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Janet Dacal
Born
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materFlorida International University
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, performer
Years active2004–present
Known forCarla, In the Heights (2007)
Alice, Wonderland (2011)
AwardsDrama Desk Award (In the Heights, 2007)
Websitewww.janetdacal.com

Janet Dacal (born in Los Angeles, California) is an 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

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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

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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]

From July to 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 Band's Visit. She resumed playing Dina when the tour restarted in autumn 2021.

Recordings

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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.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Henderson, Kathy (September 4, 2008). "Janet Dacal Broadway.com Interview". Broadway.com. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Gans, Andrew (March 25, 2011). "DIVA TALK: Chatting with Wonderland's 'New Alice,' Janet Dacal". Playbill. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Dolen, Christine (November 10, 2009). "Through the looking glass to Tampa". miamiherald.typepad.com. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ Jones, Kenneth (July 26, 2007). "In the Heights Will Play Broadway's Richard Rodgers Starting February 2008". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  6. ^ Jones, Kenneth (January 8, 2009). "In the Heights Is in the "Hits" Category; Producers Recoup Investment". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "Janet Dacal". BroadwayWorld.
  8. ^ Sierra, Gabrielle (February 8, 2011). "Aziza, Brady Set For Musicals Tonight!'s At This Performance 2/14". BroadwayWorld.
  9. ^ Zielinski, Peter James (July 11, 2009). "Photo Coverage: '106.7 Lite Fm Presents BROADWAY IN BRYANT PARK 2009' Begins Performances!". BroadwayWorld.
  10. ^ Jones, Kenneth (May 3, 2010). ""American Idol" Winner Jordin Sparks Will Play Nina in Broadway's In the Heights". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  11. ^ Jones, Kenneth (January 19, 2010). "Dacal Will Return to In the Heights — in a New Role; Del Rio Also Joins". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  12. ^ Biography Playbill
  13. ^ "Outback Bowl to Feature Broadway Performer Janet Dacal to Sing National Anthem for 25th Anniversary". Outback Bowl. December 20, 2010. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011.
  14. ^ Rosky, Nicole (February 14, 2011). "Young People's Chorus of NYC Holds DREAMER Gala, 3/7". BroadwayWorld.
  15. ^ Lewis, Jessica (August 3, 2010). "Wildhorn's WONDERLAND Heads to Broadway Apr. 17, 2011; Gregory Boyd Directs". BroadwayWorld.
  16. ^ Fleming, John (January 7, 2011). "'Wonderland' is better, but..." St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on January 10, 2011.
  17. ^ Tatangelo, Wade (January 6, 2011). "'Wonderland' returns to Tampa". Bradenton Herald. Archived from the original on January 9, 2011.
  18. ^ Handelman, Jay (December 6, 2009). "REVIEW: Alice gets stuck in musical 'Wonderland'". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011.
  19. ^ Gans, Andrew (August 3, 2010). "Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland to Open on Broadway in April 2011". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  20. ^ Jones, Kenneth (September 8, 2010). "Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland Musical Will Play Broadway's Marquis Theatre". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  21. ^ Jones, Kenneth (May 10, 2011). "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore; Broadway's Wonderland to Close May 15". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  22. ^ "Prince of Broadway Cast & Creative". Broadway.com.
  23. ^ Hasty, Katie (April 18, 2007). "'NOW' Remains No. 1 As Bright Eyes Debuts High". Billboard.
  24. ^ Lewis, Jessica (March 4, 2011). "WONDERLAND Cast Heads into the Recording Studio, 3/6". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
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