July 16, 2025 • 19 mins
Tonight's show on KPFT will be a repeat, but here is an exclusive for QUEER VOICES podcast listeners!
Ramone Nelson is in the touring production of PARADE, which hit the Hobby Center last night, and will be here through July 20th. The show is an uncompromising look at the mistrial of a Jewish man in Atlanta in 1913. Ramone talks about his time in MJ THE MUSICAL and how he got into performing. He also talks about what PARADE has to say to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Queer Voices airs in Houston Texas on 90.1FM KPFT and is heard as a podcast here. Queer Voices hopes to entertain as well as illuminate LGBTQ issues in Houston and beyond. Check out our socials at:
https://www.facebook.com/QueerVoicesKPFT/ and
https://www.instagram.com/queervoices90.1kpft/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6.
Ramon nelson is coming tohouston with the touring
production of parade, startingat the hobby center on july 15th
.
Parade is a deep kind of darkmusical based on real historical
events and it follows the storyof leo frank, a jewish factory
(00:26):
superintendent in atlanta who iswrongly accused and convicted
of murdering a young girl, andit takes place in 1913.
It mines themes of prejudiceand justice and the power of
love and emotion and devotionamidst adversity.
It debuted on broadway back inand it got some Tony Awards that
year but it had regrettablykind of a short run.
(00:47):
But now the show is basically asensation after a Tony
Award-winning revival andprobably because it speaks to
our times.
I really think Parade wasprobably ahead of our time.
So, ramon, I am so glad to haveyou and Parade here in town
with me, hi, welcome.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Thanks for having us.
Thanks for having us.
We're very excited to get thereand be in Houston.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yes, now tell me about Parade.
I mean, it's not a show that alot of people know about?
What is it about from yourperspective?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, I always say that Parade is like like for me
I was a true, tried and truetheater theater kid, so Parade
is somewhat of a niche musical.
It's not your griefs, it's notyour carousel, it's like you
really have to know a musical toknow Parade.
And, like you said, parade is,it's a true story.
(01:38):
It's a dramatization about aman who moves to Marietta,
georgia, and is falselyconvicted and it's his journey
of trying to prove his innocence, while simultaneously we see
and follow this love storybetween him and his wife,
lucille, and through that we seethat love is the guiding factor
(02:02):
of both trying to find hisinnocence and falling deeper in
love with who he is, who hiswife is and their connection
together.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Now, who do you play in this?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
So I play Jim Conley who is a janitor at the pencil
factory, or as he likes to callit, the cleaning supervisor
correction at the pencil factoryand he is a key witness in the
trial at the pencil factory.
And he is a key witness in thetrial and jim has had a somewhat
of a troubled past and theprosecuting team knows that and
they unfortunately use thatagainst him and that is later on
(02:39):
used to help fabricate a storyagainst leo Frank to find him
guilty.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
What do you love most about doing this show?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, I think I was really looking for a piece that
I like theater that kind ofmakes you a little uncomfortable
.
I like theater that is makingyou think beyond what you saw on
the stage and beyond a car ridehome.
I want to do the show that ismaking people have conversations
(03:08):
days, weeks, months after theysee it, and parade is that.
Parade is a show that is makingpeople have, of course, the
conversations of like oh my gosh, that song was so good and oh
my gosh, this performers and theperformers were amazing and the
orchestra was so big andbeautiful.
Those are the stories and thetheater pieces that I strive to
(03:48):
do and that really can make adifference in today's world.
So, knowing that every time Iput on that costume I'm like
let's get out there and let's doit.
It's a good time.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
One of the things I'm always fascinated by when
you're part of a touring companyis do you find that the
audiences kind of differ theirreactions as you travel around
the country?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
absolutely, absolutely, and especially with
this show.
There can be audiences that arelike really leaned in with us
but quiet, don't say a word.
And then there's audiences wholaugh at every single joke,
maybe laugh like times 10, justso they can get out that emotion
(04:32):
before it's the real thingstart to hit.
So, yeah, I think, I thinkpeople at the stage door have
different reactions.
Some people are most people areflustered at the stage door but
they are very thankful andappreciative of what they saw
and that transfers.
That applies to all of thecities that we've gone to thus
(04:54):
far.
The people at the stage doorhave been so kind and so
gracious and it's a beautifulconnection that we make at that
stage door.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Now, famously, hal Prince developed this show and
he originally approached StephenSondheim, who actually passed
on Parade, and then you gotJason Robert Brown who wrote the
score.
