Lin-Manuel Miranda

Review: Though earnest and visually dazzling, ‘Moana 2' is more dull than so shiny

The warm Polynesian spirit and open-sea sense of adventure is back in “Moana 2,” but little of the original’s humor or catchy songs finds its way into this heartfelt but lackluster sequel set three years after the original, writes Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review.

★★★★

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis on their ‘Warriors’ musical concept album with Lauryn Hill

Lin-Manuel Miranda launches R.I.S.E. Network to improve diversity on Broadway

Disney developing live-action ‘Moana’ with Dwayne Johnson

‘Hamilton’ fundraiser set for Hispanic Federation, Flamboyan

Menzel, Chenoweth celebrate 20 years of ‘Wicked’

Original castmates Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth walk the green carpet celebrating the 20th anniversary of the musical ‘Wicked’ on Broadway. (Oct. 31)

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ShowBiz Minute: Robbie Robertson, WGA Strike, ‘Hamilton’

ShowBiz Minute: Drake, Lin-Manuel Miranda, World’s first lipstick

ShowBiz Minute: DiCaprio, Nathan Chasing Horse, Johnson

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Politicians seek to leverage celebrities to reach voters

Candidates in high-profile races nationwide are using celebrity appearances and endorsements as they try to reach voters.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, others seek Puerto Rico silver lining

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico five years ago and highlighted the funding problems the Caribbean island has long faced.

Clinton initiative’s NYC return includes Andres, Queen Rania

World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres, Jordan’s Queen Rania, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda will help relaunch the Clinton Global Initiative in September.

Lin-Manuel Miranda helps launch Latinx LGBTQ support program

“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, pop star Ricky Martin and award-winning actress/singer Michaela Jae Rodriguez will join the Hispanic Federation Tuesday to launch a new advocacy initiative serving Latinx LGBTQ communities.

Jennifer Lopez doc ‘Halftime’ to open Tribeca Festival

A Netflix documentary about Jennifer Lopez titled “Halftime” will kick off the 21st Tribeca Festival.

Billie Eilish and Finneas bond and win Oscar for best song

“No Time to Die” is proving a song very much alive at awards shows. The 007 song by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell has won a Golden Globe, a Grammy and now an Oscar for best original song.

Miranda to miss Oscars after wife tests positive for COVID

Lin-Manuel Miranda, one of this year’s most prominent Oscar nominees, is sitting out the ceremony after his wife tested positive for COVID-19.

Beyoncé, Billie Eilish to sing nominated songs at Oscars

Beyoncé and Billie Eilish are headed to the Oscars. The film academy says Tuesday that the superstars will be among the nominees for best original song who will perform at Sunday’s Academy Awards.

Regina King, Ryan Reynolds among co-hosts of Met Gala in May

Regina King, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Lin-Manuel Miranda will serve as co-chairs of the Met Gala, returning to its traditional berth on the first Monday in May.

‘Pose’ star Rodriguez to receive GLAAD Media Awards honor

Emmy-nominated “Pose” star Michaela Jaé “Mj” Rodriguez will be honored at the GLAAD Media Awards. Rodriguez will receive the Stephen F.

Oscars 2022: Sebastián Yatra calls ‘Encanto’ a gift from God

Sebastián Yatra calls his experience with Disney’s “Encanto” a “gift from God.” The Colombian singer-songwriter performs Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Oscar-nominated song “Dos Oruguitas” from the animated film.

H.E.R, J.Lo, Curry join Michelle Obama’s voter campaign

NBA player Steph Curry and musical artists H.E.R. and Jennifer Lopez have joined a national nonpartisan voting initiative launched by Michelle Obama as the effort gears up for the November midterm elections.

Miranda talks about Bruno, and the ‘Encanto’ phenomenon

A month after “Encanto” debuted in theaters, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the movie’s Colombia-inflected songs, took a long vacation.

Lin-Manuel Miranda breaks down the songs of ‘Encanto’

Lin-Manuel Miranda went song by song through some of the hits of “Encanto” in a recent interview, from the breakout smash “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” to his self-described “’90s Rock en Español throwback” “What Else Can I Do?”

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Jan. 16-22

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Jan. 16-22:

Jan. 16: Opera singer Marilyn Horne is 88. Singer Barbara Lynn is 80. Country singer Ronnie Milsap is 79.

‘Dune,’ ‘CODA,’ ‘West Side Story’ make AFI’s 2021 top 10

The American Film Institute lined up behind many of the year’s end-of-year Oscar contenders, naming Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog” and Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up” among the year’s 10 best films.

Audiences go for a second helping of ‘Encanto’

Leftovers were on the menu for moviegoers in North America this weekend. According to studio estimates on Sunday, “Encanto,” “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and “House of Gucci” repeated in the top three spots.

Review: Disney’s animated ‘Encanto’ effortlessly enchants

Mirabel is extraordinary, in that when it comes to her family, she is totally normal.

That’s the set-up for Disney’s absolutely charming new animated musical “Encanto,” which flips the typical children’s movie script.

New this week: Kaepernick, Sheeran and ‘Star Trek’ spin-off

This week’s new entertainment releases include new albums from Ed Sheeran and The War on Drugs as well as “Army of Thieves,” a prequel to Zack Snyder’s “Army of the Dead,” which invites viewers to join a Europe-trotting heist.

PBS Kids introduces a 6-year-old heroine with ‘Alma’s Way’

NEW YORK (AP) — Alma has a dilemma: The 6-year-old New Yorker has tickets for a baseball game on Saturday with her grandfather, but she told her uncle she’d help him with a dance recital that day.

Chenoweth, Miranda, Rivera and more to celebrate Broadway

Many of Broadway’s biggest lights — including Kristin Chenoweth, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chita Rivera and Idina Menzel — will make appearances at Sunday’s TV celebration of Broadway’s return.

Cheers greet the reopening of three mega-hit Broadway shows

Kristin Chenoweth, Julie Taymor and Lin-Manuel Miranda welcomed back boisterous audiences to “Wicked,” “The Lion King” and “Hamilton” for the first time since the start of the pandemic, marking Tuesday as the unofficial return of Broadway.

Jackson of ‘Hamilton’ to sing national anthem at All-Stars

Christopher Jackson, who played George Washington in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” on Broadway, will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Coors Field.

Lin-Manuel Miranda sees art and philanthropy with same lens

“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is announcing a series of donations to organizations that serve immigrants.

H.E.R. among artists educating kids on civics in new series

In addition to making great music, H.E.R. wants to be an active citizen who empowers young people with information.

Anthony Ramos ‘sexy and dark’ in R&B album ‘Love and Lies’

For his sophomore album, Anthony Ramos wanted to go “sexy and dark” while adding an R&B vibe in honor of the artists that inspired him growing up.

Special Tony Awards given to 2 shows, 1 advocacy nonprofit

The Tony Awards may be months away, but three groups can already celebrate: The Broadway Advocacy Coalition, “David Byrne’s American Utopia” and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Freestyle Love Supreme” are going to get special awards.

‘The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’ hits top mark at box office

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” has hit the top box office target. The Lionsgate’s film starring Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L.

Beyond “In the Heights,” colorism persists, rarely addressed

Every year, Hollywood inevitably comes under criticism for its lack of racial diversity. But another lesser-known yet still pervasive problem also resurfaces: the lack of diversity in skin tone.

Jimmy Smits figured he could carry a tune ‘In the Heights’

He hadn’t been in a musical since high school, but when Jimmy Smits saw the opportunity to play Kevin Rosario in the film adaptation of “In the Heights,” he was happy to check that off his artistic bucket list.