The Bold Type Podcast

This last Where to Find Us episode of Season 2 of The Bold Type, features the incredible work of The Sol Project. The Sol Project is an artistic organization that was founded in 2016 with the mission to bring visibility to the Latinx playwrights in New York and beyond. Through their model, they champion Latinx playwrights by helping them partner with acclaimed theater companies across the country. In our conversation, founder and artistic director Jacob Padrón and associate artistic director David Mendizabal shared: 

✨How The Sol Project supports Latinx playwrights with their model. 

✨Where the idea of creating The Sol Project came from.

✨How The Sol Project has evolved since 2016.

✨Advice to Latinx playwrights.

The Sol Project

Scheherazade Quiroga is an incredible multi-hyphenate Venezuelan artist 🇻🇪. She is a performer, writer, director, producer, and educator.  Some select credits in the U.S and Venezuela include Fiddler on the Roof, The Producers, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Laramie Project, Sweeney Todd, and the all Spanish version of In The Heights directed by Luis Salgado. Schehe was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award and BroadwayWorld Award for her role as Daniela in In The Heights. As an educator specializes in Voice and Song Interpretation, Scene Work, Script Analysis, Monologues, On-Camera, and career coaching. Schehe teaches her students how to be unique artists by teaching them her philosophy " No one can be you better than you"

In our conversation Scheherazade shared:

✨ Her early artistic education in Venezuela. (She is also a musician!)

✨ Why she studied Communications for her undergrad, and the moment she fell in love with theatre.

✨ Moving to the U.S and studying for two masters.

✨ How she balances her work as a performer, writer, director, producer, and educator

Scheherazade Quiroga

Luis Salgado is a Puerto Rican performer, director, choreographer, producer, and educator. Since his Off-broadway debut in 2003, he has been unstoppable onstage and on film. As a performer, he has been in acclaimed shows such as Rocky, On Your Feet, Women on The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Mambo Kings, and In the Heights. He has assisted in choreography in films such as American Gangster, Enchanted, and Step up 2. Luis has directed/choreographed many shows in the U.S and Abroad.  Luis Salgado has worked as director and choreographer in many shows in the U.S and abroad. In 2011 he founded Salgado Productions, a production company committed to developing new works and creating "Art with a Purpose". Select projects by Salgado Productions include Matilda, Ragtime, Aida, and the all Spanish version of In The Heights.⁠ With the mission of giving back to the community and inspiring artists to Dare to go beyond, Luis founded Revolución Latina an organization that seeks to empower the Hispanic community through educational programming and partnerships. In our conversation, Luis talked about: 

✨ Being bold and daring to go beyond.

✨ How he learned to challenge himself as an artist but also fully embrace who he is.

✨ His experience as an original cast member of In The Heights.

✨ Creating Revolución Latina and how they aim to make a difference in the Latinx community through art and their circle effect. 

✨ How your mission sometimes comes to you, and "Making Art with a Purpose" with Salgado Productions.

✨ Advice he would give to Latinx artists.

Luis Salgado

No Peeking Theatre is a theatre company founded in 2012 by Mexican-American director Amanda Levie.  No Peeking Theatre, offers an immersive experience by removing the visual aspects of the show by blindfolding all audience members.  Audiences experience the show though different sensory elements such as sound, sense, taste and touch.  In this episode, I spoke with No Peeking Theatre’s founder and director, Amanda Levie. In our conversation she shared:

• What No Peeking Theatre is and how the idea was born.
  
• How No Peeking Theatre supports diversity and inclusive theatre.
  
• Adjusting during Covid and designing sensory packages for their streamed shows.
  
• How the company has evolved since 2012.
  
• The work and stories No Peeking Theatre is looking to do.
  

No Peeking Theater

This episode features the incredibly talented Juan Sebastián Cortés. He is a film composer and musician originally from Colombia 🇨🇴 From a young age, he was passionate about music. He wanted to be jazz guitarist and moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. However an injury that prevented him to play for 6 months changed his journey. Juan now lives in L.A and has collaborated in 60+ films. In our conversation Juan Sebastián shared about:

✨His music journey from guitar performer to sound designer to film composer

✨The challenges his faced as an immigrant artist in the U.S 

✨His collaboration with Bleeding Fingers Music

✨His work with Award winning composer Federico Jusid

✨Juan's own work and productions.