It is famously complex.
So what is it like to performhis music night after night?
Speaker 2 (05:23):
First of all, it's it's the theater kid and me's
biggest dream.
So let me start there.
Like week one of rehearsal, dayone of rehearsals.
He's standing right across fromme, he's shaking my hand and
I'm trying not to fangirl toomuch this is jason right this is
jason, this is jason robert,like he's standing there right
(05:44):
there.
And then I think, maybe I thinkthe week one or week two, they
pulled me to a rehearsal andthey were like hey, ramon, like
I think Jason wants to just hearthis.
You know your songs.
I was like my songs are hissongs on me?
Like what are you saying there?
Like he wrote this song and soI'm fangirling half of the time.
(06:07):
I also will say that he reallyput his foot in it and it's hard
, like it's not easy, and hewrote a beautiful and complex
score that is gives nods to oldtime musical theater.
I think a lot of musicaltheater is, you know, on on a
track and it's very modern andvery poppy at times and this
(06:28):
really goes back to those bigsweeping orchestrations and big
sweeping melodies.
And it's been missed on my end.
So it's been a pleasure to singhis score, to say the least.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Do you feel like this production has changed you at
all and how you approach thingsas an artist or as a person at
all?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Absolutely.
I think, first of all, playinga real person is an actor's
dream.
So going and trying to find howthese people lived in Marietta,
georgia I am from Georgia, so alot of the things that they
reference in the show, I've beenthere, I've been to Fulton
County, I've been to Marietta,and so that was really like oh
(07:11):
my gosh, and I think it added alot of nuance to how I take on
gym and also how I am gym in thespace and in the show and then
on top of it, like as an artist.
I think with a show like this,you are naturally going to
change, especially doing itevery single day.
(07:32):
This is month six, month seven,you know, and so one thing I
can say for sure is that I'vedefinitely changed from December
2024 to now.
I'm very grateful for it andit's been a blessing that I
wanted and am very grateful for.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Well, you mentioned you grew up in Georgia.
I mean, obviously, how did youget into show business?
What was that like?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Yeah, so I came from a huge sports family sports,
sports, sports.
So I have multiple siblings, Ihave five siblings.
We all played sports.
So it was sports, sports,sports.
So I have multiple siblings, Ihave five siblings, we all
played sports.
So it was like sports, sports,sports, sports, sports up until
maybe fifth grade.
And like music class, you canlike, you know you like play the
(08:19):
tambourine or play whatever,and they in Georgia, you have to
play the recorder and I reallyfell in love with it and I that
transitioned me into playing thesaxophone.
So I played the saxophone and Iwould sing around the house and
I would dance around the house.
And then I found out that youcould like sing, dance and act
at the same time and I was like,oh, like, okay, like that's
(08:42):
cool.
So then I did both theater andband at the same time, but band
was the thing.
Until about junior year of highschool I went to a performing
arts high school in Conyers,georgia, the Heritage High
School Academy for Performingand Visual Arts, and we did a
production of Les Mis and Iplayed Jean Valjean and there
(09:05):
was, you know, I loved it, Iloved musical theater.
It was great and I really tookthat role seriously and I, after
the show, I met a oldergentleman who was really touched
by the performance and wantedto pull me to the side and, like
have a conversation with me.
And he basically like looked mein the eye and was, like please
(09:26):
don't ever stop doing this.
And I was shocked that I couldmake someone feel that and have
that reaction.
And I've never met him, he'snever met me, and it was a time
where I had to like pick betweenband and theater and I swear
that that was a sign from God,being like it's theater, like
(09:47):
you have to do theater.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
And from then on I've just been cooking along, doing
it, doing the thing when I readyour bio I see a show that I'm
seeing on a lot of people's bio,but I think you were in the
original Broadway production ofthis.
Is it MJ?
The Michael Jackson musical?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
What the heck was that like?
That has got to be amazing.
Talk about some wild songs.
Okay, you want to talk about ahard song?
Speaker 2 (10:16):
It was unreal.
I was very, very blessed andgrateful to be a part of that
company.
I just graduated from FloridaState University and it was
COVID.
I didn't know what I was doingand I was lucky enough to find
an agent and I was just happy tobe auditioning and figuring it
out.
