I
was first exposed to In The Heights while watching the 62nd Annual Tony Awards
ceremony in June of 2008. That night, the cast of ITH performed
"96,000" and I just remember being blown away. My immediate first
thought was, "Whoa, they are rapping in a musical…How cool! AND it sounds
incredible!" Their performance that night had such a familiar style and
flare which was so representative of my culture. I recount being swept with
excitement and joy because the Latino community had made another mark on Broadway!
It was at that moment where I added In the Heights to my bucket-list of shows I
must to do before I die.
Soon
after, I purchased the soundtrack and songbook. I, just like everyone else,
spent countless hours listening through the entire album. There was never a
song I could skip past because it was obvious that an immeasurable amount of
heart and soul went into each and every song; a feeling I had never experienced
with any other album prior. The lyrics reminded me of conversations my family
members and I would have at the dinner table at family gatherings. The
instrumentation would send me into nostalgic memories of walking through
different tiendas and mercados. However, there was one song in particular which
resonated within’ me: "Piragua."
"Piragua"
is an all-around fun song. It’s upbeat and salsa characteristics make one feel
as though they have to get out of their seat and dance around. Every time I
listen to this song, I feel as though my Hispanic heritage courses through my
veins, so much so that I am overtaken with a huge sense of Latino pride. This
was the first song I had learned from the show, and I was insistent upon
performing this number one day.
And
now that day has come! I could not feel more blessed to be performing Piragua
Guy. To be quite frank, the audition process was scary, mainly because of how
artistic and gifted each and every person was. There was so much talent POURING
out of the theater and it was incredible watching all these DFW actors taking
risks and living their dream onstage. I am still to this day extremely humbled
to have been considered by Adam Adolfo and his creative team, as well
performing alongside the best cast I have ever had the pleasure of working
with.
Fast-forward
a week or so after getting cast. I thought to myself, "Where do I find
inspiration for this role? What can I research or listen to so I can do justice
for this character?" Piragua Guy is essentially "fresh off the
boat," just stepping onto American soil for the first time in hopes of making
a better living here in the states. I have told myself countless times that
this role is not a fictionalized character, this is someone’s story. In fact,
it is hundred’s of immigrants’ stories. It then occurred to me that someone in
my family has lived Piragua Guy’s story in some way: my grandfather, José
Velasquez.
Dad
José, at least in my book, truly captures the essence and image of Mexican
pride. He is such a caring and loving individual, not to mention one of the
strongest and bravest men I know. Dad
José was born in Torreón, Mexico, and is the third child of a large Mexican
family of thirteen children. He went to school up until third-grade, but
unwillingly left to pursue work to help make a living for the family. Dad José
remembers enjoying school and wishing he could pursue an education, but he felt
obligated to do whatever he could to help out his family, regardless of his
age. However, no matter how hard my Dad José worked, all the little money he
would receive would go straight to his parents.
Yet,
Dad José cherished any free time he had as a kid. As a reward for working hard,
he and his brothers would go down and swim in the river as a relief from the
scolding heat! Eventually, he and his family immigrated to the United States.
He worked as a shoe-shiner until the age of 13, but asked to do something
different because he would get embarrassed when the cute girls would laugh at
him. Because of this, Dad José worked construction from age 14 until he retired
at the age of 68.
During
this time, he met my abuela (Mom Guille) and was the father of four children,
one of whom unfortunately passed in the early years of childhood. Dad José
worked long hours every day to ensure there was food on the table and a roof
over their heads. He also made it a priority to educate himself, and would do
so by reading quite a bit (including the dictionary).
I
recall an early memory from my childhood. As I sit in the living room of my
grandparents’ house, I see a young, Hispanic man pushing a tiny cart attached
with bells on the side and a plastic umbrella on the top through the cracked
streets of an arid El Paso afternoon. It is the Paletero man, the Mexican
equivalent of the Piragua Guy. He would walk down these streets everyday in
hopes of earning a hard-earned dollar, hoping to live the American dream.
As
I continue rehearsing for the musical, I constantly envision myself in the
shoes of my abuelo. I want people to relate to the Piragua Guy like I have and
say, "Oh, that is my uncle," or "That’s my father as a
kid!" I dedicate this role for the people who risked their lives and had
sweat drop down their faces just for the opportunity to have a better life, for
people like my parents and my abuelo.
The
cast and I are very dedicated to this production; it is going to be
spectacular! I am constantly inspired by my cast, family and friends, and look
forward to our final few weeks before opening night.
No pares, sigue sigue
Michael Alonzo
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