1 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to Moranita, your deep dive into the Latin X experience. 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: My name is Darryln Castillo Vitico. On today's show, we 3 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: welcome Joel pit Is. Joel is an award winning performer 4 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: and writer living in NYC. As an actor, his theater 5 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: work includes Fun Home, Sweet Charity, and Kiss My Aztec, 6 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: among many others. He is a playwright who has written 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 1: multiple shows and is currently developing a show for Time Mourner. 8 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: Joel was a really fun guest and I really enjoyed 9 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: getting to know all about him. Hello, Joel pitt Is, 10 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to Moanita. We are so excited to have you here. 11 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: Um a fellow Broadway performer. Um and and all the 12 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: things as I described in hear bio right before this. 13 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: Um So, tell me how did you catch the This 14 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: is my favorite question to ask my Broadway peeps, But like, 15 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: how did you catch the theater bug? Tell me about 16 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: your life about how did this begin? Sure, my journey 17 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: towards performing started at church. My my dad is a 18 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 1: Pentecostal minister of a church and fuego fuego. So so 19 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: that's all the tricks, that's all theatrics. Really, um So, 20 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: that's like where I started performing. I played the drums, 21 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: and my brother is a guitarist, and so we were 22 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: like the worship team and or the younger and the 23 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: youngest and the youngest, three of three boys. Oh three. 24 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: So one time, one day my dad sent me and 25 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: my brother's down. It was like the church needs musicians. 26 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: Each of you need to learn an instrument, and I 27 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: was the last to pick, so I got the drums. 28 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: I really like performing. This is cool. However, like there 29 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: are no artists in my immediate family, so it never 30 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: really was a It was never really like an option. 31 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:18,399 Speaker 1: I never I wasn't growing up being like I want 32 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: to be an actor. I this is what I want. 33 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: I want to be a performer. I was just like 34 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,239 Speaker 1: I like this, this is cool. But I actually went 35 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: a little more like academic route. I was like a 36 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: kind of a super smart kid and took like AP 37 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: and honors classes and look at you. You know, I 38 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: was a big nerd and like, uh, when I graduated 39 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: high school, actually went to college to Tufts University as 40 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: a chemistry major, and I was in their pre program. 41 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:52,119 Speaker 1: I was like, supposed, what kind of doctor were you? 42 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: Were you? What were you thinking? I think if I was, 43 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: if I went through with it, I probably would have 44 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: tried to be a pediatrician or like or help the babies, 45 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: help the kids, help the chis. It's so funny that 46 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: you say that, though, because I was like a side nerd, 47 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: but I was never like good at science or anything 48 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: like that. So this is where my dreams died. Something 49 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 1: that I really thought was interesting was like the artistry 50 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: of like recreating i mean parts of the body. I'm like, 51 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: that's such a interesting artistic kind of thing that I 52 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: was like, that's cool. I think that happens with a 53 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: lot of like immigrant parents who like have a kid 54 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: who's smart that they're just like you're going to be 55 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: a doctor or a lawyer or something that makes money, 56 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: you know. With it. I was like, Okay, I guess, 57 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: like this is what I'm supposed to do. Sure, but 58 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: you were good at it, see like after for me, 59 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: after time, I was like I was good at it 60 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: until I got to college. Like really, when I when 61 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: I got to Tufts, which is a really it was 62 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: a particularly difficult program that was like designed to read 63 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: people out, and I was like, I can't do this. 64 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: There's kids in my classes were like live breathe need 65 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: to be doctors, and I was like, I don't. This 66 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: is the ship. The program like kind of diverse. Did 67 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: you find a lot of diversity in that program or 68 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: did you did you find yourself being like the only Latino. 69 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: There is quite a bit of diversity in the and 70 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: there is a really active um. I was part of 71 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 1: the Toughs Latino Center, Like that was one of the 72 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: first things I joined when I got there, and so 73 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: there were a handful of us who were like the 74 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: but like Ladiano kids were like, we're all going to 75 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: be doctors, and maybe like two people stayed with it. 76 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:35,040 Speaker 1: Everyone else is like this ship is hard, right. They're like, oh, 77 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 1: I was so smart in high school and then I 78 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: got to college and I was like, damn, this sucks. 79 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: I was a part of a singing group called the 80 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: Toughs Chamber Singers, where we sing like classical chamber music. 