When Mandy Gonzalez steps on stage, you feel it—power, passion, presence. She rose to fame as Nina in In the Heights, shattered ceilings as Angelica in Hamilton, and defied gravity as Elphaba in Wicked. Now, she’s back on Broadway, transforming into the legendary Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd., rewriting the rules of a classic role.
Her voice is unmatched. Her story? Even more powerful. A working mom, recording artist (Fearless), and screen actress (Quantico, Across the Universe), Mandy has built a career on strength, soul, and staying true to herself—even while battling breast cancer.
Five years cancer-free, Mandy Gonzalez is not just surviving—she’s blazing. And Broadway is better for it.
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 (00:00):
Adam Caryl Lone.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
She's a queen and talking and so she's getting really not.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Afraid to feel the Texisol soul. Just let it flow.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
No one can do Wequid Carylne, this sound like Carolone.
I am so excited to be here with Mandy Gonzalez.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
How are you good?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
How are you? I'm so excited to be here with you.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Oh my gosh. Well, I'm going to run through your
accomplishments because you are a freaking rock star. You're just
a beloved Broadway you are just a fixture in Broadway
right now. You are just like in the seams and
(00:57):
the heartbeat and just the whole soul.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
What's happening on Broadway?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I mean, you got your your big break was when
you were in in the Heights, right that was when
everything kind.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Of took off for you in Broadway? Was that the
big one they kind of launched?
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That was definitely the big one. I've definitely been part
of the trifecta. And now I guess the fourth being
Sunset Boulevard. But the big ones are in the Highs,
Hamilton and Wicked and uh.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I mean that is that's sanity? Are you kidding me?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah? I'm so Yeah. It's what I've always wanted to do,
and I've been lucky to be able to do it.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Okay, But like so many people have these dreams, like
when you're a kid and you talk to kids and
they're like, what do you want to be? And they're like,
I want to be an astronaut. I want to be
a famous singer. I want to be a Broadway I
want to be a movie star. You are an actor,
you are on Broadway, you are in movies. You have
written a teen like book, like it's a series called Fearless.
(02:02):
There's four books in that series. I mean, you have
an albums. It's just amazing. You actually have made.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Your dreams come true on the big scale. That is
so hard to do.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Mandy, absolutely, thank you so much. My sister always says,
you know, Mandy, not everybody knows what they want to do,
and that's okay. But I was not that kind of person.
At a young age. I fell in love with music
and I fell in love with theater, and I really
felt a certain kind of drive to do what I
wanted to do. The path has been like but you know,
(02:39):
as you know, but yeah, I feel so so lucky.
To get to do what I love for a living.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
So I interviewed a lot of artists and entrepreneurs and
authors and myself. I'm also like in that whole vein
of just chasing dreams, and sometimes the dream is a disaster,
Like it is literally like I I just I'm just
coming out of a season where I'm like what am
I doing with my life?
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Like what in the world is happening?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Like everything feels chaotic, You don't really ever have a
clear picture of where it's going to go.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Kind of you do, but then it's.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Like you have to rely so much on just knowing
the next thing is going to kind of show up
if you do the work right and if you.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Absolutely and advantage that. I don't know, there's something about
that that I really like. There's something about the not
knowing and the leaping and the constant leaping, the constant
thing of like, Okay, now this show is over, and
now what do I want to do? Or now what
is it that my focus is? Or And there's just
(03:41):
something exciting about it that like fills me with adrenaline
that I really really like And you probably feel the
same way, and it's just not you know, I've always
been like, it's just not normal to feel like this,
but I think it's just what makes me tick and
what makes me excited about life. And yeah, that it's
never all planned, but isn't that like what it is?
(04:05):
It's like, but we've chosen careers that are really, you know,
a roll of the dice a lot of the times.
But now I feel like at this age, I'm definitely
more in a place of where I want to create
my own projects and I want to do my own
kind of things as well, and so you know, but
that took some time to kind of figure out.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So do you feel like it's sort of like a
muscle trusting in the leap of faith and like believing
in like what you're saying that the kind of the
thrill and the joy of believing that this next opportunity
is going to come. Do you have did that muscle
have to strengthen? Were you always sure that it was
going to work out? Or was there ever a moment
(04:49):
where we're like this is all.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Good to a crash? Well, then let me close this.
It might make this sound a little bit better. Okay,
let me see if that works. But yeah, I think
that I've always had sense of I don't know, I
don't know what it's faith, I think, and I've always
had that deep within myself that I can make it happen.
(05:13):
I mean, there's certainly a lot of doubt and those
voices come out all the time, and I have anxiety
and I have all these different things. But I think
it's that that real like sense of who I am
and that faith that it is going to work out
and that yeah, I keep going one foot in front
(05:36):
of the other.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
What is the faith that you lean on, Like, what
do you dig into? Because I feel the same way.
The only way I get through surviving the mystery of
this all with anything really is just faith in general.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
But what is the faith that you leave in?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I think there's a big sense within me of faith
with God and that is kind of like a foundational
thing from childhood. And then I think it's within my
family and the faith that I will be loved no
matter what.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Wow, So your family is still that in you? Not
everyone believed?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, absolutely, I think from a very young age. I
come from a very strong family and I'm the youngest
of three, so I have a brother and a sister
and we all do different things. I don't come from
a showbiz family at all. My parents. I came out
and I was singing show tunes and my family was like,
(06:33):
what is this? And I was lucky to have a
grandma that was like, I know what this is. Let's
quorder in lessons and let's do this, and let's do this.
But we all, you know, my parents both worked full time,
blue class working people, and we all were special for something.
(06:54):
It wasn't you know, I had talent and I had
a gift. But my brother did this, and he this,
and my sister did this. So I think we all
felt a sense of love and from a very young
age and that yeah, I can do this special thing.
But like it's all about what you're bringing to the family.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
You all had been seen for who you really are
from the beginning, Like you didn't have to you didn't
have to like present a version of yourself or like
try to mold into something. You were able to just
be seen as yourself from your earliest memories.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
That is so amazing.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yeah, and my parents I think would have loved me,
would love me regardless. I mean, my dad now he's
on Facebook, so he loves the fact that I'm in
stuff that he can like repost and do those kind
of things. But he would be reposting that if I
was doing anything. You know, my dad. I worked at
Starbucks when I was in college, like I think my
first year of college, and my dad would come and
(07:50):
he would just sit in the Starbucks and get his
refill of coffee or whatever, and people be like, who's
that guy, And I'd be like, I'm sorry, that's my dad,
Like he's just here. He would go to my brother's job,
he would go. He was just so proud of us,
you know, that we were doing what we're doing, and
he wanted to always be a part of that, you know.
(08:11):
So I think no matter what, he would be reposting
something that I was doing on Facebook if anybody followed.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
My dad just so loving though, I mean, what a
loving spirit just to have that energy as parents around you.
So to the people listening, I feel like if you
could put it into a few core values or core
like codes that your family followed, like what is that
everyone's looking for this kind of family, Like how to
(08:38):
feel seen as a child, how to feel loved, how
to everyone carry their own weight, how to make the
family work, and to be a healthy unit, Like what
would you say, are kind of the.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Pillars y'all went by to get that? Because this is amazing,
Oh thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Well. I think that the first part is being there,
right because my parents were always there. You know. My
mom worked at high school and so she was done
with work I think by three o'clock so that she
could get to us and pick us up from school
or you know, figure out what we were doing. And
(09:15):
then my mom would come home and then she would
make sure that we did homework. She would do you know,
we'd all eat dinner together, so my dad would come
home from work and we all like sat together. I
think having that was so important, you know. And when
I was really young, you know, my dad worked swing shift,
so he would work whatever shift was available. He'd work
(09:39):
at night, or he'd work during the day. At first,
he worked at a glass plant called Thatcher Glass, which
was in our hometown, and everybody worked there, and then
they closed because everything went to plastic. And then my
dad got a job with the City of Los Angeles
in maintenance. So he once he got to the city
(09:59):
of La it was like very structured hours. But before that,
my dad was working all the time. But he always
made sure that he would walk us to school in
the morning, So even though he worked from like eleven
to seven, he made sure that he would walk us
and that we were there. So I've always tried to
instill that and do that with my daughter. So I
think being there is a really important thing when it
(10:20):
comes to, you know, having a kid and building a family,
you know. And then I think that it's always easier
to be kind. And my parents are both very very
kind people. You know. I go for walks when I
go and visit my parents, and my dad says high
to everybody that he walks by, and some people don't
(10:42):
say hi back, and he always just says, you know,
you know me like you my daughter. He said, you know,
we'll just you just say hi to the next person.
It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. And my mom is
the same. You know, she doesn't say hi to everybody.
She's not as friendly as my dad, but you know,
she always calls us and she says, it doesn't matter
if anybody calls back, you just keep calling, okay. So
(11:06):
the very kind, kind hearted people. I think also giving
back to your community is a big thing. My mom
and my dad met like as pen pals.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
I heard this story you're born, Yeah, you wanted to
be in the Peace Corps and your said no, And
so then she said, okay, I'll just write to soldiers.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
And she wrote to your dad and they fell in love.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Are you kidding? Yes? And it's so crazy because there's
they're from such different parts of like just different worlds.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
You know, Oh, I've never met and iver met because
in this particular situation, like where's your dad from and
where's your mom from?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
So my dad is a Mexican American. My dad was
born in Texas and his family were worked on farms,
so they kind of followed the crop wherever they could
get a job, and they lived on the farm and
he lived with his seven brothers and sisters. Sometimes they
would show up to a farm and the farmer didn't
(12:06):
have housing for them, and they would live. They would
take out the cows and whatever animals were in the
barn and they'd live in the barn. Like they just
worked really, really hard, and they settled in northern California.
My mom grew up in the valley in California. She's
you know, like comfortable life, middle class, like not worrying
(12:26):
about anything. But she always had this need to help.
And my father, you know, didn't learn English until he
was like seven years old because they were finally stable
in an area where he could go to school, you know.
And it was hard, like my dad to learn English
at that time. They would hit you like if you
spoke Spanish or things like that, you know, in the classroom.
(12:49):
And so but he, you know, he worked hard and
he learned English, and so did the rest of his family.
And but yeah, so my mom grew up in a
totally different place, you know. And she has all of
the letters in the closet in our house still and
they're at the top of the closet in this box.
(13:11):
And when she told me this story, you know. And
my dad was drafted to Vietnam at nineteen, first time
he was away from his family, first time he was
on an airplane, like and my my grandparents didn't speak
much English, they didn't write to him, and so he
didn't have anybody to like communicate with. And so that
person was that lifeline, was my mom.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Yeah, getaired, how do they even get hurt?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
So, I you know what, I think somebody knew my
dad from boot camp. And then somebody knew also my
mom and said that there was a couple there were
like a few soldiers that she was going to write to.
And my dad was the first to write back, and
I think he wrote something like I have really smooth lips.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
Or you know, like so he was born on the
castle nowhere from the beginning, so they had no idea
how each other looked or anything. Nothing on the phone,
I didn't really know anything. How did they even start
a conversation like, Hey, how you doing? I just want
to like.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Yeah, exactly, like I just want to But my dad
was like so suave, and so I think that he,
I don't know, he was interesting to her because he
told her about his life and he was such a
different thing than when she had experienced. And so, you know,
she they talked to each other, and they have these letters.
It's not it's none of my father's letters. I mean,
(14:28):
it's none of my mom's letters, because he didn't keep
anything typical, and but my mom kept all of them.
And so they really became friends. And you know, I've
been able to read some of the letters, you know,
they've let me read some, and they're very just heartfelt
and vulnerable and it's like, what music are you listening
to now? I haven't heard anything on the radio, and
(14:49):
you know, just personal things about their life and growing up.
And they became like best friends through these letters. And
then my dad when he got back home after he
had to do some other military duty after the war,
and when he got back home, he had my mom's
address and had a car and he showed up on
(15:10):
her doorstep and she was like yet, yeah, and she
was like what And her parents were like what, you know,
because they thought, oh, this is nice, Like she's going
to write to this person, like we'll never see him.
And he he didn't have anything, and he gosh, I
think he got a job at a restaurant nearby. He
slept in his car, he showered at the YMCA, and
(15:32):
he just fell in love with my mom and was like,
this is what I want. And because they were from
different cultures, you know, it wasn't really within my mom's family.
It wasn't looked upon in a positive way, you know.
And they were very young too, and they my grandparents
didn't want them to be together. And so my parents eloped,
(15:56):
you know, Yeah, they went to Reno and they eloped,
and I think.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
They wouldn't yeah stop, ye yeah strong.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
And then my mom was like, I don't want to
talk to my parents, and you know, they were young,
and she's like, I don't want to talk to them again.