And then MJ came along and theywere looking for future
(10:41):
replacements and I was like,okay, great, future replacements
, great, I'm just going to throwmy, throw my name in the hat.
And that wasn't true.
They were looking for immediatereplacements.
Actually, come to find out andafter a tape and a FaceTime call
with Christopher Wilden, I gotthe offer that I'd be making my
Broadway debut.
And it was insane, truly insane.
(11:03):
You know, I didn't think thatwas going to happen like that.
You could not put that in mybingo card and it taught me so
much Everything that I couldhave possibly dreamed in my
bingo card and it taught me somuch everything that I could
have possibly dreamed in aBroadway debut that show gave me
.
It was thus far the hardest showthat I've done.
I was a swing in the originalcompany and swinging itself is
(11:26):
already hard, and then the rolesare so nuanced and then you
have to put on this afro andjumpsuit and play a Jackson 5
brother, and then you have toone day I'm playing a Jackson 5
brother and the next day I'mplaying Barry Gordy, then the
next day, you know I'm playingthis person.
So it was beautiful and yeah,you want to talk about a hard
(11:49):
song.
Those are, and we had to changethe keys for some of them
because I was like how isMichael Jackson saying that?
Michael Jackson is an icon andhis passing was just the other
day and every time that comesaround I'm always like blessed
to be a part of his legacy andholds near and dear to my heart
that company.
(12:09):
Near and dear to my heart frontof house, stage management crew
, everyone.
They love that group and verygrateful for them it was an
amazing experience, I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I mean I I love the idea of having him and his music
on broadway.
It's just so special and verycool and it's somebody I grew
with, so I'm always kind of likefan over that.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Of course, didn't we all grow up with that.
We all grew up with this iconand for me, I loved.
I really strive to do showsthat are, you know, uplifting
black and brown experiences andstories, and I also love
inspiring younger generationsand so seeing those little
(12:55):
babies coming in like a smoothcriminal suit just to come and
see this musical was thehighlight of my day.
And yeah, you know, it's techweek, it's previews and we're
tired and you know, barelysleeping and all the things
trying to put in new pages andchanges.
Then that little person comesdown the aisle and they're just
(13:18):
jumping up and down ready to seeMichael Jackson.
It makes it all worth it.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
So has that been your favorite show so far, or is
there any other one that kind ofstands out?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Oh man, I've been very lucky to do some really
amazing shows.
I think MJ will always have aspecial place in my heart
because it was my Broadway debutand I you know.
They were gracious enough toallow me to play Tito Quincy on
the road for a minute.
And but right now the one thatjumps out to me is Jelly Slash
(13:48):
Jam at New York City Center.
I love New York.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
City Center.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I love New York City Center.
I love them, and that show wasa blessing that I didn't know
that I needed at the time.
Once again, it was just abeautiful piece.
It was Black.
It was Black excellence at itstip top.
I was working with people who Ilooked up to, like I'm in the
(14:13):
room with Billy Porter and I waslike whoa, I've watched your
bootlegs of Kinky Boots everysingle day for years.
And then, at the same time, I'min the room with legends like
Leslie Uggams.
I'm like you are the BlackBroadway royalty.
And then meeting stars to thisday, like Nicholas Christopher,
(14:34):
who I look up to tenfold becausehe works so hard and he's also
so nice.
He's going to be in the chessrevival that's coming up.
I worked with some really coolpeople in that show.
New York City Center is so fast, it's only two-week run,
three-week runs.
You put it up in ten days.
And so everyone is just like,okay, we're going to do this for
(14:55):
10 days, we're going to learnit, tech it and put it up and
it's going to be what it's goingto be.
And that one was just amazingand a blessing, a blessing, a
blessing and yeah, that's ahighlight for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Parade is coming to Houston right after Pride, so do
you think that this show saysanything specifically to the
LGBTQIA plus audience out there?
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Absolutely.
I mean, I think the differences, but the unfortunate
similarities of 1913 Georgia andtoday of America, and this idea
(15:39):
of what will happen if onegroup of people believes they
are better than another.
And I think that transfersacross all injustices Right now.
In America, transphobia isreally high right now, and
specifically with Black andbrown trans siblings it's very
high.
(15:59):
So that idea holds true,unfortunately, right now, and it
makes audiences really.
