As Barbie and Mattel are committed to representation and inclusion, they lift up role models who are making a positive impact during this challenging time. In this collection, they honor six frontline workers from around the world, with one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls in their likeness. From an ER nurse to a biomedical researcher and more, these heroes continue to rise up to serve their communities in this time of need and are inspiring current and future generations to follow their lead.
Included in this collection is Las Vegas doctor Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz. She treated COVID-19 patients and teamed up with other Asian-American physicians to fight racial bias and discrimination. Dr. Cruz said on her Instagram, "here’s to breaking barriers, speaking truths, and empowering the next generation."
"I hope to shine a light on the commitment and compassion all frontline workers exhibited over the past year and a half and every single day...And I hope to show all young women that they can be ANYTHING they want to be."
DR. AUDREY SUE CRUZ
Cover Photo Credit: Barbie Facebook
Tony Award Winner and Disney Legend Lea Salonga will make a special appearance as the host of CollaborAzian’s production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder on July 15th, 2021. The abridged version of Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak's musical is directed by Sesame Street’s Alan Muraoka and features an all-Asian American cast and production team. Donations for StopAAPIHate.org are now being accepted and tickets for the virtual show are now available.
“Historically, Asian American artists have been marginalized in media and on stage… productions like this help to spotlight the tremendous talent that has been overlooked. “We're here to show the world that we are here, and we are fantastic.”
LEA SALONGA
The production has generated much excitement in the theater community, announcing an exclusive streaming partnership with Broadway On Demand and promotional partnership with Broadway World.
Along with the increased demand for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) representation in Hollywood, the AAPI Broadway and theatrical communities are also making their voices heard. Organizations such as the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) Broadway Diversity Project, Unapologetically Asian, Leviathan Labs, Chinosity, and Tremendous Communications have also come together in support of the production.
“Broadway On Demand is committed to celebrating diversity and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. It is an honor to partner with CollaborAzian in bringing this incredible production the attention it deserves.”
TRALEN DOLER, BROADWAY ON DEMAND VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMMING AND PARTNERSHIPS
About CollaborAzian’s A Gentelman’s Guide to Love and Murder
CollaborAzian’s A Gentelman’s Guide to Love and Murder will be helmed by theatre and television director Alan Muraoka, who has played Alan, the owner of Hooper's Store on Sesame Street for the past 23 years. He most recently played Iago in Disney's Aladdin on Broadway, and starred as the Engineer in Miss Saigon. The all-Asian American cast will star Cindy Cheung (13 Reasons Why), Karl Josef Co (Pacific Overtures), Ali Ewoldt (The Phantom of the Opera), Diane Phelan (School of Rock), and Thom Sesma (Sweeney Todd). Steven Cuevas (Once On This Island) serves as music director.
Producers include Jeremiah Abraham (Sony Pictures’ Yellow Rose, ARRAY’s Lingua Franca), Co, Ariel Estrada (Founder and Producing Artistic Director, Leviathan Lab), Rob Laqui (The Industry Standard Group, Cardinal Theatricals), Phelan, Pearl Sun (Come From Away), Anne Fraser Thomas (Hercules), Jessica Wu (A Chorus Line, Miss Saigon), and Miranda Gohh. A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder won four Tony Awards at the 68th Tony Awards in 2014, including Best Musical.
About Broadway On Demand
Broadway On Demand is the industry-leading livestream platform housing performance & theatre education programming, & the preferred choice of top Broadway artists, producers, educators & professionals. Broadway On Demand has streamed 2,500 events & live productions – from Broadway shows to concert series, performance venues to individual artists, & original content – in 82 countries to over 300,000 viewers. Thanks to a unique licensing interface, ShowShare, approved middle school, high school, college, community & professional theatre productions utilize the platform to stream to their audiences. Broadway on Demand is available on the web, mobile, Apple and Android app store, AppleTV, Roku, Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV. For access to the complete and ever-expanding Broadway on Demand library, subscribe at BroadwayOnDemand.com.
Cover Photo Credit: Tremendous Communications
