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[0:10] Robert Bannon: It's the round table with me, Robert Bannon.

[0:14] Robert Bannon: Stable everybody, my name is Robert Bannon. You're listening to us on Broadway World over here on the Broadway Podcast Network, iHeart Spotify.

[0:20] Robert Bannon: You know, the other day we had the incredible Jaime Lozano on to talk about his work and about his concert and about all of the amazing things that he's doing.

[0:30] Robert Bannon: And I am so excited for some of the casts of the upcoming concert. Some of them are on the album. They have done Broadway, they have done off Broadway, they have done television, they have done film, they've been representing this incredible culture and music all around the world.

[0:44] Robert Bannon: And now they're going to come to Sony Hall for a one-night only special event that you need to see when the album is out and we're all going to stream it. I am so excited that they're all here.

[0:55] Robert Bannon: We're gonna break it down. We're gonna break all the details down where you can hear it, where you can see it, and what all of these incredible artists have done.

[1:04] Robert Bannon: Florencia, would you introduce?

[1:07] Robert Bannon: I'm gonna say it. I said I was scared I was gonna mess up her name.

[1:10] Robert Bannon: Mayela. Mayela is here.

[1:15] Mayelah Barrera: At your service.

[1:16] Robert Bannon: Oh my goodness, I'm so excited. I did it. I think I got it right.

[1:22] Robert Bannon: I fell Spanish class, and I love Hispanic culture. I love Hispanic music, I love the resurgence of it on Broadway, and off-Broadway, and in culture, and you all are bringing the incredible beats, flair, and heart to this project. Congratulations to you all for being a part of it.

[1:40] Florencia Cuenca: Thank you.

[1:41] Robert Bannon: So for Florencia, tell us about it. You you're you're from Mexico.

[1:46] Florencia Cuenca: I was reading about your career. You're from Mexico, you come here to the United States, and how do you relate to finding Mr. Lozano and coming to terms with his music? How did this all happen for you?

[1:58] Florencia Cuenca: Well, we are not just artistic partners, we are life partners. So I'm very lucky. I'm the lucky one here. We moved to New York 10 years ago together to pursue this dream of being on Broadway, doing theater, doing musicals, and it's been a wild journey, but we're here together telling our stories, representing our culture.

[2:28] Florencia Cuenca: And I think that's that's the best that we can do right now, especially in the times that we are living. Our voices, our stories are very needed. And I'm so happy to share this with the world, with the Broadway community, with my friends, like Rodney, like Mayelah, Mexicanos here doing the work, working hard. Um, just really happy.

[2:52] Robert Bannon: You live it on stage and in the house as well. I'm sure you were there when these songs are birthed and heard for the first time and inspirational and collaborative with him, and um what a beautiful story and a time we need this more than ever.

[3:07] Robert Bannon: Uh Mayelah, your story is pretty incredible as well. I was reading about your journey here to New York City and the work that you've done. Tell us about how you got involved in this project.

[3:19] Mayelah Barrera: Well, I connected with Jaime three years ago when I moved to New York. We're actually from the same hometown in Mexico, which was which is crazy. And I knew of Jaime my whole life, but I never met him until we were here.

[3:38] Mayelah Barrera: And once I graduated acting school, our like relationship in theater began, and I've been fortunate to have been involved in various of Jaime's musicals and projects and workshops. Um this is how this my involvement in this album came about.

[4:01] Mayelah Barrera: And I'm so lucky to have my voice be on one of his songs forever.

[4:09] Mayelah Barrera: Forever, forever. Uh it's super exciting.

[4:11] Robert Bannon: Rodney, you'll be at the concert, you'll be performing. We know you may know Rodney. I mean, he's quite the Broadway star. If it's Phantom or if it's Aladdin or if it's all the fun stuff that he theater all around the world.

[4:23] Robert Bannon: What's it mean to be a part of this live event? Why'd you say yes?

[4:26] Rodney Ingram: Oh my gosh, it's a no-brainer. I mean, I think the audience will see when they come and hear the music, that this is I mean authentically beautiful music, extraordinary songwriting.

[4:40] Rodney Ingram: I mean, and you'll hear the voices too. That Mayelah said she'll be on the record forever. It's true, and like the voices that you'll hear are really exceptional.

[4:48] Rodney Ingram: So for me, it's such a no-brainer because to be honest, it's such an honor. So to get to um, you know, lend a small part of myself to this incredible, I think, you know, now several volumes in this album, truly an honor.