Juan Sebastián Cortés

In today's episode I am excited to talk to the amazing Lili Torre. Lili is a a performer, voice over artist, and director. She was born in Venezuela🇻🇪 , she is Colombian on her father's side 🇨🇴 and moved to the U.S she was younger. Lili is the host of the amazing podcast The Dreaded Question. In her podcast she talks with a different artist in each episode about the importance of parallel careers. In our episode, Lili talked about: 

✨ Her Latinx Heritage.

✨ When her love for performing began. (She studied an instrument first!)

✨ How she faced her limiting beliefs and starting The Dreaded Question Podcast.

✨ Creating the workshop, Doing It Also, that helps artists find their their parallel careers.

Lili Torre

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) was founded in 1975 with the mission to advocate for Hispanic actors in the entertainment business. This organization has evolved throughout the years and has helped Hispanic actors through education, panels,  membership offers, and more. In this episode, I spoke with Hola's director of digital content, Samuel Garnica. In our conversation he shared:

✨ The origin of HOLA.

✨ How the organization has evolved since 1975.

✨ What plans they have for the future.

✨What benefits the membership offers and how to become a member.

✨ How to support or volunteer for HOLA. 

HOLA

Federico Mallet is an incredible actor, director, producer, and co-founder of the multimedia production company, Quemoción. He is originally from Mexico City 🇲🇽 and moved to the U.S to pursue a career in theater and film. In this episode Federico spoke about:

✨When his love for performing began.

✨How he almost went on a different career path.

✨His interest in building communities and using art to help underserved communities.

✨His journey to applying for an O1 visa.

✨Writing and creating the stories he wants to tell and breaking the idea of fitting in a box.

Federico Mallet 

In this episode, I am excited to introduce the first casting director on the show, Elsie Stark. Elsie is a Latina from Puerto Rican/Peruvian🇵🇷🇵🇪parents born in NYC. Elsie is a casting director that has been in the industry for more than 30 years and has extensive knowledge about the diverse talent in the U.S. She is the CEO of Stark Naked Productions, a casting office that established itself as one of the most experienced, creative, and cutting-edge casting offices. In our talk, Elsie shared:  

✨Her start in casting and her love for talent.

✨Opening her business, Stark Naked Productions, and setting diversity as 

✨What she would like actors knew about casting directors. 

✨Her new role as a producer in the film Scarred Hearts

Elsie Stark

In this Where to Find Us episode, I spoke to founder Lina Sánchez and Key Leader Mariangela Quiroga of Parche Entertainment Connection🇨🇴. After talking about the frustration of the lack of opportunities and mentorships for Latinx in the entertainment industry they decided to create Parche Entertainment Connection. PEC is a collective that aims to provide visibility for people with roots in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries working in the entertainment business. Tune in to learn:  

✨What the word "Parche" means

✨Where the idea of Parche Entertainment Connection came from

✨How this collective is helping members share work opportunities and network. 

✨How you can join el Parche

Parche Entertainment Connection

We are back after a short break with a new episode featuring a special guest. Valentina Berger is a producer and the CEO of Go Broadway. She is originally from Argentina 🇦🇷 and she moved to NY to study musical theater but she quickly realized that her dream was to be a producer. While working at several Broadway companies, she founded Go Broadway, a musical theater school and community that connects artists from all over the world with the top performers and theater-makers of the industry. In 11 years, Valentina has grown Go Broadway and expanded it to different theater hubs around the world, and created Go Broadway Productions. Valentina Berger was selected this year as one of the women to watch on broadway by the Broadway's Women Fund. She is a Member of the Broadway Women's Alliance, a Board member of the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors, HOLA,  and she is a volunteer at CO/LAB Theater Group. In our talk, Valentina shared:

✨When her love for theater began.

✨The moment she realized she wanted to be a Producer.

✨How Go Broadway started.

✨Her favorite part and challenges to being a producer.

✨Her two upcoming producing projects on Broadway. The Minutes and Company.

✨ Advice for Latinx performers and theater-makers.

Valentina Berger & Go Broadway

In this episode, I spoke to Martha Preve, Lorena del Pino, and Regina Romero from Something from Abroad. Something from Abroad is an all-female Hispanic lead theater company. Through their work, they look to produce shows from diverse cultural backgrounds to give stories from abroad a voice in today’s America. Listen on Spotify to learn:

✨ Where the idea to create Something from Abroad came from.

✨ The work that Something from Abroad does and the artists from different nationalities that have joined them.