And my Dad's like no, like that's your parents. And
knowing my father, like that's just who he is, and
my dad couldn't have been I mean, my dad is
the best, was the best son in law to them.
He helped them with everything. And you know, I never
(16:25):
knew any of this because of their love and their
love for us, Like we grew up with both sets
of grandparents loving us, so we never knew any of
this had transpired, you know, until I got a little
bit older and I heard these stories. But it was like, so, yeah,
such a testament to like fearlessness and faith and love,
you know, And so I think through them, through that,
(16:49):
I guess I think I have a little bit of
that inside of me.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
You know a lot of that.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Yeah, yes, to go for what you're passionate about and
pursue what you love and know that it's possible. I mean,
you're this makes me a little emotional. It's like your parents'
love story is all of what you have chased in
your own life because it's literally like if you love it,
if you.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Believe it, you can have it. You can be it.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
It can it can be your destiny if you have
the courage to go for it.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Absolutely. And I think the only thing my dad wanted,
you know, was a family, Like that was like his
biggest that was his I want to take care of
my family, and I want a family, you know, because
my dad used to sing in a band. He did younger, yeah,
before Vietnam, and he when he came back from Vietnam,
he stopped singing and he sold like his equipment. And
(17:47):
my mom was like, well, do you don't have to
do that, and he's like no, I'm now this is
what I want. This is I want this family. And
I didn't even know my dad could sing until I
was about eight years old and he had a reunion
with his band, and I was like, oh my god,
like it all made sense, Like I'm because I was
such an outcast, like you know, just with loving musical
(18:08):
theater and loving you know, to sing all the time,
and all of a sudden, it like all made sense,
like oh my gosh, this is who I come from,
Like he is a performer. And you know, but I've
only heard my dad sing maybe four times in my life,
like and it's so special, Like he's he's so talented.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
What a story, Yeah, I mean, what great lineage to
be from.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
What a spirit? Did that mean?
Speaker 3 (18:32):
You have such a spirit, Like your spirit is so bold?
How did you know you could pursue Broadway? And how
did you get the courage to do it? And then
you're landing stuff like Wicked and Hamilton?
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Are you kidding me? I mean, the two biggest ones
ever in the Heights. It's just like that is just
no joke.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
And of course you are so talented and you are
absolutely stunning, but there's so much competition.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
How do you cut through it?
Speaker 2 (18:58):
You know much?
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Because there's you know, great people out there.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
So many great people. I just in the start of
my career, like I really had a sense of drive.
But I was also like the kind of kid because
I am so close to my family that didn't want
to leave home. So a lot of kids that I
had gone to like a certain performing arts camp with
in the summers, they were all going to New York
(19:22):
and then to go to school m YU and all
of these different incredible schools. I was ready to leave,
and I.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
Was right in California.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Yeah, and I was the kind of kid that would
be like homesick at sleepovers, you know, and I was like,
I have to stay close. I stayed close to my family.
I went to a school like in our area. And
then after my freshman year, I got a call to
do a There was an open call. It's where you
wait in line with like hundreds of other people to
be a backup singer for the singer Bette Midler. And yeah, yeah,
(19:53):
and I was nineteen and I got the job. You
got a job I did, and it took me all
around the country. And from there I never look back,
you know, Like I go and I visit my family
and my brother and sister, of course, but I uh,
I was like, I want to be in New York.
And I saved money from that job and I moved
to Brooklyn and and then I just hit the pavement.
(20:14):
I didn't have anything, you know, Like my parents, they
gave me what you need the most is love, and
but I had to do everything else, you know. I
had to pay the rent and I had to figure
out how to get it done. And I got two jobs.
I bagged groceries at Demon DeLuca because I watched this
show Felicity when I was younger, and I was like,
she worked at Demon de Luca. I'm going to do that.
(20:34):
They didn't put me on the top, they didn't put
me on the coffee, but they put me in the
basement like bagging like wealthy people's groceries.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
So I did that, and because of Felicity, I.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Was I was like, I meant to that's where I'm
mental work. This is it?
Speaker 4 (20:49):
Did you I know? Was it fun?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
You know what? I met really good friends in that
basement and we that made gift baskets. We made like
the most beautiful gift baskets and they're still friends to
this day. And so I feel like that was totally
worth it. And then I did that early mornings, and
then at night I worked at a restaurant. I did
like co check and all that kind of stuff what
(21:12):
you do and on the East Coast, and then during
the day I just auditioned and I didn't have an agent.
I didn't have anything but a drive to succeed. And
then finally somebody said yes and I got my first job.
And that kind of had a part of my career.
It was at the Vineyard Theater off Broadway. It was
a show called Eli's Coming and it also start a
(21:35):
very unknown person Anika and Nannie Rose who became the
voice of Tiana Sianna and Dreamgirls and all those things.
Judy Cune from ley Midge she played the original Cosette,
and ron El Bay and Wilson Germaine Heredia for Rent
and I ended up winning an Off Broadway Award for that.
(21:56):
But that ended up like getting people to see me
and then asking me to come an audition and that,
you know, I think that I got an agent from
that show and that kind of thing. But yeah, I've
always felt like ever since I started, that this is
where I'm meant to be, and I always feel like
it's home any show that I'm doing, whether it's Wicked
(22:16):
or Hamilton. You know, when you walk into a Broadway house,
it all smells the same. It smells a little must,
like like must must. I guess they're mold or something,
you know, very old, but it just has this like
magical smell. It's like when you go to Disneyland and
it like smells a little bit like with the water rides,
(22:38):
like at Small World and all that kind of stuff.
But you're like, ah, this is the Disney smell, you know,
and you know it. It's like that for Broadway. It
just has that there's nothing fancy about it. It's just
this place that I absolutely love and want to be
a part of the rest of my life.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
So when you're on an ensemble like Hamilton or Wicked
and you're in a cast, what is that like, because
I have to imagine that, like it changes you for
the rest of your life. Like when you are in
a group of that kind of talent and commitment and
just creativity and you're in this world every night because
you're doing it eight shows a week, right, eight shows
(23:16):
a week.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Monday's off, two shows Wednesday, two shows Saturday. It just goes.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
So it's your world.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
You are concepted and you are this character all the time,
all the time.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
And it's it's a job. You know. It's like my
dad getting up at four in the morning and getting
to the van pool, you know, by five o'clock so
that he could get into the city by six. It's like,
I look at it as and I'm very proud that
it is my job. But to work with the highest
caliber of talent on Broadway. There's nothing like it. It's
(23:50):
so exciting because everybody is just trying to like bring
their a game, and it's just there's nothing like it.
And you know when I did Win Kid and I
did Alpha Ba, you did really? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (24:05):
That was why did I not even I did not
even realize you were Alphaba on Wicked?
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Are You?
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Yeah? And I played Angelica Skuyler and Hamilton and me
or in the Heights. But when you play Alphaba, you're
kind of left with this green like halo like all
around because you can't get that makeup off. It just
stays on you. And you know that there's another woman
(24:34):
that's played al Baba. One time, I was in the
city and I was having lunch somewhere and I looked.
I looked at my right and there was this woman
walking by and she had like a green hairline. And
I was like, oh my gosh, that looks Oh my gosh,
is shes playing Alphaba? And then I looked at her
and I'm like, oh my goodness, that's the woman that
is playing al Baba. And and so there's like this sisterhood.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
Did you go to say hi?
Speaker 2 (24:59):
No? Because she probably rushing like between shelves or something.
But it was like it's like a badge of honor,
you know, to to play that role, and you know,
it was very scary because you really don't leave the
stage ever except for intermission.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
And you hold that role, you hold such a everyone
of course has such a huge weight in the show,
but you hold a ton of responsibility for the show.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Absolutely absolutely, and you're kind of isolated a little bit.
Like it's very similar to Norman Desmond for Sunset Boulevard,
Like whereas Nina and Hamilton, you're really a part of
the the everybody, like you get to see everybody on
stage all the time. Like for me with Wicked, sometimes
(25:44):
I wouldn't see the ensemble until I was in university
with them, you know, and then they all don't like me.
Why because they're making fun of me because I'm green
and I'm different, and.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
Oh, oh yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
So that's the first time that you see people and
you're like, oh my gosh, I'm so happy I'm with people.
And then you're like, oh, wow, they don't like me
in this part show. So sometimes it's the only time
you get to see them, So it does feel a
little bit isolated. But you do, you know, you do find,
you do find your people within the company, you know.
(26:21):
With with Alphaba, it was definitely the Green Girl team
and the people that did my makeup and my dresser
and and that and the woman that played my sister.
But Glinda, I think becomes like your your safe haven.
And for for Norma, it's really the Joe Gillis and uh,
(26:42):
your Norma team, the woman that does your hair and makeup,
and because otherwise you you don't see everybody all the time.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
And I really don't you think that you would all
just be together constantly, but you're not.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
No, And but I'm a very I'm very much like
a team kind of person. Like I love community and
so I was raised and I think that I always
try to make a point to to get to know everybody,
you know. And it's like and sometimes like in Sunset Boulevard,
some of the cast was just this right out of college,
(27:15):
you know, and they're so young, and it's just so
exciting to be there and watch them have that first
show like I did, you know, and it's it's a
full circle kind of thing.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
What is that life? Being where you are now? And
like you're saying, because since that bus boulevard. That's what
you're doing currently, right, Yes, okay, so you're currently doing
that on Broadway and now you are this season professional.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
I mean you you have just done it, but you're
seeing these young kids.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
What is that like, though, to experience that full circle
because you really have now you've seen it from all
the perspectives and you obviously so have so much, so
many places to go with this, but like you really
have like achieved goals and levels. So what is that
like at this point for you when to see that
and to realize how far you've come and how do
you how does it even feel like?
Speaker 4 (28:04):
What does that even feel like?
Speaker 2 (28:06):
It's a beautiful thing. And I think that I feel
so lucky that I'm able to recognize that, that I'm
able to recognize how lucky I am. And I think
that I do put a lot of responsibility on myself
to make sure that everybody's okay, to check in and
to be kind of the mother in a way that
(28:28):
looks out for everybody and cheers everybody on because somebody
did that for me and you. I guess it's like
a tradition in Broadway, you know, in theater, there's tradition
that that happens, and that's one of the parts that
I love about it, is like the traditions and the
(28:49):
way that things happen. Like on opening night, the person
that has been in the most Broadway ensemble roles, like
in the most shows, gets to wear something called the
legacy robe, and the person that gives that to them
is the from the show that just opened right before you,
from that ensemble members. So then they come and they
(29:09):
present you with the legacy robe, and then everybody has
to touch it and it's good luck. It brings luck
to the building, but it's and everybody, I'm saying, you
have to go up and down the stairs and make
sure that everybody on, like the crew, everybody has touched
the legacy robe. And then you feel like, together, we
can now open this show.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
So that's like a unity thing.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
It's like, yes, here's the person who has the most
hierarchy or whatever, but then you're still nobody is like
above anyone.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
It kind of should bring out absolutely nobody all in We're.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
All in it together. And that's what I love so
much about theater and what I do is that nothing
happens about the.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
Other person, like and you know that you feel that.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Oh you see it, you can see it.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Yeah, if one person, whatever happens with one person happens
with all people, which happens, right, But your experience.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Absolutely in this stage manager doesn't call the cue to
the lighting to person doing the spotlight. You don't get
lit on stage if they don't call the queue to
somebody in the sound department, that you're not going to
be heard. It's one of those things. And there's something
that is just so it's no surprise to me that
that's where.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
I ended up, you know, but that is it's like
a hundred little miracles are just having all the time,
and everyone has to hold their weight and you have
to count on everyone, and it's that literally is the
just like the core what great community is because you're
trusting that everyone can do their job, that they will
do their job, that they're going to handle their responsibilities,
(30:37):
and y'all all just trust and show up. It's that's
a huge, what a beautiful thing to be a part of.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
I love that you said that also because it's a
little bit you're kind of quoting of one of my
favorite musicals, which is Flower Drum Song, And there's a
song called one hundred million Miracles, and when you said that,
I was like, a hundred million may you have to
listen to that song because it is It's like are
happening every day and you don't realize it. You know,
(31:06):
you don't have to realize that, you just it just is.
And when you get to recognize that, it's.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
It's a beautiful thing because that is really life, but
we don't recognize it.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
On life.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
For everything to flow, for everything to work together, it
all everyone has to do their part, but we just
don't think of it as it's not as it just
doesn't feel quite as magical as it does when you
see it on a Broadway play coming all together, it's
it's really phenomenal. What has been one of your most
(31:39):
memorable moments on Broadway? Like what was a moment where
you literally just like had to catch your breath and
you're like, this is it?
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Like this is what it has?