81 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: And a woman that was in the part of the group, 82 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 1: she was music directing a student production of Children of Eden, 83 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: this musical Children of Eden. She was like, oh, Joel, 84 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: you're a good singer. You should audition for the show. 85 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: And I had done some leader in high school. Uh, 86 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: like for fun never very serious, but never truly because 87 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: I was like, I need to do I need stuff 88 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: to have on my resume to get into college. And 89 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: so then when I was doing I was in rehearsals 90 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:17,359 Speaker 1: for Children of Eden, and I was like, oh, I 91 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: actually like being at rehearsal more than I do, more 92 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: than I like doing chemistry problems. Since surprised, I should 93 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: probably rethink my life. I resisted it for a while, 94 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 1: but then at the end of sophomore year, I like 95 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: declared a drama major, and then I considered like transferring 96 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: to another school, to an actual conservatory or something. But 97 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: but I really loved my my classmates, and I really 98 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 1: loved going to Tufts, and I figured, like, if acting 99 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: didn't work out, at least I have a degree from Tufts, 100 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: which would give me a I could get a job 101 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: doing something. How is growing up in church? Tell me 102 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: about that? How long is this podcast? Us? Tell me 103 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: we're only eight minutes in? We got the time? Because this, 104 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: I mean, that's that's a whole other thing is because 105 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: like my parents are super conservative Christians, I am gay 106 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: actor in New York. Hello, So that I mean my 107 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: being an actor was like sort of secondary to my 108 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: being gay. So I think they were just kind of like, well, 109 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 1: at least we have to pray for him for all 110 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: this other stuff. So the me being an actor is 111 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: like the least of their worries. The plate is full 112 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: of it is. But actually a funny thing is my 113 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: parents were, we have no idea what you're doing, but 114 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 1: we not that they've supported me. But I always like 115 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: I was like paid for my own bills, you know. 116 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: I'd always always worked. I always like I I never 117 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: asked them for for money or for support in that way. Like, 118 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: but in summers in college, I was always I always 119 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: had a job, Like I used to work at a 120 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: bank as a teller. And then um, my senior year 121 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 1: of college, I was in Boston doing theater. I was 122 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: like doing school in Boston, and Boston has a pretty 123 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: active um like commercial and film scene and a theater 124 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: scene or whatever. So I would go in audition for 125 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: stuff at this place called Boston Casting, and I got 126 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: cast in this um Air Jordan commercial for Nike. Right, 127 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: so I do this National Air Jordan's spot. You got 128 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: a national spot? Okay, I got a National Air Jordan spot. 129 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: They sent the check for my payment to my parents house, 130 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: because I put I put their address as my address 131 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: as my permanent address. So then my mom goes, oh, 132 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: by the same check. It was like like open it, 133 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: and when she saw how much I got paid for 134 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: this commercial, she was like, oh my god, like what 135 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: this is? How much you got paid? How much you 136 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: got I mean it must have been or something, you know, 137 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: like the pay like your your your pay for the 138 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:13,239 Speaker 1: for like working for the day. But truly blew her mind. 139 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: And I think since that moment she was like, Oh, 140 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: there's actual like money in this. This isn't just you, 141 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: and there is money in it, and you're making it 142 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: and so it isn't quite like I don't think you're 143 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: you're totally insane for thinking that you can be an actor, 144 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 1: right right, You're like, oh, one day of work, okay. 145 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 1: And I love that you said that too, because I 146 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: was just speaking with somebody about this. But it's like 147 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: our parents, they they're like, oh, that's nice. But then 148 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: like you come out and you make your bad by, 149 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: you make your Broadway debuting fun home or like you 150 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: know what I did, what I did Hamilton's and my 151 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: family is like, oh, like this is it, Like I see, 152 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: I get it, and if you're doing all these great things. 153 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: And I think that it like pride and all of 154 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: that in our cultural you know, experiences, it's also just 155 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: like something they can brag about exactly, also something that 156 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: their friends understand too. Because even like when I was 157 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: doing fun Home, when I was like part of the 158 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: developing fun Home. The very first time I was a 159 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: part of it, I did it at the Sundance Theater Lab. 160 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 1: It was developed there and I was a part of 161 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 1: it there. I told my parents, Oh, Mom, Dad, I'm 162 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: going to this thing that Sundance Theater Lab. Like okay. 163 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 1: So I was like the Sundance Theater Lab heard of it, 164 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,319 Speaker 1: and they were like, we have not I was like, 165 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: and I'm like, I don't know, Like it was like 166 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: three fifty dollars. It was like no money. And they 167 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 1: were like, okay, and have fun at Sundance I guess. 