie and Agatha to live out their destinies is with a “true kiss.” And the stoic and regal Michelle Yeoh, as Professor Anemone, is in charge of harnessing princess etiquette from students of the “Good” school.

Laurence Fishburne As The School Master

Premiering on Netflix today, The School for Good and Evil is a fun ride into a new world of fairy tale storytelling filled with stunning sorcery, magic, and special effects. The Paul Feig flick will not disappoint fans of the fantasy genre — and will definitely attract some new ones. Click here to learn more!