1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,480 Speaker 1: Welcome to more Anita, a deep dive into the Latin 2 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: X experience. With Monita, we want to create a community 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: and a shared space with you while sharing knowledge and inspiration. 4 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,279 Speaker 1: This show is about celebrating our culture with guests who 5 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: exemplify the best of us. I'm Darrylene Castillo Vitola. As 6 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: we begin Black History Month, I wanted to take a 7 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: moment to reflect on my heroes who have meant so 8 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,319 Speaker 1: much to me. Heroes such as Maya Angelo with her 9 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: powerful poetic words, Martin Luther, King, Malcolm X, and so 10 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 1: many more. I also wanted to highlight that we have 11 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: some special shows this month celebrating and exploring themes in 12 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: the Afro Latino community. We want Monanita to be a 13 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,639 Speaker 1: space to celebrate this beautiful skin of ours, and not 14 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: just this month, but all year round. It's day I 15 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 1: had the pleasure of talking to Louise Motra. Louise is 16 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: a gifted Columbian performer who was currently serving as a 17 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,559 Speaker 1: program coordinator with Broadway for Arts Education. Louise is also 18 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: the founder of Bilingual Broadway, and he came on today 19 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: to tell me why he's left to streams of becoming 20 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 1: the next get star to teach the next generation. I 21 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 1: hope you enjoyed this conversation as much as I did. 22 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: Louise Mota, Hello and welcome to more Anita. Hi. How 23 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 1: are you so happy to be here? I'm so good. 24 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:38,839 Speaker 1: I am like I'm as I was saying, I'm enjoying 25 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: this hot tottie on this lovely cold December early evening. Louise, 26 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: I could not wait to get you on here because 27 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: we've been friends for quite some time. Yes, I love 28 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: talking to you because talking to you, there's always a 29 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: couple of guarantees. Um, there's a guarantee that I will 30 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: have a good time. There's a guarantee that we're gonna 31 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: talk a lot of ship it. There's a guarantee that 32 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: I will probably say something that will pass someone off. 33 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: That's okay, because that's what we're here. I'm gonneneat that 34 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: we talked about the truth. That's all we want here 35 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: is facts is being one hundred So um, I'm excited. 36 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: Let's let the people get to know you. Who are 37 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: you sure? So? My name is Luis Ama, I'm Colombian, 38 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: I'm queer. Um, I live in New York. I wear 39 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: a lot of hats. I'm a performer, actor, singer, dancer. UM. 40 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: I'm also an educator. I've I've been an educator for 41 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: over a decade now. UM. I currently serve as a 42 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: program coordinator for Broadway for Arts education, so I oversee 43 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 1: arts classes and all sorts of different disciplines. UM. And 44 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: I'm also a producer of my own podcast called My 45 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: Future Maker, which is a podcast for kids to learn 46 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: about careers. UM. It's super super fun and UM we're 47 00:02:57,880 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: putting it out soon. We have the pilot done and 48 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: we're putting out the rest of the season soon. UM. 49 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: And I also have a new media company called Bilingo 50 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: Broadway and the goal of Bilingo Broadway is to bridge 51 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: the gap between the Broadway community and the Spanish speaking 52 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: community in the US and beyond. So I just want 53 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: to talk about like your journey and like how you've 54 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: become this multi you know, this is all the things. 55 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: So where are you from? Where are you from originally? 56 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: Where were you born? Where you raised? I was born 57 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: in Barranqia, Columbia, which is the hometown to Shakira. Yeah, 58 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: so you know, we have a little something to you know. UM, 59 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: the bar is high, the bar bar Is high high stakes, 60 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: high stakes, UM amazing and when did you like, when 61 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: did you come? When did you come over here? My 62 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: family and I moved here in the year two thousand UM, 63 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: when I was about ten years old. We moved to 64 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: Miami originally UM and yeah, ever since I lived there 65 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: till I moved to tell as See, UM after high 66 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: school to go to Florida State University where I studied 67 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: theater UM and then shortly after I moved to New 68 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: York and I've been here in New York since. How 69 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: did the theater bug catch you? I love asking that 70 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: question to all the actors. I'm like, how did this 71 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: start for you? Honestly, the theater bug caught me by 72 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: complete mistake, so something that actually I don't know if 73 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: you know, but I wanted to be and actually I 74 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: still kind of do. I wanted to be at Superstar 75 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: in the day mom, when I was fifteen sixteen. That 76 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: was my gig. I you could not tell me I 77 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: was not that a Yankee in the flesh. I still 78 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: have the demos and stuff I was rapping. I was singing, 79 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: and at the time there was a little bit of 80 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: interest amongst like some managers and stuff to like pick 81 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: me up, and you know, some of them were like, oh, 82 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 1: you know, get into some voice essence, I get the 83 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: singing a little bit better, because I cannot honestly say 84 