May 15, 2025 • 43 mins
In this episode, we sit down with the dynamic Elizabeth Rodriguez: actress, Broadway star, and proud Nuyorican—for a conversation about her journey through some of television and theatre’s most impactful roles. From her breakout as Aleida Diaz on Orange Is the New Black to her polarizing turn as Paz Valdez on Power, Elizabeth opens up about the love, hate, and everything in between that comes with playing complex characters.
We also dive into her latest film Allswell in New York, a raw and heartfelt portrayal of sisterhood and struggle, co-starring fellow Latina powerhouses Daphne Rubin-Vega and Liza Colón-Zayas. Elizabeth shares how growing up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side as the daughter of Puerto Rican parents shaped her perspective—and her passion for telling real, rooted stories.
Plus, we talk about the growing wave of Latino narratives on stage, including Broadway’s current productions of Buena Vista Social Club and Real Women Have Curves, and why representation isn't just important—it's urgent.
This is an unfiltered, inspiring look at identity, resilience, and the magic that happens when Latinas rise together.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Grassiers Come Again, a podcast by Honey German.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Ying Benidos to another episode of Grassiers Come Again.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
I'm excited today.
Speaker 4 (00:13):
I'm talking to Tony nominated SAG winner Elizabeth Frodriguez.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Welcome, Hello, Hello, I'm so happy to be here. Fel
beautiful today. Thank you? So you girl? How you feeling?
Are you hot? A story?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Summer's here?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It is a hot, humid day in New York.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
The curls are still popping, no worries.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
No word of the block. And I would have been like.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Why are you actually like you're not born and raised
New York girl, but we have going the wrong way
on the avenues.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I know, girl, because you.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Know, sometimes it's always of like if you're stressing and
you don't ground yourself, you forget yourself. All of a
sudden you look up and you're like, You're like, how
did I get.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
To am on Riverside? I'm supposed to be on Second Avenue.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Jersey City Broadway star Yes, actor kind of kind of advocate.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
A little bit, a lot all of it.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
I feel I feel like you're all up in that
when it comes to you know, advocacy, equity, you know,
representation for Latinos and it's crazy that it's twenty twenty
five and we're still having this discussion.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Ma'am ridiculous, Imah not there.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Do you sometimes feel like this is a problem that's
never gonna get solved?
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, I didn't even think it would be.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
I would never have imagined that I'd wake up in
twenty twenty five and be like, is this really what
the world is? We're talking about women issues and rights
and you know, other issues and brown and you know,
track right all the.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Issue this today. I'm like, it's a little bit of
a nightmare.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
When you think back and you're like a Walitaes and
our moms were out here, you know, in the same.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Lives, and you're like, what, who Where's I didn't know
that was that much crazy, but clearly there is.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Let's talk Tony nominations. Let's like, how amazing was that?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
I know, and the Tony's were announced yesterday. I had
a lot of nostalgia when.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
I've easeda social club.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I know, I know, and I saw I just happened
to see real women have curves just a day before
the nominations. And I've known Justina for a million years
and so so I know me too. I wish the
young lady that played her daughter would have been nominated
because she was pretty amazing too, But like here we are.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
But we'll take it.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
We can't win on all the Listen when I saw,
you know, real women have curves, and when I Vista
Social Club, I was like, it's kind of like happening.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
A little bit.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, That's how I felt like.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
When in The Height and Westside Story we're coming out
the same year. I was like, I was shooting in Brooklyn,
I was shooting Power and they were shooting Westside Story
in one of the one of the studios, and it
took all I wanted to like climb inside, and I
remember being like so full of joy, like this is
happening next year, these both will be out at the
(02:59):
same time.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
In the Heights was amazing. I remember when that was happening.
I was like wow, and.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
The production was just so big. We were so represented.
I like the way we were represented.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
You know, some people you know have a little.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
What was it brown?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
It was brown, yet black and brown was not represented
there you go. I remember, it became this whole thing
because that's how we do it. We like to divide no, no, no, no.
Joined the end of representation matters. But you know, let's
support it. Let's not tear it down. Let's not make
it a.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Big issue where you know it, don't make it public
and it overshadows what was done, you know. And absolutely Miranda,
you know, Anthony Ramos Dao, like a lot of us, were,
Daphne my homegirl.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I love her. I know she is amazing. Her voice
is everything.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
I know. She's like, hey, so amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
I absolutely love her, and I love you your capricorn.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Right maybe so.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I also want to point out that Daphnie Ruben Vega
Dollar was in my movie that I wrote and co
Wrot produced.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Alls Well in New York were.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
About it okay, and it needed because we talked about
Daffy and also I was gonna say something.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Oh and when we were talking about theater.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
I'm also an Obie winner.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Listen, listen, listen, listen. All the accolades matter, you know, accolades.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Obi, because that happened while I was in We were
in COVID and it was so surreal. Me and Liza
colonse Is both won for this play because it was
off Broadway called Can We Curse On This it's called
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven, and it was done
off Broadway and we won this and we like it
was surreal because you're stuck in this world and you're
doing a zoom to be like, oh hey, thank you,
(04:53):
very very surreal.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
But it happened. It did in the heights.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Happened during COVID too, like the release right right, right,
right right. A lot happened, know, but we took it
in and you know, we just adjusted. I hope that
never happens again.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Like how insane still adjusting?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Like I'm like sometimes when I see people with masks
on still, I'm like, I have a mask right rest
someone I know who gets COVID.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Oh my god, I can't get COVID.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
It's insane that people are still getting COVID. But you know,
the beauty of us that people aren't dying the way
that they were not absolutely m I don't want to
get dark.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I don't want to no, no, no no, We're here
to celebrate Friday night.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Listen.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Yeah, shout out to you for pulling up man, you know,
because it's important, you know that I sit down with
people like you know that are just newcomers. But people
have paved the way, like I feel like with acting
and you know, with the Labyrinth Theater and you know
what you guys all have going on. It's like it
makes me so proud and it gives me the hope
of like wow, you know, if we stick together, we
(05:50):
can continue to grow because I feel like we are
the Latin majority but others don't.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
But we're changing that perception.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, And all we can do is show because it's
always in hindsight right where you're like, oh, I was
part of this thing, and this thing has become this
thing individually and communatively because we're just doing our thing
and finding your people, and all of a sudden you
look back and you reflect and it becomes a thing
or like so many people in their own journey grow
(06:20):
and create and get to these heights where you're like wow,
and it becomes part of like your history. You're like
your fabric, your fiber.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
When like, like, you know, there's so many people in
the Labyrinth Theater, John Ortiz or Castillo, Liza, and these
are like David Zay's Daphnie obviously, these people, Judy rays Anorties,
these people are like genuine people that I love and
like I've known for so long, and time goes by
(06:53):
so fast where you're just like, if you ever work
with them, it's so different because there's already like a
deep love and respect that goes beyond their work and
it's like their family. So your joy for them is
on another level as well.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yeah, you feel it. You're like, Yo, that's my bro,
it's mine. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
When they win those awards, you're clapping extra hard. No,
we met at Latina's Acting Up. Yes, how dope was
that event?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I know, I was looking around.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
I was like, imagine all of us together pushing one project.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I know it's out of here. I know, nobody stop it.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
No, it was really great, and I mean I saw
women there that I hadn't seen in decades. That like,
it's bizarre also because I was meeting new women like yourself,
but also like you're like, oh, you see these women
and it's a bit timeless, you know, You're just like
and like, you know, I'm taking pictures sending them to people.
They're like, oh my god, I can't.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Then that also brings me to like we have to
do these type of things. We have to get together.
And it's like even Daja after the event, you know,
she was like, I feel so good like her cup felt,
you know, filled up, and I'm like, you know, we
tend to forget that we have such amazing women in
our circle and we're all busy living our own lives Causeie,
you know, you're an actress, you're a director, you're a photographer,
(08:14):
and we don't come together and realize our power and
the support that we have, you know, and then we
need to give each other as soon as it's the
biggest thing.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
As soon as you have a project, you like, honey,
I got this project. What are we doing? I'm like,
talk to me, which radio station you need to come to?
What magazine we putting this in? What website? Who do
I need to talk to? And we fail? And sometimes
as Latinos, we'll be like you.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
And also I think for me, what happens is you know,
like Lisa, also Lisa, I have known for like a
part of that world and seeing people. She was like, Hey,
you gonna are you gonna be able to do this thing?