Speaker 3 (31:47):
Obviously you love it all, but like this like a
moment where you're, oh, yeah, my god.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
I think one of my favorite a couple of my
favorite moments, one being when the show in the Heights
written by lin Manua Miranda, who then wrote Hamilton but
when we were doing in the Heights, I started with
that show when we all just sat around a table
reading out of scripts, and it was the little show
(32:15):
that could. We didn't know if people were going to
like it. We didn't know what was going to happen.
We had to go out and hand out flyers to
get people to come and see the show because we
were all the way off Broadway, like down down the block,
you know. And to go from from that experience of
a table reading then to a workshop where then you
(32:37):
put some costumes there and some sets, and you put
it on its feet and you add choreography. Then to
go from that to the show being produced off Broadway,
then from the show being produced off then being on Broadway,
and then being at the Tony Awards at Radio City
Music Hall with the entire company and all of the producers,
(32:59):
and running up to the stage when you win Best
Musical and being able to see lin Manuel Miranda just
on the shoulders of some of his best friends and
to celebrate that talent. It was one of the best
moments that I've ever had. And you know, being Latina,
(33:19):
I was told from a very young age by a
certain agent that I would have to change my last name,
that I would have to change a little bit about
myself to appear less ethic, because if I didn't, then
I wouldn't be able to have those kind of opportunities
and play different characters. That it was going to hinder
my career. And when I stood up there at that
(33:41):
moment with all of my friends and we all had
a story to tell of our backgrounds, it was the
moment that I said, this is where I'm supposed to
be and look at this, look at this, that we
all did it together, and that was one of my
absolute favorite moments, like probably in my life.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
You know, yeah, because it's not like you're joining a
show that's already running and you're plugging in and you
know what the character is going to be, like you're
and you know.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
People like it.
Speaker 4 (34:09):
Yeah, yeah, people are going to.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Come like Wicked. When I went in, it was like, oh,
people are cheering before it even starts, Hamilton. People love it.
But when you're doing a new piece of work and
you're just kind of like, I love it. I love
it so much. I want everybody to love it, but
I don't know. You know, you just again, it's faith.
We all we all had to share dressing room, all
the women, eleven of us in one dressing room, eleven
(34:32):
of the men in another dressing room. And we put
up this sign and we all signed our name on
it when we were all Broadway, and we put we're
going to Broadway, and we hit the sign every day
before we would go on to the stage. And I
really my friend read that book The Secret, and it
was about you know, just manifesting, and we were like, yeah,
let's do it, and we're gonna do that. And if
(34:54):
it was the sign that made it happen, I don't know,
but there was a faith that we all had that
it how it was going to somehow we were going
to achieve some dream, you know, for someone.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
Is this not what life is all about? Honestly?
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Totally, absolutely, it never stopped.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
I know, how did you work in raising a beautiful
child in the mix of all this, with all of
your scheduling and because you because you have a daughter
you said he's a teen, right, yes.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Which not thirteen almost fourteen?
Speaker 3 (35:27):
And I have an only child too, so I want
to get some kids on. Did you know you wanted
to have an only child? Did life bring in side?
Speaker 2 (35:36):
You know? I finished wicket and at that time I
was ready, like I don't know something. My body was ticking,
like there's something that was like, I want to have
a baby. And I saw all my friends about it. Yes,
and I told my husband and I was like now,
and we were so fortunate that it happened for us.
(35:58):
But it was always part of my you know, my
biggest goals in life was to have a successful family
like my parents, you know. And I think that after
having a child and then having the career that I
have and all the things that I have to do
along with that, I think that for us it was like,
(36:19):
all right, she's amazing and wonderful and I think we're good.
You know, that that was what works for us, you know,
And I feel so I just feel so lucky that
I that we have her, you know, like getting to
watch someone watch her grow up and be in this
(36:39):
new phase of teenhood and to be a part of
that and to be her mom. I just feel so
so incredibly blessed. I can't tell you, you know. And I
want to give her everything that I possibly can, but
I want to teach her all the lessons that I learned,
and she's learning her own. She's had to go through
a lot, lot of different things that I never had
(37:01):
to go through, and I think that she's so much
stronger than I ever was, and so I'm just proud
of who she is and I can't wait to just
continue to be her mom and watch her just flourish.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
That's incredible. I feel that same way. Do you did
you ever? I just I always want to know from
other only only children parents because we tried to have
another kid and weren't successful with it before or after
my daughter, and so like, I'm at this place where
I'm like so unbelievably thankful that I have this child.
She is just the light of my life. But every
(37:39):
now and then I'm like, do you I is there
like some did you do you ever have a faint
longing that there could have been another one?
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Or that you wish they would have a sibling?
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Because That's what I struggle struggle with sometimes because I'm like,
I love the only child dynamic because it allows us
to be so close and so much energy for her,
and like, yeah, you know, there's so many positives. But
then I sometimes do you ever think about the.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
I used to think about it a lot? Okay, when
she was younger, and she used to ask me about
it and she would be like, well what about She
used to ask me for a sister. I want a sister,
and I said, well, you know, that's you know, probably
not going to happen. And I would talk to her
about it and then I said, and you know, you
(38:26):
can never guarantee like you may have a brother. And
then she was like, oh, forget it, Like I just
wanted the sister, like all that kind of stuff. But
now I think she's so comfortable with it, and it's
like she has so many wonderful friends. She's such a
wonderful friend and such a caring person that I feel
(38:47):
like if she wasn't, then I would worry a little
bit more, you know, because all of those things about
doubt and should I do this because everybody says this
or everybody you know, I grew up with siblings and
that's what I want her to have. It's like, Okay,
just getting to watch her life, it's like, oh, she's fine,
(39:09):
you know. And to me, that takes away the guilt
that I used to feel about it.
Speaker 4 (39:16):
Yeah you know, yes I do.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
And I used to get it from everybody like well
why don't this and that, And I'm like, well, and
then everything that we've been through in life, it's like, oh,
thank goodness, like I just right now just have one
and I'm able to give her everything that she needs,
you know, and because it's hard, you know.
Speaker 4 (39:38):
I love that. That's so I think that is such
a wonderful explanation. And I agree with you.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
And you also you had to battle cancer too, Like
when did that have it?
Speaker 2 (39:50):
Oh my gosh. So I was in Hamilton and I
went for my first mammogram twenty nineteen and they found
something and it's like the worst thing that you hear.
You know, you have to come back, But at that
time it wasn't like didn't seem like a big deal,
(40:13):
Like they said, you have to come back in six
months to get another test because we saw something. And
so I went back after six months and I wasn't
going to go back because I was like, well, maybe
it wasn't it was just a fluke. Then I got
a letter in the mail that said it's time for
your six months or then, and I said to my husband,
(40:34):
I guess I'll go, and he goes, this is your life,
you have to go. So then I went and I
had another mammogram, and at first they said that it
was assist and it was probably benign, and my mom
told me not to worry because she said I had
probably have dense breas she is dense breast, and so
(40:57):
I wasn't worried. And then I went in and then
they had me wait in the waiting room and then
they asked me to come back in to do a
three D mammogram and I was like huh. So then
I started to get worried. And it was weird because
this particular place where I was getting all of these
mammograms done, they had me wear pink robes, which I
was like, this is kind of weird.
Speaker 4 (41:19):
You know, they're like Broad's cancer, yes, And I.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
Was just like, oh, this is weird, Like I'm in
this pink robe and now I have to do this.
And then they came back. They had me wait, and
then they came back again and said we have to
do an ultrasound. And that's when I started to cry
because I was like, what is what's going on? You know?
And they said, just relax, it's probably nothing. We just
have to make sure. But my first time going through it,
(41:44):
I was just really scared, and then I calmed down
and they did the ultrasound and it took a really
long time, and then I was sitting on the table
and or you know, the medical table, and the radiologists
came in and she said, we found something. And then
I started to really cry and they were so like,
(42:08):
why are you crying, and like relax, we don't know
what it is and all this kind of and I
was just I freaked out. You know, I'm dramatic anyway,
I mean, this is like on top of that. And
then I went home and I was able to get
in to get a bioxy very quickly, probably because of
(42:28):
my hysteria, and they when it came back, I went
out with my husband. They were going to call that day.
It was a Wednesday, and we went to get something
to eat because I was waiting and it was so
anxiety inducing and waiting, and then he got the call
and she said, I'm sorry to say that the cells
are cancerous. And I was in complete shock. We've packed
(42:53):
up whatever lunch it was that we were eating, I
don't even remember. And I just remember my husband holding
me up and walking back home and just kind of
falling apart and thinking the worst possible scenario, like because
I think sometimes that's what you do your mind does.
It was like, oh my gosh, my daughter. She was
in second grade at the time, and I was like,
(43:15):
what am I going to do? Like I it all
came to her like I just want to be here
and you know, take care of her, and I don't
want her to go through this. I don't want her
to like have to deal with this. And I think
that's the scariest part about cancer is the unknown. When
you don't know like what stage it is, you don't
(43:36):
know what the what you're going to have to go through,
you don't know how it's going to affect your family.
But we were very open with her. We decided early
on once we found out the diagnosis. I was diagnosed
very early, and I was able to have a looked
up to me.
Speaker 4 (43:52):
And think, is that where you remove it? Is that
where they just cut it out?
Speaker 2 (43:56):
Yes, because I had a tumor and they removed that.
And then they also have to check your lymph nodes
to make sure that it hasn't spread, and mine had
not spread. But I was The way that things are now,
which is so amazing, is that they can check the
DNA of the tumor to determine what kind of treatment
(44:18):
will be best for you so that you have a
better chance of the cancer not returning of being in remission.
And so my cancer, unfortunately, was one that I had
to have chemotherapy and radiation. And so at that point
we decided that we wanted to talk to our daughter
(44:39):
and tell her about it. And it's kids are so
funny in so many ways, you know, because I remember
my husband, my daughter was in the backseat. We had
talked to her about it, and she had seen a
movie where there was a cancer patient. I can't remember
what movie it was. It was like a SA superhero movie.
(45:01):
And she was like, is that what it's going to be?
And I said, well, you know, it's going to be
a little different than that. But then one day she
was thinking about it and she said, well, Dad, does
mom have the good cancer or the bad cancer? And
my husband was like, well, there's no real good cancer,
but it's not real bad and she was just kind
of like okay, And from then on she just kind
(45:23):
of went with it. You know, not that that has
been all that there is, but you know, who knew
that during the time I was getting chemotherapy, that there
would be a pandemic and that you know, all these things.
I was like, she won't have to go with me
to treatment. I don't want her to see any of that,
Like all those things she had to come and see.
Speaker 4 (45:44):
How was that when?
Speaker 2 (45:47):
I think that's for her like to tell and that's
something that she works on. But I think that it's
very traumatizing, you know, to have to be there. But
I had no choice. You know, there was no school,
there was nothing, and then it turned out where nobody
could be with me in the room. So then they
(46:08):
had to wait in the car in the parking lot
while I had treatment and then wait for me to
pick me up because there was no subways running. It
was you know, it was so crazy. But I think that,
you know, through it all, I learned so much about myself.
Speaker 3 (46:27):
But.
Speaker 2 (46:29):
How strong I am, and that how strong my family is.
And I couldn't see my family in California, you know,
I couldn't be with my mom and my dad because
it was a pandemic. So but I my husband was incredible,
(46:51):
you know, he did everything. You know, while I was
in treatment, my husband did homeschool and made all the
meals and you know, because nobody could help us. It
was wow, really yeah, I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (47:04):
No I feel but how beautiful, like how much love? Yeah,
just to be so loved, you know.
Speaker 2 (47:13):
Yeah, it was really like, wow, what a special life
I've built so that when something does happen like this,
I don't have to feel like I'm alone. And it
turned out to be, you know, because sometimes when you're
doing eight shows a week, you don't see your family
that much, and that's a really hard part of it,
you know. But I'm always like my dad, I always
(47:34):
make sure I walk my daughter to school on every morning,
and not anymore she don't want me. But but it's like, uh,
you know, it was a really I know that a
lot of people say this about that time. It was
scary time, but it was also such a beautiful time
because I would never have seen those moments in with
(47:59):
my family, all of those things not happened.
Speaker 3 (48:02):
And you know, sometimes people like giving obviously you don't
choose this, but having a moment where someone has an
opportunity to rise to such an occasion, you know, like, yeah,
just to see people what they're capable of, the love,
they're capable of, the how they're capable to show up
for you. I mean, you don't plan those things, but
(48:22):
to see that, it's really that's a moment in time.
Speaker 2 (48:27):
Absolutely, and yeah, all it's like it was yesterday and.
Speaker 3 (48:33):
It probably took your relationship just somewhere so much deeper
than you could even imagine, because like you can't even
put in words what that is, what kind of love
that is?