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: that I grew up being a good singer, Like I 85 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 1: don't think I was. I think I had like maybe 86 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: a little bit of an ear, but like it was 87 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: just not there as other people who like are young 88 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,359 Speaker 1: and super talented. I cannot say that that was the 89 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: case for me. Um. So then that's when I got 90 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: into like some voice lessons, and through voice lessons, I 91 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: think it's when I started to sing like a little 92 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: bit of musical theater and um then I became involved 93 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 1: with the theater like group um in my high school 94 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: and the choir group. And I think that's when like 95 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: my um my sort of desire for performance shifted from 96 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 1: superstar to Broadway star. Broadway star. Yes, yes, I love 97 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: that journey for you know, both both dreams can still happen. Listen. 98 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: That's right, that's what That's what I'm saying. I'm not 99 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: giving that up. I would have been my luma. I'm 100 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: telling you so. Um New York City, Florida state to 101 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: New York. What was that moment for you, you were like, 102 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: we're going to New York, We're doing the thing. So actually, 103 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: right before coming to New York, I did do a 104 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: little stint of like one year back in Miami, back 105 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: at home, um, because my original plan was to bring 106 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: you know, the Broadway like culture and like Broadway shows 107 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: to Miami. That was like my original sort of like 108 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: dream post um post college. And I quickly realized that 109 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: that was not going to be the case. Um. Things 110 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 1: in Miami have changed a little bit since I've been there. 111 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: This was two eleven, um, but I feel like back 112 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 1: in two eleven, the arts scene was just kind of 113 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: like really lackluster there. They were really known. There wasn't 114 00:06:55,560 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: excitement to see like arts shows or musicals or theater. 115 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: Things have changed now there's a lot more of an 116 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: art scene. There's Winwood, which is like you know, um, 117 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: things I've really evolved since. But at the time, um, 118 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: that wasn't the case. So that's when I came to 119 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: New York and I was like, well, let me try 120 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: my luck as like as a performer here and let 121 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: me just do it here. I was already teaching in Miami, 122 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: and I was like I could make more money teaching 123 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: in New York anyways, and then you came to New 124 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: York tell me about that. Was there a culture shock? 125 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: Was there? What is popping? Wait? What's going on? Um? 126 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: I don't know if there was like a huge culture shock, 127 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: because I visited New York often, especially through like college 128 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: and stuff. I feel like I came here a couple 129 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: of times, and you know, I used to come with 130 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: my best friend Robert, who is still my best friend today. Um. 131 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: We used to come and like hang out and go 132 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: see Broadway shows and you know, quote a couple of parties, 133 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: so like we knew people and stuff. So it wasn't 134 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: like a huge culture shock. Um, but I did quickly 135 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: realize that it was going to be a lot harder 136 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: than I thought. Like I remember thinking when I was 137 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: like finishing college, I was like, oh my god, by 138 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: the time I'm like dirty, like I'm gonna already have 139 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: like Broadway shows under my belt, Like what like no brainer? 140 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: Like to me, it wasn't even like a question. It 141 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: was like a no brainer that that was going to 142 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: happen for me before I was dirty, Um along with Hall. 143 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: Now I'm thirty two and it still hasn't happened for me. 144 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 1: But yeah, I think that that was like the biggest 145 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,079 Speaker 1: the biggest culture shock was oh my god, everybody here 146 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: is so talented, competition is so fierce, and also like 147 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: racism is really really alive. And I think that that 148 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: like definitely um took me aback a little bit within 149 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: casting specially. Yeah, let's talk about some of that, Um, 150 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 1: what that racism was for you. Um, let's just get 151 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: right into it. Coming here, coming to New York. You're 152 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: fresh year doing the thing. You're meeting all these amazing 153 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: talented other people and and you know you're creating your community, right, 154 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: So tell me about your journey in the industry. Now, Well, 155 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: I feel like and mind you, I came to New 156 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,719 Speaker 1: York in a post in the Heights era, so like 157 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: it was it was the era. It was the era 158 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: of like things have changed because this one show is 159 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:39,079 Speaker 1: going to provide all these opportunities. Um so I yeah, 160 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: I don't know. It's it's kind of hard to talk 161 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:45,079 Speaker 1: about because I know I'm talented, right, Like I can 162 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: say with confidence, like I am a good actor, I'm 163 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: a good singer, I'm a good enough um dancer to 164 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: to get some jobs, like I see my my set 165 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: of skills on a completely like logistical level being on 166 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: par with my call leaks. But it's very hard. It's 167 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: still to this day, it's very hard to see that, Um, 168 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: you know, other people with sort of with the same 169 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: training that I had, or the same like sort of 170 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: skill sets that I had, um getting getting so much 171 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,559 Speaker 1: further in their careers than I was. And I think 172 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 1: that that really messed with my head for a while. Um, 173 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: And you know, it took me a while to realize like, oh, 174 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: this is this is your own journey, and like your 175 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: own journey is going to look different, all the while 176 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: still acknowledging that like some of that was purely due 177 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,839 Speaker 1: to racism. Yeah, we're not white passing white passing, right, 178 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: I mean that it's not even about being white, it's 179 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: about being white passing. And that's something something that we 180 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: really need to discuss different. Let's talk about it. What's 181 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 1: the difference, what's the difference? Um, the listeners can kind 182 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: of get a good a grasp. Yeah, I think that 183 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 1: when you're a perform er, um, who is going out 184 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: for commercial theater, you're obviously going to benefit in this 185 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: industry if you are pal if you're a palatable person 186 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: of color, and for a lot of um, you know, 187 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: people in power casting directors, etcetera, that means being a 188 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: white pass passing person. So you know, in in my cases, 189 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,079 Speaker 1: it was a lot of like I saw a lot 190 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: of boys who were you know, lighter skinned, who like 191 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: have absolutely no accent whatsoever, and who have like no 192 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 1: sort of like trace of being um latino, or or 193 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: who at least can like mask it or hide it 194 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:48,079 Speaker 1: for the purpose of, um of playing a role or 195 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: whatever it might be. I found that, you know, they 196 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 1: probably had an easier time, um building their resumes and 197 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: and it just kind of that's just kind of the 198 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: way things were. And I think, I honestly think the 199 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: way things are, um because yeah, I just think it 200 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: was it's easier to put like lighter skin people, um 201 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: in these roles. And that's not okay, you know, it's 202 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: it's the reason, it's a reason why we have like 203 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: a history of casting like really light skinned like West 204 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: Side Stories or even in the Heights and every you know, 205 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: the the entire conversation that happened around that movie. Um, 206 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: you know it's um, it's hard because it's it allows 207 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: lighter skinned people to also like build the resume and 208 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: become like become like better known names, so that when 209 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: when these like huge opportunities happen, where like they should 210 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: be available to everyone, they're only really available to those 211 00:12:53,840 --> 00:13:10,959 Speaker 1: like select um elite few yea. Just to expand on that. 212 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 1: And I find this so interesting because then I'll get 213 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 1: called in for something, right, but it's I'm the token. 214 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: Right then it's like, oh, I'm the only Afro Latina 215 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:26,959 Speaker 1: in here, and that's insane because I know about ten 216 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: fifteen other Afro Latinos that should be in this room 217 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: because of and maybe this is also something that we 218 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: can shine some light on as well. But I've felt like, 219 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: you know, most of my roles I have been very 220 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: African American, right because the Latino community doesn't see me 221 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: as Latina because of my skin color, because of my 222 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: kinkier hair. Um So I don't get called in for 223 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: in the Heights, I don't get called in for West 224 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: Side Story, I don't get called in for these shows. 225 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: But however I'll get called in for color purple, right, 226 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:01,679 Speaker 1: or I'll get called alden. And I mean, I'm at 227 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,439 Speaker 1: a place in my career where I'm just like that 228 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: no longer, it no longer serves me. It doesn't feel good, 229 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. Um. And also, and I 230 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 1: know that we're in a tricky place in the business 231 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: where we're not really seeing much, but there are some 232 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: things that I've just had to tell my manager, like, hey, 233 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: I'm not comfortable trying to speak in a West African 234 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: accent this entire show. I just don't have a connection 235 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: with the material. And you know, they're like, oh, completely 236 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: understand that, Like it doesn't feel natural. I'm like, well, 237 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: I'm not West African like right, So let's I think 238 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: what you're getting at is also like, let's get into 239 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: the nuance of things, right, Um. And I think you know, 240 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 1: I don't I don't fault anyone who you know was 241 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: is in your position for for taking on those African 242 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: American roles, because I mean that was that was also survival. Yeah. Well, also, 243 00:14:54,200 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: I mean I am I'm like, let's get that rate 244 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: and get that out. I am black everyone, Um, I 245 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: am a black Latina. I'm a Black Dominican woman like period, 246 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: you know. So I've never I never felt that way 247 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: until recently. I've had to look at it in a 248 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: different light though, you know, because there are some roles. 