168 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: And then like and then we did it at the 169 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: public like at the public meet up, public theater. But 170 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 1: they don't know, they had no idea what the funk 171 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 1: that was. Ye, it was totally over their head. They 172 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 1: were just like okay, okay. And so but then when 173 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,199 Speaker 1: you went to Broadway. But even that, I mean we 174 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: can unpack that because unpack it because Fun Home is 175 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: about Um, a lesbian and her complicated relationship with her father, 176 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 1: who was a homosexual who it comes out that he's 177 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 1: gay himself and he commits suicide. Right, Um, so did 178 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: anybody record your parents face did not want to see 179 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: the show. I had to beg to beg them to come. 180 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: I had to be like, get over yourselves and come 181 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: see the show. Like they didn't come to opening that. 182 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 1: It was like months and months later that I was like, 183 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: do you guys want to come see this show? I mean, 184 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: I'm doing my Broadway debut, and they finally, finally they 185 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: came inside. It's a challenging piece of theater for those 186 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:52,719 Speaker 1: who don't know what the show is about, Like it's 187 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: about It's about Alison Bechdel Um. It's based on a 188 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: graphic novel by her name but by the same name 189 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: Fun Home, where he sort of unpacks her history with 190 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 1: her father, where she came out as a lesbian to 191 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: her parents, and then a couple of months later, her 192 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: father was hit by a truck and died, and it's 193 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: believed that he might have committed suicide by the jumped 194 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: in front of this truck because he um was gay himself, 195 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: and it kind of comes out later that her coming 196 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 1: out might have caused him to sort of confront some 197 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: truth is about himself and he couldn't handle it and 198 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 1: he committed suicide. And so just hearing like lesbian gay suicide, 199 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: I think that was just stuff that like are just 200 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: dirty words for people who are like my parents, who 201 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 1: I think we're just not. I didn't really want to 202 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: be confronted with that and um, and so I had 203 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: to like be like, y'all have to come see the show, 204 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:57,439 Speaker 1: like get over yourselves and come see the show. And 205 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: actually led to like a very fruitful and interesting conversation 206 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: like you can't watch that show and be on the 207 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: side of like, yeah, he should have stayed in the closet, 208 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: and he should. He should he should have lived a lie. 209 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: I think that's my personal coming out also, I think 210 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: forced my parents to confront some of their own ideas 211 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: of what they think about gay people. And um, when 212 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: was that for you? Personally? That was I was like 213 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: twenty two. It's like when I moved to New York, 214 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 1: I was spending the summer at the Williamstown Theater Festival. 215 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 1: I was in the non equity company at Williamstown. I 216 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: couldn't muster up the courage to tell my parents that 217 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 1: I was gay. So I left them a letter. And 218 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: then when you left to go to New York, when 219 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: I left to go to New York, because I was like, 220 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: you know, at least now I'm starting my own life. Um. 221 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: If for some reason my parents are like they I'm like, 222 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:57,959 Speaker 1: you can't kick me out of the house because I 223 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: don't know already out I don't know your More so, 224 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: because I was that was a genuine concern of mine. 225 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: I was like, I don't know how this is gonna go. 226 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:07,719 Speaker 1: And I don't know if they're going to be like, 227 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: get out of our house. Um. And so when I 228 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: after I came out to them, or at least after 229 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: left them a letter, it was not like a while 230 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: before they wanted to like actually talk about it. I 231 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: had to be like, so we're talking about I don't 232 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: know that. Did you guys get it or not? Did 233 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: you get it? Talk about it? You know, joy and 234 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:37,960 Speaker 1: I don't know, say you know, they won't I'm like, okay. Um. 235 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: But also as I'm the older I've gotten, the more 236 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: I realized that like coming out isn't just for me, 237 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: It's also for your parents or or for the people 238 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: around you. You have to have a sensitivity and grace 239 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 1: in understanding that they have a coming out process of 240 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: their own to re evaluate who they thought you were 241 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,239 Speaker 1: and who they thought you were going to be, and 242 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: we like learn how to love each other. I'm married. 243 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,959 Speaker 1: My parents came to my wedding. They were beautiful, a 244 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: lot of and I'm okay. It wasn't a resounding like hooray. 245 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: It was like, it is so cultural. Oh my god, 246 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 1: that it is so cultural. You are doing a perfect 247 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: impression of your mom. I hope. I don't even know her, 248 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: and I feel like I know her. Tell me about 249 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: the strug goal, Tell me about the journey. How did 250 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: you land that sun dance opportunity? Total? You know, I 251 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: know you came from Massachusetts and you you know, I 252 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: had a great school experience. Then what was you know, 253 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: you're a la final man coming to New York. Sure, 254 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: I mean that was a bit of a rude awakening 255 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: when you go from college where you're like you're playing 256 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: everything can be whoever I want to be. And I'm 257 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: also at tugh was a was was a white white. 258 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: Especially the Tough Drama department was incredibly white. So I 259 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: never played What kind of shows did you guys do? 260 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: I mean I played We did Company, Rosen Cranston, Guildenstern, 261 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: Are Dead, Um, Big Love Else School. I'm actually curious. 262 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: So when you were there playing these obviously these white 263 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: Caucasian roles and such, was there ever like a code 264 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: switching thing that you would have to do or like 265 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: something that you fell into. Yeah, because that's something that 266 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: I mean, my skin is really dark. But I played 267 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: some white characters and I felt like I've had two 268 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: code switch. Oh absolutely, And it's almost like it's cool. 269 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: It's interesting that there's words for it now. I mean, 270 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: thank you have something to name it. We can name 271 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: it now. But at the time, I was just like, 272 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: I'm just being an actor, you know, like I'm just 273 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: being I'm playing a character, you know, and then you 274 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: get a false sense of like what the real world is, 275 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: because then I was like, oh, ship, now I'm a 276 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: Now I'm a type you know that. What does that 277 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: even mean? Like what is that right there? Because that 278 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: is so good. You come and play all these roles 279 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: in these leads and then you go to the real 280 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: world and the real world you ain't white, bra you Latino? 281 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: Like hold on yeah or not? Are? Theyre like, oh wait, 282 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: what are you? I don't what is that? I don't 283 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: you can exactly like categorize you, but like are you wit? Like? 284 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: And then even that is like, oh you can play anything, 285 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: You're so, you're so whatever, And I'm like can I though, 286 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: I'm like, what was that? I'm like, should I tell 287 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: me all of that? All that nitty gritty? So how 288 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 1: was that? What was that transition? And it was? It 289 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: was weird. Uh. The year after I graduated school, I 290 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: stayed in Boston for a year and did a bunch 291 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 1: of theater in Boston, Like I, I, um, there's this 292 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: thing called these stage source auditions that happened in Boston 293 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 1: every year, and you can like audition for all the 294 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: local theaters. So I stuck around and did that and 295 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: got cast in a bunch of shows. And I did 296 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: like the Light in the Piazza. I was like in 297 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 1: the ensemble of the Light in the Piazza at a 298 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: at a speakeasy stage company. And then I did uh 299 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: a production of a Christmas Carol at New Repertory Theater 300 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 1: and production of Cabaret and then um Shake. I did 301 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 1: a production of Corey Alanist with the actor of Shakespeare Project, 302 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: and then the show of Uh Pirates of Penzance at 303 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: the Huntington's. So I was like kind of getting some 304 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 1: cool experience and at the same time I would go 305 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 1: down to New York all the time for open calls. 306 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: I was insane. Like when I think about when I 307 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: look back, and I look back, I was like, I 308 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 1: would never do this now, but I would like take 309 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,880 Speaker 1: an over night bus. I would sleep at Port Authority 310 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,120 Speaker 1: on the floor and then I would go to down 311 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: to the public and audition, like go to an open 312 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 1: call for hair. That's what it took, though, I feel 313 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: you on that I was doing crazy. I got shingles 314 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 1: at twenty one. I was doing crazy. What am I doing? 315 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 1: And I think about it and I'm like, I was 316 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 1: driving myself. I don't want to say what we thought, 317 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 1: but that at the time that I feel like that's 318 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: what the business was propelling in us, and that not 319 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 1: to show our our age or anything, but I feel 320 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: like back then it was like you hustle, you hustle, 321 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: You're in line before I am in the morning, before 322 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: anybody else. In the non union line, you know, and 323 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 1: all of this. So I completely feel that, Oh that 324 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: just brought me PTSD. But one of those things that 325 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: I did submit for and I went in for it 326 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 1: was In the Heights when that was happening on Broadway, 327 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: and my scene after my senior year of college, I 328 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 1: saw In the Heights on Broadway. I saw it on 329 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,159 Speaker 1: Broadway and I was like, I'm going to be in 330 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,919 Speaker 1: that show. I don't know what. I was like, I 331 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: can move to New York. Like I saw that and 332 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: I was like, oh, oh ship, I could move here, 333 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: I could get a job here. I think this is 334 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: the thing for me. So and one of those things, 335 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: one of those open calls I went to was In 336 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: the Heights and uh, right after maybe like eight months 337 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: after I had moved to New York for real, I 338 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: got like a call from Telsea Casting being like, Hey, 339 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: do you live in New York. Now, We're having auditions 340 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: for the In the Heights tour. Can you come in 341 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,479 Speaker 1: an audition for it? So then I went in an 342 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: auditioned and had like like six callbacks and I joined 343 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: the ensemble of the show. And that was like my 344 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: first for real job was doing the first national Tour. 345 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: It doesn't get any better than that you're like doing, 346 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: And that's like what started my career and I can 347 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: sort of point to that being what opened doors for everything. 348 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,200 Speaker 1: What did you have going on right before the pandemic? 349 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 1: I was in a show called Bob and Carroll and 350 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:04,719 Speaker 1: Ted and Alice. It was an off groadway musical at 351 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: the New Group. We got shut down mid mid run 352 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: because the pandemic like stopped us UM And so I've had, 353 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: like some I have had like such blinders on in 354 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: terms of just like go work, work, work, work, work, 355 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 1: that it was kind of like nice to be like, oh, 356 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: everyone else's stopping. I don't have to feel guilty about 357 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: sitting around and playing Animal Crossing for four months. I 358 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: can just like watch TV and bake bread and ship 359 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: like it's great. It then also became like a time 360 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:46,199 Speaker 1: of like reflection. There was George Floyd and the protests 361 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: and uh calling out like injustices within our industry and 362 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: moments of like sitting with that stuff was also then 363 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: a time to really think about, like what is the 364 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: kind of work that I want to make? What are 365 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: the what's you are are as artists are like biggest 366 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 1: currency is time and where am I giving Who am 367 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: I giving my time to? Yeah, and that has definitely 368 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: been during this time to be like who, wait, who 369 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: do I actually want to work for? Like why do 370 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 1: I actually or who? Where do I want to use 371 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,680 Speaker 1: my voice to to say? Um kind of crazy that 372 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 1: we never thought about that until the actual hit of 373 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: the pandemic. It took this for us because I had 374 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: the same thing. I don't know if I really want 375 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: to do your show eight times a week. Totally. It's 376 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,959 Speaker 1: hard sting back. Yeah, it is hard. It is a 377 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: lot on your body and a lot on your soul 378 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: to like invest in and like, unless this is something 379 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: that I really believe in, I'm like, I don't know 380 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: if I really want to do this. But I also 381 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: understand that that comes from a place of privilege and 382 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: that like I don't have kids, I don't have a mortgage, 383 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 1: I don't have you know, sick parents that I need 384 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,919 Speaker 1: to take care of or something. If I was in 385 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: a different situation, I'd be like, please, Hamilton's give me, 386 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,119 Speaker 1: I could give me one of the good government jobs. 387 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,399 Speaker 1: When you talk about like I did my Broadway debut 388 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 1: in fun Home, which um my involvement in that show 389 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 1: was because I was working on this other I was 390 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: working on this other musical called Stuck Elevator that was 391 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: being developed through the Sundance Theater Lab, and another like 392 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: not at Not in Utah. They had this other place 393 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: in Florida that I was there as an actor, and 394 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: Janine two Story and Lisa Crone happened to be there 395 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:49,199 Speaker 1: on their own retreat writing Fun Home. They wrote the 396 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: book and music and lyrics for fun Home, And so 397 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 1: the way that those laps are set up, you're just 398 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 1: kind of like you worked during the day, but then 399 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:00,400 Speaker 1: at night we would have dinner together and like hang 400 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 1: out and get to know each other blah blah. And 401 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 1: at one point they were like, Joel, you're so great. 402 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 1: You should be in her musical. And I was like, okay, 403 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 1: like okay, talk about right place, right time. Yeah, I 404 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,159 Speaker 1: love too, And then we like then they did a 405 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: proper workshop of fun Home and they asked me to 406 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:19,239 Speaker 1: be a part of it. And we're yet to get 407 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:22,199 Speaker 1: to rehearsals, and Janine two Story is like teaching me 408 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: some music and she was like, Joel, you have such 409 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 1: a good voice, and I was like yeah, I thought 410 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 1: that's why you cast me, And she was like, no, 411 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 1: we honestly just thought that you were like really cool, 412 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:35,439 Speaker 1: Like we thought that it would be like fun to 413 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: have in a rehearsal room. So it's like a plus 414 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,920 Speaker 1: that you can sing. And I was like, wow, this 415 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 1: is some shi. It really happened. So inside Scoop, that's 416 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,120 Speaker 1: how people really get jobs. It's just by like, um, 417 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: be a nice person who's like good to work with. 418 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: And so I played this character. I played a bunch 419 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:57,920 Speaker 1: of characters in the show, but the main character I 420 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:01,119 Speaker 1: played was Roy, who was sort of the babysitter. The 421 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:04,879 Speaker 1: real Roy was a Caucasian man, and so I'm Puerto 422 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 1: Rican and they cast me in this role and so 423 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 1: there was never like a conversation about is Roy Latino 424 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 1: at all. Similarly, another cast member was one of my 425 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:22,880 Speaker 1: really good friends now, Roberta Calendras Um. She's um Argentinean 426 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 1: and Honduran and she played this character Joan, And in 427 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 1: the real world, Joan was also Caucasian. So the two 428 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 1: of us were like, we'd call ourselves the browns stuck 429 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: into the show about white people. Hey um, But there 430 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:44,439 Speaker 1: was never any like um acknowledgement of our ethnicity. I 431 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 1: was just so happy to be there in the room. 432 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:51,120 Speaker 1: Never super occurred to me until we started getting understudies. 433 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: They started um when it went when we were off Broadway, 434 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 1: we started getting understudies, and I was like, huh, all 435 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:59,119 Speaker 1: the guys who are who are being called into understudy 436 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,919 Speaker 1: me are white guy all the all the people who 437 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 1: are being called to understudy Roberta's track are white women. 438 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 1: And now, in retrospect, I probably would have pushed back 439 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 1: on that a little bit more, to be like, I 440 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 1: don't personally want to be like the exception to the rule. 441 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 1: I'd like that to be the precedent that there will 442 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: be a person of color who will be continue on. 443 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 1: Will we continue on or give another person like another 444 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: Latino a Broadway debut? And I think that's sort of 445 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 1: like my desire going forward is that I don't think 446 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: that the solution to the issues of representation in the 447 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 1: American musical theater is to put people of color in 448 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 1: roles that would normally be played by Caucasian people. I 449 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: don't what I would love to play are just three 450 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,119 Speaker 1: dimensional Latino characters. I mean, what I'd love to do 451 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 1: also is just remove the idea of race in general 452 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 1: and just create human stories that we can just connect with. Yeah. Absolutely, Yeah, 453 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 1: I hear you on that completely. We can talk about 454 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,960 Speaker 1: how Hamilton's breaks that complete mentality of let's see something 455 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,000 Speaker 1: different than just a story being told. And on the 456 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 1: same hand, while that is like incredibly exciting for visual representation, 457 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 1: there are frankly some issues of of using bodies of 458 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:20,120 Speaker 1: color to represent a white story. This is a historically 459 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: white story, and you're being like, hey, let's just forget 460 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 1: about that. It's a bunch of black and brown people. Um, 461 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,119 Speaker 1: it's cool now, and you're like, is it? Though I 462 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:35,919 Speaker 1: think you're slightly like forgive You're you're allowing us to 463 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:39,439 Speaker 1: like sort of erase some of the messier parts of 464 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,160 Speaker 1: history in order to like tell this story. And then 465 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 1: I feel like that sort of sets a precedent and 466 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 1: a trend that, like, see the solution to issues of 467 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 1: representation is to just put black and brown people playing 468 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 1: white people, and now everyone's happy, and you're like, no, 469 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,919 Speaker 1: it actually would just rather play people who are like me. 470 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:00,159 Speaker 1: Like the show that I was doing right with the 471 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: pandemic hit was Bob and Carolyn tent Analysis, which is 472 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 1: based on this movie from the sixties. I played Bob, 473 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 1: and Bob is Caucasian. There was never even there was 474 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 1: never even a conversation about like, well, what if Bob 475 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: is Puerto Rican? Right, that could be interesting. I don't know, 476 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 1: not that that needed to be the that's not what 477 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 1: it had to be, but it might have just like 478 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 1: made the character a little more interesting. Um, I could 479 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: have accessed it from a more personal place than really acting. 480 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 1: And that's the thing. I'm like, you all don't know 481 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 1: how much I'm acting. I'm not doing a lot. I'm 482 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: working really hard, working really hard, and y'all are thinking 483 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 1: it's like so easy. Oh yeah, you're just playing a 484 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 1: white guy. I'm like, yeah, that's not I didn't probably 485 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 1: go at all. Oh my goodness. How do you feel 486 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: that Latinos are being represented in our community now? And well, 487 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:57,440 Speaker 1: I think step one. I think this is what has 488 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: been slightly infuriating me about the whole discourse around Broadway 489 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: is that I wish that we would de center Broadway 490 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:16,919 Speaker 1: as the mark of your community existing, being important, being relevant, 491 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: that you only matter if you're on Broadway. Because Broadway 492 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: is a business. Broadway is about making money. It's not 493 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:32,679 Speaker 1: about representation and community. It's not because I really like, 494 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: can are we going to make a profit? That's all 495 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 1: because it's it's a business, which is fine. I'm like, great, 496 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: let's just let's just all acknowledge the fact that this 497 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:47,880 Speaker 1: is a business, and so like what we need to 498 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 1: do at least I feel like things that we need 499 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 1: to do are uplift uplift organizations and communities that are 500 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 1: already servicing our communities because they're there. Y'all are just 501 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: not going to their to the spaces, You're not supporting 502 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:06,479 Speaker 1: your communities. There are theaters and arts organizations that are 503 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: already uplifting our communities. So give them your eyeballs, give 504 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: them your dollar signs, give them your money, give them 505 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: your social media shoutouts to get your ass into that 506 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: theater and be like, yes, I support you. Keep making 507 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 1: the ship that you're making. It's so dumb, like even 508 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 1: I've been a part of developing kismas tech. For example, 509 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 1: this musical by John Laguzama heard we did write Berkeley 510 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 1: Rep and Loyal playoffs lovely there. Subscriber base are predominantly white, 511 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 1: so they're not servicing the Latino communities like their Latinos 512 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 1: aren't going to that theater. They don't actively buy tickets, 513 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: they're not actively in the audience. So then when we 514 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:48,200 Speaker 1: show up, it's just like, Hey, here's the brown show 515 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 1: we're doing. People might show up to see that, but 516 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: they're not coming back. They're not they're not they're not 517 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 1: continuing to to be subscribers to that theater. And because 518 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 1: they don't necessarily feel welcome, they don't feel it's inaccessible. 