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[0:00] Martín Acuña: Hi everyone, I am Martín Acuña and you are listening to Backstage Talk.

[0:16] Martín Acuña: Jonathan Larson asked how can you make someone take off and fly in one of his songs from Tick Tick Boom? And I, for the past two years, have learned one way to do it, through the power of community. Welcome to the Latinx in Musical Theater Special for Season 3 of Backstage Talk, where we will be featuring artists from across all positions in musical theater, from several Latin American countries and different Latin heritages. I am proud to showcase my Latinx family. I hope you enjoy.

[0:51] Martín Acuña: Hello everyone, welcome back to another episode of Backstage Talk. Today's guest is a Colombian actress that is now living in Mexico. She is part of Aladdin. She is the Jasmine understudy in the newly production of Disney's Aladdin in Mexico City. I have here with me Paula Calvo. I am super excited to have her over. So, Paula, welcome to Backstage Talk.

[1:19] Paula Calvo: Hello everyone. Thank you for having me. I'm so excited.

[1:24] Martín Acuña: I am too. So, first thing I want to know is what made you choose the thespian path in life?

[1:31] Paula Calvo: Okay, so this has always been my life. Like, since I was born, I told my parents I want to act, I want to dance, I want to sing. And, you know, Disney Channel was always my teacher, the best teacher of all. So I was like, I don't know, six years old, watching High School Musical, and I knew it. I want to do that. Yeah, and I mean, Disney Channel, for me, was also the best teacher. And I think it's something very common for people here in Colombia or other Latin American countries, that they really look up to Disney productions and Disney musical movies. So it's just amazing. It's so inspiring. Yeah, yeah, it's so, so inspiring to see. I wanted to be Hannah Montana.

[2:20] Martín Acuña: Yeah, yes. So tell us a little bit more about your journey in musical theater. Where did you start? How did you end up in Aladdin? All of that.

[2:30] Paula Calvo: So my journey starts in Colombia, in Misi Producciones, a musical theater company in Colombia. It was me, just a little girl with a dream. And my first musical, my first professional musical was Peter Pan. Then Annie, then Beauty and the Beast. Then I got to do Fame with my now husband in Washington, D.C. And then I just was on Instagram one day and I saw the publicity of Aladdin in Mexico. And now we booked and we are here in Mexico City doing Aladdin, a Broadway show. So it's amazing.

[3:20] Paula Calvo: Yeah, it's amazing, amazing, amazing. And I've been super excited to see all the stories you posted when you, a few weeks ago, when you went as Jasmine for the first time. That was super exciting.

[3:36] Paula Calvo: It was so exciting, so exciting. Yeah, yes, it was just amazing, amazing.

[3:45] Martín Acuña: So I wanted to know what's your approach to performing in musical theater? Where do you start? How do you like go head over heels into a show?

[3:52] Paula Calvo: So, you know, this is a tricky question because it's on your body now. So I never ask myself that. You have to prepare yourself to go on stage and get that people to connect with you. And if I inspire someone in that theater, I do my job. So this is like, just be honest, is my advice, my approach. Be honest with you so the people, the audience can feel everything that you feel. Be honest, dancing, singing, acting. Be loyal to your character and just be, have fun.

[4:49] Martín Acuña: Yeah, I love it, I love it. And having fun while being on stage is the best feeling ever.

[4:57] Paula Calvo: I know, yes.

[5:05] Martín Acuña: So what advice would you tell a younger version of yourself now that you've gone all the way through a lot of shows?

[5:05] Paula Calvo: Trust the process, believe in yourself, because you're so focused on your goal and the process is so good. And sometimes you don't feel like, you don't feel good, like you think I'm not gonna make it, but trust the process and believe in yourself. You can do this.

[5:28] Martín Acuña: Yeah, yes you can. So you've got the chance to perform in a lot of shows here in Colombia. You were part of Fame with Luis Salgado in Washington D.C. Now you're part of Aladdin in Mexico City. You've gotten the chance to see very broadly how the Latin community moves in musical theater. Well, I want to know what is visibility and representation for you?

[5:52] Paula Calvo: Well, Latin people, we're here ready to rule the world, you know. And the Latin community has that incredible, it's incredibly talented. And we have this responsibility of stand up and keep fighting for dreams and for the equality. And, you know, it's just, I feel so happy to be Latin and to be here, to be, when I was in Washington, I was so happy. I was so proud. And the Latin people is so talented and we, we can do everything. So it's just a matter of time and everyone can see, everyone will see it.

[6:47] Martín Acuña: Yes, I totally agree with you. So how do you think that we can increase Latin visibility and representation on Broadway shows?

[7:00] Paula Calvo: So that's a tricky question, because, you know, if it depended on us, we would already be there. So I wish there was someone who can help us, who can help us there, because we have the same dreams. We have the same goals. Why should we be apart? We should be working together to inspire people. So maybe someone can help us to work together. It would be a better world if we can do musical theater together. The results will be amazing.

[7:36] Martín Acuña: Yeah, the results would be mind-blowing. I agree on that. They don't know what they're doing, keeping us apart.

[7:43] Paula Calvo: Yeah. So for you, what is the most important part of creating Latin characters in musical theater? You spoke about being honest and true to the character before, but what would be the other side of the coin?

[8:05] Paula Calvo: You know, you have to create a character that makes the, you know, the community feel represented. Like you have to be easily related to. So they can feel happy and be like, that's me. That's a Latin guy. That's a Latin girl, a Latin mom, a Latin daughter. So that's the most important that people can relate to.

[8:30] Martín Acuña: Yeah, totally. Absolutely. So Paola, if someone wants to contact you to follow you on social media, what is your Instagram handle?

[8:38] Paula Calvo: So my Instagram is pao underscore calvo b. You can find me there. I will talk to you.

[8:48] Martín Acuña: Yeah, you will be there. And last question before we wrap up, what are your top five favorite musical theater shows?

[8:54] Paula Calvo: So Aladdin, because I'm on Aladdin. Aladdin, Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, and Waitress. I love them.

[9:12] Martín Acuña: Paola, thank you so much for coming over. It's been amazing talking to you. I am super excited and honored to feature you on the show. I wish you the best in the rest of the Aladdin run and whatever show comes next.

[9:26] Paula Calvo: Thank you for having me. It was the best time ever.

[9:32] Martín Acuña: Thanks everyone for listening to this new episode of Backstage Talk. Remember to follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Backstage Talk Podcast.