24.09 / 04:07
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How ‘Julie and the Phantoms’ Shines a Light on Latinx, LGBTQ Youth (Watch)
Audrey Cleo Yap Director Kenny Ortega knew he had found the lead for Netflix’s “Julie and the Phantoms” when he saw Madison Reyes’ audition tape after casting directors had put out requests to performing arts schools across North America. Reyes, now 16 but aged 14 at the time of her audition, blew away Ortega with her rendition of a song from the musical “Waitress.”“I was looking for ‘Julie from the block.’ I wanted something a little more raw, and more authentic and relatable,” Ortega tells Variety.