✨ The shows they've produced over the years and how it's evolved.

✨ How they have adapted during Covid.

✨ The new play they are producing by Regina Romero.

Donate to Something from Abroad

In this Our Gente episode, I spoke to photographer and pianist Mariangela Quiroga. She is originally from Bogotá, Colombia (🇨🇴) and is currently based in L.A. She started her career as a classical pianist but then realized that her passion for photography was more of a calling than a hobby. In our conversation she shared: 

✨ Her early career as a classical pianist 

✨ What sparked her interest in photography

✨ Starting her own photography business

✨ Why she loves being onset in music videos and short films as a unit still photographer, and how it feels like being in the orchestra

✨ The challenges she has encountered in the industry as a Latina

Mariangéla Quiroga

In this episode, I spoke with Mexican musical theater composer, arranger, orchestrator, and director, Jaime Lozano. He is originally from Monterrey, Mexico, and is based in NYC.  He has created multiple shows and collaborated with the best artists in the theater community. Listen on Spotify to learn about:

✨ How he almost studied something completely different to music.

✨The moment he learned about musical theater.

✨His journey from Mexico to the U.S and receiving a FULL scholarship to attend NYU's MFA from the Graduate Musical. Theatre Writing Program.

✨His view on the importance of building a strong community.

✨Telling authentic stories that celebrate our culture, and Jaime Lozano and La Familia.

Jaime Lozano

In this week's episode I sat down with Quemoción, a new multimedia production company that looks to create and produce original stories about the Latinx community. Latinx co-founders Alexandra Gómez (🇨🇴) and Federico Mallet (🇲🇽) shared:

✨How they met and where were the idea of Quemoción came from

✨What is Quemoción and how it's evolving

✨The importance of prioritizing original stories and empowering unheard voices

✨Cafecito and the different sections they have

✨Who is Quemoción for?

Quemoción

In this episode, I spoke to Brazilian actress, singer, and producer Beatriz Cavalieri. Beatriz is originally from São Paulo, Brazil (🇧🇷) and she moved to NYC to pursue her love for theater and film. Tune in to learn:

✨ How she fell in love with performing and film-making

✨A curveball she faced when she moved to the study theater in the U.S 

✨ Why you'll soon be seeing her on Amazon Prime

✨Her work with the Abingdon Theater company

✨Why it's so important for her to shed light on unheard stories and kindness

Beatriz Cavalieri

In today's episode, I introduce the final new segment of the show called Where to find us. Where to find us is dedicated to creating more visibility to organizations created by and for Latinos. In this episode, I spoke to the founder and CEO of Go Broadway, Valentina Berger. Go Broadway is a musical theater school, community, and production company that connects the best teachers and theater-makers in the industry with artists from all over the world. In this episode, we spoke about:

How Go Broadway is different from other programs

How it has evolved over the years and during COVID

Their Production Company

How Go Broadway partnered with Backstage to bring this platform to Latin America

Go Broadway

In this episode, I am introducing a new section called Our Gente. Our Gente is dedicated to the LatinX artists in the community that you need to hear more of. In this section, I am excited to introduce the incredibly talented singer-songwriter Alea. Alea is originally from Colombia and her music is very authentic and unique. Her music is described as Latin Alternative and blends Latin sounds with pop, jazz, and more. In her episode, we spoke about:  - Growing up in La Guajira, Colombia, and her passion for performing. - Auditioning and studying at Berklee and moving to NYC. - Finding her sound - Her latest song Aire Guajiro.

Alea

Today's episode features the artistic director and CEO of the Ballet Hispánico Eduardo Vilaro.  In this episode, Eduardo spoke about the importance of keeping an organization that supports diversity alive, how to use art as advocacy and service, and how to give voice to the next generation of dance leaders.  

Ballet Hispánico

In this episode, I sat down with singer/actor/dancer Javier Ignacio. We talked about what it means to be Latino enough, having a strong support system, and using your platform to give voice to support others.

About Javier Ignacio 

In this episode, I speak with dancer/actress/singer Ilda Mason. We talked about finding her passion for performing, auditioning as an immigrant, and working on shows on tour (On your feet! Cinderella), film, and stage. (West Side Story)

For more about Ilda:

In this episode, I talked to the multi-talented performer Aline Mayagoitia. We talked about moving to the U.S at a young age, finding her passion for performing and creating original work, and how to help serve different communities during this time. 

For more about Aline: