Auli'i Carvalho continues to rise with new TV show

Alui'i Cravalho's character in 'Rise' auditions for a part in a high school production.

ADD ONE MORE name to the short list of AAPI actors to keep an eye on as American television continues its slow march to make the small screen look like the real America.
Auli'i Cravalho, 17, who did Moana's voice in the movie, gets to be in front of the cameraa in TV series Rise, which debuts tomorrow, Tuesday, March 13. In this NBC drama, she is a student actor, who gets to sing live and in person in a high school production of the rock musical Spring Awakening.

The series is a show within a show and follows the production of Spring Awakening from auditions, rehearsals and perhaps the actual debut of the  musical.

The trailer highlights Cravalho as Lillette Suarez, a working class student who joins the drama club. Seven other teenagers will be introduced in the group as well and each one struggles with personal problems like school pressure, unconcerned or sick parents, extra-curricular demands and underage drinking.

"It's about a normal town and normal high schoolers who rise above their particular circumstances," the Hawaii/American Cravalho told The Knockturnal. "I also get to have an incredible cast with me as well. So, not only do I get to sing, but also get to hear their great voices, too."

“There were certainly many similarities and differences between Lilette and I. She’s not one who goes looking for the spotlight certainly, and she’s one that is perhaps more of an introvert, quite unlike myself,” Cravalho told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “I think I’ve found my spot in the spotlight. But in many ways we are similar. She grows up in a single-parent household, as I have. She has big dreams but grows up in a small town.

“For me, it was on a small island. For her, it’s in a small, tiny place that also kind of resembles a small mind-set, which is something that she doesn’t want for herself but something that she’s used to other people putting on her. She works very hard and works to rise above her circumstances, so to speak.”

Rise is actually inspired from a true story of an English teacher Lou Volpe in Pennsylvania who helped change the lives of the kids in his high school theater group.Journalist Michael Sokolove wrote the best seller book "Drama High" from his observations of Volpe, whose students become successful in the entertainment industry.

Comparisons to Glee are unavoidable since Glee is based on the book "Drama High."

"Rise" also stars "How I Met Your Mother" actor Josh Radnor as the teacher Lou Mazzuchelli. Rosie Perez (Tracy), Damon J. Gillespie (Robbie Thorne), Ted Sutherland (Simon), Shannon Purser (Annabelle) and Joe Tippett (Coach Doug Strickland) are also in the series.

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Last week, the network Monday announced the 50 recipients, chosen from 1,000 school applicants around the country, that will receive NBC’s $10,000 R.I.S.E. (Recognizing and Inspiring Student Expression) America Grants, designed to assist theater programs with production expenses, technical equipment, master classes and other needs. NBC is partnering with the non-profit Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) on the program.

To qualify for a grant, high schools were required to have a theater program or champion of theater arts on the teaching staff, and a program endangered due to budget constraints. Each school submitted a video about its program and a 500-word essay on why it deserved the money.

“Rise” debuts at 10 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, on NBC and then will move into its regular time slot of 8 p.m. Tuesdays starting March 20.
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Oscars Best Song: Will 'Moana' upset 'La La Land?'

Don't miss the performance of Auli'i Cravalho singing "How Far I Go" from Moana.

THE ODDS ON favorite at this year's Academy Awards airing tonight (Feb. 26) is La La Land's "City of Stars" in the best song category but don't be surprised if the song from Moana pulls off an upset. 

Disney has brought out the big guns to give the song "How Far I'll Go" from Moana a chance against favorite "City of Stars." Award-winning song writer Lin-Manuel Miranda will be performing with the 16-year old Auli'i Cravalho, who did the voice and singing for the animated title character of the Disney film Moana.

During rehearsal, the fresh-faced vocal powerhouse surprised onlookers and earned a spontaneous standing ovation at the end of her performance.

While the performance will channel the island feel of Moana, the Hawaiian teenager thinks it will also transcend the film: “It’s distinctly Moana, and at the same time it’s something where people will think, ‘Wow, that is a stunning piece.’”

If his song wins, Miranda will be the youngest performer to win the trifecta of the Tony, the Grammy and the Oscar. He earned the Tony and Grammy for Broadway musical hit Hamilton, which he wrote and starred in.
Auli'i is of course rooting for “How Far I’ll Go” to go all the way and win for best original song -- “It’s such an exciting time for Lin-Manuel, he’s right there and has almost got that EGOT” -- but says she’s also a fan of “City of Stars,” and looks forward to hearing John Legend’s rendition. She also mentions that she's a fan of Sting (who will perform his song “The Empty Chair” from Jim: The James Foley Story and Justin Timberlake.

As she speaks, glimmers of her character Moana shine through -- her excitement and passion for all that lies ahead is evident in every word.