519 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 1: And that's kind of a big thing with Broadway is 520 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 1: that it is inaccessible. I didn't I didn't grow up 521 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: seeing Broadway shows. That's not that's not a thing that 522 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: that is a part of my family's culture. You know, 523 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 1: we don't mean I'm I'm from New York. My family 524 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 1: is from New York. I can't put on my hand 525 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 1: how if any of my cousins have even experienced Broadway 526 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 1: shows in that way. And there's data that the Broadway 527 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 1: League has gotten like it's predominantly white audiences that make 528 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 1: over two hundred thousand dollars a year, like families that 529 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 1: make over two grand, which unfortunately a lot of black 530 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 1: and brown families don't make that much money. So it's 531 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: a lujury. I'm going to drop six hundred bucks to 532 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:49,480 Speaker 1: like take my family to go see a Broadway show 533 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 1: or something that's like I don't want to sound too 534 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: cynical about it all, but sometimes I feel like we're 535 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 1: asking our like industry to do the job of our government. 536 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 1: Like we live in an unjust society, so yeah, we 537 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 1: can't expect to have a just industry that also is 538 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 1: just trying to exist within capitalist America like exactly, Yeah, 539 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 1: they just gotta make money. And I always talk about 540 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: this when I studied in London and I worked out 541 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 1: there for a little bit. I've even just recently I 542 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:22,080 Speaker 1: got representation out there because I'm I'm ready to go 543 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:25,280 Speaker 1: back out. I'm like, by guys, I think back and 544 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 1: you figure your ship out. One of the reasons that 545 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 1: I love working out there, and honestly, now that I 546 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 1: think about it, it's probably the things that I've seen 547 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 1: out there are more diverse and more just. They're on 548 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 1: a different level artistically and also their government funded. I've 549 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 1: met a plumber who can recite Shakespeare to me at 550 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 1: a pub, like, are you kidding me? I'm like, America, 551 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: get on it, Like what are we doing? The value 552 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,520 Speaker 1: of art the way it's viewed there. It is a 553 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 1: best money, but it's about the work. It's about the 554 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:59,680 Speaker 1: meaning of what is being presented and bringing people in 555 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 1: that are interested in that and bringing people together. And 556 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:05,720 Speaker 1: I feel like we've lost that. And as you said before, though, 557 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 1: Broadway it's a business, it's a business. It's about the 558 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:11,760 Speaker 1: Schmeny do you think I mean this is my dumbass 559 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 1: thought that being in fun Home. Oh my god, Oh 560 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 1: my god, the doors are gonna open. I'm gonna go 561 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:22,480 Speaker 1: from Broadway to the Broadway show. No I don't know, No, 562 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:26,400 Speaker 1: they don't and they don't. That show was beautiful. We 563 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 1: won the Tony Award Best Musical, and then we closed 564 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:36,000 Speaker 1: because it stops selling tickets. And that's that's the biz. 565 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:39,040 Speaker 1: And you know, Phantom of the Operas still open, you know, 566 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 1: bless them, bless that's not like is not like that ushered? 567 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:46,959 Speaker 1: Like Fun Home winning the Tony ushered this era of 568 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 1: like queer representation on Broadway and like suddenly no, they 569 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:54,240 Speaker 1: were like they got to pack themselves on the back. 570 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 1: And then now we're all back to auditioning to try 571 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 1: to get jobs. You know, how is that now for you? 572 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 1: And what are the things that you are doing and 573 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 1: um for your community, for not only in Broadway, but 574 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:10,360 Speaker 1: in your own works that you're that you have coming up. 575 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 1: How are we doing this through the work, I mean 576 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 1: in the musical theater side of things, like I or 577 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:22,360 Speaker 1: and performance. I like wrote a solo show that I 578 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:25,880 Speaker 1: developed through Ours No Nova over the summer that I'm 579 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 1: going to do again January thirty one, I'm doing a 580 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:34,040 Speaker 1: concert at Joe's Pub at ninth It's called Playing Myself. 581 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,920 Speaker 1: I might have to come through Joeys please. It's like 582 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,720 Speaker 1: a night of songs that I like write music with 583 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 1: a loop station and it's all just about like um, 584 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:48,120 Speaker 1: growing up as a gay Puerto Rican ex Penecostal. And 585 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:52,400 Speaker 1: then also I met Benjamin Valez, who is the composer 586 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 1: of Kiss My Aztec, and he and I are collaborating 587 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 1: on a musical ourselves. I'm doing the book, he's doing 588 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 1: the music and lyrics. And it's just my way to 589 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 1: be like, I don't want to just sit around and 590 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 1: complain about it. I kind of want to write a 591 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:09,759 Speaker 1: show that's about Latinos that will employ Latin knows. It's 592 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:13,000 Speaker 1: an adaptation of a book called Last City Radio that's 593 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:17,120 Speaker 1: by an author named Danielle alone and um. Daniella actually 594 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:23,000 Speaker 1: has a really successful podcast called Radio and this story 595 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 1: is about It's like set in a fictional Latin American 596 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:31,880 Speaker 1: country that has gone through um a failed political revolution, 597 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:35,160 Speaker 1: and it's now under the rule of a tyrannical dictator. 