Blah blah blah blah blah. And I was like I
flew back the day before from La to be there.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Oh nice.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
But also what was said was.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Like, you know, you can't just be like, oh hey,
promote me and then ghost and be out.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Absolutely, and I think that's the biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
I find that as part of every bit of my world,
even with my girlfriends, you know, like sometimes I'm like
if I'm not there to support them, like not even
because life happens. It is not even on purpose, but
I am so aware that I can't then be like, oh, yeah, hey,
what are you doing today? Can we hang like out
of the blue? And it works on every level personally
(09:28):
and absolutely professionally. You just can't. You have to stay
in the game and be a cheerleader. If you want
someone to cheer you back. It's a it's just energy.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
It's avoid You can't just be like, hi, how about me,
whether it's women or men. I've had people show up
atter know and be like, hey, you want to come
to my movie. I'm like, dude, I haven't heard from
you in decades.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
I give what I mean? I said, can you say
a Mayama?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
I blocked the lead report, I.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Said, Nona.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Day, yeah, Kiel exactly.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
What's the last thank you.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
I kind of come back three times already.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
I gotta came back as that already lived. My best
life could be a ghost she's talking.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
To you know.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
But with me, it's like it's big on, Like what
project do you have? You know, what's going on? What
do we need to promote?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
You know? I first met James Martinez and I was like, Yo,
what are we doing? He told me he was doing
the freestyle play And after that I was like, whatever
you need that's amazing. Do we need to put it
up on k TU, our radio station that plays freestyle?
Speaker 3 (10:43):
All right, no problem? So I got all them.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
I'm like, listen, guys, please do an article for this,
Please talk about this on the radio. Please put this
on your Instagram, Please put this on your Twitter. And
when I went, Judy Torres told me she was like, Yo,
there was so much more movement after you got involved.
But which also how amazing that she being as she
does it and and and it takes over that she
couldn't get be.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Like yo, hello, hi hello.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Well sometimes when it's our project, right, we kind of
like fall back and be like this is true.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
They'll realize you, they'll realize what.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
It is, or we like feel a little like it's
easier to promote somebody else's think because oh, take your
personal when they like reject us.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
And that's a fact, and that's why sometimes it takes
somebody in your circle to be like, Yo, did you
not realize what she's doing?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
I need this everywhere?
Speaker 4 (11:29):
I need this on the radio, I need this on
the website, I need this on Instagram. And then there's
movement and then she feels supported and then she's excited
about it, and then she could go run with it. Yeah, no,
one hundred percent, And I get it.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
I feel the same way I've been at this. Like
I joked around him, and I'm like, you know, blowing
my own horn. But the truth of the matter is,
as you should, I don't.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
I can do it for everyone, and it's you know,
I think a lot of it is.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
I'm kind of like the same way I think it's embedded.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
In us, right.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
It's sort of micro and macro in terms of like
humility and learning the difference between humility and and like
finding the balance because you can be you can have
humility and.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Also be like, oh wait, I've also done this and
this and this, and it was a long.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Ride to get there, and it's really hard, right because
I think also how you raise and they're like or whatever,
but like right, But it's also like when anyone ever
is like Ahi, Elizabeth Rodriguez and they.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Read my imbn D.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Yeah, anytime anyone's reading that or like doing a whole
another bit, and this is I'm just I swear, I'm like,
this is bizarre because I never look at it, right,
your intro or something an intro.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
I'm always like, is that me?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
That's so like it doesn't connect. I keep saying, one day,
when I retire and I have all the time in
the world, I'll do my own retrospective and I'll have
the space to be able to be like me, you know. Okay,
he said, but there has to be a little bit
of that as well, of like walking with that, right,
because all the for every accolade or accomplishment, there've been
(13:08):
hundreds of rejections and heartaches and all the other things,
and you don't have to work hard on feeling those
those come through you so deep.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
And why is it that you know, the accomplishments don't
feel that deep.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Feel sort of out here is a very bizarre thing
for me to sort of like wrap my brain around,
and I'm still trying to understand and open.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Up to it.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
It's crazy that you say that, because I was a
guest on a podcast and they were doing an intro
and the guy was going on and on and on
and on and on about all these things I've done,
and I'm.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Like, can I get that? Can I take that?
Speaker 1 (13:45):
You're like, who are they talking to me?
Speaker 3 (13:47):
When did I do all this?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
And I was just talking to my sister yesterday and
I was like, you know, because I'm not a big deal.
And then she's like, well, this person seems to.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Think you're a very big deal. And I'm like me, okay, right,
I'll be at the house.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Yeah, I hear you.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I feel you on that.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
But it also keeps you grounded and it keeps you humble,
because once people start feeling themselves and feeling super gass,
then they become intolerable.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Yeah, and that's why.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
But I think there's a balance right of like trying
to find which I'm so hopefully out fine before I die,
of like not making it about your ego, right, because
that's when you're like intolerable when you're walking around about
because that's empty that's some bullshit about like am I
(14:34):
like please, Like, I'm not impressed people impress me seeing
them knowing what they're all.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
About, their values blah blah blah blah blah blah blah,
having real conversations.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
But I think when people go into like taka ka kaka,
I can't even because I can see right through that.
And I think the balance is being able to know
and own it, but not own it like wear it
in your sleeves, bid or own it and walk with
that too, because sometimes you walk into spaces and you
feel like you don't belong or whatever we all have
(15:06):
in security or whatever walking into But like I think
if if like we if we knew and we were
able to connect to that a little bit.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
To be like just.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Right there is there is a disconnect. Yeah, I feel
you because sometimes I walk into rooms where I was
invited and where people are expecting me, and I'm like,
(15:41):
why am I here?
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Do people know I'm there? Do people know who I am?
Speaker 2 (15:45):
I'm also like when people are like, oh, I'm sorry,
I never saw that, I'm like it doesn't matter to me, right,
because I'm also like I give respect and expect respect
no matter who's in that room and whoever they did,
what they did or they don't haven't done, has no bearing.
I mean, I could be a fan of someone's work,
but but like being impressed with like, oh you're such
(16:07):
and such. I mean, you know, there are some actors
I'm like, oh my god, and then you're just like
but if I find out they're idiots, then they're like
really talented idiots.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
You know, And it happens.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
I've met hundreds and hundreds of celebrities in this building.
I've never I don't feel like I've ever kind of
like went up to anybody like I'm a fan. I'm
a fan who I love John leg because I'm like,
you make it okay, I'm but he has that energy.
He immediately is like hey, yeah, he gives it back
(16:43):
to you.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
You know, he's definitely done. We're overdue.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
We haven't sat down since Latin History for Moro for Morons,
and it was just that show right there was amazing.
When I reached the Social Club, I'm so happy for him.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
I know that he's a producer.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
I wanted to talk to him and they were like,
he doesn't want to be the face of it. I'm like,
come on, And I was like, you know what, forget it,
don't worry about it.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
And I understand him. He wants, you know, the actors
on stage to be the face of it. He doesn't
want to take away from them. And I respect that
so much.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
I was like, you know what, and.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
You know, maybe one day, if it doesn't sell, he'll
show up. Never know, if the sales.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Start going down, he'll be like, honey, after these, after
these ten Tony nominations, you know, you never know.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yes, I don't know, but hopefully not.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
No.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I went. I just felt so emotional. I know, the music.
It was just like you know, and there was all.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
The tourists, and there was all the white people and
they were so happy and they were clapping, and it
was just like and I'm like, I just feel it,
like in a different way.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
I felt like crying while I was there. I felt
like crying.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I absolutely understand that feeling of like, just like it's
such a deep, deep love and pride right so many
parts of us. You're just like I'm being seen, I'm
being celebrated, my people, my history, my people's people.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
It just felt so good. I was just like, yo,
I'm bugging out, like I feel like crying right now,
and I like that day, I would.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Have probably been at home like till three in the
morning alone.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
It was just so I love theater. You started in theater.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
I didn't.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
It's weird that I didn't start in theater because I
was going I was paying.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
I was when I was going to college.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I was also working full time when you were leaving college.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Yeah, I was working full time. Where were you alone?
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Where were you working?
Speaker 2 (18:35):
I need to know in restaurants, girl on the preside,
And so I was working at nights, ok, And I
was living alone, and so there was theaters at night.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
I was like, I can't afford to do theater. I
need to make money out there, like I could do.
So it took a minute, like by the time I
did theater.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
My friends were like, people were like, you've never done theater,
and then it was an off Broadway thing.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Don't mind me. I feel like everyone starts in theater.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
No, I'm because it's crazy how much theater I ultimately
ended up doing. I would have, and the only reason
I didn't is because I couldn't a room. I didn't know,
I couldn't afford I was already you were out here
being a grown.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
You're in lios No, Upper East, Okay, right, I'm i'man
mommy popy, mommy puppy.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
My grandmother and my father raised me, and I lived, yeah,
and my parents were divorced when I was about three
or four, and so it was my paternal grandmother and
so you know, it was a fractured household. I had
an older brother, and you know, I started working at
thirteen hanging clubbing.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
When people were like, what were your clubs?
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Talk to me. I'm born and raised in New York.
I'm gonna Palladium or my clubs were ten eighteen? Okay,
Uh what.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
I'm like browing ninety six? No, girl, No, I didn't
really like the limelight.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I like no.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I liked and I used to go to you know,
I used to hang out with rock steady.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Girl.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Okay, she's like, can you bring it back a little
bit more.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I'm like, I'm bringing a real back. I'm like, I
was a child, my my friends. Where else did I go? Uh?
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Five the Rosy when it came ten eighteen, and then
I got to go to I got to go to
Studio fifty four Old to the V four before it reopened.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
That's how young I was clubbing, but about the garage
and to the loft because my brother's friends were so.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Much older than me. Oh so I got to go
to Danceyria because my brother. Really, let me tell you
what my brother did.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
They used to give these.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Passes out, like these passes that you like stay stamp
like a vi P. And he was like so smart
and criminal minded.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
He got a stamp made of the face, and then
he got red and black and he had these things laminated.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
And I had my own dance interior pass.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
He gave it to like three or four people what
thirteen years old? Talking about let me in Maine, all right?
To make believe I was like punk rock You're like
what okay? Black?
Speaker 1 (21:33):
I was like a dance hip hop, punk rocky girl.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
How did this happen? Because musica?
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Because I was like, yeah, it was a little like
euro invasion.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
What are we talking? Like the door my people in.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Excess, We talked all the things finding my people uptown
and there was more than one Elizabeth, So I became
punk rock punk rock list really.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Elizabeth, So they need to you know, differentiate, she said,
you're they gave it to me. They were like your
punk rock list.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
I was like, fine, I need to see pictures.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Oh my god, you know I have confronted you got
to have a fence that you gotta have a fake
Instagram because that instagram of yours is too light.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I couldn't find nothing on there because.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
I keep it light.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Now look at let me, but you see that. How
do you make? I was like, I got.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
You know, I know you see. Oh this is my water.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Oh today my new manicure.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
I really can't.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
I really care people.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I'm like, stop the madness.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I scrolled.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I stuff in my story because what I get in
my story, I can be like a little clowny and
I'll put some ridiculous too.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
I post every day of my story. I could go
one two weeks without posting on my grip.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
But you I go mine to your post.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
I scrolled twice and I was in twenty twenty three.
I said we're going on because I also was recently
like let me light it even more. Started taking things
out from like black lives, you know, real specific stuff.
I was like, let me get rid of some of
this every day stuff and a lot of power stuff
I took out because she was like tomorrow next week.
Oh no, of course later on, Like I tell my
(23:13):
DJ friends, like, can you archive all those flyers please?
Speaker 3 (23:17):
That party was fly three months.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Ago and it's so busy it's give a lesson on
those flyers. I mean, like too much information?
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Archive that correct tower correct.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
The most feisty as sister ever. Yo, you were running
me and my sister.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Because my sister be trying to fight my husband because
let me tell you, because pas Valdez was put there
so that she would represent everything. The audience already knew
she was and that have because my sister was like
blind to it, and so she knew it before, you know,
and the audience do it before she Angela did.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
So that's why they put me there to keep it real.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Did they bring you in after they were like, let's
bring her in or you were there the whole time?
Speaker 1 (24:02):
No, I was there the whole time.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
I I had actually little known fact auditioned for Angela
in LA and met everyone and they were like, oh
my god. And then I didn't get it, and then
I was on orange and doing other stuff and then
they asked me to come back into audition for pause
(24:25):
for her sister.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
And I was like, what do I have to audition again?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
They know me, you know, what's the vibes? I was like,
what else can I possibly do? And my manager had
another client on this. He was like, oh no, that's
just what they're doing. You know.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
They called my client in three times, just do it.
But I showed up and yeah, so they brought me
into you know, make it real to bring New York
and New York.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Bro you really brought it because.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
I'm the only one there was from New York.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
I remember my husband, He's like, y'all can't stand the sister.
You can't see I said, why are you worried because
she's blowing up? Why because you're blowing up because you
were like because.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
You were like hating that I knew and I was blowing.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Up ghosts exactly. The whole brow thing is what he
was doing. The whole broth was speaking truth, spelling facts
right exactly.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
I had so much.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Gholst was a good guys, like, she does what she
needs to do.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
That is hilarious.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
You have a lot of fun on that show.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Because when I met when I met Leela Lauren that
played Angela, I had to show I was going to Italy.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
I had to show up to take pictures, you know,
for props before I.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Left, and we were like she was like hi, Hi,
and like out and we were like, I got got
that guy.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
She had spent some time in Italy and she was like,
oh my god.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
So we like talked about that and then like because
it wasn't my show, like anytime I showed up, I
was just a guest, so I wasn't caught up.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Then he caught up and whatever. So it was always
like a vacation, like Hi, it was like a day.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
We would have the best time and it was really
great to see people and and and just like work
with with Leela and just have like it was usually
like one day.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
And so it was like, you know, when you're visiting,
it's so different, No, it is.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
That's like me, I don't come into the station every day,
so when I come do you know that?
Speaker 1 (26:44):
So I know exactly, you know, we're opposed to like
five days a year, Like I got to talk to
you about.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Please exactly now. In Orange, I felt like you were
so young to be Dasha's mom then, but it makes sense.
It was like maybe she was a teen mom.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Is that you know?
Speaker 1 (27:01):
How they do with latinas.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Because I'm nobod my money, but I love the character
was you was a bullbuster and that was like that
first season people are like, I hate you. I was like, nah,
you're making sure what needs to be handled. When you
were like family meeting, I was like your family meeting,
yell in jail.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
So when I had fun in a different way with
that show at first, when when when I got that audition,
I was like, gonna.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I almost said no to it as well, because I
was like, did you feel well?
Speaker 2 (27:34):
I had just come out of like it was a
couple like a year after the Tony like two years
after the Tony's. I had just done a show, a
series called Prime Suspect that I was. I played a detective,
and I was like, I'm not feeling myself. And I
was like, I'm not trying to.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
I'm not trying to.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
You felt like you were kind of like revert. You
were going back. Absolutely, I feel I feel you.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
And then I was like, Okay, the only reason I'm
doing this is because it's some net thing. No one's
gonna watch it.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Ha, yeah right, I'm rewatching it now. And also I
was like everyone's in prison you.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Know, I was like whatever, and so then no one
told any of us what it was gonna be, and
I was a recur and then that thing blew up
so much.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
And when I got the script that I had like
three children from three different baby daddies, I was beside myself.
You were like.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Myself, I know.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
But what the show did for Latina's absolutely.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Like oh yeah, that was like But also for women,
it was that same thing as the other day, where
like you don't even realize what's missing until you like surrounded,
and then.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
You're like, oh, this is a real thing inside my
soul that's missing, do you know. And because it had as.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Many seasons as it had that it was able to
give stories and have the show brilliantly reflect people's lives
and give them like multi dimensional three D worlds, you know,
and thank goodness that I was able to get one too.
You know, at first, you're like what, but they were
able to show and create real people and real human beings.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Yeah, and it's very important. I work with women in prison,
you know, making their transition. They're regular women, like you know,
they're real human beings. You know, they're you know, they're
bilified and didn't demonize them. No, they regular ass moms
and sisters and daughters, and the way Orange let us
see you know, behind the scenes, and then.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
It all makes sense and really end up caring for them.
It's not that you're a bad person and that's why
you're there. It's your circumstances. That's what we do as humans.
I think we initially all judge, whether we want to
or not. We have preconceived notions and biases. And then
like the brilliant of the show. The brilliance of that
show was because it wasn't anything that was like no one,
(30:08):
no one was killing people, you know.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
They were, It wasn't dexter right.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
It was like you got to like judge them all
and then really really then through the years go back
and care for those women and really even feel for them,
which is brilliant. It is.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
I mean, you know, yeah, you did something the show.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
And when I got out of prison, girl, that was
the best because I was like, get better out there
because I would only work like one day also an episode,
and they let me come up with all the clowny
stuff I wanted to.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
I love that, and they would just be like and
I would just be like, what, like do you It
was like what? It was just so much.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
I would just be like coming up with the most
ridiculous stuff because you So when I'm Ona and they.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Let me in, I was like, thank you so much
making my job easy.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
When I got out of prison at the end, at
the end, when I went back and like, no, the
day I was getting out of prison and the guy
that was directing that episode, I was like, when I
was saying goodbye to.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Before I went back into prison, I was like, can
I moon walk out? And he was like I was like, please,
just do it, just do it, just do it. Come on,
that's ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
But it worked, you know it, and it's you, and
that's calculator move walking out of prison. Listen, if I
was being let out of prison, walk out that much too.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Facts.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Now you're such a creative. All's well in New York.
How did that come to be?
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Talk to me.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I watched it, I felt it, I wanted more. I'm
I can't this be a series?
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Right?
Speaker 3 (31:50):
So Jordan Yoda?
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Right? So how did that come along? So this guy
Ben Snyder, he is a writer in our theater company.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
He did a film a few years ago, a few
years before call eleven fifty five okay, and I was
shooting Orange and he had written this part. The Victor
was in Victor Yeah, yeah, and so and other people,
you know, Dominic Cologne had a little par see Tolmundo,
(32:27):
and so Ben had asked me if I would do
this part. He had written this part for me, and
I was like, I read the script and it was
pretty good, and I was kind of impressed. And I
was like, whether this film ever gets seen or not,
the scene chemick that they wrote for me Jordon Nasa
Lavaje better.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
They made it later seem like a really grounded.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
You were like, how did this happen? Like a Lada
was so like you were impressed with.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Your sessionally like aware compared to that other woman.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
And there was a scene in this barbershop where I
just go off trying to like like care of take
care of my It's so good. And I was like, well, regardless,
this is gonna be a good scene and I want
the scene. And so we did it and it was great,
and you know, David's As was also in it, and
(33:18):
like it was a lot of fun and it was
like in the middle of me shooting of course, a
big episode, But I digress. When I saw the film,
I was so impressed with It was Victor's first film,
you know, Get You, and Shirley Roominecke was in it.
She was beautiful, and Johnny Legs is in it.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Anyway, So.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
When I finally saw it, I was so impressed with
how what was cut out of it was cut out
and how well it was handled in terms of what
it needed and what it didn't. The editing was top tier, yeah,
in terms of like all of it, in terms of
making it the best it could be. And for that
(34:10):
to be the first film for somebody is huge because
it's either like dem see how too much writing, too
many scenes, too much of this, not enough of that AnyWho.
So he wanted to work with me, you know, and
for years he was like, what do you want to do?
You know, you want to do something like you want
to do a play, do you want to do a series?
You want to do stuff about you wanted to go
back and do like, you.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
Know, hip hop stuff.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
And we would talk and we would get together and
like we wouldn't come up with stuff. We would just
like end up talking about life and our families. And
we realized that even though we came up so differently.
He's younger and grew up in San Francisco. He's a
Jewish kid, but super like into hip hop's like and
(34:53):
like politically all the things, like serving all the causes.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
I was like, these are the people I.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Want to work with in the lab. I was like,
I want to work you know. Like He's like, who
do you want to work with? And I was like,
I think that I gave a list. There was a
couple of other people in the list, and I was like,
it'd be amazing if we did a film with Daphnie
and Liza.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
We're all playing sisters.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
And so then we just started gathering stories and then
he it was really written so differently. He went to
them and it was like, do you want to be
part of this process? So we just gathered stories where
there was stories about people we knew or people we
had heard of that people we could play around our age,
whether we heard about these stories when we were young
or now, and so it was it was a real
(35:41):
profound process, and we gathered these stories.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Ben created a.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Outline, and then Ben and I started writing, and we
just did this process and this thing came together and
then the money showed up and I was like, oh shit,
is this really really happening?
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Like right right now? It was crazy girl?
Speaker 3 (36:02):
Which storyline was part of your real life?
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Oh? I don't want to tell you.
Speaker 3 (36:06):
You don't want to tell me.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
I'll tell you.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
You tell me about you have to see it.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
I'll tell you have to you see it.
Speaker 3 (36:10):
I've been seeing it.
Speaker 4 (36:11):
What do you know? You?
Speaker 1 (36:12):
All right? Right right, all right, right right.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
So there were stories, there were different stories, there were
difference I'll tell you it's kindie related to you or
do you just have the same last name?
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Not at all?
Speaker 2 (36:22):
No?
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Yeah, yeah, like I was. It was incredible the process
of like.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
Of like showing up with like the process of casting
for me after doing this for so long, realizing on
the other side, like how much I always knew it
wasn't about me, but how much you know, you see
so much talent, how much wasn't about me? And like
realizing like from now on, I'm going to show up
(36:50):
to auditions and just be like listen, if it's not me,
it's okay, just tell me now, don't waste my time.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
We don't see it. God bless you. But also like
that whole process the process of editing. I've never known something.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
So so you were super handsy being and like, I
was there every day.
Speaker 2 (37:10):
That I wasn't filming. When I was filming, I was
just an actress. When I wasn't filming, I was like next.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
To Ben like.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
And I was also like we were sort of there
were times that we were both directing, you know, but
I led him because I didn't want people to, you know,
get confused. But it was extraordinary. So this there was
a lot of storylines that were part of my life.
The storyline of our brother dying was a storyline that
is very close to home with my father, and that
ended up being really evocative. When I was there the
(37:40):
day that we were doing it. It's not necessarily, but
I was like whost and having a moment like oh, talking.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
About blood and I was just like, Oh, I got
to get out of here right now. I needs to
take a walk.
Speaker 4 (37:48):
You're like.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
It was crazy.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
And also some of the storylines were not about her,
but people in story she knew that I used. He
told me that Liza's were ours and were her stories
about family, and it just felt so real, real, real, real, real,
real real because it was Daphne and I were talking.
(38:15):
She was kind of like a little bit like, you know,
some people might have said it was a little too
dark or whatever.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
I'm like, it wasn't at all. But also it was perfect.
How about this we.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
Thought we were writing. We set off to write a drama.
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Y Well, I laughed a couple of times, and then
I was like, hmm, I guess we care.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
We gotta get real real and there might be some
laughter in between.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
But like nuancing, even those scenes you know with Liza
when we find out, you know, in the hospital, like
nuancing that scene, so it could still be real and
profound because she I knew she would be able to
you know, we know. I've known her forever. I know
what she's done. I've done plays with her, like we
know for years. I've been like, girl, please, we know, no,
(39:01):
we know what we could do.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (39:03):
And you guys all's well in New York. You guys
totally killed it. And if you're listening to this episode
right now, I want to watch this movie. Amazon Prime has.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
It, yes, so you can.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
And getting Bobby kind of Volley amazing.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
He's hilarious about the umpires. He was amazing.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
Yeah, and we did that play Motherfucker Tony. When we
did that play together, now I want to see it,
didn't know. Yeah, we did that play together. So that
was really amazing. And I love I got crazy love
for him and Max Cassella is always incredible. Everybody in
that everybody, no one is so blessed what people gave
us the apartments like it looked. Really, it is the
(39:43):
community that came together that I had no idea that
we would be able to as a group get was bananas.
Speaker 4 (39:51):
And it brings us right back to where we started.
Community support, just being there for each other. And you know,
it's amazing it is that it came out. Everything was
so authentic, the storylines, the acting, everything. Thank you if
you're listening right now, make a little note on your phone.
All's well in New York on Amazon Prime.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
Yes, all is well? One word.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
Because it was taking me forever. I kept put it
as well, I'm like, where is this movie now? Celebrity charades.
I saw that you just posted. Yeah they posted, yeah,
well they posted, you reposted. And then goodness they used
the talk to Me, a good picture song, a print song.
Oh the song that they paid I said, I needed
to say yes to that picture. Okay, so you pre
(40:33):
approved that picture. No, They're like, I okayed it, you
look good. I was like, yes, that lipstick is good looking,
like ruby Woo for mad. So what goes down at
celebrity charades? I saw it and I went on the
website and I'm like, what are they going to do
on that day? And where We've been around forever as
a lot as a theater company, and it is real hard,
especially post COVID, to get anything produced. Usually takes two
(41:02):
or three collaborations with more than one theater company to
try to get things produced.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Usually had a loss for money. We get some grants,
we do all this stuff with education, but.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
To create and produce a night to try to raise funds,
it's always like so much money. They did a huge
article on like is it worth doing these these events?
And do you make your money back? And it's basically
to try to raise money, and so you literally play charades.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
You got four teams and I hate it. I hate it.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
I do it because because I don't like being unprepared,
and like, you cannot be more unprepared than charades.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
You have no control with sharades, child and.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
People and we show up and we are like so competitive.
We'd be like, what is it so we all need
to be this? We need to buy or takes so
much fun. Ben Stiller is gonna show up. Oh get out,
I'm sold. Yeah, Ben Silla just said yes, Dephnitely Vegas
on board. We're gonna Liza colonez Its is gonna announce
(42:05):
an award, David.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Z Its is gonna play.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
You know, I'm hoping to get a couple of more,
like you know, we're hoping to get some of the
people eating Hawk.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
I'm hoping. I'm I'm hoping.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
This is already a solid lineup.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
It's amazing. It's a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (42:20):
And you know, if you can't get a table seat,
you can get like a bar hangout and you can
be in it. It's like a couple of hours.
Speaker 4 (42:28):
And you're listening to the podcast and the podcast description,
I'm gonna put a link so that you can get tickets.
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Amazing.
Speaker 4 (42:33):
And you know what if you're if you're watching right
now on YouTube, right down there, there's gonna be a
link also so you can get this Titus and Ballroom.
Speaker 1 (42:39):
It's gonna be a lot of fun. It's fun it's
a lot of fun. We be up there clowning get
so you just be doing all of it.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
We're gonna like sounds like we're gonna pull up and
we're gonna have a good time.
Speaker 1 (42:52):
And the money is for the theater company.
Speaker 2 (42:55):
You know. We try to hraise money so that we
can continue the education, which is getting Brown people.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
All kind of peace. I am able to come in and.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
Learn about theater, learn write their own story so they
could create their own labyrinth and have their own voices
and empowerment.
Speaker 3 (43:12):
And that's what we're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Man, We're gonna support you know, celebrity charades twenty plus years.
That is crazy now that we're still around. It almost
we almost died a few times.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
And listen, we're also proud of you, you know, the
entire crew Labyrinth Theater.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
The way that you guys are putting latinos alto is
just you know, it's something that we thank you for.
And you know, I thank you for sitting down with
me today.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
Man, You're dope. Keep doing what you're doing. And Grassias
Come Again. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (43:42):
Grassiers Come Again is a production of Honey German Productions
in partnership with Iheart's micro, through the podcast network,
Grassiers Come Again, a podcast by Honey German.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Ying Benidos to another episode of Grassiers Come Again.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
I'm excited today.
Speaker 4 (00:13):
I'm talking to Tony nominated SAG winner Elizabeth Frodriguez.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Welcome, Hello, Hello, I'm so happy to be here. Fel
beautiful today. Thank you? So you girl? How you feeling?
Are you hot? A story?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Summer's here?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It is a hot, humid day in New York.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
The curls are still popping, no worries.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
No word of the block. And I would have been like.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Why are you actually like you're not born and raised
New York girl, but we have going the wrong way
on the avenues.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I know, girl, because you.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Know, sometimes it's always of like if you're stressing and
you don't ground yourself, you forget yourself. All of a
sudden you look up and you're like, You're like, how
did I get.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
To am on Riverside? I'm supposed to be on Second Avenue.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Jersey City Broadway star Yes, actor kind of kind of advocate.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
A little bit, a lot all of it.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
I feel I feel like you're all up in that
when it comes to you know, advocacy, equity, you know,
representation for Latinos and it's crazy that it's twenty twenty
five and we're still having this discussion.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Ma'am ridiculous, Imah not there.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Do you sometimes feel like this is a problem that's
never gonna get solved?
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, I didn't even think it would be.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
I would never have imagined that I'd wake up in
twenty twenty five and be like, is this really what
the world is? We're talking about women issues and rights
and you know, other issues and brown and you know,
track right all the.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Issue this today. I'm like, it's a little bit of
a nightmare.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
When you think back and you're like a Walitaes and
our moms were out here, you know, in the same.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Lives, and you're like, what, who Where's I didn't know
that was that much crazy, but clearly there is.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Let's talk Tony nominations. Let's like, how amazing was that?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
I know, and the Tony's were announced yesterday. I had
a lot of nostalgia when.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
I've easeda social club.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I know, I know, and I saw I just happened
to see real women have curves just a day before
the nominations. And I've known Justina for a million years
and so so I know me too. I wish the
young lady that played her daughter would have been nominated
because she was pretty amazing too, But like here we are.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
But we'll take it.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
We can't win on all the Listen when I saw,
you know, real women have curves, and when I Vista
Social Club, I was like, it's kind of like happening.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
A little bit.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, That's how I felt like.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
When in The Height and Westside Story we're coming out
the same year. I was like, I was shooting in Brooklyn,
I was shooting Power and they were shooting Westside Story
in one of the one of the studios, and it
took all I wanted to like climb inside, and I
remember being like so full of joy, like this is
happening next year, these both will be out at the
(02:59):
same time.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
In the Heights was amazing. I remember when that was happening.
I was like wow, and.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
The production was just so big. We were so represented.
I like the way we were represented.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
You know, some people you know have a little.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
What was it brown?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
It was brown, yet black and brown was not represented
there you go. I remember, it became this whole thing
because that's how we do it. We like to divide no, no, no, no.
Joined the end of representation matters. But you know, let's
support it. Let's not tear it down. Let's not make
it a.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Big issue where you know it, don't make it public
and it overshadows what was done, you know. And absolutely Miranda,
you know, Anthony Ramos Dao, like a lot of us, were,
Daphne my homegirl.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I love her. I know she is amazing. Her voice
is everything.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
I know. She's like, hey, so amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
I absolutely love her, and I love you your capricorn.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Right maybe so.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I also want to point out that Daphnie Ruben Vega
Dollar was in my movie that I wrote and co
Wrot produced.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Alls Well in New York were.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
About it okay, and it needed because we talked about
Daffy and also I was gonna say something.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Oh and when we were talking about theater.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
I'm also an Obie winner.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Listen, listen, listen, listen. All the accolades matter, you know, accolades.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Obi, because that happened while I was in We were
in COVID and it was so surreal. Me and Liza
colonse Is both won for this play because it was
off Broadway called Can We Curse On This it's called
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven, and it was done
off Broadway and we won this and we like it
was surreal because you're stuck in this world and you're
doing a zoom to be like, oh hey, thank you,
(04:53):
very very surreal.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
But it happened. It did in the heights.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Happened during COVID too, like the release right right, right,
right right. A lot happened, know, but we took it
in and you know, we just adjusted. I hope that
never happens again.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Like how insane still adjusting?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Like I'm like sometimes when I see people with masks
on still, I'm like, I have a mask right rest
someone I know who gets COVID.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Oh my god, I can't get COVID.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
It's insane that people are still getting COVID. But you know,
the beauty of us that people aren't dying the way
that they were not absolutely m I don't want to
get dark.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I don't want to no, no, no no, We're here
to celebrate Friday night.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Listen.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Yeah, shout out to you for pulling up man, you know,
because it's important, you know that I sit down with
people like you know that are just newcomers. But people
have paved the way, like I feel like with acting
and you know, with the Labyrinth Theater and you know
what you guys all have going on. It's like it
makes me so proud and it gives me the hope
of like wow, you know, if we stick together, we
(05:50):
can continue to grow because I feel like we are
the Latin majority but others don't.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
But we're changing that perception.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, And all we can do is show because it's
always in hindsight right where you're like, oh, I was
part of this thing, and this thing has become this
thing individually and communatively because we're just doing our thing
and finding your people, and all of a sudden you
look back and you reflect and it becomes a thing
or like so many people in their own journey grow
(06:20):
and create and get to these heights where you're like wow,
and it becomes part of like your history. You're like
your fabric, your fiber.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
When like, like, you know, there's so many people in
the Labyrinth Theater, John Ortiz or Castillo, Liza, and these
are like David Zay's Daphnie obviously, these people, Judy rays Anorties,
these people are like genuine people that I love and
like I've known for so long, and time goes by
(06:53):
so fast where you're just like, if you ever work
with them, it's so different because there's already like a
deep love and respect that goes beyond their work and
it's like their family. So your joy for them is
on another level as well.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yeah, you feel it. You're like, Yo, that's my bro,
it's mine. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
When they win those awards, you're clapping extra hard. No,
we met at Latina's Acting Up. Yes, how dope was
that event?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I know, I was looking around.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
I was like, imagine all of us together pushing one project.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I know it's out of here. I know, nobody stop it.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
No, it was really great, and I mean I saw
women there that I hadn't seen in decades. That like,
it's bizarre also because I was meeting new women like yourself,
but also like you're like, oh, you see these women
and it's a bit timeless, you know, You're just like
and like, you know, I'm taking pictures sending them to people.
They're like, oh my god, I can't.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Then that also brings me to like we have to
do these type of things. We have to get together.
And it's like even Daja after the event, you know,
she was like, I feel so good like her cup felt,
you know, filled up, and I'm like, you know, we
tend to forget that we have such amazing women in
our circle and we're all busy living our own lives Causeie,
you know, you're an actress, you're a director, you're a photographer,
(08:14):
and we don't come together and realize our power and
the support that we have, you know, and then we
need to give each other as soon as it's the
biggest thing.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
As soon as you have a project, you like, honey,
I got this project. What are we doing? I'm like,
talk to me, which radio station you need to come to?
What magazine we putting this in? What website? Who do
I need to talk to? And we fail? And sometimes
as Latinos, we'll be like you.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
And also I think for me, what happens is you know,
like Lisa, also Lisa, I have known for like a
part of that world and seeing people. She was like, Hey,
you gonna are you gonna be able to do this thing?
Blah blah blah blah blah. And I was like I
flew back the day before from La to be there.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Oh nice.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
But also what was said was.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Like, you know, you can't just be like, oh hey,
promote me and then ghost and be out.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Absolutely, and I think that's the biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
I find that as part of every bit of my world,
even with my girlfriends, you know, like sometimes I'm like
if I'm not there to support them, like not even
because life happens. It is not even on purpose, but
I am so aware that I can't then be like, oh, yeah, hey,
what are you doing today? Can we hang like out
of the blue? And it works on every level personally
(09:28):
and absolutely professionally. You just can't. You have to stay
in the game and be a cheerleader. If you want
someone to cheer you back. It's a it's just energy.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
It's avoid You can't just be like, hi, how about me,
whether it's women or men. I've had people show up
atter know and be like, hey, you want to come
to my movie. I'm like, dude, I haven't heard from
you in decades.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
I give what I mean? I said, can you say
a Mayama?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
I blocked the lead report, I.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Said, Nona.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Day, yeah, Kiel exactly.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
What's the last thank you.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
I kind of come back three times already.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
I gotta came back as that already lived. My best
life could be a ghost she's talking.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
To you know.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
But with me, it's like it's big on, Like what
project do you have? You know, what's going on? What
do we need to promote?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
You know? I first met James Martinez and I was like, Yo,
what are we doing? He told me he was doing
the freestyle play And after that I was like, whatever
you need that's amazing. Do we need to put it
up on k TU, our radio station that plays freestyle?
Speaker 3 (10:43):
All right, no problem? So I got all them.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
I'm like, listen, guys, please do an article for this,
Please talk about this on the radio. Please put this
on your Instagram, Please put this on your Twitter. And
when I went, Judy Torres told me she was like, Yo,
there was so much more movement after you got involved.
But which also how amazing that she being as she
does it and and and it takes over that she
couldn't get be.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Like yo, hello, hi hello.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Well sometimes when it's our project, right, we kind of
like fall back and be like this is true.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
They'll realize you, they'll realize what.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
It is, or we like feel a little like it's
easier to promote somebody else's think because oh, take your
personal when they like reject us.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
And that's a fact, and that's why sometimes it takes
somebody in your circle to be like, Yo, did you
not realize what she's doing?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
I need this everywhere?
Speaker 4 (11:29):
I need this on the radio, I need this on
the website, I need this on Instagram. And then there's
movement and then she feels supported and then she's excited
about it, and then she could go run with it. Yeah, no,
one hundred percent, And I get it.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
I feel the same way I've been at this. Like
I joked around him, and I'm like, you know, blowing
my own horn. But the truth of the matter is,
as you should, I don't.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
I can do it for everyone, and it's you know,
I think a lot of it is.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
I'm kind of like the same way I think it's embedded.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
In us, right.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
It's sort of micro and macro in terms of like
humility and learning the difference between humility and and like
finding the balance because you can be you can have
humility and.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Also be like, oh wait, I've also done this and
this and this, and it was a long.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Ride to get there, and it's really hard, right because
I think also how you raise and they're like or whatever,
but like right, But it's also like when anyone ever
is like Ahi, Elizabeth Rodriguez and they.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Read my imbn D.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Yeah, anytime anyone's reading that or like doing a whole
another bit, and this is I'm just I swear, I'm like,
this is bizarre because I never look at it, right,
your intro or something an intro.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
I'm always like, is that me?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
That's so like it doesn't connect. I keep saying, one day,
when I retire and I have all the time in
the world, I'll do my own retrospective and I'll have
the space to be able to be like me, you know. Okay,
he said, but there has to be a little bit
of that as well, of like walking with that, right,
because all the for every accolade or accomplishment, there've been
(13:08):
hundreds of rejections and heartaches and all the other things,
and you don't have to work hard on feeling those
those come through you so deep.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
And why is it that you know, the accomplishments don't
feel that deep.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Feel sort of out here is a very bizarre thing
for me to sort of like wrap my brain around,
and I'm still trying to understand and open.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Up to it.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
It's crazy that you say that, because I was a
guest on a podcast and they were doing an intro
and the guy was going on and on and on
and on and on about all these things I've done,
and I'm.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Like, can I get that? Can I take that?
Speaker 1 (13:45):
You're like, who are they talking to me?
Speaker 3 (13:47):
When did I do all this?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
And I was just talking to my sister yesterday and
I was like, you know, because I'm not a big deal.
And then she's like, well, this person seems to.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Think you're a very big deal. And I'm like me, okay, right,
I'll be at the house.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Yeah, I hear you.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I feel you on that.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
But it also keeps you grounded and it keeps you humble,
because once people start feeling themselves and feeling super gass,
then they become intolerable.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Yeah, and that's why.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
But I think there's a balance right of like trying
to find which I'm so hopefully out fine before I die,
of like not making it about your ego, right, because
that's when you're like intolerable when you're walking around about
because that's empty that's some bullshit about like am I
(14:34):
like please, Like, I'm not impressed people impress me seeing
them knowing what they're all.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
About, their values blah blah blah blah blah blah blah,
having real conversations.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
But I think when people go into like taka ka kaka,
I can't even because I can see right through that.
And I think the balance is being able to know
and own it, but not own it like wear it
in your sleeves, bid or own it and walk with
that too, because sometimes you walk into spaces and you
feel like you don't belong or whatever we all have
(15:06):
in security or whatever walking into But like I think
if if like we if we knew and we were
able to connect to that a little bit.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
To be like just.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Right there is there is a disconnect. Yeah, I feel
you because sometimes I walk into rooms where I was
invited and where people are expecting me, and I'm like,
(15:41):
why am I here?
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Do people know I'm there? Do people know who I am?
Speaker 2 (15:45):
I'm also like when people are like, oh, I'm sorry,
I never saw that, I'm like it doesn't matter to me, right,
because I'm also like I give respect and expect respect
no matter who's in that room and whoever they did,
what they did or they don't haven't done, has no bearing.
I mean, I could be a fan of someone's work,
but but like being impressed with like, oh you're such
(16:07):
and such. I mean, you know, there are some actors
I'm like, oh my god, and then you're just like
but if I find out they're idiots, then they're like
really talented idiots.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
You know, And it happens.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
I've met hundreds and hundreds of celebrities in this building.
I've never I don't feel like I've ever kind of
like went up to anybody like I'm a fan. I'm
a fan who I love John leg because I'm like,
you make it okay, I'm but he has that energy.
He immediately is like hey, yeah, he gives it back
(16:43):
to you.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
You know, he's definitely done. We're overdue.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
We haven't sat down since Latin History for Moro for Morons,
and it was just that show right there was amazing.
When I reached the Social Club, I'm so happy for him.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
I know that he's a producer.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
I wanted to talk to him and they were like,
he doesn't want to be the face of it. I'm like,
come on, And I was like, you know what, forget it,
don't worry about it.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
And I understand him. He wants, you know, the actors
on stage to be the face of it. He doesn't
want to take away from them. And I respect that
so much.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
I was like, you know what, and.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
You know, maybe one day, if it doesn't sell, he'll
show up. Never know, if the sales.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Start going down, he'll be like, honey, after these, after
these ten Tony nominations, you know, you never know.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yes, I don't know, but hopefully not.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
No.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I went. I just felt so emotional. I know, the music.
It was just like you know, and there was all.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
The tourists, and there was all the white people and
they were so happy and they were clapping, and it
was just like and I'm like, I just feel it,
like in a different way.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
I felt like crying while I was there. I felt
like crying.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I absolutely understand that feeling of like, just like it's
such a deep, deep love and pride right so many
parts of us. You're just like I'm being seen, I'm
being celebrated, my people, my history, my people's people.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
It just felt so good. I was just like, yo,
I'm bugging out, like I feel like crying right now,
and I like that day, I would.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Have probably been at home like till three in the
morning alone.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
It was just so I love theater. You started in theater.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
I didn't.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
It's weird that I didn't start in theater because I
was going I was paying.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
I was when I was going to college.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I was also working full time when you were leaving college.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Yeah, I was working full time. Where were you alone?
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Where were you working?
Speaker 2 (18:35):
I need to know in restaurants, girl on the preside,
And so I was working at nights, ok, And I
was living alone, and so there was theaters at night.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
I was like, I can't afford to do theater. I
need to make money out there, like I could do.
So it took a minute, like by the time I
did theater.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
My friends were like, people were like, you've never done theater,
and then it was an off Broadway thing.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Don't mind me. I feel like everyone starts in theater.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
No, I'm because it's crazy how much theater I ultimately
ended up doing. I would have, and the only reason
I didn't is because I couldn't a room. I didn't know,
I couldn't afford I was already you were out here
being a grown.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
You're in lios No, Upper East, Okay, right, I'm i'man
mommy popy, mommy puppy.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
My grandmother and my father raised me, and I lived, yeah,
and my parents were divorced when I was about three
or four, and so it was my paternal grandmother and
so you know, it was a fractured household. I had
an older brother, and you know, I started working at
thirteen hanging clubbing.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
When people were like, what were your clubs?
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Talk to me. I'm born and raised in New York.
I'm gonna Palladium or my clubs were ten eighteen? Okay,
Uh what.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
I'm like browing ninety six? No, girl, No, I didn't
really like the limelight.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I like no.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I liked and I used to go to you know,
I used to hang out with rock steady.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Girl.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Okay, she's like, can you bring it back a little
bit more.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I'm like, I'm bringing a real back. I'm like, I
was a child, my my friends. Where else did I go? Uh?
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Five the Rosy when it came ten eighteen, and then
I got to go to I got to go to
Studio fifty four Old to the V four before it reopened.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
That's how young I was clubbing, but about the garage
and to the loft because my brother's friends were so.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Much older than me. Oh so I got to go
to Danceyria because my brother. Really, let me tell you
what my brother did.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
They used to give these.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Passes out, like these passes that you like stay stamp
like a vi P. And he was like so smart
and criminal minded.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
He got a stamp made of the face, and then
he got red and black and he had these things laminated.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
And I had my own dance interior pass.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
He gave it to like three or four people what
thirteen years old? Talking about let me in Maine, all right?
