Ariana Host is set to host this year’s first Saturday Night Live. The actress already has tons of experience on Broadway. she has played the role of Anita originally essayed by Rita Moreno in the movie version of the West Side Story.
Now after her leading role in the legendary musical, she will now be trying out a comedy, according to SNL’s Instagram page. It was also revealed that Roddy Rich of Die Young will be the musical guest on January 15th.
The new version of West Side Story is directed by Steven Spielberg and has Ansel Elgort and YouTube star Rachel Zegler.
West Side Story was an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet but was transposed into a confrontation between Puerto Rican and White gangs set in the New York of the 1950s.
The movie has been directed and also choreographed by the famous Jerry Robbins. The show also features Arther Laurents’ book. The lyrics were originally penned by Stephen Sondheim, and the music was by Leonard Bernstein.
Sondheim was a personal friend of Steven Spielberg and passed away on November 26, 2021. He contributed a lot to the present movie, advising Spielberg on many aspects of the movie.
Ariana DeBose as Anita has years of experience in Broadway. In the movie, Anita’s boyfriend is leading lady Maria’s brother.
In the original, Chita Rivera starred in the role of Anita. Ariana DeBose’s character sings America, the showstopping song from the movie.
Rita Morena played the role of Anita in the 1961 movie and said she loved Ariana DeBose’s reinterpretation of the character for a new generation. She said that she loved that an Afro Latina would be playing the role of Anita.
Ariana DeBose grew up in North Carolina and describes herself as Afro-Latina and has
Ariana DeBose Hosted SNL Could See A Change In Plan Amid The Omicron Surge
The studio audiences could be back for the episode on January 15 but the pandemic could force a change in plan. 2021’s final episode was hosted without a live audience and a good many cast members were also not present due to the last-minute changes.
All members of the audience at SNL are expected to show their proof of vaccination and are also mandated to wear a mask.
