September 2012, Volume 16, Number 4

Making Their Mark


Capturing the Olympic Spirit

Powerhouse music producer Emilio Estefan and singer-actor Jencarlos Canela teamed up to musically capture the Olympic spirit this summer for millions of TV viewers. The two highflying MDC alumni collaborated on Sueña (Dream), a track celebrating Telemundo’s coverage of the summer games. Aired to the network’s national and international audiences, the iconic song is yet another shining example of MDC's global reach.

This isn’t Estefan’s first lap on an Olympic track. He also produced NBC’s official theme for the 1996 Summer Olympics, sung by his superstar wife Gloria Estefan.

Sueña is available for download on iTunes.

Back on Broadway

Two-time Tony Award winner and New World School of the Arts alumna Katie Finneran is returning to the Broadway stage in a new production of Annie. As the wicked Miss Hannigan, Finneran will be playing “one of the juiciest roles of the 2012-13 Broadway season,” as reported by The New York Times.

Last season, she starred in the Fox sitcom I Hate My Teenage Daughter alongside Jaime Pressly.

World Premiere

Award-winning playwright and NWSA alumnus Tarell Alvin McCraney unveils his new production, Head of Passes, next spring at Chicago’s esteemed Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The world premiere drama runs the gamut of emotions when a surprise party is overshadowed by revelations of a family secret.

Earlier this year, McCraney was the recipient of NWSA’s Alumnus Award.

Class Acts

Numerous leaders in the entertainment industry got their start at MDC, including:

  • Robert Battle, Artistic Director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
  • Brandon Bryant, Dancer
  • Angel Carrasco, Vice President, Triada Entertainment Group Inc.
  • Harry Wayne “K.C.” Casey, Singer-Songwriter, KC & The Sunshine Band
  • Desmond Child, Chief Executive Officer, Deston Entertainment Inc.
  • Willy Chirino, Grammy Award-Winning Singer and Songwriter
  • Nilo Cruz, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright
  • Pierluigi Gazzolo, President, MTV Networks Latin America
  • Hannia Guillén, Actress/Singer, Liberty Casting
  • Vivi Pineda, Actress
  • Ana María Polo, Attorney/Host, Telemundo's Caso Cerrado
  • Jack Rico, Film Critic and Founder/Editor-in-Chief at ShowBizCafe Media
  • José Tillán, Senior Vice President of Music and Talent, MTV Networks Latin America
  • Bob Vila, Television Host

— MR


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