To make believe I was like punk rock You're like
what okay? Black?
Speaker 1 (21:33):
I was like a dance hip hop, punk rocky girl.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
How did this happen? Because musica?
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Because I was like, yeah, it was a little like
euro invasion.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
What are we talking? Like the door my people in.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Excess, We talked all the things finding my people uptown
and there was more than one Elizabeth, So I became
punk rock punk rock list really.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Elizabeth, So they need to you know, differentiate, she said,
you're they gave it to me. They were like your
punk rock list.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
I was like, fine, I need to see pictures.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Oh my god, you know I have confronted you got
to have a fence that you gotta have a fake
Instagram because that instagram of yours is too light.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I couldn't find nothing on there because.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
I keep it light.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Now look at let me, but you see that. How
do you make? I was like, I got.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
You know, I know you see. Oh this is my water.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Oh today my new manicure.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
I really can't.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
I really care people.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I'm like, stop the madness.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I scrolled.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I stuff in my story because what I get in
my story, I can be like a little clowny and
I'll put some ridiculous too.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
I post every day of my story. I could go
one two weeks without posting on my grip.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
But you I go mine to your post.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
I scrolled twice and I was in twenty twenty three.
I said we're going on because I also was recently
like let me light it even more. Started taking things
out from like black lives, you know, real specific stuff.
I was like, let me get rid of some of
this every day stuff and a lot of power stuff
I took out because she was like tomorrow next week.
Oh no, of course later on, Like I tell my
(23:13):
DJ friends, like, can you archive all those flyers please?
Speaker 3 (23:17):
That party was fly three months.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Ago and it's so busy it's give a lesson on
those flyers. I mean, like too much information?
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Archive that correct tower correct.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
The most feisty as sister ever. Yo, you were running
me and my sister.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Because my sister be trying to fight my husband because
let me tell you, because pas Valdez was put there
so that she would represent everything. The audience already knew
she was and that have because my sister was like
blind to it, and so she knew it before, you know,
and the audience do it before she Angela did.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
So that's why they put me there to keep it real.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Did they bring you in after they were like, let's
bring her in or you were there the whole time?
Speaker 1 (24:02):
No, I was there the whole time.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
I I had actually little known fact auditioned for Angela
in LA and met everyone and they were like, oh
my god. And then I didn't get it, and then
I was on orange and doing other stuff and then
they asked me to come back into audition for pause
(24:25):
for her sister.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
And I was like, what do I have to audition again?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
They know me, you know, what's the vibes? I was like,
what else can I possibly do? And my manager had
another client on this. He was like, oh no, that's
just what they're doing. You know.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
They called my client in three times, just do it.
But I showed up and yeah, so they brought me
into you know, make it real to bring New York
and New York.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Bro you really brought it because.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
I'm the only one there was from New York.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
I remember my husband, He's like, y'all can't stand the sister.
You can't see I said, why are you worried because
she's blowing up? Why because you're blowing up because you
were like because.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
You were like hating that I knew and I was blowing.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Up ghosts exactly. The whole brow thing is what he
was doing. The whole broth was speaking truth, spelling facts
right exactly.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
I had so much.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
Gholst was a good guys, like, she does what she
needs to do.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
That is hilarious.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
You have a lot of fun on that show.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Because when I met when I met Leela Lauren that
played Angela, I had to show I was going to Italy.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
I had to show up to take pictures, you know,
for props before I.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Left, and we were like she was like hi, Hi,
and like out and we were like, I got got
that guy.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
She had spent some time in Italy and she was like,
oh my god.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
So we like talked about that and then like because
it wasn't my show, like anytime I showed up, I
was just a guest, so I wasn't caught up.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Then he caught up and whatever. So it was always
like a vacation, like Hi, it was like a day.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
We would have the best time and it was really
great to see people and and and just like work
with with Leela and just have like it was usually
like one day.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
And so it was like, you know, when you're visiting,
it's so different, No, it is.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
That's like me, I don't come into the station every day,
so when I come do you know that?
Speaker 1 (26:44):
So I know exactly, you know, we're opposed to like
five days a year, Like I got to talk to
you about.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Please exactly now. In Orange, I felt like you were
so young to be Dasha's mom then, but it makes sense.
It was like maybe she was a teen mom.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Is that you know?
Speaker 1 (27:01):
How they do with latinas.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Because I'm nobod my money, but I love the character
was you was a bullbuster and that was like that
first season people are like, I hate you. I was like, nah,
you're making sure what needs to be handled. When you
were like family meeting, I was like your family meeting,
yell in jail.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
So when I had fun in a different way with
that show at first, when when when I got that audition,
I was like, gonna.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I almost said no to it as well, because I
was like, did you feel well?
Speaker 2 (27:34):
I had just come out of like it was a
couple like a year after the Tony like two years
after the Tony's. I had just done a show, a
series called Prime Suspect that I was. I played a detective,
and I was like, I'm not feeling myself. And I
was like, I'm not trying to.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
I'm not trying to.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
You felt like you were kind of like revert. You
were going back. Absolutely, I feel I feel you.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
And then I was like, Okay, the only reason I'm
doing this is because it's some net thing. No one's
gonna watch it.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Ha, yeah right, I'm rewatching it now. And also I
was like everyone's in prison you.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Know, I was like whatever, and so then no one
told any of us what it was gonna be, and
I was a recur and then that thing blew up
so much.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
And when I got the script that I had like
three children from three different baby daddies, I was beside myself.
You were like.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Myself, I know.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
But what the show did for Latina's absolutely.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Like oh yeah, that was like But also for women,
it was that same thing as the other day, where
like you don't even realize what's missing until you like surrounded,
and then.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
You're like, oh, this is a real thing inside my
soul that's missing, do you know. And because it had as.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Many seasons as it had that it was able to
give stories and have the show brilliantly reflect people's lives
and give them like multi dimensional three D worlds, you know,
and thank goodness that I was able to get one too.
You know, at first, you're like what, but they were
able to show and create real people and real human beings.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Yeah, and it's very important. I work with women in prison,
you know, making their transition. They're regular women, like you know,
they're real human beings. You know, they're you know, they're
bilified and didn't demonize them. No, they regular ass moms
and sisters and daughters, and the way Orange let us
see you know, behind the scenes, and then.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
It all makes sense and really end up caring for them.
It's not that you're a bad person and that's why
you're there. It's your circumstances. That's what we do as humans.
I think we initially all judge, whether we want to
or not. We have preconceived notions and biases. And then
like the brilliant of the show. The brilliance of that
show was because it wasn't anything that was like no one,
(30:08):
no one was killing people, you know.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
They were, It wasn't dexter right.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
It was like you got to like judge them all
and then really really then through the years go back
and care for those women and really even feel for them,
which is brilliant. It is.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
I mean, you know, yeah, you did something the show.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
And when I got out of prison, girl, that was
the best because I was like, get better out there
because I would only work like one day also an episode,
and they let me come up with all the clowny
stuff I wanted to.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
I love that, and they would just be like and
I would just be like, what, like do you It
was like what? It was just so much.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
I would just be like coming up with the most
ridiculous stuff because you So when I'm Ona and they.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Let me in, I was like, thank you so much
making my job easy.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
When I got out of prison at the end, at
the end, when I went back and like, no, the
day I was getting out of prison and the guy
that was directing that episode, I was like, when I
was saying goodbye to.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Before I went back into prison, I was like, can
I moon walk out? And he was like I was like, please,
just do it, just do it, just do it. Come on,
that's ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
But it worked, you know it, and it's you, and
that's calculator move walking out of prison. Listen, if I
was being let out of prison, walk out that much too.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Facts.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Now you're such a creative. All's well in New York.
How did that come to be?
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Talk to me.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I watched it, I felt it, I wanted more. I'm
I can't this be a series?
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Right?
Speaker 3 (31:50):
So Jordan Yoda?
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Right? So how did that come along? So this guy
Ben Snyder, he is a writer in our theater company.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
He did a film a few years ago, a few
years before call eleven fifty five okay, and I was
shooting Orange and he had written this part. The Victor
was in Victor Yeah, yeah, and so and other people,
you know, Dominic Cologne had a little par see Tolmundo,
(32:27):
and so Ben had asked me if I would do
this part. He had written this part for me, and
I was like, I read the script and it was
pretty good, and I was kind of impressed. And I
was like, whether this film ever gets seen or not,
the scene chemick that they wrote for me Jordon Nasa
Lavaje better.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
They made it later seem like a really grounded.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
You were like, how did this happen? Like a Lada
was so like you were impressed with.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Your sessionally like aware compared to that other woman.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
And there was a scene in this barbershop where I
just go off trying to like like care of take
care of my It's so good. And I was like, well, regardless,
this is gonna be a good scene and I want
the scene. And so we did it and it was great,
and you know, David's As was also in it, and
(33:18):
like it was a lot of fun and it was
like in the middle of me shooting of course, a
big episode, But I digress. When I saw the film,
I was so impressed with It was Victor's first film,
you know, Get You, and Shirley Roominecke was in it.
