Janet Dacal

Dacal's parents are from the La Vibora neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, though she was born and grew up in Los Angeles. In an interview, Dacal said, "My mom says that when I was four, I would grab a brush and pretend to sing songs into a microphone . . . I was the little girl of the family, and they loved to see me dance around and make people laugh."{{cite web|last=Henderson |first=Kathy |url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/6651/janet-dacal/ |title=Janet Dacal Broadway.com Interview |website=Broadway.com |date=September 4, 2008 |access-date=December 9, 2013}} In Los Angeles, Dacal attended a performing arts middle school and high school.{{Cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=March 25, 2011|title=DIVA TALK: Chatting with Wonderland's 'New Alice,' Janet Dacal|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/diva-talk-chatting-with-wonderlands-new-alice-janet-dacal-com-177636|access-date=2021-06-20|website=Playbill|language=en}} Dacal moved to Miami when she was 17, where she continued to be involved in the arts. After graduating from Coral Park High School,{{Cite web|last=Dolen|first=Christine|title=Through the looking glass to Tampa|url=https://miamiherald.typepad.com/drama_queen/2009/11/through-the-looking-glass-to-tampa.html|date=2009-11-10|access-date=2022-05-13|website=miamiherald.typepad.com}} she attend Florida International University, initially pursuing a theater degree but later switching to a communications degree. In college, she worked in the recording studios of Emilio and Gloria Estefan and eventually other Latin pop stars. She discovered her passion for theater after she performed in the Miami production of Four Guys Named Jose…and Una Mujer Named Maria.

In 2004, Dacal made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Good Vibrations.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/Cast/4689/Good-Vibrations-at-Eugene-ONeill-Theatre |title=Good Vibrations Opening Night Cast on Broadway – Information, Cast, Crew, Synopsis and Photos |date=February 2, 2005 |work=Playbill Vault |publisher=Playbill Inc. |access-date=September 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002202105/http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/Cast/4689/Good-Vibrations-at-Eugene-ONeill-Theatre |archivedate=October 2, 2013 }} She then originated the role of beauty salon worker Carla in the 2007 off-Broadway musical In the Heights, for which she won a Drama Desk Award.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |title=In the Heights Will Play Broadway's Richard Rodgers Starting February 2008 |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/in-the-heights-will-play-broadways-richard-rodgers-starting-february-2008-com-142509 |website=Playbill |access-date=May 13, 2022 |date=July 26, 2007}} Dacal reprised this role for the musical's 2008 Broadway transfer.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |title=In the Heights Is in the "Hits" Category; Producers Recoup Investment |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/in-the-heights-is-in-the-hits-category-producers-recoup-investment-com-156729 |website=Playbill |access-date=May 13, 2022 |date=January 8, 2009}}{{cite web |title=Janet Dacal |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Janet-Dacal/ |website=BroadwayWorld}} In addition to playing Carla, she understudied Karen Olivo as Vanessa and Mandy Gonzalez as Nina and had gone on for both roles.

She has appeared in a Musicals Tonight! concert in New York City,{{cite web |last=Sierra |first=Gabrielle |title=Aziza, Brady Set For Musicals Tonight!'s At This Performance 2/14 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Aziza-Brady-Set-For-Musicals-Tonights-At-This-Performance-214-20110208 |website=BroadwayWorld |date=February 8, 2011}} and also performed with the cast of In the Heights at the "Broadway in Bryant Park" festival in July 2009.{{cite web |last=Zielinski |first=Peter James |title=Photo Coverage: '106.7 Lite Fm Presents BROADWAY IN BRYANT PARK 2009' Begins Performances! |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Coverage-1067-Lite-fm-Presents-BROADWAY-IN-BRYANT-PARK-2009-Begins-Performances-20090711 |website=BroadwayWorld |date=July 11, 2009}} She returned to In the Heights on February 19, 2010, as Nina Rosario, playing her last performance in August 2010.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |title="American Idol" Winner Jordin Sparks Will Play Nina in Broadway's In the Heights |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/american-idol-winner-jordin-sparks-will-play-nina-in-broadways-in-the-heights-com-168135 |website=Playbill |access-date=May 13, 2022 |date=May 3, 2010}}{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |title=Dacal Will Return to In the Heights — in a New Role; Del Rio Also Joins |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/dacal-will-return-to-in-the-heights-in-a-new-role-del-rio-also-joins-com-165065 |website=Playbill |access-date=May 13, 2022 |date=January 19, 2010}}

Dacal appeared in the Off-Broadway production of Byzantium. Regionally, she has appeared in a South Florida production of Five Course Love, for which she received a Carbonell Award nomination.[http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/whoswho/biography/16909 Biography] Playbill