249 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: You know, there are some roles that I just don't 250 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: have any business plane Like. It's like when um, when 251 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: it's always all Donna played Nina. There's just no business like. 252 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: There are just things where like we just need to 253 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: be specific exactly. Um. It's it's the same way I 254 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: feel a trigger warning here I go, here, I go. 255 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: I'm I'm gonna say something controversial but brave. Um. It's 256 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: the same thing with like West Side Story. Like, I 257 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: think that casting a Latin X person in West Side 258 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: Story is not like enough. I think that they should 259 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: very specifically be Puerto Rican. I mean you're telling inarticular, 260 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: you know, for that particular role. And I also feel 261 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: like they should very specifically also be bilingual, and they 262 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: need to be immigrants because I think that even if 263 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: you are, um a Latino person um playing these roles, 264 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: but you're putting on this like super thick accent because 265 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: you heard Rita Moreno do it all those years ago. Um, 266 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: then I also think that there's a there's a semblance 267 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: of problematic about that. I don't think that that's okay either, honestly, 268 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: And how do we like to be real? Yeah, but 269 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: but how do we also like keep the integrity of 270 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: you know, because just being specific about this one show, 271 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: and I do understand, like I completely hear you where 272 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: you're coming from, especially because West Side Story is actually 273 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: a historical story. It's history in Manhattan, it's real, there's 274 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: a context, there's context of historical context. Yeah, so to 275 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: honor the historical context, I completely hear where you're coming from. 276 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 1: But how do you feel about people that are like, well, 277 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: you know what, like that's the best dancer for the 278 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: role and that's a huge dance role, or that's the 279 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: best singer for the role and that's a huge How 280 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: do you like combat those thoughts when people say that, Yeah, 281 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: I honestly like I hear that a lot. And my 282 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 1: response to that is, you know, best is first of 283 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 1: all like subjective, um, but also best from which batch? 284 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 1: Because if you are saying you the way you just 285 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:24,120 Speaker 1: rolled your ass, as I understand where you're coming you're 286 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: saying what what pool of best are we actually looking at? 287 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: And who defines best and best being subjective just as 288 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 1: art is subjective? Um. But also I mean, if I 289 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 1: can like elaborate on this for a second, like let's 290 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: take Westside Story, because I think it's a perfect example. 291 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: You're looking at a show that should have, like we 292 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: know at least half of the cast be like this 293 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: very specific um not just Latino, but like type of 294 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: Latino specifically Puerto Rican specifically like UM immigrants, UM specifically bilingual. 295 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: Let's say that your best attempt if you're a theater 296 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 1: in Let's say Ohio, right, who has an open call 297 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: in New York. Let's say that your best attempt to 298 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 1: get an authentic cast is to hold an open call 299 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 1: in New York, right? Open call? Like what a throwback 300 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 1: also to see you guys know what an open call is. 301 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: It's when they basically post an audition and it's an 302 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 1: open call. Anybody can attend the audition, even if you're 303 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: non union UM or a part of the union. Yes, 304 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: but for the most part, if it's an open call 305 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 1: for union people, then that means that obviously like only 306 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 1: union people are they're not even guaranteed, but union people 307 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: are the priority to be seen in that call. And 308 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: when you're looking at a union that has I think 309 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 1: less than two percent Latino representation, like period, just Latino representation, 310 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: that means that out of one people that come into 311 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: the room statistically a lot of receipts. If we're doing 312 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:08,199 Speaker 1: the math, if it's like straight math, that means that 313 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: two people out of the people that you see will 314 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 1: likely be Latino. So from your badge that you're already 315 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: fishing in, right from your badge of like, that's the best, Well, 316 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 1: that's the let's really really define that. It's much different 317 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 1: if it's like an open call or if you have UM. 318 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: I am enjoying these virtual submissions now because I do 319 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: feel like there is a little bit of a of 320 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: a more open door to to get into UM casting directors, 321 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 1: like at least you know, to perform in front of 322 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 1: them or to perform for them UM. But I also 323 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 1: think that reach outs need to happen. I feel like, 324 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: if you are producing a website story or in the heights, 325 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: you need to go to community groups that are Latino 326 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,639 Speaker 1: based or that are Spanish speaking. You need to be 327 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 1: reaching out to, like colleges in the area, like really 328 00:19:57,119 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 1: like seek out people. You can't just be like, well, 329 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,479 Speaker 1: I'm doing an open call because it's what's required of me, right, 330 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: and then call it a day and say, well I 331 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 1: cast the best that show it up now you didn't 332 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 1: because you actually didn't really do the work, and you 333 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 1: didn't do your part of searching and scouting for the 334 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 1: authenticity of honoring exactly the actual work. I completely completely 335 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: hear what you're saying that. I mean, it's the receipts. 