We hope that audiences leaveleading their lives with more
love and more light and moregrace for people in the world,
that our differences are notthat vast, that we have more
(16:22):
similarities in each other thanwe think, and so, yeah, I think
it pushes me as a queer person,to live my life more
authentically and fully, so thatthis is not a time to hide,
hide, this is not a time toclose ourselves off, but more to
live fully, and I cannotbelieve that we're missing pride
.
I'm I'm so mad about it it'sokay.
(16:46):
It's okay, beyonce's here, soyou're fine come on like I can't
believe it and yeah, so, butyeah okay, but we're about to
have you like, right after thatit'll be all on our minds anyway
.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
So definitely, but okay.
So I totally like peeped yourinsta account and I have to ask
you this how do you stay in suchgreat shape while you'm on the
road?
Well, I'm my, I'm gonna find agym.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Okay, that's number one.
I'm gonna find a gym, I think,with the show that like this and
it's heavy and I have to have aoutlet and the gym is my outlet
and with, like the housing.
We've been lucky enough to havesome housing that, like this
(17:37):
Sonder that we're in right nowhas a kitchen and like a little
kitchenette so I can cook andstay, you know, in physical
shape even though I'm a hugefoodie, so it's so hard.
I'm ready to get to Houstonbecause I am going to eat down
there.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Don't do it.
Don't do it.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
I know, I know I'm like I'm kicking my feet with
the excitement of food to thinkbut yeah, the gym is my go-to.
For sure I am in the gym and Ijust try to be conscious and not
eat too many, try too manythings, too many new things, but
not restrict myself too much.
But thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
I think the biggest thing here in Houston that I
always tell people you know,definitely do the Tex-Mex.
The barbecue is pretty good too.
It's Texas barbecue, which is alittle bit different.
So I mean coming from Atlantaand Georgia, you'll.
You'll kind of go oh, this is alittle different.
So those two things, it's.
It's a lot of humidity andreally great tacos and some good
brisket.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
So there you are, I will be there.
I have to try I won't do toomuch because, yes, we have to
maintain the show.
But yes.
I will.
I will be there.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Well, ramon Nelson, we are so excited to have you
and parade in town, starting atthe hobby center July 15th.
I've been looking forward tothis one all year because, like
you say, this is a very timelymusical.
It speaks to our era.
It certainly has raised up inthe consciousness in a way that
I don't think it even did backin 1998 when it originally
(19:04):
debuted.
I think it's it's more popularnow than ever and I'm so glad to
see that for hal prince and forjason robert brown and all the
people that believed in thisshow for so long.
So, and how great for you to gofrom MJ to this.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
What a journey Very different, but beautiful in
their own regard.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Well, thank you so much.
Break legs and we will see youin July.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Thanks so much.
in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6.
Ramon nelson is coming tohouston with the touring
production of parade, startingat the hobby center on july 15th
.
Parade is a deep kind of darkmusical based on real historical
events and it follows the storyof leo frank, a jewish factory
(00:26):
superintendent in atlanta who iswrongly accused and convicted
of murdering a young girl, andit takes place in 1913.
It mines themes of prejudiceand justice and the power of
love and emotion and devotionamidst adversity.
It debuted on broadway back inand it got some Tony Awards that
year but it had regrettablykind of a short run.
(00:47):
But now the show is basically asensation after a Tony
Award-winning revival andprobably because it speaks to
our times.
I really think Parade wasprobably ahead of our time.
So, ramon, I am so glad to haveyou and Parade here in town
with me, hi, welcome.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Thanks for having us.
Thanks for having us.
We're very excited to get thereand be in Houston.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yes, now tell me about Parade.
I mean, it's not a show that alot of people know about?
What is it about from yourperspective?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, I always say that Parade is like like for me
I was a true, tried and truetheater theater kid, so Parade
is somewhat of a niche musical.
It's not your griefs, it's notyour carousel, it's like you
really have to know a musical toknow Parade.
And, like you said, parade is,it's a true story.
(01:38):
It's a dramatization about aman who moves to Marietta,
georgia, and is falselyconvicted and it's his journey
of trying to prove his innocence, while simultaneously we see
and follow this love storybetween him and his wife,
lucille, and through that we seethat love is the guiding factor
(02:02):
of both trying to find hisinnocence and falling deeper in
love with who he is, who hiswife is and their connection
together.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Now, who do you play in this?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
So I play Jim Conley who is a janitor at the pencil
factory, or as he likes to callit, the cleaning supervisor
correction at the pencil factoryand he is a key witness in the
trial at the pencil factory.