598 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 1: And there's a radio show called Last City Radio hosted 599 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:40,560 Speaker 1: by a woman named Norma, where people can call in 600 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 1: to try to reconnect with people who have gone missing. Uh. 601 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 1: And this is a country where all communication is um 602 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:49,960 Speaker 1: controlled by the government, so it's not like you can 603 00:34:50,040 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 1: just hop on Facebook and connect with your aunt if 604 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:55,719 Speaker 1: we haven't seen forever um. So people can call into 605 00:34:55,840 --> 00:34:59,959 Speaker 1: like connect and usually it's like human interests like puff Piece, 606 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 1: But every now and then people call in because they're 607 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:05,640 Speaker 1: trying to reconnect with family that friends and family have 608 00:35:05,719 --> 00:35:09,520 Speaker 1: gone missing because of their like leftist political leanings. And 609 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:13,719 Speaker 1: her enormous husband was one of these, was part of 610 00:35:13,719 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 1: this like leftist militia group and he went missing ten 611 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 1: years ago. And one day a little boy shows up 612 00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:22,520 Speaker 1: at the radio station with a list of names of 613 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:26,759 Speaker 1: people from his village that they've asked him to bring 614 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:28,359 Speaker 1: the list to Normal so that she can read him 615 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,840 Speaker 1: on air and her husband's name is on this list, 616 00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:35,359 Speaker 1: so she kind of goes on this journey to figure out, 617 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:37,799 Speaker 1: like who's this little boy and what happened to my 618 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:42,080 Speaker 1: husband and sort of uncover the truth about what happened 619 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:45,279 Speaker 1: to him in this like terrorized society. It's a story 620 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 1: that's happened all over Latin America. That was sort of 621 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:51,879 Speaker 1: my contribution to be like, hey, I don't want to 622 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:55,279 Speaker 1: sit back and complain about it. I want to be 623 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:59,640 Speaker 1: a part of creating, uh, something in musical theater that 624 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:04,400 Speaker 1: at least is um exciting and different and unique, and 625 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:11,239 Speaker 1: that would also employ Latin and people like us. And 626 00:36:11,239 --> 00:36:12,719 Speaker 1: then aside from that, I've been doing a lot of 627 00:36:12,719 --> 00:36:15,759 Speaker 1: like writing for television to have some like UM TV 628 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:19,440 Speaker 1: projects that I'm like, some pilots that I'm developing you 629 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:21,760 Speaker 1: can share. Well, Yeah, I got a grant from Warner 630 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 1: Media through Yeah, I wrote, I'm writing this pilot. It's 631 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:31,520 Speaker 1: called UM You're Tired Your Poor, You're Tired Your Poor? 632 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:36,279 Speaker 1: Oh you're talking talking talking about all You're tired your 633 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:40,080 Speaker 1: port And it's kind of this like UM ensemble comedy, 634 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 1: kind of like Ali McBeal, but set in the world 635 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:49,080 Speaker 1: of immigration. Lawyers. So it's a bit of a like 636 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:52,960 Speaker 1: um long form narrative that you follow throughout the series. 637 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:55,480 Speaker 1: But then there's also like a procedural element to it 638 00:36:55,560 --> 00:36:58,520 Speaker 1: where every episode the Office is dealing with a different 639 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:00,920 Speaker 1: immigration case. So I'm kind of finishing that up. I 640 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 1: feel like once and once I send it to Warner Media, 641 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:05,880 Speaker 1: then they'll sort of go from there to share it 642 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,200 Speaker 1: around with other other folks and hopefully someone makes it 643 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 1: and then you can watch it on TV. Can you 644 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 1: share with us one thing that always reminds you of home? However, 645 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:23,120 Speaker 1: it is that you define home? Okay? When iever get 646 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:26,560 Speaker 1: likeways remind me of my grandma. She was like my home. 647 00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:29,239 Speaker 1: My grandmother lived with us growing up, and she like 648 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:33,480 Speaker 1: her food was her love language. Um, And so anytime 649 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:39,239 Speaker 1: I eat Latin food, I'm always like that. Hi her name? 650 00:37:41,080 --> 00:37:45,840 Speaker 1: That was her name? Yeah, Sanchez. Yeah, we called her. 651 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:53,120 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I love that. Joel? How do we 652 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:56,279 Speaker 1: follow you? Where can we find you? On Instagram? This time? 653 00:37:56,360 --> 00:37:59,360 Speaker 1: To do the plug? Yes? Please follow me at M 654 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:01,520 Speaker 1: I S T E R j O E L P 655 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:05,040 Speaker 1: r e z at Mr Joel Perez on Instagram and Twitter. 656 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:07,399 Speaker 1: I don't have Facebook. Well, Joel, thank you so much 657 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:11,239 Speaker 1: for UM, for sharing your story, thank you for your vulnerability, 658 00:38:11,239 --> 00:38:14,319 Speaker 1: thank you for your honesty, UM, thank you for being you. 659 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:16,759 Speaker 1: And I cannot wait to see all the incredible things 660 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:20,280 Speaker 1: that you come out with all your projects. UM. Everyone 661 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:22,239 Speaker 1: keep an eye out for Joel. I have a good 662 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:25,600 Speaker 1: feeling about all the things you're doing, UM, and I 663 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:28,160 Speaker 1: can't wait to see more. You're gonna kill it. You're 664 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:30,279 Speaker 1: gonna kill it. I'm putting it in the University're gonna 665 00:38:30,719 --> 00:38:34,600 Speaker 1: taking it. Thank you, Joel, Thanks for being on What 666 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:36,600 Speaker 1: I Eat That and we look forward to catching up 667 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:46,319 Speaker 1: with you soon. Bye. On this episode today we talked 668 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:50,719 Speaker 1: about Broadway and Joel said something interesting about decentering Broadway 669 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:54,240 Speaker 1: in theater. Broadway is great, but so is the local 670 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:57,000 Speaker 1: theater in your community, the one at the civic theater 671 00:38:57,080 --> 00:38:59,960 Speaker 1: that puts on shows, the slam poetry night at your Face, 672 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 1: you for at bar, the one that you just decided 673 00:39:02,719 --> 00:39:06,279 Speaker 1: you want to start. Support theater in your community. Go 674 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:10,080 Speaker 1: spend money on art in your community. Go make art 675 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:18,719 Speaker 1: in your community. Noebody See mon Anita is a production 676 00:39:18,760 --> 00:39:21,920 Speaker 1: of Sonato and partnership with I Heart Radio is Microcuda 677 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:25,719 Speaker 1: podcast network For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit 678 00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:28,880 Speaker 1: the I heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you 679 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:30,240 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.