“I could have never imagined that at 16 years old I would be having such amazing experiences like this,” she says. “I’ve been able to travel around the world and really share what Moana is about. The moral of our story is figuring out who you are, and listening to that voice deep down inside you, and I have been able to connect to that so much. [Moana] has that call for more, and I think for everyone -- no matter if you’re a teenager like me or someone who is in the prime of their lives -- there’s always going to be that call.”

TGIF FEATURE: The Rock sings "You're Welcome" in "Moana"

Auliʻi Cravalho is the voice for the animated Moana.

DWAYNE, "THE ROCK" JOHNSON, a former professional wrestler and football player, is more than a muscle-bound, action movie star.

In the upcoming animated movie, Moana, he displays his singing talent. He sings "You're Welcome," a brand new song written for the movie by Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame.

RELATED: First trailer for Moana

For centuries, the greatest sailors in the world masterfully navigated the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, 3,000 years ago, their voyages stopped for a millennium – and no one knows exactly why. 

Moana is a sweeping, animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who is inspired to leave the safety and security of her island on a daring journey to save her people. Inexplicably drawn to the ocean, Moana (voice of Auliʻi Cravalho) convinces the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Johnson) to join her mission, and he reluctantly helps her become a way finder like her ancestors who sailed before her. 

Together, they voyage across the open ocean on an action-packed adventure, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills her quest and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity. 

In casting of the voices, Disney sought Pacific Islanders to play the main roles. The selection of Johnson, who is Samoan/American, was a no-brainer. He is the highest-paid movie star in Hollywood.

In open auditions, Disney found Cavalho, who is Hawaiian/American.

Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23.

Phillipa Soo reported to be leaving hit musical 'Hamilton'

Phillipa Soo walks the red carpet on her way to the Tony Awards show last Sunday.

FAN FAVORITE Phillipa Soo will be leaving the Broadway hit Hamilton, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

In an exclusive story, the HR, an entertainment industry trade paper, said that Soo will be joining Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda on July 9 when many of the groundbreaking musical's cast members' contracts expire.

RELATED: Asian/American leading ladies talk about diversity onstage

On Sunday (June 12), Soo lost her bid to be the second Asian/American to win Best Actress in a Musical to Cynthia Erivo from The Color Purple. In Hamilton, Soo plays Alexander Hamilton's wife, Eliza, a role she has played since the show's debut in February 2015.

The Reporter said Soo is interested in expanding her career to television and the movies.

Soo's first Hollywood gig will be doing voice work, maybe even a song, in Moana, a Disney animation feature, where she will join Miranda, who wrote some of the movies' songs.

Hamilton was the the big winner at the Tony's, garnering 11 awards for the hip-hop musical.

RELATED: Disney introduces its first Polynesian princess in Moana

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First trailer for Disney's 'Moana,' the first Polynesian priincess

Moana and the demi-god, Maui.

AS HOLLYWOOD gets dragged into the 21st century and kicking and screaming to the inevitable realization that casting diversity in motion pictures is good for business, it's a different story in the fantasy world of animation. Apparently, drawing characters of color is easier than casting actors of color.

The first trailer for Moana, Disney's latest animated movie, debuted today (June 12). It features the first Polynesian princess in Disney's universe of princesses.

In the latest addition to the Disney princess canon, Moana (Aul i'i Cravalho) sets sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is the demi-god Maui (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson). 

The 'Moana' poster was released last week.

Funny, but while watching the trailer it looks like The Rock, who is part Samoan, put his all into his role. I have not heard him more animated (pun intended). The tats the animators drew on Maui look fantastic!

Johnson said the film is "visual and singing journey unlike anything you have ever seen before."

Notably, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of the Broadway musical Hamilton, wrote some original music for the movie. His Hamilton co-star Phillipa Soo, who plays Hamilton's wife on stage, also stars in Moana in a still unnamed role.

RELATED: Hollywood grapples with whitewashing of Asian roles - AGAIN!

It is the first role for Aul i'i Carvalho, who is Hawaiian/American, and had to undergo a rigorous audition process to find an actress with a Pacific Islander heritage to play the princess. 

I imagine then, if Disney stays true to form in merchandising, that this Christmas, Pacific Islander parents will be buying Moana dolls that look like their daughters and temporary tattoos for their boys.

Moana joins an ever-growing list of Disney's princesses of color. After criticism arose that all the Disney princesses had been white, Disney began introducing a more diverse line of young female characters: Jasmine was the first Arab princess (1992), Pocahontas was the first Native American princess (1995), Mulan was the first Asian princess (1998), and Tiana was the first African-American princess (2009). This July, Disney will finally introduce its first Latina princess, Elena of Avalor.

It would be really good if Disney Studios, which makes moves under Lucas Films and and Marvel Studios among others, employs the same casting diversity for its real live actors that it does for its animated ones. 

"Moana" will be out in theaters on Nov. 23, 2016 in time for the holiday season. Watch the first trailer below:

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