Speaker 2 (48:41):
You know, absolutely, And it's like the love that like
somebody that sees you at the whole worst moments, Like
you don't care about your hair, you don't care about
there are certain things I do care about. I always
wore my hoops. I always had on a lipstick a
different kind, but not during the pandem because he had
to wear a mak but I think all my hoops,
(49:03):
but all the other stuff, it's like you just want
to get through it, you know, at least for me,
it was. It was really really hard. And he was
there and he continues to be there, and he continues
to be my ride or die, you know, and for
for both of us, you know. But and their relationship
(49:25):
grew so much stronger, you know, they had always had
a very very strong bond. I have an awesome husband.
And father to my daughter. But even during that time,
like when I had to be in the room by
myself and they kind of had to, you know, hang
out together on those particular nights and they would watch
(49:45):
Bob's Burgers and not that it's the most appropriate show,
but it's like there, you know, their bonding, their bonding time,
And yeah, I love that.
Speaker 3 (50:07):
What a beautiful life you've lived, Mandy, Thank you.
Speaker 4 (50:12):
I mean, what a life.
Speaker 3 (50:13):
What a piece of art. Your whole life is a
piece of art. You know, it has all the different
tones to it, and it's so rich and it's so
full of just all the most passionate, beautiful things that
your soul could.
Speaker 4 (50:26):
Long for, I mean, from the highest to the lows.
Speaker 2 (50:30):
Well, even when you were saying like you know, I'm
at this place where I don't know if you meant
right now, but you're sometimes at a place where you're like, Okay,
what am I doing? What am I going to do next?
And what? Sometimes it's just important to be at that place, yeah,
and just know that something's going to come. There's going
to be some thought in your head that ends up
on a piece of paper or however you take notes
(50:52):
on a phone and uh, and then it'll start all
over again, you know what I mean. But that's like
the beautiful part of this life that we lead is that,
you know, we get one and we get to make
the most of it. So I encourage you that for
the next thing to jump to jump, it'll come to you,
(51:15):
you know. And that's because that's what I tell myself.
You know, feel the fear and do it anyway, you know,
sometimes because I'm afraid a lot. I have a lot
of fears. I have a lot of self doubt, a
lot of things that I'm getting better at as I'm
getting older, you know, like perfectionism and letting go of that,
(51:35):
especially as a singer that has to do a show
eight times a week and sound the same like people
expect that, and now they videotape it and put it
online and all these things. And I used to be
so critical of myself and try to be perfect, but
it's unattainable, and so I just say, well, right now,
(51:55):
this is the most you can get. You know, when
I was performing and I was going with cancer.
Speaker 3 (52:01):
So you performed and went through cancer, you were going
did were you going to chemo and radiation while performing?
Speaker 4 (52:07):
Are you how did you have the energy? How could
you do this?
Speaker 2 (52:10):
Crazy? I don't Yes, yes, I don't recommend it, but
for me, it was like this mentality of the show
must go on. And that was one of the first
questions that I asked my oncologists while I still be
able to sing, you know.
Speaker 4 (52:23):
And act and do all that performing.
Speaker 2 (52:26):
Yeah, And for me, the chemo, like anybody that's been
through chemo, I think that it's different for everybody, but
for me, there's good days and bad days, and it
was always consistent, so it was always there was like
a routine about it. So it's like, Okay, the first
two days are going to be good, and then day
four and five are my hardest days and then it
gets better. So day four and five I would not
(52:47):
do a show, and I could say, like, these are
the days I don't want to do it, and they
were understanding. They were like, don't come back until it's done,
like you know what I mean. But I just I
needed it. I needed to not let cancer tape everything
about who I was, you know. And I didn't realize
until we were shut down. You know. We finally got
(53:09):
shut down and I was in treatment and I didn't
know how much I needed to stop and just go
through treatment and be able to have that be my
focus and my only focus. You know. But if it hadn't,
I would have kept going. It was crazy. I just
so wanted to hold on to this part of myself,
(53:34):
you know that for some reason I thought that cancer
was going to take and it was like, I realize
now going through that, that I didn't need to hold
on so hard. It would come back, you know.
Speaker 3 (53:47):
Because it makes me so teary though, because you're so true,
because there's I mean, I can't imagine the fear that
you're going through and you're in the height of your career,
the height of your life as a mother and a wife,
and you're in the high I have it all, and
it's like, oh my gosh, to have to just surrender
do this, I.
Speaker 2 (54:07):
Think and as women, I think that we put everybody
first is how we I don't know about you, but
it's how I was brought up. You know, you put
the family first, and you don't take that much time
for yourself. And you know, I encourage people that when
I do talk about cancer, you know, treatment and going
(54:28):
to get tested, that taking care of yourself is taking
care of your family. You know. It's not a selfish thing,
you know, because cancer affects up everybody that loves you,
you know, and so but it was one of those
things that I needed to learn, you know, letting go
and really having faith that it's all going to be okay.
(54:53):
And so much of that was just through the joy
of being with my daughter and my husband during the pandemic.
You know, we live in Jersey and he put up
this what do we call it, like a big pool,
like outdoor pool, you know, one of those that you
could like put together. He found it online. It was amazing.
But that was like our whole summer was going in
(55:13):
that pool and having a great time as a family,
you know. And he still tried to put it up. Uh,
he put it up the next year and then he
was like I'm done. It's too much work, you know.
But it was like he made those things, he made
life feel like it was life was lifing. You know
what I'm saying, It's definitely lifing.
Speaker 3 (55:33):
So yeah, what a what a snapshot just to like
to hear you talk though, to hear you talk about
like your moments on Broadway and those snapshots and then
like in the middle of like recovery and cancer and
treatment in a backyard pool with your family.
Speaker 4 (55:47):
I mean, you truly know the value of life, like
you really do? You know what it is you?
Speaker 2 (55:52):
Thank you. I think I'm still learning. I have a
lot to learn, but I think that I there's some
things that I've been through that I think I at
first I thought that it was the worst thing in
my life, and now I look at it as a
blessing because of who it's made me become and all
(56:17):
the help that I can give other people. And I
think that that from my parents and they're you know,
wanting to serve in community. I think that's been a
big part of my life. And I didn't know how
much I needed that too, you know. And and so
this has opened up a new way for me to
use my voice.
Speaker 3 (56:38):
Do you communicate with a lot and speak to a
lot of people who are going through cancer?
Speaker 2 (56:43):
I do, you know. I have my support groups, and
then I will go to different hospitals. I was treated
at MSK, I was treated at NYU Lingon. And if
there's some kind of benefit concert, if they need to
raise funds or something like that, I will go and
I will tell my story and I will sing a
(57:03):
song because I truly believe that that's the way that
we're going to find a cure for this disease. I
think it's coming.
Speaker 4 (57:14):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (57:15):
Yeah, that's so awesome.
Speaker 3 (57:17):
And I mean, I'm sure, like you said, with your
support group, because you've gone through this, you've probably connected
with a whole different world of people that you would
have never known and have these relationships you could have never.
Speaker 4 (57:27):
Had otherwise with other book people going through.
Speaker 2 (57:29):
It, and everybody's so vulnerable and like, you know, because
I think there was a stigma when my mom was
growing up. I mean I didn't I'm the first of
my family to go through breast cancer. But there's a
stigma of like a shame about getting cancer or like
having it. And I think that the more you talk
about it and the more you feel less alone with it,
(57:52):
the less shame there is because there's nobody's fault, no,
it's but sometimes people make you feel like that, Oh.
Speaker 3 (58:00):
My gosh, especially with today with all the toxins everywhere
and all of our everything that is around us, like,
how can we not be getting Uh, it's I feel
like the chances of I totally it's nobody's fault.
Speaker 4 (58:14):
How can you yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (58:16):
But that's why it's like a it's a healing. It's
a healing to talk about it and uh, to get
other people to also be on board. Sorry, the teens
just came back.
Speaker 3 (58:26):
Oh so, but well we're you know, we're here at
the end of this interview to.
Speaker 2 (58:29):
Mandy, Oh, thank you, Caroline.
Speaker 3 (58:31):
I always wrap up with one question, which is leave
your light, and it's basically, what do you want people
to know?
Speaker 4 (58:39):
What kind of wisdom do you want to share with people?
Speaker 2 (58:43):
Oh? I want to share you know. I get a
lot of young people that ask me like, how how
did you do it? And a lot of people will say,
like my parents say that I can't you know, make
a living if I'm in the arts, or my parents
said if I'm in the arts, then I can't also
have a family because I won't be able to afford it.
(59:05):
And I want to just say that there's a place
in the arts for everybody, and it may not always
look like how you think it's going to look like
with like mine, where you're in the spotlight. It may
be behind the scenes. It may be stage management, it
may be sound design, it may be lighting, design. It
may be a podcast, it may be writing, it may
be all of these things. But if you have a
(59:27):
dream and you have a talent for something, don't ever
feel like you can't. It's not possible. Because I'm here
to say it is possible to do what you love
for a living, and to have a family and to
give love to your community. It's all possible. So stay
away from the doubters.
Speaker 4 (59:47):
That is so beautiful.
Speaker 3 (59:48):
And I briefly touched on this, but I want to
circle back to you have books out Fearless, which is
for Fearless.
Speaker 4 (59:54):
It's four part series. It's for teens, right, and.
Speaker 3 (59:57):
It's just it's like fiction, but it's inspirational and an
hour Fearless kind of tell me about that too, because
I we didn't.
Speaker 2 (01:00:03):
Love their Broadway adventure novels, and it follows different characters
that are inspired by people in my life on Broadway.
The thing I one of the things I love about Broadway.
I talked about tradition but also the superstition, because I'm
very superstitious about a lot of things, and and so
I wanted to write about a girl that was like
(01:00:25):
me and that comes to New York from California. With
her abuela, and they she comes because she gets a
call from a casting director that she's going to be
the understudy to the understudy in a new Broadway show,
and all of these things happened. She meets her Fearless Quad,
she has to reverse the curse of the theater. But
(01:00:48):
these are all things that I didn't know. I didn't
know an understudy to an understudy existed until I did
my first Broadway show, and I was like, oh, that
is like that's a job, you know. And so there's
all these secrets and all these little things about Broadway,
all these things about New York and friendship that I
wanted to express. And so I've been so lucky to
(01:01:10):
be able to write those ideas and those stories and
put them into play. But Fearless Squad kind of started
from a lot of young people reaching out to me
with feelings of loneliness and that they didn't belong. So
I said, if you don't belong, you can be part
of my Fearless Squad, and anybody can be part of it.
I held your hand in mine, and together we changed
(01:01:30):
the world. We help each other when we fall, We
embrace differences, We look for the good and we dream
big and together we're fearless. And I had no idea
that so many people want to be part of it.
And I've been lucky to watch so many people that
are part of my Fearless Squad to grow up and
they have also helped me to grow up a lot.
(01:01:52):
And it just continues to grow and just spreads a
message of positivity and community that I think this part
of my legacy.
Speaker 4 (01:02:01):
Where do you connect with your fearless Squad? Where do
y'all online?
Speaker 2 (01:02:05):
You just hashtag Fearless Squad and come people come up
and I connect with them a lot just online, but
then I also connect any concepts that I'm doing. I
meet people that I joined the Fearless Squad because I
started it in twenty seventeen. I joined when I was
in you know, seventh grade, and now I'm in college
and it really helped me, and you know, those kind
(01:02:27):
of things. I see kids now. There adults that are
waiting at the stage door at Sence at Boulevard and
they're like, we're the O G Fearless Squad, and you know,
I've watched them grow up and it just makes me
so happy that they have found each other because that's
what it's about. It's like taking that feeling and bringing
it into your community. Oh and it's free.
Speaker 4 (01:02:49):
And then your album Fearless, right.
Speaker 2 (01:02:51):
Yes, yes, and Lynn Manoel wrote the song Fearless for
me and I named the album that and he wrote
it about my parents. That's song and their love and yeah, oh,
just a message to keep going.
Speaker 4 (01:03:06):
Amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:03:07):
Mandy, you are just such a gift, and thank you
for sharing your gifts with the.
Speaker 4 (01:03:11):
World and Caroline all of your talent.
Speaker 3 (01:03:14):
It's really incredible to hear your journey. I really appreciate
this interview and just love getting to hear your story.
So thank you for sharing.
Speaker 2 (01:03:20):
Thank you, Caroline, Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 4 (01:03:23):
This is awesome. Okay, I have a great trip. You're
at the beach right now.
Speaker 2 (01:03:25):
Right, Yeah, I'm at the beach.
Speaker 3 (01:03:29):
Well, go have a great time, okay, Caroline bye?
Speaker 4 (01:03:32):
Oh wait really fast? Where can everyone find you?
