1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:01,920 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, me hint that. I just want to give 2 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: you a heads up. The program you are about to 3 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: hear may have some explicit language, it may not. It 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: also depends on where the vibes and the spirit leads us. 5 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: Hope you enjoy. Welcome to Moranita, a deep dive into 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: the Latin X experience. With Monita, we want to create 7 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: a community and a shared space with you while sharing 8 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: knowledge and inspiration. This show is about celebrating our culture 9 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: with guests who exemplify the best of us. I'm Darrylene 10 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: Gastillo Ethane Vito. You guys, I think I just found 11 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: my sister's soulmate. I recently had the pleasure of meeting 12 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: Samantha Williams, a fellow Afro Latina performer, while I was 13 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: traveling in Chicago, and I instantly felt the vibes and 14 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: I said, you must be a guest on Monita. That's 15 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: how these things happen, sintime, y'all. If we vibe, we vibe. 16 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,119 Speaker 1: Sam graciously accepted, and you are about to hear a 17 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 1: lot of joy, a lot of realness, and a lot 18 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: of Afro Latina love. Sam has graced the Broadway stage 19 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: and shows like Dear Evan Hanson and Caroline or Change, 20 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: and is currently starring in a musical called Life After 21 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: in Chicago at the Goodman Theater. Go support the arts 22 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: if you're in the che Town area. There is so 23 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: much good theater happening right now in Chicago. It's lit 24 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: me hint that there's a lot to unpack on this one. 25 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: Sam is a Puerto Rican Dominican who grew up in McCallen, Texas. 26 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: You heard that right. She tells us about her experience 27 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 1: growing up as an Afro Latina in the South and 28 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: how that really created some identity struggles. We even go 29 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: deeper and discussed the black versus Latino stigma. We both 30 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: grew up hearing similar comments about our blackness that challenge 31 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: our identity, comments like your Dominican not black, or you're 32 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: black not Latino. Sam and I shared these moments of 33 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: confusion together and how we grew from them. We share 34 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: how Latina people come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders. 35 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: One is not greater than the other, and one does 36 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: not negate our blackness nor our Latinia. I even get 37 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: extra real on this topic as I share a very 38 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: personal moment that is connected. I gotta say listening to Sam, 39 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 1: I learned so much from her. Even in expressing some 40 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: of my struggles, she gives me advice and a word 41 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: on how to deal with identity issues and things like 42 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: imposter syndrome. She is wise beyond her years and I'm 43 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 1: so lucky to have shared this space with her, and 44 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: I hope you feel lucky to samee Vito, Sam, welcome 45 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: to Anita. Happy here. So I have to admit UM 46 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: just for the listeners so they understand the vibes. I 47 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: met Sam over the weekend UM. I went to Chicago 48 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: to see a friend of mine, one of my best friends, 49 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: Tyler Hardwick. He's been on the show before UM perform 50 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,399 Speaker 1: in Stepan Wolf in an amazing show called Choir Boy. 51 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: And Sam was walking through the building and I'm like, 52 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: I know this girl's face because I didn't tell Sam 53 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: this when I first met her, but I'm like, I'm 54 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: pretty sure she's Dominican. I think she's Dominican. And Sam, 55 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: I have to be very honest with you, Like when 56 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: I started like in theater and whatnot, like I was 57 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: like the only Dominican girl. It was like me and 58 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: like maybe another girl that was it. So when other 59 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: Afro Latina's were coming into the room, I was like, Okay, yeah, 60 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: so I always feel like you kind of like you're 61 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: drawn to that, and I was drawn to that with 62 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: you and me and another friend were at the pool 63 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: and I was like, oh my god, I think that's 64 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: that girl, Sammy. I think I've seen her in fun Instagram. 