At the 2011 Outback Bowl, held on January 1, 2011, in Tampa, Florida, Dacal performed "The Star-Spangled Banner".{{cite web |title=Outback Bowl to Feature Broadway Performer Janet Dacal to Sing National Anthem for 25th Anniversary |url=http://www.outbackbowl.com/pressbox/release.html?release=205 |website=Outback Bowl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629202045/http://www.outbackbowl.com/pressbox/release.html?release=205 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |date=December 20, 2010}} She participated in the Young People's Chorus fundraising gala, titled Dreamer, at the Frederick P. Rose Hall in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on March 7, 2011.{{cite web |last=Rosky |first=Nicole |title=Young People's Chorus of NYC Holds DREAMER Gala, 3/7 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Young-Peoples-Chorus-of-NYC-Featured-at-DREAMER-Gala-37-20110214 |website=BroadwayWorld |date=February 14, 2011}}

Dacal then starred in several out-of-town tryouts of the musical Wonderland, for which she received encouraging reviews.{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Jessica |title=Wildhorn's WONDERLAND Heads to Broadway Apr. 17, 2011; Gregory Boyd Directs |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Wildhorns-WONDERLAND-Heads-to-Broadway-Apr-17-2011-Gregory-Boyd-Directs-20100803 |website=BroadwayWorld |date=August 3, 2010}}{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=John |title='Wonderland' is better, but... |url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/performingarts/wonderland-is-better-but8230/1144067 |website=St. Petersburg Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110185553/http://www.tampabay.com/features/performingarts/wonderland-is-better-but8230/1144067 |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |date=January 7, 2011}}{{cite web |last=Tatangelo |first=Wade |title='Wonderland' returns to Tampa |url=http://www.bradenton.com/2011/01/06/2853819/wonderland-returns-to-tampa.html# |website=Bradenton Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109033006/http://www.bradenton.com/2011/01/06/2853819/wonderland-returns-to-tampa.html |archive-date=January 9, 2011 |date=January 6, 2011}} The Sarasota Herald-Tribune wrote that she had "a strong voice and presence."{{cite web |last=Handelman |first=Jay |title=REVIEW: Alice gets stuck in musical 'Wonderland' |url=http://aande.blogs.heraldtribune.com/10785/reviewalice-gets-stuck-in-musical-wonderland/ |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711163234/http://aande.blogs.heraldtribune.com/10785/reviewalice-gets-stuck-in-musical-wonderland/ |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |date=December 6, 2009}} Dacal reprised her role as Alice in the Broadway production of the musical at the Marquis Theatre, which began performances in March 2011.{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |title=Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland to Open on Broadway in April 2011 |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/frank-wildhorns-wonderland-to-open-on-broadway-in-april-2011-com-170587 |website=Playbill |access-date=May 13, 2022 |date=August 3, 2010}}{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |title=Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland Musical Will Play Broadway's Marquis Theatre |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/frank-wildhorns-wonderland-musical-will-play-broadways-marquis-theatre-com-171561 |website=Playbill |access-date=May 13, 2022 |date=September 8, 2010}} However, after negative reviews and bad ticket sales, the production closed on May 15, 2011.{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|title=Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore; Broadway's Wonderland to Close May 15|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/alice-doesnt-live-here-anymore-broadways-wonderland-to-close-may-15-com-179053|work=Playbill|access-date=May 13, 2022|date=May 10, 2011}}

From July to November 2017, Dacal starred in the limited-run musical Prince of Broadway where she was a leading performer.{{cite web |title=Prince of Broadway Cast & Creative |url=https://www.broadway.com/shows/prince-broadway/cast/ |website=Broadway.com}}

From January 3, 2020, until the March 2020 coronavirus shutdown, Dacal played Dina in the national tour of The Band's Visit. She resumed playing Dina when the tour restarted in autumn 2021.

In 2007, she provided background vocals for the album Mi tiempo by Chayanne.{{cite magazine |last=Hasty |first=Katie |title='NOW' Remains No. 1 As Bright Eyes Debuts High |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/now-remains-no-1-as-bright-eyes-debuts-high-1052694/ |magazine=Billboard |date=April 18, 2007}} Dacal can also be heard on the cast recordings of In the Heights (2008), Wonderland (2011), and Prince of Broadway (2018).{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Jessica |title=WONDERLAND Cast Heads into the Recording Studio, 3/6 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/WONDERLAND-Cast-Heads-into-the-Recording-Studio-36-20110304 |website=BroadwayWorld |access-date=May 13, 2022 |date=March 4, 2011}} In an interview, she stated that she hopes to collaborate on a solo album with Wonderland composer Frank Wildhorn, although no official plan has been made.

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• {{Playbill person|janet-dacal-vault-0000060051}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120320021541/http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/60051/Janet-Dacal archive])

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Category:American musical theatre actresses

Category:Living people

Category:Drama Desk Award winners

Category:American entertainers of Cuban descent

Category:Actresses from Los Angeles

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Florida International University alumni

Category:21st-century American women

Category:Miami Coral Park Senior High School alumni

Category:Actresses from Miami