Speaker 2 (01:03:34):
Oh they can find me on Mandy Gonzala dot com
or on Instagram at Mandy dot Gonzalez.
Speaker 4 (01:03:40):
Okay, all right, thank you Mandy.
Speaker 3 (01:03:42):
Thanks Caroline, Bye bye.
Adam Caryl Lone.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
She's a queen and talking and so she's getting really not.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Afraid to feel the Texisol soul. Just let it flow.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
No one can do Wequid Carylne, this sound like Carolone.
I am so excited to be here with Mandy Gonzalez.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
How are you good?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
How are you? I'm so excited to be here with you.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Oh my gosh. Well, I'm going to run through your
accomplishments because you are a freaking rock star. You're just
a beloved Broadway you are just a fixture in Broadway
right now. You are just like in the seams and
(00:57):
the heartbeat and just the whole soul.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
What's happening on Broadway?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I mean, you got your your big break was when
you were in in the Heights, right that was when
everything kind.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Of took off for you in Broadway? Was that the
big one they kind of launched?
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That was definitely the big one. I've definitely been part
of the trifecta. And now I guess the fourth being
Sunset Boulevard. But the big ones are in the Highs,
Hamilton and Wicked and uh.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I mean that is that's sanity? Are you kidding me?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah? I'm so Yeah. It's what I've always wanted to do,
and I've been lucky to be able to do it.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Okay, But like so many people have these dreams, like
when you're a kid and you talk to kids and
they're like, what do you want to be? And they're like,
I want to be an astronaut. I want to be
a famous singer. I want to be a Broadway I
want to be a movie star. You are an actor,
you are on Broadway, you are in movies. You have
written a teen like book, like it's a series called Fearless.
(02:02):
There's four books in that series. I mean, you have
an albums. It's just amazing. You actually have made.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Your dreams come true on the big scale. That is
so hard to do.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Mandy, absolutely, thank you so much. My sister always says,
you know, Mandy, not everybody knows what they want to do,
and that's okay. But I was not that kind of person.
At a young age. I fell in love with music
and I fell in love with theater, and I really
felt a certain kind of drive to do what I
wanted to do. The path has been like but you know,
(02:39):
as you know, but yeah, I feel so so lucky.
To get to do what I love for a living.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
So I interviewed a lot of artists and entrepreneurs and
authors and myself. I'm also like in that whole vein
of just chasing dreams, and sometimes the dream is a disaster,
Like it is literally like I I just I'm just
coming out of a season where I'm like what am
I doing with my life?
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Like what in the world is happening?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Like everything feels chaotic, You don't really ever have a
clear picture of where it's going to go.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Kind of you do, but then it's.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Like you have to rely so much on just knowing
the next thing is going to kind of show up
if you do the work right and if you.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Absolutely and advantage that. I don't know, there's something about
that that I really like. There's something about the not
knowing and the leaping and the constant leaping, the constant
thing of like, Okay, now this show is over, and
now what do I want to do? Or now what
is it that my focus is? Or And there's just
(03:41):
something exciting about it that like fills me with adrenaline
that I really really like And you probably feel the
same way, and it's just not you know, I've always
been like, it's just not normal to feel like this,
but I think it's just what makes me tick and
what makes me excited about life. And yeah, that it's
never all planned, but isn't that like what it is?
(04:05):
It's like, but we've chosen careers that are really, you know,
a roll of the dice a lot of the times.
But now I feel like at this age, I'm definitely
more in a place of where I want to create
my own projects and I want to do my own
kind of things as well, and so you know, but
that took some time to kind of figure out.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So do you feel like it's sort of like a
muscle trusting in the leap of faith and like believing
in like what you're saying that the kind of the
thrill and the joy of believing that this next opportunity
is going to come. Do you have did that muscle
have to strengthen? Were you always sure that it was
going to work out? Or was there ever a moment
(04:49):
where we're like this is all.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Good to a crash? Well, then let me close this.
It might make this sound a little bit better. Okay,
let me see if that works. But yeah, I think
that I've always had sense of I don't know, I
don't know what it's faith, I think, and I've always
had that deep within myself that I can make it happen.
(05:13):
I mean, there's certainly a lot of doubt and those
voices come out all the time, and I have anxiety
and I have all these different things. But I think
it's that that real like sense of who I am
and that faith that it is going to work out
and that yeah, I keep going one foot in front
(05:36):
of the other.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
What is the faith that you lean on, Like, what
do you dig into? Because I feel the same way.
The only way I get through surviving the mystery of
this all with anything really is just faith in general.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
But what is the faith that you leave in?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I think there's a big sense within me of faith
with God and that is kind of like a foundational
thing from childhood. And then I think it's within my
family and the faith that I will be loved no
matter what.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Wow, So your family is still that in you? Not
everyone believed?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, absolutely, I think from a very young age. I
come from a very strong family and I'm the youngest
of three, so I have a brother and a sister
and we all do different things. I don't come from
a showbiz family at all. My parents. I came out
and I was singing show tunes and my family was like,
(06:33):
what is this? And I was lucky to have a
grandma that was like, I know what this is. Let's
quorder in lessons and let's do this, and let's do this.
But we all, you know, my parents both worked full time,
blue class working people, and we all were special for something.
(06:54):
It wasn't you know, I had talent and I had
a gift. But my brother did this, and he this,
and my sister did this. So I think we all
felt a sense of love and from a very young
age and that yeah, I can do this special thing.
But like it's all about what you're bringing to the family.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
You all had been seen for who you really are
from the beginning, Like you didn't have to you didn't
have to like present a version of yourself or like
try to mold into something. You were able to just
be seen as yourself from your earliest memories.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
That is so amazing.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yeah, and my parents I think would have loved me,
would love me regardless. I mean, my dad now he's
on Facebook, so he loves the fact that I'm in
stuff that he can like repost and do those kind
of things. But he would be reposting that if I
was doing anything. You know, my dad. I worked at
Starbucks when I was in college, like I think my
first year of college, and my dad would come and
(07:50):
he would just sit in the Starbucks and get his
refill of coffee or whatever, and people be like, who's
that guy, And I'd be like, I'm sorry, that's my dad,
Like he's just here. He would go to my brother's job,
he would go. He was just so proud of us,
you know, that we were doing what we're doing, and
he wanted to always be a part of that, you know.
(08:11):
So I think no matter what, he would be reposting
something that I was doing on Facebook if anybody followed.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
My dad just so loving though, I mean, what a
loving spirit just to have that energy as parents around you.
So to the people listening, I feel like if you
could put it into a few core values or core
like codes that your family followed, like what is that
everyone's looking for this kind of family, Like how to
(08:38):
feel seen as a child, how to feel loved, how
to everyone carry their own weight, how to make the
family work, and to be a healthy unit, Like what
would you say, are kind of the.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Pillars y'all went by to get that? Because this is amazing,
Oh thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Well. I think that the first part is being there,
right because my parents were always there. You know. My
mom worked at high school and so she was done
with work I think by three o'clock so that she
could get to us and pick us up from school
or you know, figure out what we were doing. And
(09:15):
then my mom would come home and then she would
make sure that we did homework. She would do you know,
we'd all eat dinner together, so my dad would come
home from work and we all like sat together. I
think having that was so important, you know. And when
I was really young, you know, my dad worked swing shift,
so he would work whatever shift was available. He'd work
(09:39):
at night, or he'd work during the day. At first,
he worked at a glass plant called Thatcher Glass, which
was in our hometown, and everybody worked there, and then
they closed because everything went to plastic. And then my
dad got a job with the City of Los Angeles
in maintenance. So he once he got to the city
(09:59):
of La it was like very structured hours. But before that,
my dad was working all the time. But he always
made sure that he would walk us to school in
the morning, So even though he worked from like eleven
to seven, he made sure that he would walk us
and that we were there. So I've always tried to
instill that and do that with my daughter. So I
think being there is a really important thing when it
(10:20):
comes to, you know, having a kid and building a family,
you know. And then I think that it's always easier
to be kind. And my parents are both very very
kind people. You know. I go for walks when I
go and visit my parents, and my dad says high
to everybody that he walks by, and some people don't
(10:42):
say hi back, and he always just says, you know,
you know me like you my daughter. He said, you know,
we'll just you just say hi to the next person.
It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. And my mom is
the same. You know, she doesn't say hi to everybody.
She's not as friendly as my dad, but you know,
she always calls us and she says, it doesn't matter
if anybody calls back, you just keep calling, okay. So
(11:06):
the very kind, kind hearted people. I think also giving
back to your community is a big thing. My mom
and my dad met like as pen pals.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
I heard this story you're born, Yeah, you wanted to
be in the Peace Corps and your said no, And
so then she said, okay, I'll just write to soldiers.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
And she wrote to your dad and they fell in love.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Are you kidding? Yes? And it's so crazy because there's
they're from such different parts of like just different worlds.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
You know, Oh, I've never met and iver met because
in this particular situation, like where's your dad from and
where's your mom from?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
So my dad is a Mexican American. My dad was
born in Texas and his family were worked on farms,
so they kind of followed the crop wherever they could
get a job, and they lived on the farm and
he lived with his seven brothers and sisters. Sometimes they
would show up to a farm and the farmer didn't
(12:06):
have housing for them, and they would live. They would
take out the cows and whatever animals were in the
barn and they'd live in the barn. Like they just
worked really, really hard, and they settled in northern California.
My mom grew up in the valley in California. She's
you know, like comfortable life, middle class, like not worrying
(12:26):
about anything. But she always had this need to help.
And my father, you know, didn't learn English until he
was like seven years old because they were finally stable
in an area where he could go to school, you know.
And it was hard, like my dad to learn English
at that time. They would hit you like if you
spoke Spanish or things like that, you know, in the classroom.
(12:49):
And so but he, you know, he worked hard and
he learned English, and so did the rest of his family.
And but yeah, so my mom grew up in a
totally different place, you know. And she has all of
the letters in the closet in our house still and
they're at the top of the closet in this box.
(13:11):
And when she told me this story, you know. And
my dad was drafted to Vietnam at nineteen, first time
he was away from his family, first time he was
on an airplane, like and my my grandparents didn't speak
much English, they didn't write to him, and so he
didn't have anybody to like communicate with. And so that
person was that lifeline, was my mom.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Yeah, getaired, how do they even get hurt?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
So, I you know what, I think somebody knew my
dad from boot camp. And then somebody knew also my
mom and said that there was a couple there were
like a few soldiers that she was going to write to.
And my dad was the first to write back, and
I think he wrote something like I have really smooth lips.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
Or you know, like so he was born on the
castle nowhere from the beginning, so they had no idea
how each other looked or anything. Nothing on the phone,
I didn't really know anything. How did they even start
a conversation like, Hey, how you doing? I just want
to like.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Yeah, exactly, like I just want to But my dad
was like so suave, and so I think that he,
I don't know, he was interesting to her because he
told her about his life and he was such a
different thing than when she had experienced. And so, you know,
she they talked to each other, and they have these letters.
It's not it's none of my father's letters. I mean,
(14:28):
it's none of my mom's letters, because he didn't keep
anything typical, and but my mom kept all of them.
And so they really became friends. And you know, I've
been able to read some of the letters, you know,
they've let me read some, and they're very just heartfelt
and vulnerable and it's like, what music are you listening
to now? I haven't heard anything on the radio, and
(14:49):
you know, just personal things about their life and growing up.
And they became like best friends through these letters. And
then my dad when he got back home after he
had to do some other military duty after the war,
and when he got back home, he had my mom's
address and had a car and he showed up on
(15:10):
her doorstep and she was like yet, yeah, and she
was like what And her parents were like what, you know,
because they thought, oh, this is nice, Like she's going
to write to this person, like we'll never see him.
And he he didn't have anything, and he gosh, I
think he got a job at a restaurant nearby. He
slept in his car, he showered at the YMCA, and
(15:32):
he just fell in love with my mom and was like,
this is what I want. And because they were from
different cultures, you know, it wasn't really within my mom's family.
It wasn't looked upon in a positive way, you know.
And they were very young too, and they my grandparents
didn't want them to be together. And so my parents eloped,
(15:56):
you know, Yeah, they went to Reno and they eloped,
and I think.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
They wouldn't yeah stop, ye yeah strong.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
And then my mom was like, I don't want to
talk to my parents, and you know, they were young,
and she's like, I don't want to talk to them again.
And my Dad's like no, like that's your parents. And
knowing my father, like that's just who he is, and
my dad couldn't have been I mean, my dad is
the best, was the best son in law to them.