65 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: I think she's Latina. Is that the person I'm thinking of? 66 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: And then like, while you were sitting there on your 67 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: computer at the pool, I was like instagramming. I was like, Yeah, 68 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: that's her. I love that. So I'm obsessed because I'm 69 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: I mean, first off, like just sickly talented. So I 70 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: was happy to like get to meet you in person finally, 71 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: and I was like, I have to have you on 72 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 1: the show because I just feel like there's so much 73 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: that I want to know about you and our listeners 74 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: I'm sure as well. Um. As I mentioned in in 75 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: the intro, sam has been on Broadway. She is now 76 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: in Chicago doing an amazing show that we'll get to 77 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: talk about soon. Um. When I first met you was 78 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 1: you were like, I'm from Texas, and I was like, 79 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: at from Texas, Okay, I need to know about this 80 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 1: and how that world was like for you before we 81 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: get into like all the amazing things that you do. 82 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 1: I'm so curious what you're experience was being in Afro 83 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: Latina and not being Mexicana in Texas. Yes, not being 84 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 1: Mexicana in Texas. You put it perfectly. It was Oh 85 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: my god, wait is that a musical that we're writing? 86 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 1: Not being in Texas? Put it in your nose tap 87 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 1: right now so we don't forget. Yeah, tell us about that. Um, yeah, 88 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: I mean it was rough. My mom is from the Bronx, 89 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: Bodica from the Bronx. My dad is straight from d 90 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: R and they met in New York. And then when 91 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: I was like six months old, my dad got a 92 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: job in Texas, and like any immigrant, he followed the opportunities. 93 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 1: We landed in McAllen, Texas, which is like five minutes 94 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 1: away from Mexico. But there was actually like kind of 95 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:58,359 Speaker 1: a good like Dominican Cuban community there. Randomly, Dominicans be 96 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 1: everywhere everywhere everywhere, Like half the doctors there were Dominican, 97 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 1: and like my dad had gone to med school with 98 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: some of them, and that's how he kind of landed 99 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: there um So, I was there for like until I 100 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: was like eight, but then we moved to Lufkin, Texas. 101 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: And in Lufkin, Texas, that's East Texas, far away from Mexico, 102 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: and it was just you were either white, you were black, 103 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: or you were Mexican. But usually you were either white 104 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: or you were black. So I just kind of was 105 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: like in the middle of it all and I didn't 106 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: really know where I fit in. Um So, I had 107 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: a lot of identity issues growing up then. Been also 108 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: like there's a part of like being Dominican when you're 109 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: younger and like being like, well, I'm not black, I'm Dominican, 110 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. So I had to really 111 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: come to terms with my blackness. And now I love 112 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 1: it obviously, but you know, it was a long journey. 113 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: Um but now we're here. Yeah, I mean high soul 114 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 1: sister in my entire life because I mean people wouldn't know. 115 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 1: But like in New York, I was born in the Bronx, 116 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: I was we left that when I was five from 117 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: the city. Um and I was technically raised in Rockland County, 118 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: where it's really an hour away from the city, but 119 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: where I went to school, you were either white, black 120 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: or Mexican. They didn't know what Dominican was. They were like, what, 121 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: Darylyn's kind of black, but she's not really black because 122 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: she speaks Spanish and like her hair is kind of curly. 123 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: And then I wasn't white enough for my white friends, 124 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: right because all of that. And then of course the 125 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: Mexicanos were like, hey, Latin not where literally literally they 126 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 1: were harsh and I would try to speak, I would 127 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: like speak Spanish. I would be like no, like and 128 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: they were like, they're still not cutting eggs. So I 129 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: completely feel you on that. Let's rewind and talk about 130 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: this black Dominican thing, because child, I never read like comments. 