Recent Acting Division Press
Megan Suri Joins Season 2 Of Netflix’s ‘Never Have I Ever’
By Peter White
Megan Suri, who appeared in Fresh Off the Boat, has joined Netflix comedy Never Have I Ever. She is set to play Aneesa, a new Indian student at Sherman Oaks High, whose confidence and radiance will pose an immediate threat to Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s Devi.
Suri previously appeared in ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat, playing the daughter of Mina (Preity Zinta) in what was planned as the backdoor pilot for The Magic Motor Inn. Suri has also starred in feature film Valentine’s Day, HBO’s The Brink and Netflix’s Atypical as well as booking her first title role in feature The Miseducation of Bindu alongside Priyanka Bose and David Arquette.
This comes as cameras are rolling for the second season of Never Have I Ever, which was co-created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher.
Kaling, speaking recently at a PaleyFest event, said filming on the second season was going well despite the pandemic. “There was no hesitation to get back to work, the cast [of teenagers] were all so excited to get back to work, Covid be damned,” she said. “Our production has done a great job, I had to come in 20 minutes early to have my Covid test and it’s changed the face of craft services, but that’s pretty much it.” (Read more)
'Upside-Down Magic' Cast Dish On Sage Academy In Exclusive Featurette - Watch!
The stars of the upcoming DCOM Upside-Down Magic are opening up about the school in the movie, Sage Academy!
Izabela Rose, Siena Agudong, Max Torina, Elie Samouhi, Alison Fernandez and Kyle Howard are all dishing on the magic school and what the UDM is.
In the clip, the stars also open up about the heartfelt themes of the movie, and the underlying message.
Upside-Down Magic follows Nory (Rose) and her best friend Reina (Agudong) who enter the Sage Academy for Magical Studies, where Nory’s unconventional powers land her in a class for those with wonky, or “upside-down,” magic. Undaunted, Nory sets out to prove that that upside-down magic can be just as powerful as right-side-up.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out the latest teaser from the new Disney Channel Original Movie!
Upside-Down Magic will premiere NEXT Friday (July 31) at 8pm ET/PT on Disney Channel. (Read more)
Izabela Rose Proves Quirky is Cool in Disney’s “Upside-Down Magic”
By Veronica Good - July 14, 2020
What if you discovered that you had magical powers? Now, imagine that right after you start to get your powers you find out that you’re never allowed to use them again. That’s exactly what happens to shape-shifting teenager Nory Boxwood Horace in Disney’s new film Upside-Down Magic.
Nory, played by 13-year-old actress Izabela Rose, can transform into animals, but her transformations are what the school administrators at Sage Academy call “wonky,” and wonky magic is dangerous. So, when Nory ends up in the School of Upside-Down Magic instead of one of the more illustrious Sage Schools like her best friend Reina Carvajal (played by Siena Agudong) who is a Flare, she and the rest of the wonky teens in her class set out to prove themselves.
“I’m so so connected to Nory,” Izabela shared with us. Nory is quirky, funny, and optimistic, a perfect match for Izabela Rose who is an enthusiastic and motivated teen in her own right. While Izabela isn’t a shapeshifter (a “Fluxer” as they call it at Sage Academy), she does have a lot of hobbies and skills. Along with being an actress, Izabela is also learning Spanish and an avid volunteer, gamer, musician, and cook! (She’s been practicing her guitar and cooking in quarantine.) Now that Upside-Down Magic has been filmed and is ready to make its way to the screens of Disney fans everywhere, Izabela has noticed that she hasn’t quite let go of Nory. So, add Disney-bounding to that list. (Read more)
Upside-Down Magic focuses on Nory proving that her out of the box talents are just as valuable as anyone else's. Could you relate to Nory in this sense of believing in yourself even when other's might not?
Yes, absolutely! I am similar to Nory because before I booked this role, I had tested for a few projects and I was getting so close – but not being picked in the end. It was down to me and a few girls many times. Throughout all of these auditions, I faced a lot of rejection – but I never gave up believing in myself.
You sing and act, do you hope to incorporate singing into your acting career in the future?
Singing is so close to my heart and I am very passionate about it. I have some exciting singing and acting projects in the works. I can’t wait for everyone to hear more about these soon!
What drew you to the role of Nory in Upside-Down Magic?
When I first saw the description of Nory’s character for the first time, I instantly feel in love with her optimistic, enthusiastic, and love for life personality! Nory reminded me of myself. (Read more)
Izabela Rose is one to watch. She’s already doing some amazing off the charts types of things like, I don’t know, getting personally selected for her role in AppleTv+’s Amazing Stories by none other than Steven Spielberg, to landing a role on Disney Channel’s Upside-Down Magic. This Georgia native talks growing up in all its nostalgia, how she remains in a place of Zen during isolation, and her all-time favorite things. Get to know this rising star from her audition process to her favorite products for her natural curls.
GLITTER: What was it like growing up in Georgia and how and when did you get into acting?
IZABELA: Flowery Branch, GA is my hometown and that place will always be so close to my heart. It is beautiful and small, but it is a suburb of Atlanta, so I had the best of both worlds growing up. I had fun going out in the backyard eating honeysuckles and playing in the creek. This environment showed me how to be grounded and humble. My Mom started me out in pageants when I was six-months-old! I did them for many years spending almost every weekend competing. They were wonderful memories for me, and I had great Mommy/Daughter time. I was always a shy kid, but once I stepped onto the stage and had an interview – I turned into a different person. Something clicked in my head, even though I was nervous. (Read more)
Get a first look at Upside-Down Magic, the Disney Channel Original Movie-version of Harry Potter
Get ready for a new take on the battle against forces of darkness set at a magical boarding school.
