Janet Dacal
Janet Dacal | |
---|---|
Born | Los Angeles, California |
Alma mater | Florida International University |
Occupation | Actress, singer, performer |
Years active | 2004–present |
Known for | Carla, In the Heights (2007) Alice, Wonderland (2011) |
Awards | Drama Desk Award (In the Heights, 2007) |
Website | http://www.janetdacal.com/ |
Janet Dacal (born in Los Angeles, California) is a Cuban-American actress, singer, and performer in musical theatre. She received the Drama Desk Award for her performance in the Broadway musical In the Heights.
Early life[]
Dacal's parents are from the La Vibora neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, though she was born and grew up in Los Angeles. In an interview, Dacal said, "My mom says that when I was four, I would grab a brush and pretend to sing songs into a microphone . . . I was the little girl of the family, and they loved to see me dance around and make people laugh."[1] In Los Angeles, Dacal attended a performing arts middle school and high school.[2] Dacal moved to Miami when she was 17, where she continued to be involved in the arts.[2] After graduating from Coral Park High School,[3] she attend Florida International University, initially pursuing a theater degree but later switching to a communications degree.[2] In college, she worked in the recording studios of Emilio and Gloria Estefan and eventually other Latin pop stars.[1] She discovered her passion for theater after she performed in the Miami production of Four Guys Named Jose…and Una Mujer Named Maria.[1]
Career[]
In 2004, Dacal made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Good Vibrations.[4] She then originated the role of beauty salon worker Carla in the 2007 off-Broadway musical In the Heights, for which she won a Drama Desk Award.[5] Dacal reprised this role for the musical's 2008 Broadway transfer.[6][7] In addition to playing Carla, she understudied Karen Olivo as Vanessa and Mandy Gonzalez as Nina and had gone on for both roles.[1]
She has appeared in a Musicals Tonight! concert in New York City,[8] and also performed with the cast of In the Heights at the "Broadway in Bryant Park" festival in July 2009.[9] She returned to In the Heights on February 19, 2010, as Nina Rosario, playing her last performance in August 2010.[10][11]
Dacal appeared in the Off-Broadway production of Byzantium. Regionally, she has appeared in a South Florida production of Five Course Love, for which she received a Carbonell Award nomination.[12]
At the 2011 Outback Bowl, held on January 1, 2011, in Tampa, Florida, Dacal performed "The Star-Spangled Banner".[13] She participated in the Young People's Chorus fundraising gala, titled Dreamer, at the Frederick P. Rose Hall in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on March 7, 2011.[14]
Dacal then starred in several out-of-town tryouts of the musical Wonderland, for which she received encouraging reviews.[15][16][17] The Sarasota Herald-Tribune wrote that she had "a strong voice and presence."[18] Dacal reprised her role as Alice in the Broadway production of the musical at the Marquis Theatre, which began performances in March 2011.[19][20] However, after negative reviews and bad ticket sales, the production closed on May 15, 2011.[21]
In July–November 2017, Dacal starred in the limited-run musical Prince of Broadway where she was a leading performer.[22]
From January 3, 2020 until the March 2020 coronavirus shutdown, Dacal played Dina in the national tour of The Bands Visit.
Recordings[]
In 2007, she provided background vocals for the album Mi tiempo by Chayanne.[23] Dacal can also be heard on the cast recordings of In the Heights (2008), Wonderland (2011), and Prince of Broadway (2018).[24] In an interview, she stated that she hopes to collaborate on a solo album with Wonderland composer Frank Wildhorn, although no official plan has been made.[25]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Janet Dacal Broadway.com Interview". Broadway.com. September 4, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Gans, Andrew (March 25, 2011). "DIVA TALK: Chatting with Wonderland's 'New Alice,' Janet Dacal". Playbill. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ "Drama Queen - November 2009 | Miami Herald & MiamiHerald.com". miamiherald.typepad.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ "Good Vibrations Opening Night Cast on Broadway – Information, Cast, Crew, Synopsis and Photos". Playbill Vault. Playbill Inc. February 2, 2005. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
- ^ "In the Heights Will Play Broadway's Richard Rodgers Starting February 2008" Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com
- ^ Jones, Kenneth."In the Heights Is in the "Hits" Category; Producers Recoup Investment" Archived January 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, January 8, 2009
- ^ “Janet Dacal” broadwayworld.com. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ [1] broadway.com, February 8, 2011.
- ^ "Photo Coverage: '106.7 Lite Fm Presents BROADWAY IN BRYANT PARK 2009' Begins Performances!" broadwayworld.com, July 11, 2009.
- ^ ""American Idol" Winner Jordin Sparks Will Play Nina in Broadway's In the Heights" Playbill
- ^ "Dacal Will Return to In the Heights — in a New Role; Del Rio Also Joins" Playbill
- ^ Biography Playbill
- ^ "Broadway Performer Janet Dacal to Sing National Anthem for OB 2011" Archived June 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, outbackbowl.com, December 20, 2010.
- ^ "Young People's Chorus of NYC Holds DREAMER Gala, 3/7", broadwayworld.com, February 14, 2011
- ^ Wildhorn's WONDERLAND Heads to Broadway Apr. 17, 2011; Gregory Boyd Directs broadwayworld.com, August 3, 2010
- ^ Fleming, John."'Wonderland' is better, but…"St. Petersburg Times (tampabay.com), January 7, 2011
- ^ Tatangelo, Wade."'Wonderland' returns to Tampa" Archived January 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine bradenton.com, January 6, 2011
- ^ "REVIEW: Alice gets stuck in musical ‘Wonderland’" Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine herladtribune.com
- ^ "Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland to Open on Broadway in April 2011" Playbill
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland Musical Will Play Broadway's Marquis Theatre" Playbill, September 8, 2010.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (May 10, 2011). "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore; Broadway's 'Wonderland' to Close May 15". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- ^ "Meet the cast of Prince of Broadway" broadway.com
- ^ Katie Hasty, "'NOW' Remains No. 1 As Bright Eyes Debuts High", Billboard, April 18, 2007.
- ^ "WONDERLAND Cast Heads into the Recording Studio, 3/6", broadwayworld.com, March 6, 2011.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam."DIVA TALK: Chatting with Wonderland's "New Alice," Janet Dacal", Playbill, March 25, 2011.
External links[]
- American musical theatre actresses
- Living people
- Drama Desk Award winners
- American people of Cuban descent
- People from Los Angeles
- Florida International University alumni