131 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: I remember our first episode here on what I Need 132 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 1: that was with him out of Nega you can't get 133 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: any more Dominican and black, so um, and I remember, 134 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: I guess because it like our my first episode, I 135 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: read a comment and it was like, oh, I don't 136 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: know why this mon Aneta show is out here saying 137 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: like we're black, We're not black, this and that, and 138 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: this is why I'm doing this show. This is why 139 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: I'm doing this podcast to educate you and understanding that 140 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: you can be black and Latine. You can be white 141 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: and Latina. You can be all these things and be 142 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 1: different colors in different shades, and that's what we talk 143 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: about here. So let's talk about this black Dominican thing 144 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: because it really be irking me. Now, is that something 145 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: for you that happened in your family, like in your home, 146 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: because we could be real about that too, because for me, 147 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: not it didn't happen in my home specifically, but it 148 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: happened in my cousin's home, to my aunts and uncles 149 00:08:54,720 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: sometimes my grandmother, my grandparents homes. She's crazy And we 150 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 1: love you, guys, we love so much, but I'm curious 151 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: for you, like where was that? Where was that mindset? Like? 152 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: Where was that? Where was that readed for you? When 153 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: did that start? Yeah? Okay, So I was really lucky 154 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 1: in that my dad, who's Dominican, understood his blackness was 155 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:25,839 Speaker 1: black af made it very clear that we were black, um, 156 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 1: but his family was not always you know, they were 157 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: not always on game with that, and like there was 158 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: also like hella colorism that went on and it was 159 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: just like a whole thing. But for me, it was 160 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 1: more of like uh like especially having like my mom 161 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 1: was Bodigua and like lighter skinned and had like long hair. Um. 162 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: I always wanted to be more like her. And from 163 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: what I saw in my family, in my extended family, 164 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: was that lighter people were always kind of like pushed 165 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: to this pedestal, you know. Not I don't think it 166 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 1: was conscious. It's just the way they were raised back then, 167 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: you know, That's just how it was. And so in 168 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: my life, I was like, well, I don't want to 169 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: be considered black because I'm not I'm Latina. I'm not 170 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: you know, I don't. That's not for me, Like I'm 171 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 1: I'm above that yetada, Yeah, I didn't know. Um. And 172 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: I also felt like whenever I corrected people and being like, oh, 173 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: I'm not black, I'm I'm Hispanic, they'd be like, oh, okay, cool, 174 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: you can come, you know what I mean, like like that, 175 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: especially with white people. So like it took me a 176 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: long time to come to terms with my blackness. But 177 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: also I will say that like sometimes as an after 178 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:53,839 Speaker 1: Latina with like curly hair and like brown skin, sometimes 179 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: saying you're black to other black people, they're not with that. 180 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: So how do I go through life as an obviously 181 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:06,559 Speaker 1: black person without spending all my time trying to convince 182 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: people of my blackness, which no other fucking black people 183 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: have to do. You just are you know you are? 184 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: You are black and it should be that simple. But 185 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 1: because I think of the Eurocentric standard and colonization that's 186 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: in literally every single culture, we do everything through a 187 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: white lens where we have to prove even to our 188 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: own people that we are black enough. Um. So yeah, 189 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: that's what I that's kind of my journey with that. Okay, 190 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: we speak speak thirty five am Okay, come on. So 191 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: the one thing that I'm so fascinated for you because 192 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 1: I don't know if we've had different experiences. I've spoken 193 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,719 Speaker 1: to a couple of other Afro Latino friends, then I'm 194 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: sure we have in common. Like actually Rossa and a 195 00:11:55,200 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: couple other amazing UM performers. What is that experience for 196 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: you in theater because I have I have a very 197 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: traumatic experience with the being accepted within the black community. Yeah, 198 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: I mean too, Okay, I'm curious. Um. I mean also 199 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: like you have a sister for life. I'm here any time. 200 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: I'm so happy because I need I need this because 201 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: it's so hard to talk about it with people that 202 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: don't really get it. But for you, like how are 203 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: you navigating that? And also if just for the listeners 204 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 1: to grasp what have you been through that? And you 205 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: don't have to like go into detail or shore names 206 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 1: or whatever you're comfortable with, but like, what have you 207 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: been through where it's been a challenge for you and 208 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: the industry not only in life but within the industry. 