American singer and actress Mandy Gonzalez has shaped some of Broadway's most well-known characters including Nina Rosario in Lin-Manuel Miranda's breakout "In the Heights," Angelica Schuyler Church in the Tony Award-winning show Hamilton, and the green witch Elphaba in Wicked. Mandy reflects on her 1,400 performances on stage for Hamilton and how she kept it fresh, discusses what happens when you make a mistake mid-show (the white room!), and shares what it's like to join a performance mid-run (the put-in rehearsal!). She tells David why starring with an all-Latino cast in a universal story is still near and dear to her heart, how her Jewish Bubbe sang with her as a child, reflects on her early start with Bette Midler, and explains why she launched her Fearless Squad.
If you loved this interview, don't miss this episode: Wynton Marsalis is a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, nine-time Grammy Award winner, Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the greatest trumpeter of his generation, but to our host, David Krauss, Wynton always be his teacher, mentor, and family friend. Wynton Marsalis and David chat about the benefits of music and Wynton’s musical development, and discuss a treasured gift. This episode will make David’s mom especially proud! • Wynton Marsalis talks ...
And be sure to catch this interview: Two-time Grammy Award winner, MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, and folk artist Rhiannon Giddens is a musical polymath. Defying the odds, Rhiannon enrolled at Oberlin College to study opera without being able to read music, nor having seen a live performance. Rhiannon credits her formal training at conservatory and an apprenticeship with Black string musician Joe Thompson for her success, and sees music as her most powerful vehicle. The Artistic Director of the Silkroad Ensemble talks about her recent collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma and Francesco Turrisi, love of the banjo, and mission to reclaim American musical traditions. • Rhiannon Giddens talks...
The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.
Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman.
Photograph of Mandy by Matthew Murphy
This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.
Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.