[5:04] Rodney Ingram: So I think it'll be really special for the audience that'll be there, really special for all the listeners to get to hear to this music immortalized because they're they're storytelling songs, and I think you'll leave feeling moved.

[5:18] Rodney Ingram: It's not just easy and beautiful listening, which it is, but it's also moving storytelling, which is what's so compelling about it to me.

[5:26] Robert Bannon: Well, what's so exciting, everybody? If you're listening to us, it's out. The album is out. The album is out, and we're yay!

[5:32] Robert Bannon: Volume three, volume three is out. Songs by an immigrant, volume three. I teased him and said we're ready for volume four. And he said, Okay, give me a minute.

[5:42] Robert Bannon: Give them a minute. Give them a minute. And then everybody, while we're talking, tickets are on sale, and you can have an incredible one night only event August 25th at the iconic Sony Hall.

[5:51] Robert Bannon: The guests from the album will be there. All of the songs, the songs will be performed. It'll be a party, it's a celebration, it's an album release at one of New York's literally one of the most beautiful venues.

[6:00] Florencia Cuenca: How do you summarize what this journey has been from volume one to now volume three and the amount of music and stories that have been told, the artists that have been on these albums to sing with you all? How's it feel?

[6:13] Florencia Cuenca: It feels crazy that we are now in volume three, and everything that we have laid for the past five years. I think when we started this project, we we we didn't know where it was going.

[6:27] Florencia Cuenca: But the more we started doing it at venues, you know, Lincoln Center, 50 for below, just pop. You realize that there's a craving from our community for our stories, for um being represented, and for even if you're not Latino or an immigrant, it's another sound that you're not used to listening.

[6:50] Florencia Cuenca: So it's very new, it's uh different, and I think that's what makes it so special and so exciting. And now to be in this big as you said, like Sony Hall is beautiful.

[7:03] Florencia Cuenca: I love Sony Hall. I feel it's like so fancy, but shake, but cool, you know. So we're all excited to be there. Latinos on stage telling our stories.

[7:15] Florencia Cuenca: And one thing that I love about Jaime's concert, my favorite thing is the audience. Like the audience is always on point.

[7:24] Florencia Cuenca: And every time you see someone there, it's like, oh, I went to your last concert and I'm bringing a new friend. So every concert, someone brings another new friend, you know, and now it's part of the family.

[7:35] Florencia Cuenca: Like the audience, it's part of the family. And to see them, it's like, oh my god, I haven't seen you so long. How's life? Like catching up. How's the boyfriend? How's their mother? How was the vacation? You know, and it truly feels like like a family.

[7:50] Florencia Cuenca: And I mean, Jaime loves to chat.

[7:54] Florencia Cuenca: It's a yapper. So every time we are in a concert, it's not just the concert, like we singing. Jaime tells all about us.

[8:02] Florencia Cuenca: It's like a lot of cheese, a lot of funny stuff. Um, so if you come, you're gonna have so much fun. You're gonna cry, you're gonna laugh, and you can dance.

[8:15] Florencia Cuenca: So uh I para todo. We have everything.

[8:20] Florencia Cuenca: Everything, everything. It's gonna be a night, and and this is your only chance to see it. It's good literally to get this group of people together in one room takes a lot of work.

[8:27] Florencia Cuenca: So it's this is the chance to get to get to see it.

[8:30] Robert Bannon: Mayela, tell us about the song you sing. What what are you gonna do for us? What what is it? Is are you allowed to tell us?

[8:36] Mayelah Barrera: I think I can. The other day, the other day I wasn't sure if I could talk about it. And I was like, I texted Jaime and I was like, I hope I didn't say anything that I can't.

[8:47] Mayelah Barrera: But this song is every time I sing a song that Jaime wrote, I say, like, this is my favorite song. But this one I actually mean.

[8:56] Mayelah Barrera: Like this one, uh, on my grave, it'll say her favorite song was Te Vere otra vez. This is um a song from uh new work that Jaime Lozano with Tommy Newman and Florencia is directing.

[9:12] Mayelah Barrera: Um they've done a couple workshops, and it's basically it's called Roja, the musical, and it's loosely based on the Little Red Riding Hood.

[9:22] Mayelah Barrera: And so you follow Roja's journey to try to find her dad again. Her dad passed away. That it's only her mom and her.

[9:35] Mayelah Barrera: Um, and so you follow Roja along this journey, and you know, she'll encounter different characters that will help her along the way.

[9:46] Mayelah Barrera: Um, it's just a beautiful story with even more beautiful music, and I'm so lucky that I get to to sing this song.

