Janet Dacal

Cuban-American actress, singer and successful musical theater performer. She received the Drama Desk Award for her performance in the Broadway musical "In the Heights".

Considered one of the most successful Cuban-American Latina women, Janet Dacal recently starred in Wonderland (a contemporary version of Alice in Wonderland). This woman born in Los Angeles has captivated audiences with her charm and excellent performance in music, singing and dance.

Dacal's parents are from La Víbora neighborhood in Havana, Cuba, but she was born and raised in Los Angeles. In an interview, Dacal said, "My mom says that when I was four years old, I would take a brush and pretend to sing as if it were a microphone... I was the girl of the family, and they loved to see me dance around and make people laugh". Dacal moved to Miami when she was 17 years old, where she appeared in a production of Four Guys Named José... and a Woman Called Maria.

Janet Dacal commented that since high school she began working in recording studios with Gloria and Emilio Estefan as a backup singer for some artists, which allowed her to see firsthand how the artistic industry works and acquire experience and confidence. After this experience she decided to try her luck in New York, gaining the possibility of being part of the play In the Heights, although she notes that the demands of this profession and working on Broadway consist of giving one hundred percent of your heart, mind and body.

Similarly, she comments that thanks to her participation in Wonderland, she found love with Darren Ritchie (co-star of the play). On the other hand, Dacal mentions that her greatest strength as a person is having an open mind and taking any challenge as an enriching learning process. What Janet intends is for Broadway to be a stepping stone to venture into film or television, and she also plans to record an album that includes songs in Spanish.

In 2004, she made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Good Vibrations. Dacal later acted in the role of beauty salon worker as Carla in 2007 in In the Heights, for which she won a Drama Desk award. Dacal reprised this role in 2008.

She has appeared in a Musicals Tonight! concert in New York City, and also performed with the cast of In the Heights at "Broadway in Bryant Park" in July 2009. She returned to In the Heights on February 19, 2010, as Nina Rosario performing until August 2010.

Dacal appeared in the Off-Broadway production of Byzantium. At the regional level, she has appeared in Frank Loesser's Señor Discreción at both Arena Stage and in South Florida the production of Five Amor de golf, for which she received a nomination for the Carbonell award.

At the 2011 Outback Bowl, which took place on January 1st, 2011, in Tampa, Florida, Dacal performed "The Star-Spangled Banner". She participated in the Young People's Chorus at a fundraising gala, titled Dreamer, at the Frederick P. Rose Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, on March 7, 2011.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune wrote that she had "a strong voice and presence." Dacal reprised her role as Alice on Broadway in the musical production at the Marquis Theatre, which began in March 2011. [17] [18] However, after negative reviews and poor ticket sales, the production closed on May 15, 2011.

Recordings
In 2007, she lent her background vocals to the album Mi tiempo by Chayanne. Dacal can also be heard on the cast recordings of In the Heights (2008) and Wonderland (2011). In an interview, she said that she hopes to collaborate on a solo album with Wonderland composer Frank Wildhorn, although no official plans have been made.