209 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: So what is that for you and how are you 210 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: processing that? So for me, all this kind of started 211 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: when I went to college. I went to Pace University, 212 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:10,599 Speaker 1: and by the time I was in college, by the 213 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: time I went to high school, I had moved to Houston, 214 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: which was a bigger city. I came to terms with 215 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,079 Speaker 1: my blackness, and I was kind of like in it, 216 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 1: you know, and like accepting myself. So by the time 217 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,559 Speaker 1: I came to New York, I was eighteen. Um, we 218 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: did a workshop reading of Carolina Change and I got 219 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: Caroline and that within itself was like a whole deal 220 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: to some of the black kids, because they were like, well, 221 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 1: you're not really black, so why should you be playing this, 222 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: Like how are you going to be able to? And 223 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: I was literally like, are you kidding me? Like I 224 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: I don't even know, Like I don't even know how 225 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 1: to defend myself. I just you know, so, I I 226 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 1: went through like a few years of college feeling like 227 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: I had to prove myself, but also feeling that I 228 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: didn't really fit in because like I wasn't raised in 229 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: an African American household. I was raising a Dominican Puerto 230 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: Rican household where we listened to like Mark Anthony and 231 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: Wandos Guerra every morning on Sundays. But that doesn't mean 232 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: my blackness is any less, you know. It's just a 233 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: kind of different subgenre of black. And I think that 234 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: because other people aren't necessarily always educated on what that is, 235 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: they assumed that it is not enough. And I always 236 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: felt like I was never enough for like a lot 237 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: of black people because they didn't really understand, you know. Um. 238 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: And then I finally found my community. I went to 239 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: a party in Brooklyn and I'll never forget this, and 240 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: there was like a lot of other black actors there. 241 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: I had just in my first show. I was in 242 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: Dervon Hanson at the time, and I remember being so 243 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: nervous about like feeling like if I had like how 244 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: I was going to navigate in that circle and you 245 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: know whatever, And they were so accepting and they got 246 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: it and I was like, oh, okay, cool. And then 247 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: after that, I've just kind of been like I'm not 248 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: gonna defend myself or prove anything to you, but just 249 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: know like this is what it is. And since then, 250 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: I feel like I've been able to come into my own. 251 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: But then it also goes into like the whole situation 252 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: with white people and like, especially in this industry, sometimes 253 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: I'll get like film auditions specifically for like Latina girl 254 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: like spicy whatever, Like it will literally be in the 255 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: in the thing, and like, I like I auditioned for them. 256 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: But sometimes I even think like they don't understand that 257 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: I am Latina, Like they can't like a lot of 258 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: white people don't see like once they see the brown skin, 259 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: they're like, oh, well, like why did was this mistake? 260 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: You know, I see that a lot on TV. I 261 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: don't see a lot of after Latina representation at all. 262 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: So it's been really weird to navigate. I don't know 263 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: if I heed that right, No, you did. You did 264 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: a great job. You did an amazing job. So right now, 265 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: let's say you get a role. Because I'm sure I've 266 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: struggled with this, like yesterday, like today, Um, let's say 267 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 1: you get a role and it's like, let's say you 268 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: get it called in for Caroline. Do you I got 269 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: called in for Caroline. By the way, when everybody Sam 270 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: was in Caroline or changed on the Broadway. Just to 271 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: put that out there, Um, I got called in for Caroline. 272 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: I felt extremely uncomfortable going in for the audition. And 273 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: I've been realizing maybe I'm putting this more on myself 274 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 1: rather than people putting it on me, that I'm creating 275 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: some of this pressure. Yeah, but it's a combination of 276 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: the two, because it wouldn't even be a thought if 277 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: nobody put it in your head to begin with. That's 278 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: what exactly exactly. And I'm like I'm doing and even 279 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: my managers like Darylyn you can sing the ship out 280 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: of this, and like you are am I missing something? 