And he is a key witness in thetrial and jim has had a somewhat
of a troubled past and theprosecuting team knows that and
they unfortunately use thatagainst him and that is later on
(02:39):
used to help fabricate a storyagainst leo Frank to find him
guilty.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
What do you love most about doing this show?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, I think I was really looking for a piece that
I like theater that kind ofmakes you a little uncomfortable
.
I like theater that is makingyou think beyond what you saw on
the stage and beyond a car ridehome.
I want to do the show that ismaking people have conversations
(03:08):
days, weeks, months after theysee it, and parade is that.
Parade is a show that is makingpeople have, of course, the
conversations of like oh my gosh, that song was so good and oh
my gosh, this performers and theperformers were amazing and the
orchestra was so big andbeautiful.
Those are the stories and thetheater pieces that I strive to
(03:48):
do and that really can make adifference in today's world.
So, knowing that every time Iput on that costume I'm like
let's get out there and let's doit.
It's a good time.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
One of the things I'm always fascinated by when
you're part of a touring companyis do you find that the
audiences kind of differ theirreactions as you travel around
the country?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
absolutely, absolutely, and especially with
this show.
There can be audiences that arelike really leaned in with us
but quiet, don't say a word.
And then there's audiences wholaugh at every single joke,
maybe laugh like times 10, justso they can get out that emotion
(04:32):
before it's the real thingstart to hit.
So, yeah, I think, I thinkpeople at the stage door have
different reactions.
Some people are most people areflustered at the stage door but
they are very thankful andappreciative of what they saw
and that transfers.
That applies to all of thecities that we've gone to thus
(04:54):
far.
The people at the stage doorhave been so kind and so
gracious and it's a beautifulconnection that we make at that
stage door.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Now, famously, hal Prince developed this show and
he originally approached StephenSondheim, who actually passed
on Parade, and then you gotJason Robert Brown who wrote the
score.
It is famously complex.
So what is it like to performhis music night after night?
Speaker 2 (05:23):
First of all, it's it's the theater kid and me's
biggest dream.
So let me start there.
Like week one of rehearsal, dayone of rehearsals.
He's standing right across fromme, he's shaking my hand and
I'm trying not to fangirl toomuch this is jason right this is
jason, this is jason robert,like he's standing there right
(05:44):
there.
And then I think, maybe I thinkthe week one or week two, they
pulled me to a rehearsal andthey were like hey, ramon, like
I think Jason wants to just hearthis.
You know your songs.
I was like my songs are hissongs on me?
Like what are you saying there?
Like he wrote this song and soI'm fangirling half of the time.
(06:07):
I also will say that he reallyput his foot in it and it's hard
, like it's not easy, and hewrote a beautiful and complex
score that is gives nods to oldtime musical theater.
I think a lot of musicaltheater is, you know, on on a
track and it's very modern andvery poppy at times and this
(06:28):
really goes back to those bigsweeping orchestrations and big
sweeping melodies.
And it's been missed on my end.
So it's been a pleasure to singhis score, to say the least.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Do you feel like this production has changed you at
all and how you approach thingsas an artist or as a person at
all?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Absolutely.
I think, first of all, playinga real person is an actor's
dream.
So going and trying to find howthese people lived in Marietta,
georgia I am from Georgia, so alot of the things that they
reference in the show, I've beenthere, I've been to Fulton
County, I've been to Marietta,and so that was really like oh
(07:11):
my gosh, and I think it added alot of nuance to how I take on
gym and also how I am gym in thespace and in the show and then
on top of it, like as an artist.
I think with a show like this,you are naturally going to
change, especially doing itevery single day.
(07:32):
This is month six, month seven,you know, and so one thing I
can say for sure is that I'vedefinitely changed from December
2024 to now.
I'm very grateful for it andit's been a blessing that I
wanted and am very grateful for.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Well, you mentioned you grew up in Georgia.
I mean, obviously, how did youget into show business?
What was that like?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Yeah, so I came from a huge sports family sports,
sports, sports.
So I have multiple siblings, Ihave five siblings.
We all played sports.
So it was sports, sports,sports.
So I have multiple siblings, Ihave five siblings, we all
played sports.
So it was like sports, sports,sports, sports, sports up until
maybe fifth grade.
And like music class, you canlike, you know you like play the
(08:19):
tambourine or play whatever,and they in Georgia, you have to
play the recorder and I reallyfell in love with it and I that
transitioned me into playing thesaxophone.
So I played the saxophone and Iwould sing around the house and
I would dance around the house.
And then I found out that youcould like sing, dance and act
at the same time and I was like,oh, like, okay, like that's
(08:42):
cool.
So then I did both theater andband at the same time, but band
was the thing.
Until about junior year of highschool I went to a performing
arts high school in Conyers,georgia, the Heritage High
School Academy for Performingand Visual Arts, and we did a
production of Les Mis and Iplayed Jean Valjean and there
(09:05):
was, you know, I loved it, Iloved musical theater.
It was great and I really tookthat role seriously and I, after
the show, I met a oldergentleman who was really touched
by the performance and wantedto pull me to the side and, like
have a conversation with me.
And he basically like looked mein the eye and was, like please
(09:26):
don't ever stop doing this.
And I was shocked that I couldmake someone feel that and have
that reaction.
And I've never met him, he'snever met me, and it was a time
where I had to like pick betweenband and theater and I swear
that that was a sign from God,being like it's theater, like
(09:47):
you have to do theater.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
And from then on I've just been cooking along, doing
it, doing the thing when I readyour bio I see a show that I'm
seeing on a lot of people's bio,but I think you were in the
original Broadway production ofthis.
Is it MJ?
The Michael Jackson musical?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
What the heck was that like?
That has got to be amazing.
Talk about some wild songs.
Okay, you want to talk about ahard song?
Speaker 2 (10:16):
It was unreal.
I was very, very blessed andgrateful to be a part of that
company.
I just graduated from FloridaState University and it was
COVID.
I didn't know what I was doingand I was lucky enough to find
an agent and I was just happy tobe auditioning and figuring it
out.
And then MJ came along and theywere looking for future
(10:41):
replacements and I was like,okay, great, future replacements
, great, I'm just going to throwmy, throw my name in the hat.
And that wasn't true.
They were looking for immediatereplacements.
Actually, come to find out andafter a tape and a FaceTime call
with Christopher Wilden, I gotthe offer that I'd be making my
Broadway debut.
And it was insane, truly insane.
(11:03):
You know, I didn't think thatwas going to happen like that.
You could not put that in mybingo card and it taught me so
much Everything that I couldhave possibly dreamed in my
bingo card and it taught me somuch everything that I could
have possibly dreamed in aBroadway debut that show gave me
.
It was thus far the hardest showthat I've done.
I was a swing in the originalcompany and swinging itself is
(11:26):
already hard, and then the rolesare so nuanced and then you
have to put on this afro andjumpsuit and play a Jackson 5
brother, and then you have toone day I'm playing a Jackson 5
brother and the next day I'mplaying Barry Gordy, then the
next day, you know I'm playingthis person.
So it was beautiful and yeah,you want to talk about a hard
(11:49):
song.
Those are, and we had to changethe keys for some of them
because I was like how isMichael Jackson saying that?
Michael Jackson is an icon andhis passing was just the other
day and every time that comesaround I'm always like blessed
to be a part of his legacy andholds near and dear to my heart
that company.
(12:09):
Near and dear to my heart frontof house, stage management crew
, everyone.
They love that group and verygrateful for them it was an
amazing experience, I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I mean I I love the idea of having him and his music
on broadway.
It's just so special and verycool and it's somebody I grew
with, so I'm always kind of likefan over that.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Of course, didn't we all grow up with that.
We all grew up with this iconand for me, I loved.
I really strive to do showsthat are, you know, uplifting
black and brown experiences andstories, and I also love
inspiring younger generationsand so seeing those little
(12:55):
babies coming in like a smoothcriminal suit just to come and
see this musical was thehighlight of my day.
And yeah, you know, it's techweek, it's previews and we're
tired and you know, barelysleeping and all the things
trying to put in new pages andchanges.
Then that little person comesdown the aisle and they're just
(13:18):
jumping up and down ready to seeMichael Jackson.
It makes it all worth it.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
So has that been your favorite show so far, or is
there any other one that kind ofstands out?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Oh man, I've been very lucky to do some really
amazing shows.
I think MJ will always have aspecial place in my heart
because it was my Broadway debutand I you know.
They were gracious enough toallow me to play Tito Quincy on
the road for a minute.
And but right now the one thatjumps out to me is Jelly Slash
(13:48):
Jam at New York City Center.
