Natalie Mendoza as Satine in ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical.’ (Photo: Matthew Murphy)
Natalie Mendoza, who played China Doll in the original Moulin Rouge! film is joining the cast of the Broadway smash, taking over the role of Satine that Tony Award winner Karen Olivo originated.
Olivo departed the production in April, sharing on their Instagram they would not return in response to Scott Rudin’s abuse and systemic inequities that plague the theater industry.
Mendoza, an Australian actress and Broadway alum (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), now steps in to play this leading role. She has also appeared on the television show “Hotel Babylon” and on the West End in Miss Saigon and Here Lies Love. Mendoza joins the starry cast reprising their roles including Aaron Tveit, Danny Burstein, Sahr Ngaujah, Tam Mutu, Ricky Rojas and Robyn Hurder. Olivo, as well as Tveit, Burstein, Ngaujah and Hurder are currently nominated for Tony Awards for their roles, and the production is up for Best Musical.
Moulin Rouge! will begin performances at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on September 24, and tickets are now on sale.
Danny Burstein in ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical.’ (Photo: Matthew Murphy)
