| Stage - Other Suenos Suenos was the first production I did in the theatre. Mabou Mines & Intar co-produced it downtown in the Triplex at BMCC, directed by Ruth Maleczech. It was an avant-garde theatre piece about a dictator in Latin America played by the great film actor Tomas Milian and also in it, was the awesome Roger Guenveur Smith. I was fourteen, I played a blind chorus boy who had to sing solo and lead the others in this scene about a stolen lottery. Opening night, I was lead onto the stage as the blind boy. When I came to the first step I pretended to stumble. This really impressed the adult cast members, they said ‘He’s a natural Actor!’ I remember feeling so honored and thinking ‘This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.’ Roger once told me that I sounded like Jose Feliciano, this gave me confidence to press forward.
The New Americans The New Americans was such a special experience. I was around fifteen and had heard of this director/composer Elizabeth Swados. I always admired her work and all the great actors she had worked with. It was a dream come true to work with her, she wrote great melodies and lyrics; very meaningful and beautiful. I also learned a great deal about acting with her. We performed the piece twice at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center. Years later, we teamed up again for several projects.
Stand-Up Tragedy Stand-Up Tragedy was my first union job; I was sixteen and we did it at the Cincinnati Playhouse in Ohio. It was a growing experience for me really being on my own for the time; I had my own apartment for crying out loud! I did OK actually, the cast was great and so was the piece. I was mainly a chorus boy who had to rap, dance, climb fences, say a few lines about how tough it is out there sounding mean and stuff, it was fun.
The Me Nobody Knows The Me Nobody Knows is a touching and fun musical. I first did a production of it at the American Stage Company in New Jersey, directed by Mercedes Ellington. It was there I met the creators, producer Jeff Briton, composer Gary Friedman and writer Herb Shapiro. We decided to collaborate a few times, on Me Too and later on the book to Bring in the Morning…A Wake Up Call. Years later I did another performance of The Me Nobody Knows at The Irish Repertory Theater in New York City. "With his high spirits, physical and vocal agility and infectious personality, it's clear that Renoly Santiago knows how to work a room." Alvin Klein, The Me Nobody Knows - New York Times
A Chinese Tale A Chinese Tale was a part of the readings of Latin plays they do at The Public Theater every year. I played this guy from a strange family with all kinds of craziness going on. It was very original and sort of like if a Dali Painting could speak would best describe it.
Sebastian Sebastian was a play by a Cuban playwright, also part of the Latin Plays series at The Public. It was about an abusive lady and young man stuck in a very difficult situation and the characters they met as they hoped for a better life. I really enjoyed doing it and working with the cast.
Skin of Our Teeth Skin of Our Teeth was a huge honor to do; it was a workshop for Manhattan Theater Club directed by Gabrielle Barre. It is a musical version written by Kander & Ebb, the creators of Chicago and Cabaret. I played the rough and tumble son, Henry Antrobus, Audra McDonald played my mother, Sara Ramirez was in it and so was La’Chanze, we had a great time. |