I love New York.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
City Center.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I love New York City Center.
I love them, and that show wasa blessing that I didn't know
that I needed at the time.
Once again, it was just abeautiful piece.
It was Black.
It was Black excellence at itstip top.
I was working with people who Ilooked up to, like I'm in the
(14:13):
room with Billy Porter and I waslike whoa, I've watched your
bootlegs of Kinky Boots everysingle day for years.
And then, at the same time, I'min the room with legends like
Leslie Uggams.
I'm like you are the BlackBroadway royalty.
And then meeting stars to thisday, like Nicholas Christopher,
(14:34):
who I look up to tenfold becausehe works so hard and he's also
so nice.
He's going to be in the chessrevival that's coming up.
I worked with some really coolpeople in that show.
New York City Center is so fast, it's only two-week run,
three-week runs.
You put it up in ten days.
And so everyone is just like,okay, we're going to do this for
(14:55):
10 days, we're going to learnit, tech it and put it up and
it's going to be what it's goingto be.
And that one was just amazingand a blessing, a blessing, a
blessing and yeah, that's ahighlight for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Parade is coming to Houston right after Pride, so do
you think that this show saysanything specifically to the
LGBTQIA plus audience out there?
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Absolutely.
I mean, I think the differences, but the unfortunate
similarities of 1913 Georgia andtoday of America, and this idea
(15:39):
of what will happen if onegroup of people believes they
are better than another.
And I think that transfersacross all injustices Right now.
In America, transphobia isreally high right now, and
specifically with Black andbrown trans siblings it's very
high.
(15:59):
So that idea holds true,unfortunately, right now, and it
makes audiences really.
We hope that audiences leaveleading their lives with more
love and more light and moregrace for people in the world,
that our differences are notthat vast, that we have more
(16:22):
similarities in each other thanwe think, and so, yeah, I think
it pushes me as a queer person,to live my life more
authentically and fully, so thatthis is not a time to hide,
hide, this is not a time toclose ourselves off, but more to
live fully, and I cannotbelieve that we're missing pride
.
I'm I'm so mad about it it'sokay.
(16:46):
It's okay, beyonce's here, soyou're fine come on like I can't
believe it and yeah, so, butyeah okay, but we're about to
have you like, right after thatit'll be all on our minds anyway
.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
So definitely, but okay.
So I totally like peeped yourinsta account and I have to ask
you this how do you stay in suchgreat shape while you'm on the
road?
Well, I'm my, I'm gonna find agym.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Okay, that's number one.
I'm gonna find a gym, I think,with the show that like this and
it's heavy and I have to have aoutlet and the gym is my outlet
and with, like the housing.
We've been lucky enough to havesome housing that, like this
(17:37):
Sonder that we're in right nowhas a kitchen and like a little
kitchenette so I can cook andstay, you know, in physical
shape even though I'm a hugefoodie, so it's so hard.
I'm ready to get to Houstonbecause I am going to eat down
there.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Don't do it.
Don't do it.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
I know, I know I'm like I'm kicking my feet with
the excitement of food to thinkbut yeah, the gym is my go-to.
For sure I am in the gym and Ijust try to be conscious and not
eat too many, try too manythings, too many new things, but
not restrict myself too much.
But thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
I think the biggest thing here in Houston that I
always tell people you know,definitely do the Tex-Mex.
The barbecue is pretty good too.
It's Texas barbecue, which is alittle bit different.
So I mean coming from Atlantaand Georgia, you'll.
You'll kind of go oh, this is alittle different.
So those two things, it's.
It's a lot of humidity andreally great tacos and some good
brisket.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
So there you are, I will be there.
I have to try I won't do toomuch because, yes, we have to
maintain the show.
But yes.
I will.
I will be there.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Well, ramon Nelson, we are so excited to have you
and parade in town, starting atthe hobby center July 15th.
I've been looking forward tothis one all year because, like
you say, this is a very timelymusical.
It speaks to our era.
It certainly has raised up inthe consciousness in a way that
I don't think it even did backin 1998 when it originally
(19:04):
debuted.
I think it's it's more popularnow than ever and I'm so glad to
see that for hal prince and forjason robert brown and all the
people that believed in thisshow for so long.
So, and how great for you to gofrom MJ to this.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
What a journey Very different, but beautiful in
their own regard.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Well, thank you so much.
Break legs and we will see youin July.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Thanks so much.
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