He helped them with everything. And you know, I never
(16:25):
knew any of this because of their love and their
love for us, Like we grew up with both sets
of grandparents loving us, so we never knew any of
this had transpired, you know, until I got a little
bit older and I heard these stories. But it was like, so, yeah,
such a testament to like fearlessness and faith and love,
you know, And so I think through them, through that,
(16:49):
I guess I think I have a little bit of
that inside of me.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
You know a lot of that.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Yeah, yes, to go for what you're passionate about and
pursue what you love and know that it's possible. I mean,
you're this makes me a little emotional. It's like your parents'
love story is all of what you have chased in
your own life because it's literally like if you love it,
if you.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Believe it, you can have it. You can be it.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
It can it can be your destiny if you have
the courage to go for it.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Absolutely. And I think the only thing my dad wanted,
you know, was a family, Like that was like his
biggest that was his I want to take care of
my family, and I want a family, you know, because
my dad used to sing in a band. He did younger, yeah,
before Vietnam, and he when he came back from Vietnam,
he stopped singing and he sold like his equipment. And
(17:47):
my mom was like, well, do you don't have to
do that, and he's like no, I'm now this is
what I want. This is I want this family. And
I didn't even know my dad could sing until I
was about eight years old and he had a reunion
with his band, and I was like, oh my god,
like it all made sense, Like I'm because I was
such an outcast, like you know, just with loving musical
(18:08):
theater and loving you know, to sing all the time,
and all of a sudden, it like all made sense,
like oh my gosh, this is who I come from,
Like he is a performer. And you know, but I've
only heard my dad sing maybe four times in my life,
like and it's so special, Like he's he's so talented.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
What a story, Yeah, I mean, what great lineage to
be from.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
What a spirit? Did that mean?
Speaker 3 (18:32):
You have such a spirit, Like your spirit is so bold?
How did you know you could pursue Broadway? And how
did you get the courage to do it? And then
you're landing stuff like Wicked and Hamilton?
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Are you kidding me? I mean, the two biggest ones
ever in the Heights. It's just like that is just
no joke.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
And of course you are so talented and you are
absolutely stunning, but there's so much competition.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
How do you cut through it?
Speaker 2 (18:58):
You know much?
Speaker 4 (19:00):
Because there's you know, great people out there.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
So many great people. I just in the start of
my career, like I really had a sense of drive.
But I was also like the kind of kid because
I am so close to my family that didn't want
to leave home. So a lot of kids that I
had gone to like a certain performing arts camp with
in the summers, they were all going to New York
(19:22):
and then to go to school m YU and all
of these different incredible schools. I was ready to leave,
and I.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
Was right in California.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Yeah, and I was the kind of kid that would
be like homesick at sleepovers, you know, and I was like,
I have to stay close. I stayed close to my family.
I went to a school like in our area. And
then after my freshman year, I got a call to
do a There was an open call. It's where you
wait in line with like hundreds of other people to
be a backup singer for the singer Bette Midler. And yeah, yeah,
(19:53):
and I was nineteen and I got the job. You
got a job I did, and it took me all
around the country. And from there I never look back,
you know, Like I go and I visit my family
and my brother and sister, of course, but I uh,
I was like, I want to be in New York.
And I saved money from that job and I moved
to Brooklyn and and then I just hit the pavement.
(20:14):
I didn't have anything, you know, Like my parents, they
gave me what you need the most is love, and
but I had to do everything else, you know. I
had to pay the rent and I had to figure
out how to get it done. And I got two jobs.
I bagged groceries at Demon DeLuca because I watched this
show Felicity when I was younger, and I was like,
she worked at Demon de Luca. I'm going to do that.
(20:34):
They didn't put me on the top, they didn't put
me on the coffee, but they put me in the
basement like bagging like wealthy people's groceries.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
So I did that, and because of Felicity, I.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Was I was like, I meant to that's where I'm
mental work. This is it?
Speaker 4 (20:49):
Did you I know? Was it fun?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
You know what? I met really good friends in that
basement and we that made gift baskets. We made like
the most beautiful gift baskets and they're still friends to
this day. And so I feel like that was totally
worth it. And then I did that early mornings, and
then at night I worked at a restaurant. I did
like co check and all that kind of stuff what
(21:12):
you do and on the East Coast, and then during
the day I just auditioned and I didn't have an agent.
I didn't have anything but a drive to succeed. And
then finally somebody said yes and I got my first job.
And that kind of had a part of my career.
It was at the Vineyard Theater off Broadway. It was
a show called Eli's Coming and it also start a
(21:35):
very unknown person Anika and Nannie Rose who became the
voice of Tiana Sianna and Dreamgirls and all those things.
Judy Cune from ley Midge she played the original Cosette,
and ron El Bay and Wilson Germaine Heredia for Rent
and I ended up winning an Off Broadway Award for that.
(21:56):
But that ended up like getting people to see me
and then asking me to come an audition and that,
you know, I think that I got an agent from
that show and that kind of thing. But yeah, I've
always felt like ever since I started, that this is
where I'm meant to be, and I always feel like
it's home any show that I'm doing, whether it's Wicked
(22:16):
or Hamilton. You know, when you walk into a Broadway house,
it all smells the same. It smells a little must,
like like must must. I guess they're mold or something,
you know, very old, but it just has this like
magical smell. It's like when you go to Disneyland and
it like smells a little bit like with the water rides,
(22:38):
like at Small World and all that kind of stuff.
But you're like, ah, this is the Disney smell, you know,
and you know it. It's like that for Broadway. It
just has that there's nothing fancy about it. It's just
this place that I absolutely love and want to be
a part of the rest of my life.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
So when you're on an ensemble like Hamilton or Wicked
and you're in a cast, what is that like, because
I have to imagine that, like it changes you for
the rest of your life. Like when you are in
a group of that kind of talent and commitment and
just creativity and you're in this world every night because
you're doing it eight shows a week, right, eight shows
(23:16):
a week.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Monday's off, two shows Wednesday, two shows Saturday. It just goes.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
So it's your world.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
You are concepted and you are this character all the time,
all the time.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
And it's it's a job. You know. It's like my
dad getting up at four in the morning and getting
to the van pool, you know, by five o'clock so
that he could get into the city by six. It's like,
I look at it as and I'm very proud that
it is my job. But to work with the highest
caliber of talent on Broadway. There's nothing like it. It's
(23:50):
so exciting because everybody is just trying to like bring
their a game, and it's just there's nothing like it.
And you know when I did Win Kid and I
did Alpha Ba, you did really? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (24:05):
That was why did I not even I did not
even realize you were Alphaba on Wicked?
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Are You?
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Yeah? And I played Angelica Skuyler and Hamilton and me
or in the Heights. But when you play Alphaba, you're
kind of left with this green like halo like all
around because you can't get that makeup off. It just
stays on you. And you know that there's another woman
(24:34):
that's played al Baba. One time, I was in the
city and I was having lunch somewhere and I looked.
I looked at my right and there was this woman
walking by and she had like a green hairline. And
I was like, oh my gosh, that looks Oh my gosh,
is shes playing Alphaba? And then I looked at her
and I'm like, oh my goodness, that's the woman that
is playing al Baba. And and so there's like this sisterhood.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
Did you go to say hi?
Speaker 2 (24:59):
No? Because she probably rushing like between shelves or something.
But it was like it's like a badge of honor,
you know, to to play that role, and you know,
it was very scary because you really don't leave the
stage ever except for intermission.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
And you hold that role, you hold such a everyone
of course has such a huge weight in the show,
but you hold a ton of responsibility for the show.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Absolutely absolutely, and you're kind of isolated a little bit.
Like it's very similar to Norman Desmond for Sunset Boulevard,
Like whereas Nina and Hamilton, you're really a part of
the the everybody, like you get to see everybody on
stage all the time. Like for me with Wicked, sometimes
(25:44):
I wouldn't see the ensemble until I was in university
with them, you know, and then they all don't like me.
Why because they're making fun of me because I'm green
and I'm different, and.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
Oh, oh yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
So that's the first time that you see people and
you're like, oh my gosh, I'm so happy I'm with people.
And then you're like, oh, wow, they don't like me
in this part show. So sometimes it's the only time
you get to see them, So it does feel a
little bit isolated. But you do, you know, you do find,
you do find your people within the company, you know.
(26:21):
With with Alphaba, it was definitely the Green Girl team
and the people that did my makeup and my dresser
and and that and the woman that played my sister.
But Glinda, I think becomes like your your safe haven.
And for for Norma, it's really the Joe Gillis and uh,
(26:42):
your Norma team, the woman that does your hair and makeup,
and because otherwise you you don't see everybody all the time.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
And I really don't you think that you would all
just be together constantly, but you're not.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
No, And but I'm a very I'm very much like
a team kind of person. Like I love community and
so I was raised and I think that I always
try to make a point to to get to know everybody,
you know. And it's like and sometimes like in Sunset Boulevard,
some of the cast was just this right out of college,
(27:15):
you know, and they're so young, and it's just so
exciting to be there and watch them have that first
show like I did, you know, and it's it's a
full circle kind of thing.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
What is that life? Being where you are now? And
like you're saying, because since that bus boulevard. That's what
you're doing currently, right, Yes, okay, so you're currently doing
that on Broadway and now you are this season professional.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
I mean you you have just done it, but you're
seeing these young kids.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
What is that like, though, to experience that full circle
because you really have now you've seen it from all
the perspectives and you obviously so have so much, so
many places to go with this, but like you really
have like achieved goals and levels. So what is that
like at this point for you when to see that
and to realize how far you've come and how do
you how does it even feel like?
Speaker 4 (28:04):
What does that even feel like?
Speaker 2 (28:06):
It's a beautiful thing. And I think that I feel
so lucky that I'm able to recognize that, that I'm
able to recognize how lucky I am. And I think
that I do put a lot of responsibility on myself
to make sure that everybody's okay, to check in and
to be kind of the mother in a way that
(28:28):
looks out for everybody and cheers everybody on because somebody
did that for me and you. I guess it's like
a tradition in Broadway, you know, in theater, there's tradition
that that happens, and that's one of the parts that
I love about it, is like the traditions and the
(28:49):
way that things happen. Like on opening night, the person
that has been in the most Broadway ensemble roles, like
in the most shows, gets to wear something called the
legacy robe, and the person that gives that to them
is the from the show that just opened right before you,
from that ensemble members. So then they come and they
(29:09):
present you with the legacy robe, and then everybody has
to touch it and it's good luck. It brings luck
to the building, but it's and everybody, I'm saying, you
have to go up and down the stairs and make
sure that everybody on, like the crew, everybody has touched
the legacy robe. And then you feel like, together, we
can now open this show.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
So that's like a unity thing.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
It's like, yes, here's the person who has the most
hierarchy or whatever, but then you're still nobody is like
above anyone.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
It kind of should bring out absolutely nobody all in We're.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
All in it together. And that's what I love so
much about theater and what I do is that nothing
happens about the.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
Other person, like and you know that you feel that.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Oh you see it, you can see it.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Yeah, if one person, whatever happens with one person happens
with all people, which happens, right, But your experience.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Absolutely in this stage manager doesn't call the cue to
the lighting to person doing the spotlight. You don't get
lit on stage if they don't call the queue to
somebody in the sound department, that you're not going to
be heard. It's one of those things. And there's something
that is just so it's no surprise to me that
that's where.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
I ended up, you know, but that is it's like
a hundred little miracles are just having all the time,
and everyone has to hold their weight and you have
to count on everyone, and it's that literally is the
just like the core what great community is because you're
trusting that everyone can do their job, that they will
do their job, that they're going to handle their responsibilities,
(30:37):
and y'all all just trust and show up. It's that's
a huge, what a beautiful thing to be a part of.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
I love that you said that also because it's a
little bit you're kind of quoting of one of my
favorite musicals, which is Flower Drum Song, And there's a
song called one hundred million Miracles, and when you said that,
I was like, a hundred million may you have to
listen to that song because it is It's like are
happening every day and you don't realize it. You know,
(31:06):
you don't have to realize that, you just it just is.
And when you get to recognize that, it's.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
It's a beautiful thing because that is really life, but
we don't recognize it.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
On life.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
For everything to flow, for everything to work together, it
all everyone has to do their part, but we just
don't think of it as it's not as it just
doesn't feel quite as magical as it does when you
see it on a Broadway play coming all together, it's
it's really phenomenal. What has been one of your most
(31:39):
memorable moments on Broadway? Like what was a moment where
you literally just like had to catch your breath and
you're like, this is it?
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Like this is what it has?
Speaker 3 (31:47):
Obviously you love it all, but like this like a
moment where you're, oh, yeah, my god.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
I think one of my favorite a couple of my
favorite moments, one being when the show in the Heights
written by lin Manua Miranda, who then wrote Hamilton but
when we were doing in the Heights, I started with
that show when we all just sat around a table
reading out of scripts, and it was the little show
(32:15):
that could. We didn't know if people were going to
like it. We didn't know what was going to happen.
We had to go out and hand out flyers to
get people to come and see the show because we
were all the way off Broadway, like down down the block,
you know. And to go from from that experience of
a table reading then to a workshop where then you
(32:37):
put some costumes there and some sets, and you put
it on its feet and you add choreography. Then to
go from that to the show being produced off Broadway,
then from the show being produced off then being on Broadway,
and then being at the Tony Awards at Radio City
Music Hall with the entire company and all of the producers,
(32:59):
and running up to the stage when you win Best
Musical and being able to see lin Manuel Miranda just
on the shoulders of some of his best friends and
to celebrate that talent. It was one of the best
moments that I've ever had. And you know, being Latina,
(33:19):
I was told from a very young age by a
certain agent that I would have to change my last name,
that I would have to change a little bit about
myself to appear less ethic, because if I didn't, then
I wouldn't be able to have those kind of opportunities
and play different characters. That it was going to hinder
my career. And when I stood up there at that
(33:41):
moment with all of my friends and we all had
a story to tell of our backgrounds, it was the
moment that I said, this is where I'm supposed to
be and look at this, look at this, that we
all did it together, and that was one of my
absolute favorite moments, like probably in my life.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
You know, yeah, because it's not like you're joining a
show that's already running and you're plugging in and you
know what the character is going to be, like you're
and you know.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
People like it.
Speaker 4 (34:09):
Yeah, yeah, people are going to.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Come like Wicked. When I went in, it was like, oh,
people are cheering before it even starts, Hamilton. People love it.
But when you're doing a new piece of work and
you're just kind of like, I love it. I love
it so much. I want everybody to love it, but
I don't know. You know, you just again, it's faith.
We all we all had to share dressing room, all
the women, eleven of us in one dressing room, eleven
(34:32):
of the men in another dressing room. And we put
up this sign and we all signed our name on
it when we were all Broadway, and we put we're
going to Broadway, and we hit the sign every day
before we would go on to the stage. And I
really my friend read that book The Secret, and it
was about you know, just manifesting, and we were like, yeah,
let's do it, and we're gonna do that. And if
(34:54):
it was the sign that made it happen, I don't know,
but there was a faith that we all had that
it how it was going to somehow we were going
to achieve some dream, you know, for someone.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
Is this not what life is all about? Honestly?
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Totally, absolutely, it never stopped.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
I know, how did you work in raising a beautiful
child in the mix of all this, with all of
your scheduling and because you because you have a daughter
you said he's a teen, right, yes.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Which not thirteen almost fourteen?
Speaker 3 (35:27):
And I have an only child too, so I want
to get some kids on. Did you know you wanted
to have an only child? Did life bring in side?
Speaker 2 (35:36):
You know? I finished wicket and at that time I
was ready, like I don't know something. My body was ticking,
like there's something that was like, I want to have
a baby. And I saw all my friends about it. Yes,
and I told my husband and I was like now,
and we were so fortunate that it happened for us.
(35:58):
But it was always part of my you know, my
biggest goals in life was to have a successful family
like my parents, you know. And I think that after
having a child and then having the career that I
have and all the things that I have to do
along with that, I think that for us it was like,
(36:19):
all right, she's amazing and wonderful and I think we're good.
You know, that that was what works for us, you know,
And I feel so I just feel so lucky that
I that we have her, you know, like getting to
watch someone watch her grow up and be in this
(36:39):
new phase of teenhood and to be a part of
that and to be her mom. I just feel so
so incredibly blessed. I can't tell you, you know. And I
want to give her everything that I possibly can, but
I want to teach her all the lessons that I learned,
and she's learning her own. She's had to go through
a lot, lot of different things that I never had
(37:01):
to go through, and I think that she's so much
stronger than I ever was, and so I'm just proud
of who she is and I can't wait to just
continue to be her mom and watch her just flourish.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
That's incredible. I feel that same way. Do you did
you ever? I just I always want to know from
other only only children parents because we tried to have
another kid and weren't successful with it before or after
my daughter, and so like, I'm at this place where
I'm like so unbelievably thankful that I have this child.
She is just the light of my life. But every
(37:39):
now and then I'm like, do you I is there
like some did you do you ever have a faint
longing that there could have been another one?
Speaker 4 (37:47):
Or that you wish they would have a sibling?
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Because That's what I struggle struggle with sometimes because I'm like,
I love the only child dynamic because it allows us
to be so close and so much energy for her,
and like, yeah, you know, there's so many positives. But
then I sometimes do you ever think about the.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
I used to think about it a lot? Okay, when
she was younger, and she used to ask me about
it and she would be like, well what about She
used to ask me for a sister. I want a sister,
and I said, well, you know, that's you know, probably
not going to happen. And I would talk to her
about it and then I said, and you know, you
(38:26):
can never guarantee like you may have a brother. And
then she was like, oh, forget it, Like I just
wanted the sister, like all that kind of stuff. But
now I think she's so comfortable with it, and it's
like she has so many wonderful friends. She's such a
wonderful friend and such a caring person that I feel
(38:47):
like if she wasn't, then I would worry a little
bit more, you know, because all of those things about
doubt and should I do this because everybody says this
or everybody you know, I grew up with siblings and
that's what I want her to have. It's like, Okay,
just getting to watch her life, it's like, oh, she's fine,
(39:09):
you know. And to me, that takes away the guilt
that I used to feel about it.
Speaker 4 (39:16):
Yeah you know, yes I do.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
And I used to get it from everybody like well
why don't this and that, And I'm like, well, and
then everything that we've been through in life, it's like, oh,
thank goodness, like I just right now just have one
and I'm able to give her everything that she needs,
you know, and because it's hard, you know.
Speaker 4 (39:38):
I love that. That's so I think that is such
a wonderful explanation. And I agree with you.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
And you also you had to battle cancer too, Like
when did that have it?
Speaker 2 (39:50):
Oh my gosh. So I was in Hamilton and I
went for my first mammogram twenty nineteen and they found
something and it's like the worst thing that you hear.
You know, you have to come back, But at that
time it wasn't like didn't seem like a big deal,
(40:13):
Like they said, you have to come back in six
months to get another test because we saw something. And
so I went back after six months and I wasn't
going to go back because I was like, well, maybe
it wasn't it was just a fluke. Then I got
a letter in the mail that said it's time for
your six months or then, and I said to my husband,
(40:34):
I guess I'll go, and he goes, this is your life,
you have to go. So then I went and I
had another mammogram, and at first they said that it
was assist and it was probably benign, and my mom
told me not to worry because she said I had
probably have dense breas she is dense breast, and so
(40:57):
I wasn't worried. And then I went in and then
they had me wait in the waiting room and then
they asked me to come back in to do a
three D mammogram and I was like huh. So then
I started to get worried. And it was weird because
this particular place where I was getting all of these
mammograms done, they had me wear pink robes, which I
was like, this is kind of weird.
Speaker 4 (41:19):
You know, they're like Broad's cancer, yes, And I.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
Was just like, oh, this is weird, Like I'm in
this pink robe and now I have to do this.
And then they came back. They had me wait, and
then they came back again and said we have to
do an ultrasound. And that's when I started to cry
because I was like, what is what's going on? You know?
And they said, just relax, it's probably nothing. We just
have to make sure. But my first time going through it,
(41:44):
I was just really scared, and then I calmed down
and they did the ultrasound and it took a really
long time, and then I was sitting on the table
and or you know, the medical table, and the radiologists
came in and she said, we found something. And then
I started to really cry and they were so like,
(42:08):
why are you crying, and like relax, we don't know
what it is and all this kind of and I
was just I freaked out. You know, I'm dramatic anyway,
I mean, this is like on top of that. And
then I went home and I was able to get
in to get a bioxy very quickly, probably because of
(42:28):
my hysteria, and they when it came back, I went
out with my husband. They were going to call that day.
It was a Wednesday, and we went to get something
to eat because I was waiting and it was so
anxiety inducing and waiting, and then he got the call
and she said, I'm sorry to say that the cells
are cancerous. And I was in complete shock. We've packed
(42:53):
up whatever lunch it was that we were eating, I
don't even remember. And I just remember my husband holding
me up and walking back home and just kind of
falling apart and thinking the worst possible scenario, like because
I think sometimes that's what you do your mind does.
It was like, oh my gosh, my daughter. She was
in second grade at the time, and I was like,
(43:15):
what am I going to do? Like I it all
came to her like I just want to be here
and you know, take care of her, and I don't
want her to go through this. I don't want her
to like have to deal with this. And I think
that's the scariest part about cancer is the unknown. When
you don't know like what stage it is, you don't
(43:36):
know what the what you're going to have to go through,
you don't know how it's going to affect your family.
But we were very open with her. We decided early
on once we found out the diagnosis. I was diagnosed
very early, and I was able to have a looked
up to me.
Speaker 4 (43:52):
And think, is that where you remove it? Is that
where they just cut it out?
Speaker 2 (43:56):
Yes, because I had a tumor and they removed that.
And then they also have to check your lymph nodes
to make sure that it hasn't spread, and mine had
not spread. But I was The way that things are now,
which is so amazing, is that they can check the
DNA of the tumor to determine what kind of treatment
(44:18):
will be best for you so that you have a
better chance of the cancer not returning of being in remission.
And so my cancer, unfortunately, was one that I had
to have chemotherapy and radiation. And so at that point
we decided that we wanted to talk to our daughter
(44:39):
and tell her about it. And it's kids are so
funny in so many ways, you know, because I remember
my husband, my daughter was in the backseat. We had
talked to her about it, and she had seen a
movie where there was a cancer patient. I can't remember
what movie it was. It was like a SA superhero movie.
(45:01):
And she was like, is that what it's going to be?
And I said, well, you know, it's going to be
a little different than that. But then one day she
was thinking about it and she said, well, Dad, does
mom have the good cancer or the bad cancer? And
my husband was like, well, there's no real good cancer,
but it's not real bad and she was just kind
of like okay, And from then on she just kind
(45:23):
of went with it. You know, not that that has
been all that there is, but you know, who knew
that during the time I was getting chemotherapy, that there
would be a pandemic and that you know, all these things.
I was like, she won't have to go with me
to treatment. I don't want her to see any of that,
Like all those things she had to come and see.
Speaker 4 (45:44):
How was that when?
Speaker 2 (45:47):
I think that's for her like to tell and that's
something that she works on. But I think that it's
very traumatizing, you know, to have to be there. But
I had no choice. You know, there was no school,
there was nothing, and then it turned out where nobody
could be with me in the room. So then they
(46:08):
had to wait in the car in the parking lot
while I had treatment and then wait for me to
pick me up because there was no subways running. It
was you know, it was so crazy. But I think that,
you know, through it all, I learned so much about myself.
Speaker 3 (46:27):
But.
Speaker 2 (46:29):
How strong I am, and that how strong my family is.
And I couldn't see my family in California, you know,
I couldn't be with my mom and my dad because
it was a pandemic. So but I my husband was incredible,
(46:51):
you know, he did everything. You know, while I was
in treatment, my husband did homeschool and made all the
meals and you know, because nobody could help us. It
was wow, really yeah, I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (47:04):
No I feel but how beautiful, like how much love? Yeah,
just to be so loved, you know.
Speaker 2 (47:13):
Yeah, it was really like, wow, what a special life
I've built so that when something does happen like this,
I don't have to feel like I'm alone. And it
turned out to be, you know, because sometimes when you're
doing eight shows a week, you don't see your family
that much, and that's a really hard part of it,
you know. But I'm always like my dad, I always
(47:34):
make sure I walk my daughter to school on every morning,
and not anymore she don't want me. But but it's like, uh,
you know, it was a really I know that a
lot of people say this about that time. It was
scary time, but it was also such a beautiful time
because I would never have seen those moments in with
(47:59):
my family, all of those things not happened.
Speaker 3 (48:02):
And you know, sometimes people like giving obviously you don't
choose this, but having a moment where someone has an
opportunity to rise to such an occasion, you know, like, yeah,
just to see people what they're capable of, the love,
they're capable of, the how they're capable to show up
for you. I mean, you don't plan those things, but
(48:22):
to see that, it's really that's a moment in time.
Speaker 2 (48:27):
Absolutely, and yeah, all it's like it was yesterday and.
Speaker 3 (48:33):
It probably took your relationship just somewhere so much deeper
than you could even imagine, because like you can't even
put in words what that is, what kind of love
that is?
Speaker 2 (48:41):
You know, absolutely, And it's like the love that like
somebody that sees you at the whole worst moments, Like
you don't care about your hair, you don't care about
there are certain things I do care about. I always
wore my hoops. I always had on a lipstick a
different kind, but not during the pandem because he had
to wear a mak but I think all my hoops,
(49:03):
but all the other stuff, it's like you just want
to get through it, you know, at least for me,
it was. It was really really hard. And he was
there and he continues to be there, and he continues
to be my ride or die, you know, and for
for both of us, you know. But and their relationship
(49:25):
grew so much stronger, you know, they had always had
a very very strong bond. I have an awesome husband.
And father to my daughter. But even during that time,
like when I had to be in the room by
myself and they kind of had to, you know, hang
out together on those particular nights and they would watch
(49:45):
Bob's Burgers and not that it's the most appropriate show,
but it's like there, you know, their bonding, their bonding time,
And yeah, I love that.
Speaker 3 (50:07):
What a beautiful life you've lived, Mandy, Thank you.
Speaker 4 (50:12):
I mean, what a life.
Speaker 3 (50:13):
What a piece of art. Your whole life is a
piece of art. You know, it has all the different
tones to it, and it's so rich and it's so
full of just all the most passionate, beautiful things that
your soul could.
Speaker 4 (50:26):
Long for, I mean, from the highest to the lows.
Speaker 2 (50:30):
Well, even when you were saying like you know, I'm
at this place where I don't know if you meant
right now, but you're sometimes at a place where you're like, Okay,
what am I doing? What am I going to do next?
And what? Sometimes it's just important to be at that place, yeah,
and just know that something's going to come. There's going
to be some thought in your head that ends up
on a piece of paper or however you take notes
(50:52):
on a phone and uh, and then it'll start all
over again, you know what I mean. But that's like
the beautiful part of this life that we lead is that,
you know, we get one and we get to make
the most of it. So I encourage you that for
the next thing to jump to jump, it'll come to you,
(51:15):
you know. And that's because that's what I tell myself.
You know, feel the fear and do it anyway, you know,
sometimes because I'm afraid a lot. I have a lot
of fears. I have a lot of self doubt, a
lot of things that I'm getting better at as I'm
getting older, you know, like perfectionism and letting go of that,
(51:35):
especially as a singer that has to do a show
eight times a week and sound the same like people
expect that, and now they videotape it and put it
online and all these things. And I used to be
so critical of myself and try to be perfect, but
it's unattainable, and so I just say, well, right now,
(51:55):
this is the most you can get. You know, when
I was performing and I was going with cancer.
Speaker 3 (52:01):
So you performed and went through cancer, you were going
did were you going to chemo and radiation while performing?
Speaker 4 (52:07):
Are you how did you have the energy? How could
you do this?
Speaker 2 (52:10):
Crazy? I don't Yes, yes, I don't recommend it, but
for me, it was like this mentality of the show
must go on. And that was one of the first
questions that I asked my oncologists while I still be
able to sing, you know.
Speaker 4 (52:23):
And act and do all that performing.
Speaker 2 (52:26):
Yeah, And for me, the chemo, like anybody that's been
through chemo, I think that it's different for everybody, but
for me, there's good days and bad days, and it
was always consistent, so it was always there was like
a routine about it. So it's like, Okay, the first
two days are going to be good, and then day
four and five are my hardest days and then it
gets better. So day four and five I would not
(52:47):
do a show, and I could say, like, these are
the days I don't want to do it, and they
were understanding. They were like, don't come back until it's done,
like you know what I mean. But I just I
needed it. I needed to not let cancer tape everything
about who I was, you know. And I didn't realize
until we were shut down. You know. We finally got
(53:09):
shut down and I was in treatment and I didn't
know how much I needed to stop and just go
through treatment and be able to have that be my
focus and my only focus. You know. But if it hadn't,
I would have kept going. It was crazy. I just
so wanted to hold on to this part of myself,
(53:34):
you know that for some reason I thought that cancer
was going to take and it was like, I realize
now going through that, that I didn't need to hold
on so hard. It would come back, you know.
Speaker 3 (53:47):
Because it makes me so teary though, because you're so true,
because there's I mean, I can't imagine the fear that
you're going through and you're in the height of your career,
the height of your life as a mother and a wife,
and you're in the high I have it all, and
it's like, oh my gosh, to have to just surrender
do this, I.
Speaker 2 (54:07):
Think and as women, I think that we put everybody
first is how we I don't know about you, but
it's how I was brought up. You know, you put
the family first, and you don't take that much time
for yourself. And you know, I encourage people that when
I do talk about cancer, you know, treatment and going
(54:28):
to get tested, that taking care of yourself is taking
care of your family. You know. It's not a selfish thing,
you know, because cancer affects up everybody that loves you,
you know, and so but it was one of those
things that I needed to learn, you know, letting go
and really having faith that it's all going to be okay.
(54:53):
And so much of that was just through the joy
of being with my daughter and my husband during the pandemic.
You know, we live in Jersey and he put up
this what do we call it, like a big pool,
like outdoor pool, you know, one of those that you
could like put together. He found it online. It was amazing.
But that was like our whole summer was going in
(55:13):
that pool and having a great time as a family,
you know. And he still tried to put it up. Uh,
he put it up the next year and then he
was like I'm done. It's too much work, you know.
But it was like he made those things, he made
life feel like it was life was lifing. You know
what I'm saying, It's definitely lifing.
Speaker 3 (55:33):
So yeah, what a what a snapshot just to like
to hear you talk though, to hear you talk about
like your moments on Broadway and those snapshots and then
like in the middle of like recovery and cancer and
treatment in a backyard pool with your family.
Speaker 4 (55:47):
I mean, you truly know the value of life, like
you really do? You know what it is you?
Speaker 2 (55:52):
Thank you. I think I'm still learning. I have a
lot to learn, but I think that I there's some
things that I've been through that I think I at
first I thought that it was the worst thing in
my life, and now I look at it as a
blessing because of who it's made me become and all
(56:17):
the help that I can give other people. And I
think that that from my parents and they're you know,
wanting to serve in community. I think that's been a
big part of my life. And I didn't know how
much I needed that too, you know. And and so
this has opened up a new way for me to
use my voice.
Speaker 3 (56:38):
Do you communicate with a lot and speak to a
lot of people who are going through cancer?
Speaker 2 (56:43):
I do, you know. I have my support groups, and
then I will go to different hospitals. I was treated
at MSK, I was treated at NYU Lingon. And if
there's some kind of benefit concert, if they need to
raise funds or something like that, I will go and
I will tell my story and I will sing a
(57:03):
song because I truly believe that that's the way that
we're going to find a cure for this disease. I
think it's coming.
Speaker 4 (57:14):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (57:15):
Yeah, that's so awesome.
Speaker 3 (57:17):
And I mean, I'm sure, like you said, with your
support group, because you've gone through this, you've probably connected
with a whole different world of people that you would
have never known and have these relationships you could have never.
Speaker 4 (57:27):
Had otherwise with other book people going through.
Speaker 2 (57:29):
It, and everybody's so vulnerable and like, you know, because
I think there was a stigma when my mom was
growing up. I mean I didn't I'm the first of
my family to go through breast cancer. But there's a
stigma of like a shame about getting cancer or like
having it. And I think that the more you talk
about it and the more you feel less alone with it,
(57:52):
the less shame there is because there's nobody's fault, no,
it's but sometimes people make you feel like that, Oh.
Speaker 3 (58:00):
My gosh, especially with today with all the toxins everywhere
and all of our everything that is around us, like,
how can we not be getting Uh, it's I feel
like the chances of I totally it's nobody's fault.
Speaker 4 (58:14):
How can you yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (58:16):
But that's why it's like a it's a healing. It's
a healing to talk about it and uh, to get
other people to also be on board. Sorry, the teens
just came back.
Speaker 3 (58:26):
Oh so, but well we're you know, we're here at
the end of this interview to.
Speaker 2 (58:29):
Mandy, Oh, thank you, Caroline.
Speaker 3 (58:31):
I always wrap up with one question, which is leave
your light, and it's basically, what do you want people
to know?
Speaker 4 (58:39):
What kind of wisdom do you want to share with people?
Speaker 2 (58:43):
Oh? I want to share you know. I get a
lot of young people that ask me like, how how
did you do it? And a lot of people will say,
like my parents say that I can't you know, make
a living if I'm in the arts, or my parents
said if I'm in the arts, then I can't also
have a family because I won't be able to afford it.
(59:05):
And I want to just say that there's a place
in the arts for everybody, and it may not always
look like how you think it's going to look like
with like mine, where you're in the spotlight. It may
be behind the scenes. It may be stage management, it
may be sound design, it may be lighting, design. It
may be a podcast, it may be writing, it may
be all of these things. But if you have a
(59:27):
dream and you have a talent for something, don't ever
feel like you can't. It's not possible. Because I'm here
to say it is possible to do what you love
for a living, and to have a family and to
give love to your community. It's all possible. So stay
away from the doubters.
Speaker 4 (59:47):
That is so beautiful.
Speaker 3 (59:48):
And I briefly touched on this, but I want to
circle back to you have books out Fearless, which is
for Fearless.
Speaker 4 (59:54):
It's four part series. It's for teens, right, and.
Speaker 3 (59:57):
It's just it's like fiction, but it's inspirational and an
hour Fearless kind of tell me about that too, because
I we didn't.
Speaker 2 (01:00:03):
Love their Broadway adventure novels, and it follows different characters
that are inspired by people in my life on Broadway.
The thing I one of the things I love about Broadway.
I talked about tradition but also the superstition, because I'm
very superstitious about a lot of things, and and so
I wanted to write about a girl that was like
(01:00:25):
me and that comes to New York from California. With
her abuela, and they she comes because she gets a
call from a casting director that she's going to be
the understudy to the understudy in a new Broadway show,
and all of these things happened. She meets her Fearless Quad,
she has to reverse the curse of the theater. But
(01:00:48):
these are all things that I didn't know. I didn't
know an understudy to an understudy existed until I did
my first Broadway show, and I was like, oh, that
is like that's a job, you know. And so there's
all these secrets and all these little things about Broadway,
all these things about New York and friendship that I
wanted to express. And so I've been so lucky to
(01:01:10):
be able to write those ideas and those stories and
put them into play. But Fearless Squad kind of started
from a lot of young people reaching out to me
with feelings of loneliness and that they didn't belong. So
I said, if you don't belong, you can be part
of my Fearless Squad, and anybody can be part of it.
I held your hand in mine, and together we changed
(01:01:30):
the world. We help each other when we fall, We
embrace differences, We look for the good and we dream
big and together we're fearless. And I had no idea
that so many people want to be part of it.
And I've been lucky to watch so many people that
are part of my Fearless Squad to grow up and
they have also helped me to grow up a lot.
(01:01:52):
And it just continues to grow and just spreads a
message of positivity and community that I think this part
of my legacy.
Speaker 4 (01:02:01):
Where do you connect with your fearless Squad? Where do
y'all online?
Speaker 2 (01:02:05):
You just hashtag Fearless Squad and come people come up
and I connect with them a lot just online, but
then I also connect any concepts that I'm doing. I
meet people that I joined the Fearless Squad because I
started it in twenty seventeen. I joined when I was
in you know, seventh grade, and now I'm in college
and it really helped me, and you know, those kind
(01:02:27):
of things. I see kids now. There adults that are
waiting at the stage door at Sence at Boulevard and
they're like, we're the O G Fearless Squad, and you know,
I've watched them grow up and it just makes me
so happy that they have found each other because that's
what it's about. It's like taking that feeling and bringing
it into your community. Oh and it's free.
Speaker 4 (01:02:49):
And then your album Fearless, right.
Speaker 2 (01:02:51):
Yes, yes, and Lynn Manoel wrote the song Fearless for
me and I named the album that and he wrote
it about my parents. That's song and their love and yeah, oh,
just a message to keep going.
Speaker 4 (01:03:06):
Amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:03:07):
Mandy, you are just such a gift, and thank you
for sharing your gifts with the.
Speaker 4 (01:03:11):
World and Caroline all of your talent.
Speaker 3 (01:03:14):
It's really incredible to hear your journey. I really appreciate
this interview and just love getting to hear your story.
So thank you for sharing.
Speaker 2 (01:03:20):
Thank you, Caroline, Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 4 (01:03:23):
This is awesome. Okay, I have a great trip. You're
at the beach right now.
Speaker 2 (01:03:25):
Right, Yeah, I'm at the beach.
Speaker 3 (01:03:29):
Well, go have a great time, okay, Caroline bye?
Speaker 4 (01:03:32):
Oh wait really fast? Where can everyone find you?
Speaker 2 (01:03:34):
Oh they can find me on Mandy Gonzala dot com
or on Instagram at Mandy dot Gonzalez.
Speaker 4 (01:03:40):
Okay, all right, thank you Mandy.
Speaker 3 (01:03:42):
Thanks Caroline, Bye bye.
Host
Caroline Hobby
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