The Happiest Song Plays Last: Lauren Velez

Lauren Vélez has joined the cast of Second Stage Theatre's upcoming production of Quiara Alegria Hudes' The Happiest Song Plays Last, opening at the Second Stage Theatre on 03 Mar 2014, following previews from 11 Feb 2014, and running through to 23 Mar 2014.

Vélez replaces the previously announced Elizabeth Rodriguez in the role of Yaz'. No reason has been provided for Rodriguez departure from the production.

Vélez has previously appeared Off-Broadway in 'Intimate Apparel' and 'The Vagina Monologues,' and understudied the role of 'Witch' in the Broadway premiere of 'Into the Woods.' Vélez is best known for her role as "Captain Maria LaGuerta" which she played for seven seasons in the TV series "Dexter." Other TV credits include "Ugly Betty," "Oz" and "New York Undercover."

Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the cast for The Happiest Song Plays Last also features Tony Award-nominee Anthony Chisholm (Radio Golf), Dariush Kashani who last appeared Off-Broadway in 'Homebody/Kabul,' Tony Plana, who starred as "Ignacio Suarez" in the TV sitcom "Ugly Betty," Armando Riesco who earlier this year starred in 2ST's Off-Broadway production of 'Water by the Spoonful,' and Annapurna Sriram (Shar).

The Happiest Song Plays Last is the third in Quiara Alegria Hudes' Elliot trilogy of plays that began with 'Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue,' a play about a young Marine coming to terms with his time in Iraq and his father's and grandfather's service in Vietnam and Korea. The second play in the trilogy, the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama 'Water by the Spoonful,' received its New York premiere at Second Stage Theatre in 2013, and continues the story of Elliot, who returns home to Philadelphia from Iraq haunted by demons from the past.

The Happiest Song Plays Last: Cousins Elliot (Armando Riesco) and Yaz (Lauren Vélez), having long searched for their place in the community, discover the joy in coming home again and the comfort of family, both by blood and by love. While Elliot gets a lucky break in the film business, Yaz takes on the role of familial and neighborhood matriarch, nourishing those that pass through her door.

Armando Riesco once again returns to the role of 'Elliot,' which he first performed in Second Stage's production of 'Water by the Spoonful,' the second play in Hudes' trilogy, a role which he also performed in the world premiere of The Happiest Song Plays Last which played at Chicago's Goodman Theatre from 13 Apr - 12 May 2013.

The Happiest Song Plays Last features traditional Puerto Rican folk music led by the Grammy-nominated Nelson González.

The creative team for includes set design by Mike Carnahan, costumes by Karen Perry, lighting by Rui Rita and sound design by Leon Rothenberg.