281 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: Like I'm very confused and I'm just and I and 282 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 1: and it's like, oh, well, like am I black enough, 283 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: I'm a lighter skin tone? Are they just going to 284 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: look at me as this like light skin like Afro 285 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: Latina and like, oh, her last name is Castillo, which 286 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: has happened to me because when I was in Lion King, Um, 287 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: I was coming into cover Nala and apparently there was 288 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: word behind the scenes that people were upset that my 289 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 1: last name was Gastillo. So it's like, I mean and 290 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: that was my first that was my first you know, 291 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: like your dear Evan Hanson, that was my first thing, 292 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,439 Speaker 1: and that really set the tone for me and like 293 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 1: traumatize me a lot. And I'm working through that. But 294 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: it's like, how do you handle that? Like, you get 295 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 1: a role that maybe you have that thought where you're like, 296 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: should I go in for this? Are there roles that 297 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: you turned down? Because I have to be honest, I 298 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 1: do turn down some roles. Yeah, where I'm like, I 299 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: don't know if like this is authentically like gonna be 300 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 1: great for me to tell this story. I don't know 301 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 1: if that's if it's going to be coming from an 302 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: authentic place. I feel like a fellow um, you know, 303 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 1: a fellow black actor could maybe do a better job 304 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: or connect with it in a different way and it 305 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 1: might be a better opportunity for somebody else. Absolutely, how 306 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: do you deal with that? Yeah? I feel like white 307 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 1: casting directors and agents and managers will see a breakdown 308 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 1: for a black person and then send it to everyone 309 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: without even looking at what the character even is. So 310 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 1: like when I get sent like a million like Nigerian 311 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: American roles and like stuff like that, I'm like, no, 312 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 1: I don't even like I don't even look Nigeria. Like 313 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: there's nothing I can't give. I can't tell that story 314 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 1: with honesty, you know what I mean. I never really 315 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 1: had the issue with the last name thing because my 316 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 1: last name is Williams. But whoever is listening, let is 317 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 1: be proof that we came from the same place and 318 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: my last name is Williams and her last name is Castillo. 319 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:10,160 Speaker 1: Like it we are so like mixed with a bunch 320 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: of them. Yeah, so it's like, let that be proof 321 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,160 Speaker 1: that you can you can be anything. Um, but I 322 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 1: I definitely there are definitely rules where I'm like, I think, 323 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 1: like somebody else would be better for this, and like 324 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: I know that about myself, but that could be anything 325 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 1: that could be having to do with raised personality, um, 326 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 1: you know, sexual orientation, whatever. And I think as long 327 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 1: as I stay honest with myself and what I actually 328 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: how I want to be perceived and the things that 329 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: I feel I can actually do honor to and tell respectfully, 330 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 1: then I'm good. So that thanks for that lesson. But 331 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 1: I do wish you. I wish you would have gone. 332 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 1: Did you go in for Caroline? Did you end up 333 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: saying I didn't. I decided not to. Um, I wish 334 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 1: you would have gone in. But I understand the political syndrome. 335 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:09,159 Speaker 1: I get it. Yeah, the impostor syndrome is real. And 336 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 1: I have to say, it's just while I was singing it, 337 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: and while I was doing it, I just there was 338 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 1: something in my heart that I was like, I don't 339 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,360 Speaker 1: know about this, and I don't know why. I don't 340 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: know what it was. Um, but I'm working through that. 341 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: You know that. Every day I think we all are 342 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: and figuring all that out. But yeah, day by day, 343 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: moment by moment, it's nice to hear that you're not 344 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: the only one, right. It's nice to hear like, oh 345 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 1: you you two us too. Yeah. Um, you went to 346 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: Pace Pace University and then you landed a role on 347 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: Dear Evan Hanson, which is such an incredible show. And 348 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 1: I have to say, as a woman of color, to 349 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 1: be in the show, um, that's a huge, huge thing. Yeah. 350 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: If you guys don't really know, um, well there's a 351 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: movie of Dear Evan Hanson. Um, and there's also like, Okay, 352 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna say the show is very white, um 353 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 1: so um so, it was really awesome to see women 354 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: of color in the show rising to the occasion and 355 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: having that opportunity. What was that like for you? You 356 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,120 Speaker 1: can be honest to the to the level of honesty 357 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 1: that you want to see. It was an interesting experience, 358 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: to say the least. I am so happy that I 359 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 1: am so grateful for it. Obviously, it's like a dream 360 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 1: come true to be a hit show and my first 361 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: Broadway show in while I was in college and stuff. 362 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: And I was so lucky because while I was in 363 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: Evan Hanson, the guy who played my I like counterpart, 364 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 1: the other funny person, was also black, so and he 365 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: was actually also mixed with all sorts of things. So 366 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: he and I and he was the first um black 367 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 1: male in that company skylak to Lynch and he yeah, 368 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: he's amazing, and he became my best friend and like 369 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 1: we kind of like stuck with each other the whole 370 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:28,719 Speaker 1: time because listen, it was I mean, when you're when 371 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 1: you're in a show that you're the only one and 372 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,400 Speaker 1: you have somebody else is the only one with you, Like, yeah, 373 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 1: you naturally gravitate towards that because you guys can experience 374 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,479 Speaker 1: things together and go through the process of all this together. 375 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: And it's tough. I mean there was tough. Yeah. There 376 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:46,960 Speaker 1: were days where like it was like you know, you 377 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: have We were like I was twenty he was I 378 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: don't know how old he was, like maybe like twenty 379 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 1: five or something, and there was a day where we 380 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 1: had to get our hair cut and like we didn't 381 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:00,199 Speaker 1: know until we got to the theater and like, we're 382 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 1: not just gonna have some white lady cut her hair. Sorry, Meg, 383 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 1: she's a great woman. She's amazing and I would even 384 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,680 Speaker 1: say this her face, but like literally like we didn't 385 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 1: know what to do. So we hid in my dressing room. Well, 386 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: someone was walking on the door. We literally hid turn 387 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:19,360 Speaker 1: the lights off and like didn't answer until like way 388 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 1: later nobody was there, and then like got out, snuck 389 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:24,439 Speaker 1: out because we didn't want anyone to mess with our 390 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 1: curls and like ruin our ship. But like again, this 391 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: wasn't like I think twenty eighteen is when I started 392 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: this show, So it's like a little bit you know, 393 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 1: I think before quotation, Yeah, because we've dealt with some 394 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: crazy stuff with our hair. Hair is like also a 395 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:47,199 Speaker 1: whole other Like people don't understand Sam, You're gonna come back, 396 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 1: We're gonna talk about here, Okay, dear of Enhanson goes, 397 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: you're learning all these lessons, beautiful. Then you get to 398 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: be in a black and black, black, black black show, 399 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 1: Carolina Change on Broadway, and you got to be around 400 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 1: incredible actresses like Asia Thomas shout out to in Asia. 401 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 1: I mean, what a difference that. I don't think I 402 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: realized how much more comfortable I am around my own 403 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: fellow people, because like, goddamn, it's just a completely different vibe. Um. 404 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,160 Speaker 1: But there was also like a level of imposter syndrome 405 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: because like part of me was like damn, like, am 406 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:28,159 Speaker 1: I even like black enough to be here? Like goddamn, 407 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 1: you know that's how I always feel. Yeah, yeah, so 408 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 1: I definitely had that. But god, I was so lucky 409 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 1: that everyone in the cast was just like so welcoming 410 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 1: and like kind of like held me. I was also 411 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 1: like the youngest person there besides the people who the 412 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 1: kids who played my younger siblings, so I just felt 413 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 1: very held and lifted. And also the black people there 414 