EW has your exclusive first look at Upside-Down Magic, a new Disney Channel Original Movie starring Izabela Rose as Nory and Siena Agudong as Reina, two best friends excited to begin their journey at the Sage Academy for Magical Studies.
But as Reina's expert ability to harness the power of fire lands her at the top of her class of Flares, Nory's wonky magic and proclivity for turning herself into a "Dritten" — a half-kitten, half-dragon — lands her in a class for kids with upside-down magic, or UDM. Since those with UDM are vulnerable to dangerous and evil "shadow magic," they're forbidden to practice magic at all. So, Nory and her fellow classmates set out to prove that upside-down magic beats right-side up.
The trailer for Upside-Down Magic features many easy comparisons to Harry Potter, from being sorted into different groups based on strengths, classes pertaining to different kinds of magic, adventures in the woods, and a group of plucky best friends on a mission to save everyone from forces of evil. But Upside-Down Magic comes with an exciting 2020 update as female main characters take the lead. (Read more)
We have been looking forward to the upcoming Disney movie Upside-Down Magic since we first heard about it. Now with the movie coming this summer we were lucky enough to get a chance to speak to Izabela Rose who will play the lead, Nory Boxwood Horace in our exclusive interview.
African American-El Salvadoran-Italian superstar in the making Izabela Rose is poised to follow in the footsteps of Disney legends Zendaya, Selena Gomez, and Demi Lovato as she leads the cast of the new Disney film UPSIDE-DOWN MAGIC (Summer 2020), based on The New York Times best-selling Scholastic fantasy fiction books of the same name. UPSIDE-DOWN MAGIC centers around 13-year old ‘Nory Boxwood Horace’ (Izabela Rose), who discovers she has the ability to transform into animals, as she enters the Sage Academy for magical studies with her friend Reina Carvajal (Siena Agudong), who can manipulate flames. Izabela Rose gives a standout performance as the funny, charismatic, and optimistic heroine, whose unwavering belief that her unusual talent, along with those of her wonky friends, are just as valuable as those of her peers. (Read more)
First Look Teaser at Izabela Rose in Disney Channel's 'Upside-Down Magic' - Watch Now!
Just Jared Jr is SO excited to bring you the very first look at Izabela Roseas Nory Boxwood Horace in Upside-Down Magic!!
The new Disney Channel Original Movie is set to premiere this summer and also stars Siena Agudong, Kyle Howard, Elie Samouhi, Alison Fernandez and Max Torina.
Based off of the book series of the same name, 13-year-old Nory Boxwood Horace (Rose) and her best friend Reina Carvajal (Agudong) enter the Sage Academy for Magical Studies, where Nory’s wonky magic and proclivity for turning into a “Dritten” – half-kitten, half-dragon – lands her in a class for those with Upside-Down Magic, otherwise known as UDM. (Read more)
Cast Announced For 50th Anniversary Tour Of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Work Light Productions announced casting today for the 50th Anniversary Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's iconic musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. Winner of the 2017 Olivier Award® for Best Musical Revival, the North American presentation of the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's production will tech in Syracuse, NY. The tour will officially launch at Austin's Bass Concert Hall on October 8th through the 13th before visiting over 30 cities including Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, Dallas and Chicago.
"We are thrilled to have put together this incredible company. It's now time for us to plug into the Brown Album and make that music live again on stage. The show will resound with audiences across North America like it was written for us today," says director Tim Sheader. (Read more)
Bat Out of Hell Musical Opens at New York City Center August 8
New York City Center hosts the American premiere of Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell—The Musical, officially opening August 8. In the new rock musical, based on the cult 1977 Meat Loaf album of the same name, Steinman's music is used to tell a story of rebellious youth and passion. Performances began August 1.
Under the direction of Jay Scheib, the limited Off-Broadway engagement stars Andrew Polec (reprising his role from London and Toronto) as Strat, London star Christina Bennington reprising the role of Raven, Tony winner Lena Hall as Sloane, Bradley Dean as Falco, Avionce Hoyles as Tink, Danielle Steers as Zahara, and Tyrick Wiltez Jones as Jagwire. In Bat Out of Hell, Strat, the immortal leader of The Lost, has fallen in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the tyrannical ruler Falco. (Read more)
A few months ago, it was announced that ABC was exploring a new sitcom featuring an Indian family at its core, leaning into their brand of diverse family comedy programming. The project, titled Magic Motor Inn, was helmed as a spinoff of Fresh Off the Boat; penned by writer Rachna Fruchbom, it would feature central performances from Bollywood superstar Preity Zinta and comedian Vir Das. But I was skeptical—not only about the idea of reinventing what Fresh Off the Boat did so successfully for six seasons with a new immigrant race as the focus, but also about how much this show’s casting would move the needle forward for Indian representation in mainstream media. (Read more)
Broadway’s ‘Percy Jackson’ Musical Finds Its Percy; Complete Cast Announced
The full touring cast of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is going to Broadway, producers announced today. The young company – all but one of the 10 actors will be making their Broadway debuts – will be headed by Chris McCarrell in the title role.
McCarrell originated the role of Percy Jackson in the 2017 Off-Broadway production of Lightning Thief (he’s the one with the Broadway credit – he played Marius in Les Misérables in 2014). In addition to McCarrell, the cast, announced today by producers TheaterWorksUSA and Martian Entertainment, are all coming off the recently wrapped 2019 tour. They are Izzy Figueroa, Jorrel Javier, Ryan Knowles, Sam Leicht, Sarah Beth Pfeifer, James Hayden Rodriguez, Jalynn Steele, T. Shyvonne Stewart, and Kristin Stokes. The cast plays a total of 47 characters. (Read more)