336 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,399 Speaker 1: It's the numbers, Like there's only three of us in 337 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 1: the room, like you know, honestly, one of us is 338 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 1: probably only going to be the one that gets hired. 339 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: You know. That's the other thing also, And you're looking 340 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 1: at these you're looking at these productions and I remember 341 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: like somebody was like, oh, well, like there's an Afro 342 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:39,920 Speaker 1: latina in it, and I'm like, I'm sorry, one is 343 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: not enough when you're talking about a story of a 344 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: culture that is a sister culture of mine. First off, 345 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: let's be real mine, Okay, I know, I know Hasafita, 346 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: I know Julian, and I know what they look like. Okay. 347 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 1: So like it's that's the other thing that I think 348 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 1: frustrates me, um, because that was very frustrating for me 349 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: for in the Heights. And we don't need to remove 350 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 1: the praise, like, yes, the movie was done, it was beautiful. 351 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: It was this beautiful disneyfied version of Washington Heights. Right now, 352 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: I'm from Washington Heights. I live here, and you live there. 353 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 1: All you see is people that look like me and you. 354 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: So my like, the issues for me come in where 355 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 1: you're telling you're not being true to the to the 356 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:25,880 Speaker 1: historical context of what you're speaking of, and when that's 357 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:29,120 Speaker 1: being framed differently. That's where I'm like, oh, we're not 358 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: doing the work right. Absolutely, And I think when it 359 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: comes to like the praise of that movie, I my 360 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: thing is again like specificity, Like let's be really specific. 361 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 1: I do think that there is some price to be 362 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:44,400 Speaker 1: out of the movie. But this was a game changing 363 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 1: movie for light skin latinos. Right. This was not for 364 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: people that are maybe your complexion are darker. This was 365 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 1: not a win for that community, right, It just wasn't 366 00:21:56,680 --> 00:22:00,119 Speaker 1: because you weren't really included in that way. Yeah, and 367 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: like let's be honest about that, Like, this was great 368 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: for people who are my skin or lighter. Um. I 369 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: do want to talk about by Lingo Broadway because I 370 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: think it's extremely extremely important for people to know what 371 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: it is and what you're doing. So thank you by 372 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: Lingo Broadway. Tell me more. Yes, So, by Lingo Broadway. Um. 373 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: I've always had this dream, and the dream is that 374 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: my parents can go enjoy a show on Broadway or 375 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: a musical theater show, a musical even and they can 376 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,479 Speaker 1: enjoy it in its entirety, right, Like that is my 377 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: dream and for me, um, and for them that means 378 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:55,400 Speaker 1: that the show has to then be in Spanish. Um. 379 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 1: And so just over the pandemic, I was feeling really 380 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,479 Speaker 1: like lost, as we all were. UM. And I was, 381 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 1: you know, obviously like no theater gigs, no no performance 382 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 1: of any kind, and um, I was hanging out with 383 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:13,880 Speaker 1: my friend Belemanoum, who is now in the national tour 384 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: of Haities town please check her out. Um. But you know, 385 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:19,160 Speaker 1: we we're hanging out and we're like what, like we're 386 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,680 Speaker 1: just feeling really lost. We should really be doing something, um. 387 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: And so we came up with this idea of let's 388 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: do something for the community. And we bounced around a 389 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: lot of ideas like are we going to be a 390 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: casting office, that we're gonna be like this other thing, 391 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: and eventually I just took on this whole like bilingual 392 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: Broadway thing and I just really wanted to to create 393 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: content that is fully in Spanish. Um that can reach 394 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: a community of Spanish speaking people in the US. I 395 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: think it's ridiculous that we are almost at of the 396 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:56,439 Speaker 1: population in this country. I'm not even talking about like 397 00:23:56,520 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 1: Latin America. I'm talking about in the US. We're almost 398 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: the population. And yet like when it comes to life 399 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: like theatrical events, there's like there's very little available for 400 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:16,120 Speaker 1: the community, um just nationwide and there is virtually nothing. 401 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:20,160 Speaker 1: There's nothing, absolutely, I mean no, And this is something 402 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: that people don't really think about this, but it's like 403 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: the amount of times my grandmother has come to a 404 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: show and she's like, that was so nice. What happened? 