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: were hella pro black, so like they saw me, they said, yeah, 415 00:24:57,119 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: he's mad it but you're black. You know. It was 416 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: very and they were like that, like welcome, you know 417 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: what I mean, come to your people, especially like they 418 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 1: knew a lot about my experience that I had before 419 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 1: with Evan Hansen and feeling really uncomfortable there, So like 420 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: I felt really taken care of and like lucky, protected, protected, 421 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 1: I guess. Yeah. And also like this show is all 422 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: about ancestry and it's also about like being black in 423 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:29,440 Speaker 1: the South, which I don't think anyone else there was 424 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:33,200 Speaker 1: from the South. So like for me, like I was 425 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 1: like hit, like I understood that to a t and um, 426 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 1: I felt like I even had things that I could 427 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: teach some of my black counterparts that they may have 428 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,400 Speaker 1: not experienced. So it was like, really, it's really cool 429 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: to be on that side of it. I wish I 430 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 1: totally wish I saw the show. I was on tour, 431 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 1: and then obviously you know, everything went to yeah, I 432 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 1: mean if it's literally like it happens like in the 433 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: thick of the pandemic, like I remember are we stopped 434 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 1: March twelve, which is when everything shut down, and that 435 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 1: was our day of the invited dress and then when 436 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: we came back, we were one of the first shows 437 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 1: to come back, and like the pandemic was still happening, 438 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,119 Speaker 1: so a lot of people weren't able to come see it, 439 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:19,639 Speaker 1: but it was. It was honestly such a good healing 440 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: experience for me. Great show. And then now you are 441 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: in town right now doing a musical or a play musica. Yeah, okay, 442 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: what what is it called. It's called Life After. It's 443 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 1: at the Goodman Theater. Comes see us. We're here till July, 444 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 1: I believe, and yeah, it's it's so fun. I love it. 445 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:46,360 Speaker 1: What's the premise of the show? Give us a quick 446 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:50,919 Speaker 1: quick you know. So it's about the girl who loses 447 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: her dad in a car accident. Her dad gets in 448 00:26:54,560 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: a car accident and on her birthday, and uh, the 449 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:05,159 Speaker 1: last conversation that they had was a huge fight, and 450 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 1: she never really fights with her dad or does anything 451 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: like that. And so basically she's trying to figure out, 452 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 1: like was she in the car to go and look 453 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,200 Speaker 1: for her, like what was he doing, Like he was 454 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 1: like on a random street, like she didn't really understand. 455 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 1: And then throughout the play, she's basically going through the 456 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 1: stages of grief. While figuring out why her dad was 457 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: out there, and also coming to terms with the fact that, like, yes, 458 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 1: she yelled at him in that moment, but like it 459 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:36,920 Speaker 1: was just a moment and she didn't think that was 460 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:41,159 Speaker 1: going to be the last moment um. And basically at 461 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: the end of the play, she realizes that, like, not 462 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 1: everything is black and white, some things are allowed to 463 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: live in the gray, and she kind of comes to 464 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,479 Speaker 1: term with her grief and is able to release her dad. Um. 465 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: But it's actually really funny. I know it sounds sad, 466 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 1: but it's a really funny, like just beautiful family musical. 467 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 1: And you're the girl and I'm the girl. Yes, I'm 468 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,920 Speaker 1: the girl. And in this play, my dad is white 469 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: and my mom is black. So it's just like, listen, 470 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 1: we can do this. You guys can do it. We 471 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 1: can do it all. And Skylar, who you met, obviously 472 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:21,719 Speaker 1: she's playing my older sister and her actual parents are 473 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:25,920 Speaker 1: black and white, so she looks lighter skin. But I 474 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 1: don't know, seeing our family like that on stage is 475 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 1: so real. I have cousins who are are Skylar's color, 476 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 1: Like you can be any color, you know, It's just 477 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: absolutely it's great. So it's educating. It's educating. Go catch 478 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 1: at you guys if you're in Chicago. Um, Sam is 479 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 1: a force. Sam. I got some questions for you. Oh 480 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:51,240 Speaker 1: I'm ready. We got some questions. Okay, if you could 481 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: be in any production, play any role, or even just 482 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 1: be in a production, like if you even it's like ensemble, Like, oh, 483 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 1: I just want to be in that show something. What 484 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 1: would it be that's on Broadway right now? I like 485 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: that's playing. Let's just say like no, let's just say 486 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: anything like it could have been on Broadway. It could 487 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 1: have been already. Know, I want to be I want 488 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: to be and I want to be Memi and Rent Yeah, 489 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:19,160 Speaker 1: or I want to be in the ensemble of rent 490 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 1: sas can we put this into existing. I've been wanting to. 491 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 1: I've been in for Memi. Okay, first off, I'm just going, okay, 492 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 1: this might be a little tam I. I got, I 493 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 1: got some big boot I got some big boobies. Okay, 494 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: but Mimi, they never want they never want car Delicious. 495 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 1: They always want like, yeah, that's been like my journey 496 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: with Memi. Well they're doing it at the paper mill soon, 497 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:47,880 Speaker 1: right or something like that. So we'll see, we'll see 498 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 1: you there. Let's see what pops up there. Okay, Okay, Memi, 499 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: I love that. You'd be amazing. You should just do 500 00:29:55,960 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: our own anything like anything? Yeah, like I'll be Roger. 501 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 1: I would love to play Roger and Rent. Let's be real. Actually, 502 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 1: actually I'm gonna he's want to change my answer to Roger. Roger? Okay, Roger, 503 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 1: that Roger, but only if you're Mimi. Only if you're Meemi. Yeah, 504 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: you heard that paper mill. We want a gender bending Rent. Yes, okay. 505 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:22,120 Speaker 1: Our second question, if you could have a last like 506 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 1: your last meal, what would the meal be like your 507 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: last thing? You have sancho of course, yeah, san Cocho 508 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:35,840 Speaker 1: with those sons on the side. And who's making the 509 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: sancho Maya Bata even though she just passed rest in peace. 510 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: I love her and I love her, but she made 511 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 1: the best son Cocha. Oh my god? So yes, hers 512 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: and something about son culture just hits differently. Okay. Third 513 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: and last final question, what reminds you of home or 514 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:01,400 Speaker 1: makes you feel like home? You and say again, I 515 00:31:01,520 --> 00:31:04,840 Speaker 1: can't swern Gocha no, because my mom was always too 516 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 1: lazy to make it, which I don't blame her. It 517 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 1: takes my mom is the same way that go down, 518 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 1: go down to Dikeman, go to go to it. Yeah, 519 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 1: y um, what reminds me of home? I think if 520 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 1: I'm ever somewhere and the Senia Cruz song comes out, 521 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:41,880 Speaker 1: that's like a Mama you know that one? That song? 522 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 1: Like bro, when I hear that, I'm like, it's like 523 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:51,320 Speaker 1: I'm taken back, um, because I remember my mom would 524 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: like blast that on Sundays to clean it and just 525 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 1: like I don't know that song is is what stopped, 526 00:31:58,120 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 1: It's what started every party. That's song, So that would 527 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:08,400 Speaker 1: probably be the one. Sammy. If our listeners want to 528 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:11,600 Speaker 1: follow you, follow your journey, see what you're doing, see 529 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 1: where you at. This is the social media plug. Where 530 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:17,400 Speaker 1: can we find you? How do we find you? On Instagram? 531 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 1: I'm at s A w M. I E saw me 532 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: because my name was taken. And I also have an 533 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:31,719 Speaker 1: Instagram account for the food that I make. It's called Sammy. 534 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: It's called Sammy makes Yummy Food. It's really silly. But 535 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 1: if you guys are interested in food content, follow me there. 536 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 1: I love that, Sammy. Thank you so much for coming 537 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: on underneath that. I don't think this is going to 538 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 1: be the last time You are such a light and 539 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 1: I wish you the best on your show and closing 540 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:52,640 Speaker 1: in Chicago and can't wait to see what you do next. Yes, 541 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 1: you too. I'm so excited. Thank you for having me, 542 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 1: and it was good to meet you last weekend. Likewise, likewise, 543 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 1: I'm so glad we did this. A Monanita is a 544 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: production of Sonato and partnership with I Heart Radios michaela 545 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 1: podcast network. For more podcasts from I Heart Radio, visit 546 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 1: the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you 547 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:17,800 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.