10 Questions
Take Ten: Juan Luis Espinal
Hailing from the Dominican Republic, actor JUAN LUIS ESPINAL is having a dream-come-true experience appearing in In the Heights (in its U.S. premiere in Spanish) at GALA Hispanic Theatre through May 28. Get the scoop in this week's Take Ten, and journey with Espinal back to the Washington Heights neighborhood that he once called his own.
1) What was the first show you ever saw, and what impact did it have?
I think it was La Pinky y la lámpara maravillosa and if it wasn’t, it had to be one of “La Pinky” musicals, back in the days in the Dominican Republic. I was like 7 or 8 years old and I remember I told my mom, “one day I’m going to be there, on that stage.” I just knew that was the life I wanted.
2) What was your first involvement in a theatrical production?
It was High School Musical on Stage, wich was produced by “La Pinky”, whose real name was Nuryn Sanlley. I played Chad Danforth and it was very challenging for me because I am not a basketball player. This production also opened a lot of doors for me in the theater industry of the Dominican Republic.
3) What’s your favorite play or musical, and why do you like it so much?
I have many favorites, but one that pops into my mind is The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown. I love romance in general, but I was fascinated the first time I read and listened to this musical because it’s written in such a beautiful and smart way, it blew my mind.
4) What’s the worst day job you ever took?
Waitering at this Mexican Restaurant in Brooklyn. I really don’t like using the word “hate” but I really hated it. First of all, it used to take me 1 and a half hours to get there because I live all the way up in Washington Heights and also my boss was crazy, he treated my coworkers and me very poorly.
5) What is your most embarrassing moment in the theatre?
I did this musical Devil and the Deep in New York a couple of years ago. It was about pirates. In the second act there was a big fight, and my scene partner couldn’t find his sword so he went on stage unarmed, and I tried to save the day by handing him a “cane.” We both wanted to die!!!
6) What are you enjoying most about working on In the Heights at GALA Hispanic Theatre?
That I get to speak Spanish, but not just Spanish, Dominican Spanish. It just makes everything more natural and real, not only for me, for Usnavi (my character) too. And the other thing I love the most is working with a group of talented and passionate people, who give their hearts every night on that stage.
7) Other than your significant other, who’s your dream date (living or dead) and why?
I would love to go out on a date with Anne Hathaway, because I love her and admire her for her art and because she’s my wife, but also I would love to sit and talk to her about all the work she’s doing for the LGBT community and how I could get involved with it.
8) What is your dream role/job?
This is funny cause I am living the dream, I am playing Usnavi in In the Heights. Since the show opened on Broadway, I’ve always wanted to play this part. But the fact Im doing it right now, in Spanish, with all that’s happening here in the U.S., makes it even better than what I used to dream of.
9) If you could travel back in time, what famous production or performance would you choose to see?
RENT’s premiere Off-Broadway back in 1996. I would have loved to see them pull through that opening night, telling that beautiful story, after losing Jonathan Larson the night before. I bet it was everything, the truth living example of “the show must go on.”
10) What advice would you give to an 8-year-old smitten by theatre / for a graduating MFA student?
If you love it, go for it, but do it with heart and discipline. Never stop training and never stop learning.
To the MFA grad, I would add…This is hard. This is incredible. This is exhausting. This is thrilling. And this is often heartbreaking. But you know it's what you’re meant to do when despite all of the bad, you push forward, often without hesitation. Make sure it's what you LOVE. That’s the only way you will survive it.
JUAN LUIS ESPINAL's New York credits include La Canción (Repertorio Español, 2017 ACE Award nomination – Best Actor in a Musical Theater); Devil and the Deep (Rick), Truce (Ithamar Xavier), and The Faraways on Tour (Swing). In his native Dominican Republic, he appeared in Godspell (Jesus), Rent (Benny), High School Musical On Stage (Chad Danforth), and Hairspray (Fender). Juan is a graduate of the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute.
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