405 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: Like there's so many times where I'm liked. And even 406 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: when we went to do Hamilton's and Puerto Rico, you know, 407 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: which was such a huge monumental moment and like just 408 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: such a memorable moment um. But even then I was like, damn, 409 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: I wish we were doing the show in Spanish. It 410 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 1: felt like I felt like I was because you know, 411 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,119 Speaker 1: when when I was going on the island, you know, 412 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: I didn't I didn't know this at the time, but 413 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: I was the only female Latina in the show in 414 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: the cast. Uh, and somebody on the island brought it 415 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: to my attention. I didn't even realize it, like that's 416 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: how much. That's how much. I was like, whoa, wait 417 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: a second. And then they were like, so it's going 418 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:18,919 Speaker 1: to be in Spanish, right, and I was like, uh no, 419 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 1: is it going to be in Spanish? I'm like, no, 420 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 1: wait a second. But it's like we're in this island 421 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 1: of native tongue, and in my mind, I was like, 422 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: what it felt weird. I do have to admit it 423 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: did feel a little weird. Yeah, And I mean I 424 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 1: experienced the same thing because, um, I took my parents 425 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: to see On Your Feet on Broadway. Oh yeah, that's 426 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 1: that show, and Mama, I paid, Um I paid the 427 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 1: full price. Okay, this is not a discount ticket. This 428 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 1: was not a comp I paid full price to take 429 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: my parents to go see On Your Feet. And the 430 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: amount of times my mom had to like come over 431 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:00,640 Speaker 1: to me and was like I don't know what's happening, 432 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: or like she would realize something like maybe way too late, 433 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: like she was like, oh, yes, Gloria, okay, Yhondy, like 434 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: like we're like into the show. Oh that's Gloria stef 435 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 1: isn't that crazy. Isn't it crazy? How we are creating 436 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: these Latin these Latin experiences, not for Latin people, That's 437 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. It's and and what again, Like what 438 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:35,440 Speaker 1: irks me is the let's be specific when we say like, oh, 439 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: this is a show for for the community, Like, no, 440 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: it's not. This is a show for everybody else, right, 441 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:48,439 Speaker 1: And actually, like this is not um, this is not 442 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 1: even something that I'm saying. This is something that even 443 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:53,119 Speaker 1: like Jerry Mitchell has said in his interviews, like it 444 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:56,440 Speaker 1: is well documented he talks about like working with big 445 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: ideas and that that means that his is p o V. 446 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:02,879 Speaker 1: His point of view for the show was literally like 447 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: a global point of view or not for you know, 448 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: it was not for Latino people or Spanish speaking people, 449 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 1: not that show specifically, not that show specifically, right, And 450 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 1: so like I think that I think that that is 451 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 1: okay if you are if you're real about it, like 452 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: on your feet, was was a Latino flavored Mamma mia, right, 453 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:27,240 Speaker 1: Yes it was, and it was made for let's call it, yeah, 454 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: And it was made for that and it did that 455 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,920 Speaker 1: purpose and that's what it's been doing. That's who it's serving. 456 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,159 Speaker 1: And that's what it was. And like I worked in 457 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: ticketing for a while as well, and it's like you're 458 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: either going to see Beautiful if you were like really 459 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: Anglo and you were like really into charaking, or you 460 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:45,880 Speaker 1: were going to go see Gloria Stefan. If you were 461 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 1: like someone from say Brazil, or like across the pond, 462 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:51,639 Speaker 1: literally anywhere across the pond, then you were going to 463 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:53,439 Speaker 1: go see you. And I think that's also the portion 464 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:57,360 Speaker 1: that like, and I feel like this isn't our conditioning 465 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,639 Speaker 1: of us being actors, in our training and so forth, 466 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 1: Like we lack the knowledge of the business aspect of it. 467 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 1: And that is just because you know, we're you know, 468 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 1: we start off young and we're like Kumbai Ya and 469 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: like high school musical, we're all in this together. And 470 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 1: and then you go out in the real world and 471 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,719 Speaker 1: you're like, oh wait, we're not all in this together. 472 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 1: Like all that passing director sees me as of this, 473 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: they see me as this. Oh my god, I will 474 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:26,400 Speaker 1: get called in for shows like this, but I will 475 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:29,840 Speaker 1: never book shows like this. Um And it's a big 476 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 1: reality check, like that ship HiT's really hard. I'm curious, 477 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:36,399 Speaker 1: what do you think needs to happen, Like, what is 478 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 1: the shift? We're talking about all of the obvious things 479 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 1: that we are seeing and it's multiply, it's like it's 480 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 1: repeating itself, right, Like we're just seeing this kind of thing. 481 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 1: That's so, what what is it that you think, in 482 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: your opinion like needs to shift, needs to happen to 483 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:02,560 Speaker 1: tell stories for us, to make sure that the Latino 484 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: community is included in these in these conversations and these 485 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 1: makings and these these beings of these projects. I think 486 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: that we have to build audiences, which is what by 487 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: Lingo Broadway is all about. Like you can't put out 488 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: a product like a West Side and be like, well, 489 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: Latinos are gonna come, like I'm sorry, but the the audience, 490 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: the building audience of musical theater or musical loving Spanish 491 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:37,400 Speaker 1: speakers is just not there. And so for me that 492 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: can that can turn into like very specific plans like 493 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 1: I would love to see at Telemundo live musical, Like 494 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 1: NBC and Telemundo are the same company, baby, why aren't 495 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: they working together? Why didn't we do Why wasn't in 496 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 1: the Heights instead of a movie? Why wasn't a love 497 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 1: of musical and Telemundo you know, with Bad Bunny the top, 498 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 1: the top streamed. Here's a fun fact, Bad Bunny is 499 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: the most stream artist on Spotify all period, not not 500 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 1: the most stream male, not the most stream Latino, not 501 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:20,720 Speaker 1: the most stream urban period. Right. And so my thing, 502 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: my equation that I'm trying to figure out is how 503 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 1: do we get that population, that audience that lives and 504 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 1: breaths over like Bad Bunny. How do we get them 505 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 1: to go to the theater? But that's the equation. What 506 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,360 Speaker 1: are we missing? I honestly think we're missing like our 507 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: brains at the table because like you're not going to 508 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 1: tell me that a company like Telemundo or NBC doesn't 509 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:48,880 Speaker 1: have the money or resources to do something like this, right, 510 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:51,200 Speaker 1: Like they absolutely do, but they just don't have like 511 00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 1: what whatever brain needs to be there or whatever like 512 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 1: strong loud mouth, you know, um Colombian queer Latino needs 513 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 1: to be in the room. Like I just feel like 514 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:04,760 Speaker 1: they need someone to be like this is what you 515 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 1: need to do, because I think I I could almost 516 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 1: bet money that if they would have done like literally 517 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: any you know, whether it's in the Heights or I 518 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 1: mean it could even it could have been west Side, 519 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 1: It could have been South Pacific. It could be anything. 520 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: But if they do something like that in Spanish on 521 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 1: Telemundo Live with with the people that we adore, with 522 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 1: our superstars, it would be a game changer. Like put 523 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 1: all young in it, put lay India, Mark Anthony Martin. Yeah, 524 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:44,960 Speaker 1: sofiaver got like put these people that people that like 525 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 1: we are hyped for, like people that I can say 526 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 1: if I were to say it to my mom or 527 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 1: my dad, like You're going to see a musical with 528 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 1: Sofia Vergata Laying India, Mark Anthony, they would be like, oh, yeah, 529 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 1: I'm there. It would lose their mind. And it's even 530 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: something and even like I mean, you know, throw back 531 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 1: to our kickoff for Moranita, we had a Maria on here, 532 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 1: and that to me was like a even like my family, 533 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 1: my boyfriend's grandmother, he's Colombian, you know, Like she was 534 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 1: like like I was speaking in English that entire episode. 535 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 1: Do you know what I'm saying? Like even the fact 536 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: that like even if it's a language disconnect, if you're 537 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:38,800 Speaker 1: bringing people on board that are in our community, that 538 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 1: are in this community that they are in love with 539 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: and our family knows and this and that it's the 540 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:48,080 Speaker 1: same thing if they do, like, you know, a rendition 541 00:32:48,120 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 1: of some boring US white musical on Broadway. They exactly, 542 00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 1: I mean that's the music Man starring Bad Bunny. I 543 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 1: think we're onto something. I think we are onto something. 544 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 1: I think the Broadway world better watch out, because Yo, 545 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 1: that would be sick. Can you imagine? Yeah? I mean 546 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:18,280 Speaker 1: in New York alone. I mean the statistic is there 547 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:27,800 Speaker 1: like a quarter of households in New York speak Spanish exclusively. Right, 548 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:31,440 Speaker 1: So you're talking about again, like if we're talking about 549 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 1: Broadway or even like even theater in general in New York, Like, 550 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 1: shouldn't that mean that a quarter of the work should 551 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 1: be available in Spanish? Yeah? Right? Shouldn't that mean that 552 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 1: the work that does happen in Spanish shouldn't it be 553 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 1: um treated with the same dignity and respect that we 554 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: treat works in English, Right, Because productions in Spanish do 555 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:01,000 Speaker 1: happen in New York, but they don't get nominated for 556 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:05,959 Speaker 1: our Critics Circle, they don't get nominated for you know, 557 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 1: UM award shows within the off Broadway circuit, Like those 558 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 1: things don't happen. Do you think it's going to come 559 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:15,360 Speaker 1: to a point where like we just have to create 560 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 1: our own, our own platforms of these things, or do 561 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 1: you think there's going to be a moment that we 562 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:27,319 Speaker 1: can get invited to the table. You know, I don't 563 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,439 Speaker 1: know that we're ever going to be invited with open arms. 564 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:34,319 Speaker 1: I don't know that that will happen, um, But I 565 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:37,399 Speaker 1: do think that if enough of us, which is why 566 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:39,759 Speaker 1: it goes back to community and storytelling, I do think 567 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:43,120 Speaker 1: that if enough of us speak out and also like 568 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 1: put our money with our mouth is and um, if 569 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 1: we keep supporting, you know, the bad bunnies of the world, 570 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 