She was beautiful, and Johnny Legs is in it.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Anyway, So.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
When I finally saw it, I was so impressed with
how what was cut out of it was cut out
and how well it was handled in terms of what
it needed and what it didn't. The editing was top tier, yeah,
in terms of like all of it, in terms of
making it the best it could be. And for that
(34:10):
to be the first film for somebody is huge because
it's either like dem see how too much writing, too
many scenes, too much of this, not enough of that AnyWho.
So he wanted to work with me, you know, and
for years he was like, what do you want to do?
You know, you want to do something like you want
to do a play, do you want to do a series?
You want to do stuff about you wanted to go
back and do like, you.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
Know, hip hop stuff.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
And we would talk and we would get together and
like we wouldn't come up with stuff. We would just
like end up talking about life and our families. And
we realized that even though we came up so differently.
He's younger and grew up in San Francisco. He's a
Jewish kid, but super like into hip hop's like and
(34:53):
like politically all the things, like serving all the causes.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
I was like, these are the people I.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Want to work with in the lab. I was like,
I want to work you know. Like He's like, who
do you want to work with? And I was like,
I think that I gave a list. There was a
couple of other people in the list, and I was like,
it'd be amazing if we did a film with Daphnie
and Liza.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
We're all playing sisters.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
And so then we just started gathering stories and then
he it was really written so differently. He went to
them and it was like, do you want to be
part of this process? So we just gathered stories where
there was stories about people we knew or people we
had heard of that people we could play around our age,
whether we heard about these stories when we were young
or now, and so it was it was a real
(35:41):
profound process, and we gathered these stories.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Ben created a.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Outline, and then Ben and I started writing, and we
just did this process and this thing came together and
then the money showed up and I was like, oh shit,
is this really really happening?
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Like right right now? It was crazy girl?
Speaker 3 (36:02):
Which storyline was part of your real life?
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Oh? I don't want to tell you.
Speaker 3 (36:06):
You don't want to tell me.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
I'll tell you.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
You tell me about you have to see it.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
I'll tell you have to you see it.
Speaker 3 (36:10):
I've been seeing it.
Speaker 4 (36:11):
What do you know? You?
Speaker 1 (36:12):
All right? Right right, all right, right right.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
So there were stories, there were different stories, there were
difference I'll tell you it's kindie related to you or
do you just have the same last name?
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Not at all?
Speaker 2 (36:22):
No?
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Yeah, yeah, like I was. It was incredible the process
of like.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
Of like showing up with like the process of casting
for me after doing this for so long, realizing on
the other side, like how much I always knew it
wasn't about me, but how much you know, you see
so much talent, how much wasn't about me? And like
realizing like from now on, I'm going to show up
(36:50):
to auditions and just be like listen, if it's not me,
it's okay, just tell me now, don't waste my time.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
We don't see it. God bless you. But also like
that whole process the process of editing. I've never known something.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
So so you were super handsy being and like, I
was there every day.
Speaker 2 (37:10):
That I wasn't filming. When I was filming, I was
just an actress. When I wasn't filming, I was like next.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
To Ben like.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
And I was also like we were sort of there
were times that we were both directing, you know, but
I led him because I didn't want people to, you know,
get confused. But it was extraordinary. So this there was
a lot of storylines that were part of my life.
The storyline of our brother dying was a storyline that
is very close to home with my father, and that
ended up being really evocative. When I was there the
(37:40):
day that we were doing it. It's not necessarily, but
I was like whost and having a moment like oh, talking.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
About blood and I was just like, Oh, I got
to get out of here right now. I needs to
take a walk.
Speaker 4 (37:48):
You're like.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
It was crazy.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
And also some of the storylines were not about her,
but people in story she knew that I used. He
told me that Liza's were ours and were her stories
about family, and it just felt so real, real, real, real, real,
real real because it was Daphne and I were talking.
(38:15):
She was kind of like a little bit like, you know,
some people might have said it was a little too
dark or whatever.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
I'm like, it wasn't at all. But also it was perfect.
How about this we.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
Thought we were writing. We set off to write a drama.
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Y Well, I laughed a couple of times, and then
I was like, hmm, I guess we care.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
We gotta get real real and there might be some
laughter in between.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
But like nuancing, even those scenes you know with Liza
when we find out, you know, in the hospital, like
nuancing that scene, so it could still be real and
profound because she I knew she would be able to
you know, we know. I've known her forever. I know
what she's done. I've done plays with her, like we
know for years. I've been like, girl, please, we know, no,
(39:01):
we know what we could do.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (39:03):
And you guys all's well in New York. You guys
totally killed it. And if you're listening to this episode
right now, I want to watch this movie. Amazon Prime has.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
It, yes, so you can.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
And getting Bobby kind of Volley amazing.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
He's hilarious about the umpires. He was amazing.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
Yeah, and we did that play Motherfucker Tony. When we
did that play together, now I want to see it,
didn't know. Yeah, we did that play together. So that
was really amazing. And I love I got crazy love
for him and Max Cassella is always incredible. Everybody in
that everybody, no one is so blessed what people gave
us the apartments like it looked. Really, it is the
(39:43):
community that came together that I had no idea that
we would be able to as a group get was bananas.
Speaker 4 (39:51):
And it brings us right back to where we started.
Community support, just being there for each other. And you know,
it's amazing it is that it came out. Everything was
so authentic, the storylines, the acting, everything. Thank you if
you're listening right now, make a little note on your phone.
All's well in New York on Amazon Prime.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
Yes, all is well? One word.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
Because it was taking me forever. I kept put it
as well, I'm like, where is this movie now? Celebrity charades.
I saw that you just posted. Yeah they posted, yeah,
well they posted, you reposted. And then goodness they used
the talk to Me, a good picture song, a print song.
Oh the song that they paid I said, I needed
to say yes to that picture. Okay, so you pre
(40:33):
approved that picture. No, They're like, I okayed it, you
look good. I was like, yes, that lipstick is good looking,
like ruby Woo for mad. So what goes down at
celebrity charades? I saw it and I went on the
website and I'm like, what are they going to do
on that day? And where We've been around forever as
a lot as a theater company, and it is real hard,
especially post COVID, to get anything produced. Usually takes two
(41:02):
or three collaborations with more than one theater company to
try to get things produced.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Usually had a loss for money. We get some grants,
we do all this stuff with education, but.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
To create and produce a night to try to raise funds,
it's always like so much money. They did a huge
article on like is it worth doing these these events?
And do you make your money back? And it's basically
to try to raise money, and so you literally play charades.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
You got four teams and I hate it. I hate it.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
I do it because because I don't like being unprepared,
and like, you cannot be more unprepared than charades.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
You have no control with sharades, child and.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
People and we show up and we are like so competitive.
We'd be like, what is it so we all need
to be this? We need to buy or takes so
much fun. Ben Stiller is gonna show up. Oh get out,
I'm sold. Yeah, Ben Silla just said yes, Dephnitely Vegas
on board. We're gonna Liza colonez Its is gonna announce
(42:05):
an award, David.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Z Its is gonna play.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
You know, I'm hoping to get a couple of more,
like you know, we're hoping to get some of the
people eating Hawk.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
I'm hoping. I'm I'm hoping.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
This is already a solid lineup.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
It's amazing. It's a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (42:20):
And you know, if you can't get a table seat,
you can get like a bar hangout and you can
be in it. It's like a couple of hours.
Speaker 4 (42:28):
And you're listening to the podcast and the podcast description,
I'm gonna put a link so that you can get tickets.
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Amazing.
Speaker 4 (42:33):
And you know what if you're if you're watching right
now on YouTube, right down there, there's gonna be a
link also so you can get this Titus and Ballroom.
Speaker 1 (42:39):
It's gonna be a lot of fun. It's fun it's
a lot of fun. We be up there clowning get
so you just be doing all of it.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
We're gonna like sounds like we're gonna pull up and
we're gonna have a good time.
Speaker 1 (42:52):
And the money is for the theater company.
Speaker 2 (42:55):
You know. We try to hraise money so that we
can continue the education, which is getting Brown people.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
All kind of peace. I am able to come in and.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
Learn about theater, learn write their own story so they
could create their own labyrinth and have their own voices
and empowerment.
Speaker 3 (43:12):
And that's what we're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Man, We're gonna support you know, celebrity charades twenty plus years.
That is crazy now that we're still around. It almost
we almost died a few times.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
And listen, we're also proud of you, you know, the
entire crew Labyrinth Theater.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
The way that you guys are putting latinos alto is
just you know, it's something that we thank you for.
And you know, I thank you for sitting down with
me today.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
Man, You're dope. Keep doing what you're doing. And Grassias
Come Again. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (43:42):
Grassiers Come Again is a production of Honey German Productions
in partnership with Iheart's micro, through the podcast network,
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