This is Broadway Sandwich.
We're hanging out with your favorite Broadway performers
to find out what they do in their few short hours sandwiched between their
matinee and evening performances. Join me as we find out what makes up the meat
this Broadway Sandwich.
Today we're at the Richard Rogers Theatre, home of the smash Broadway hit Hamilton.
The show tells the story
of Alexander Hamilton, who drastically changed the course of American history
Hamilton has revolutionized the modern American musical.
Lin Manuel Miranda's
artistic contributions have garnered countless accolades including the
Pulitzer Prize.
Today we're hanging with Tanairi Sade Vazquez. She's in the
ensemble in one of the biggest hits of Broadway history.
re you how was the
Ah! How are you? How was the show?
Oh, it was so good. Nailed it. The audience was amazing.
and what do you want to do between shows today?
I want to eat I want to eat first.
I want to eat so bad! Where are we going?
We're gonna go to Samba! It's like one of my favorite
restaurants in the area. Perfect! I'll follow you. Let's do it.
What does that feel like to be in the show that means so much to so many
people?
Oh my god.
It's such an honor and, like, we kind of like represent immigrants you
know? Like Hamilton was an immigrant he came from the Caribbean to New York it
kind of reminds me of my family you know my mom was the first to move from Puerto
Rico to the States to work and then my dad came after her.
They made so many
sacrifices
You're literally a manifestation of all
that hard work and dedication and those dreams.
Yeah, it means so much to me.
I want what she's having.
The Moceca, times two.
okay, so, your parents are from Puerto Rico. Yes
But you were born here? I was born in Virginia
I was born in Virginia and that's where I grew up.
So, you started dancing?
I started dancing when I was seven at a little dance studio called a
Dance Sensations Dance Centers I'll never forget it
I finished my freshman year and actually my best friend Tori she was like she was
like kind of like my agent back in the day and she's like there's this open
call for West Side Story she's like you're perfect for it go like you have
to go I was like all right so I went to the open call here in the city and then
I booked it then I was like oh my god and it was for the international Asian
tour for a year and you did it for me I did it like I
was like, bye college! Now did Tori asked for her 10%? She was like girl I'm your agent
for life then I started my junior year for
college and then that was when West Side Story was coming back to Broadway and
the revival and I booked it and that was like it so I left college just start
West Side Story so West Side is like my heart and soul forever. Same, and actually
that's how we became friends. I know! You being my Anita me being your Tony
but then I think a year and West Side Story I went back to purchase Wow
and I got my degree that's great my teachers were really amazing and they
let me graduate in the semester.
Alright, so what was the Hamilton audition like?
um I had auditioned for the Chicago Company at that time, I was still in "On Your Feet"
on Broadway and then they got back to my agent they're like listen like
it's not gonna work out this time around and then I'd say maybe like a month and a
half in, I got the call and they're like oh there's a
track open we would love to offer it to you and I was like what it was like one
of the most amazing, like, feelings ever I think like oh my god
like I kind of made it.
Alright so that was delicious
What's next?
What's next on the list is a vocal lesson. How crazy is that?
Hello! Hi, how are you? Garen, so nice to meet you, Paul. Thanks for having us today.
As if it's not tiring enough to do Hamilton twice you're gonna do this extra work. I love that.
I need to work on this. Let's just start with some lip drills just so you can get moving after all that talking.
let's just jump in the head voice. If we can find that course in our own.
*vocalizing*
that's great that's great there's a little holding that you're doing there
so you're getting a kind of like a wider sound we want to see that kind of move
together in the center so you can grow that you'll get that more beautiful lush
tone that you want yeah
That's great
great work today we'll see ya thanks Bob
So, we're in the Richard Rogers Theatre.
This is where it happens. Yes! this is so exciting from what was it like when your
parents came to see you in show and sat in these seats and watched you up there? I just like remember like
stepping on the stage and seeing my mom in the audience and I got so...
You could see her during the show? I could, yeah
It was special it was very special and
they're like oh my god we're so proud of you when I started dancing they actually
would clean the studios at night so that I could like take class I know I get
emotional thinking about it because when my parents come to see me and anything
that I do and if I can see them in the audience and catch their eyes yeah it's
special it's very special now when you were when you were a little girl did you
ever imagine that you'd be up for doing this um I always knew that I wanted to
dance I wanted to be in New York I wanted to be on Broadway and I never
like doubted that I just like went for it worked hard and by having my parents
like being so supportive was like you know icing on the cake so
beautiful
Okay everybody okay so I'm noticing how incredibly clean and organized it is, so
don't lie. So, is this how it always is? Uh, no. It's not. I had to clean it up a little bit.
That's me in Puerto Rico, some of my favorite places...Mommy.
Where do you take a nap? Huh. Right under here.
Underneath the table if I move this chair and I lift my feet. We've been noticing. That's a trend. Isaac
Vosk had a bed that was kind of impressive.
Powell slept under his sink Wow yeah the only man I've seen Jessica
Wow I'm getting stage fright. I know, right? Here it is. This is my stage, my playground.
Have you ever had any mishaps? Oh, yes. like what um the turntable stopped
working and we all freaked out it was like we don't know how to dance
so we used to dancing on it. just like live theater and this is the theater
where [Lin Manuel Miranda's] other show was on Broadway so he must love this theater.
Oh, yes "In The Heights." I love that show.
I think the theatre is gonna be named after him one day. I don't know, I feel like I just feel that
for him
this has been so incredible Tanairi learning about what you do between shows
and seeing this incredible backstage space you have to do your next show I do
so I'm gonna let you go I'm gonna say goodbye and say thanks so much fun
You were fantastic. Have a great show! Thank you see you soon.
yes okay all right bye