1: I think that it will make economic sense, which it 571 00:34:57,120 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 1: already does. But it's going to be like it's going 572 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:05,560 Speaker 1: to be so incredibly um a parent that nobody will 573 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:10,360 Speaker 1: be able to ignore it anymore. And that's that's I 574 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 1: think that's spot on. It has to be. So we 575 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:19,280 Speaker 1: have to be like so loud where it's like we're here, 576 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:23,160 Speaker 1: we're not going anywhere, Like these are all things that 577 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:28,400 Speaker 1: we're gonna keep getting these amazing numbers in whatever area, 578 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:31,040 Speaker 1: whether it's pop music or whether it's in theater or 579 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 1: whether it's in podcasts. I think that there's a huge 580 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:39,640 Speaker 1: turnover now with podcasting. There's a huge push to tell 581 00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 1: more UM Latin stories and podcasting, and I think that 582 00:35:43,239 --> 00:35:46,560 Speaker 1: like this is also a a piece of media that 583 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:51,800 Speaker 1: will get a huge UM turnout from Latino community. UM. 584 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:54,680 Speaker 1: And I think that like the numbers will just speak 585 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:57,440 Speaker 1: for themselves. We'll get to that point where it's just 586 00:35:57,600 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 1: inevitable and like you cannot deny. And that's why that's 587 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:03,239 Speaker 1: what we're doing here, right and Mona, that's what we're 588 00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:07,239 Speaker 1: trying to do and like express these incredible journeys and 589 00:36:07,239 --> 00:36:11,400 Speaker 1: these stories from different different avenues and just all of 590 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 1: us coming up in here and doing doing the damn work, yes, 591 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:19,319 Speaker 1: and support each other and supporting each other. That's the 592 00:36:19,360 --> 00:36:23,240 Speaker 1: most important thing too, because it's like we have to listen. 593 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:25,520 Speaker 1: If the white people income and support us, we we 594 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:28,319 Speaker 1: got to support each other, you know what I mean? Absolutely? 595 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:32,799 Speaker 1: I want to ask you a question. I want to 596 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 1: ask you something that's a very dear question to everyone 597 00:36:36,239 --> 00:36:39,239 Speaker 1: here and want them. Can you share with us one 598 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:43,040 Speaker 1: thing that always reminds you of home? However it is 599 00:36:43,120 --> 00:36:47,239 Speaker 1: that you define home? Oh, one thing that always reminds 600 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:50,239 Speaker 1: me of home? I got us. I don't know if 601 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:54,200 Speaker 1: this is a popular answer, but there is something about 602 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: food that I have like an emotional reaction to certain 603 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:03,600 Speaker 1: kind of like smells and food. I think of the 604 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:07,719 Speaker 1: way immigrants have like come to this country and the 605 00:37:07,840 --> 00:37:12,840 Speaker 1: way like we have used food to stay in touch 606 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:16,239 Speaker 1: with our roots and where we come from, and like 607 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:21,480 Speaker 1: that is very specific to to that person and that 608 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:25,360 Speaker 1: person's experience. Right, Okay, welcome, be coming over for some 609 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:32,920 Speaker 1: other but someone tell my boyfriends anytime anytime. UM, Hey Louise, 610 00:37:33,040 --> 00:37:36,880 Speaker 1: how do we continue following your journey? Well, um, please 611 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:43,200 Speaker 1: follow me on Instagram and YouTube under Bilingual Broadway UM. 612 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:46,560 Speaker 1: And and please share the content. I mean check it 613 00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:49,279 Speaker 1: out first. We have over at this point, I think 614 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:55,239 Speaker 1: we have UM translations of UM songs from Broadway shows 615 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:59,560 Speaker 1: available on YouTube and Instagram. UM. We also have I 616 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:02,360 Speaker 1: think three episodes of the Bilinguo Broadway show, one of 617 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:08,239 Speaker 1: which Darrenn was in. So please out UM, and much 618 00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:11,960 Speaker 1: much more coming. UM. I'm just waiting for this freaking 619 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 1: pandemic to be over so that we can really do 620 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:17,440 Speaker 1: some proper live shows UM, because that is the next 621 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:20,520 Speaker 1: step is to really take this too to the community, 622 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:23,160 Speaker 1: to the streets like I want to do. I want 623 00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:25,760 Speaker 1: to perform all those songs right here in Washington Heights, 624 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:28,000 Speaker 1: like in the street, and bring it to the community. 625 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:30,520 Speaker 1: I love that. I cannot wait. You count me in 626 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:32,600 Speaker 1: when you're ready. You know I'm right here. I'm waiting 627 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:35,920 Speaker 1: for it. Thank you so much Louise for being on 628 00:38:35,960 --> 00:38:39,319 Speaker 1: more Anita. I'm so happy that you came by. I 629 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:44,400 Speaker 1: love you time, and I'm so happy that you're working 630 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:47,719 Speaker 1: on this podcast and which so noo. Um you know, 631 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:51,319 Speaker 1: son is like family to me. Um. By the way, 632 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:53,279 Speaker 1: you can also check me out in The Princess of 633 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:57,279 Speaker 1: South Beach, which is also an Order production. Um. Yeah, 634 00:38:57,320 --> 00:38:59,200 Speaker 1: so check me out on there in the English version. 635 00:38:59,719 --> 00:39:02,279 Speaker 1: I thank you so much for joining us. Thank you. 636 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:10,439 Speaker 1: Isn't he great? You can feel his passion and love 637 00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:13,200 Speaker 1: for the stage, and I love that he's trying to 638 00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:17,520 Speaker 1: bring Broadway and theater to us, to our people. If 639 00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:21,759 Speaker 1: you want to help, start tweeting, tiktoking and telling Hollywood 640 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:24,400 Speaker 1: and Broadway that you want to hear your favorite music 641 00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:29,480 Speaker 1: on screen and stage. It's time for Agathon musical, don't 642 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:37,480 Speaker 1: you think? Ms Monita is a production of Sonato and 643 00:39:37,560 --> 00:39:41,600 Speaker 1: partnership with I Heart Radios Microla podcast Network for more 644 00:39:41,719 --> 00:39:44,920 Speaker 1: podcast from i heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, 645 00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:48,240 Speaker 1: Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.