Friday 5: 5 Divas of 44th Street

5 Divas of 44th Street

You'll find neon lights on Broadway. And meet those dancin' feet on 42nd Street. But this season, if you want to see divas doing what they do best, you need to get yourself to West 44th Street! All 5 theaters on that block - the St. James, the Hayes, the Shubert, the Broadhurst and the Majestic - are housing some of the year's biggest Leading Lady performances, and they are this week's Friday 5. There are so many great performances on the block, that each show also has diva-level supporting performances, too. We are betting that come Tony time, this street will be home to many nominations and trophies!

• Jasmine Amy Rogers as Betty Boop in Boop! The Musical

Word on the street is this young woman is making her Broadway debut into a star turn for the ages! The iconic character deserves that kind of treatment, and we are sure Betty herself would give her a hearty, "Boop-Oop-a-Doop!"

• Supporting Diva: Faith Prince as Valentina

• Audra McDonald as Rose in Gypsy

Nearly universal acclaim has greeted yet another Audra performance, and we couldn't agree more with all the praise. She's created maybe the quintessential Rose, and a 7th Tony Award for her shelf wouldn't surprise us at all!

• Supporting Divas: Jordan Tyson as June and Joy Woods as Louise

• Maleah Joi Moon as Ali in Hell's Kitchen

Speaking of Tony Awards, this young diva earned one for this very performance! She sure sings the hell out of these Alicia Keys classics. Unfortunately, she will be leaving the show at the end of this month.

• Supporting Diva: Tony-winner Kecia Lewis as Miss Liza Jane

• LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Claudine Jasper in Purpose

She's an amazing actress, so it really isn't a surprise that she'd be on a list like this one. But credit where credit is due - the critics loved her, praising her command of the stage as matriarch of a troubled family during this 3 hour play.

• Supporting Diva: Kara Young as Aziza Houston

• Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard

Here is a breathtaking performance for the ages - larger than life. A diva playing a diva may be hard to beat during awards season. I can't wait to see her again!

• Guest Star Diva: Mandy Gonzalez as Norma Desmond

Broadway Who's Who: Mandy Gonzalez

This month's Broadway Who's Who is someone with relatively new, but impressive, resume which includes roles in some of this millennium's biggest titles. Like most performers, Mandy Gonzalez has branched out to movie and television roles - notably Across the Universe, Quantico, The Good Wife and Madam Secretary. But live performance seems to be where her heart lies, be it on or off-Broadway, or in the cabaret.

Though other honorees of the Broadway Who's Who may have longer credit lists and may be better known by the general public, it is clear that Ms. Gonzalez represents the very best of theater performers today and in the future.

The Broadway Who's Who:

Mandy Gonzalez

DID YOU KNOW?

BIRTH DATE: August 2, 1978

BIRTHPLACE: Santa Clarita Valley, CA

FAMILY: Married to Douglas Melini; they have one child

EDUCATION: California Institute of the Arts

HONORS: Obie Award, Drama Desk Award

THEATER CAREER

Eli's Comin' : (New York debut) April 11 - July 14, 2001. Vineyard Theatre. A musical inspired by the songs of Laura Nyro, co-starring Judy Kuhn and Anika Noni Rose, directed by Diane Paulus.

⭐ She was honored with an Obie Award.

Aida: (Broadway debut - Amneris) 2001. Palace Theatre. Amneris standby for Idina Menzel & June 30, 2003 - January 4, 2004 as Amneris.

  

Dance of the Vampires: (Sarah) December 9, 2002 - January 25, 2003. Minskoff Theatre. An epic musical co-starring Michael Crawford, Max Von Essen and Liz McCartney.

Lennon: (Mandy/Lennon) July 7 - September 24, 2005. Broadhurst Theatre. Also featuring Terrence Mann, Will Chase, Julia Murney, Chad Kimball and Chuck Cooper.

  

In the Heights: (Nina Rosario) 2007. 37 Arts Theatre. February 14, 2008 - January 31, 2010. Richard Rodgers Theatre. Co-starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Karen Olivo, Robin de Jesus, Christopher Jackson, Andrea Burns, Priscilla Lopez, Olga Merediz and Janet Dacal.

⭐ She was honored with an Drama Desk Award (Ensemble).

  

Wicked: (Elphaba) March 23, 2010 - January 30, 2011. Gershwin Theatre. Co-starring Katie Rose Clark and Andy Karl.

  

Hamilton: (Angelica) September 6, 2016 - . Richard Rodgers Theatre.

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