[9:59] Mayelah Barrera: It's really, really beautiful. And I think no matter where you're from, these these topics are universal.

[10:08] Mayelah Barrera: Everyone can relate to them, and that's what's so beautiful. Like, yes, they're uplifting our stories, and they're true to us, but they're also true to so many people.

[10:17] Mayelah Barrera: That's what I love about the music in the other volumes, and now you can hear volume three, is that no matter where you're from, um, you are where your history or cultural background is, you're gonna find humanity in this music.

[10:27] Mayelah Barrera: It's about family, it's about friendship, it's about community, and that's what's important.

[10:31] Robert Bannon: Rodney, you have performed in some shows and have been a trailblazer to bring, you know, Hispanic culture to shows that have never been, had never had representation, like you have given to these shows.

[10:43] Robert Bannon: What does it mean though for musical theater songs and song cycles and things to be written from this background, from this community, that you get to now represent a piece of your background and culture?

[10:55] Rodney Ingram: I mean, honestly, this is the dream. I mean, I I mean, sometimes I think, you know, by my name, clearly the most Mexican among us, that uh, you know, what an honor to get to like access this real authentic, amazing, beautiful storytelling because there's stories that I think so often aren't told to be frank, and they're aren't told in this really amazing and celebratory manner.

[11:26] Rodney Ingram: I think Mayelah's song is one that, like you, it's one of my absolute favorites. It's a celebratory song, but it'll make you cry if you let it.

[11:35] Rodney Ingram: And I think that it's just so profound and it's so well done that uh just to be a part of something so well done telling our stories, exceptionally uh beautiful and an honor.

[11:49] Rodney Ingram: In my song, it's like, you know, I'll just say very briefly, it's from you know, a new Afrida musical talking about the life of Frida Kahlo from the point of view of Diego Rivera, and just the the poetry and the lyric and just emotionally devastating nature of the incredible song.

[12:11] Rodney Ingram: I mean, wow, these are stories that I feel like an American, frankly, a Broadway audience could get a glimpse of and hear the heart and soul of Mexican culture, but also the universal culture of what it is to be human and to love deeply.

[12:26] Florencia Cuenca: And I think those stories, there's no greater way or greater pedestal to share those stories than through the lens of these historic Mexican artists that lived and breathed and now we get to immortalize in this really special way.

[12:42] Robert Bannon: Yeah, she told you the clock that Florence, for you in your home, I know how personal this all is. I know your journey and how important it is. We live in crazy times where lots of crazy things are being said in the United States and around the world about Mexico, about immigrants, about people who are trying to find community or be where they're supposed to be, and there's an attack. And you live is the music and is the art that you've created been an outlet for you personally? Because I'm sure there are frustrated days. I'm sure there are days where you turn on the news and are angry. So, what's it been like in your home to use art as a way to retaliate against what's being said out here?

[13:20] Florencia Cuenca: I think in our case, we cannot separate who we are and where we come from from our art. It's very together, right? So it's wearing our pride while we are entering new rooms, new musicals, new albums, and just bringing literally our flag everywhere I go. I try to use or wear something that it's from Mexico, you know, and wear my culture proud and share it with the world because what we need right now is understand each other, seeing that we are not that different. They have been trying to say, Oh, you're so different, you are, and no, we're just humans. We all have dreams, we all are trying our best, we all have problems with family, like we're humans, so it's not about Mexicans and Dominicans and Puerto Ricans and Americans.

It's not, it's about humanity. But in order to share our humanity, we need to share where we are, our background, and that's what we are doing, Jaime and I, as creative, as theater makers, is just like putting a spotlight in our culture, sharing our values, sharing the love that we have for life, the love that we have, how fun we are, how kind we are. And I hope when you are listening to the album, you can get a glimpse of our humor, of our culture, of our magic realism, how we dream, right? How we daydream. And I hope when people listen to this album can relate.

[15:11] Mayelah Barrera: Oh, and I think that they will, they sure will. And they're gonna, and everybody needs to it's streaming right now, so you better be listening to it, and you better buy a ticket. You better buy a ticket to come to Sony Hall. So, Mayelah, your journey coming here for acting school and then being here now and performing here. What do you wish we knew? Like what can we do as an audience of all different backgrounds to support these stories and to support more of these stories being told?

[15:39] Mayelah Barrera: We need more than just one Hispanic show on Broadway a year. We need shows across the board of all different cultures. So, what do you think we can do as a regular public?

[15:48] Mayelah Barrera: We just have to show up. I think we want more stories to be told, and there's a craving and a necessity for that, but when there's something, whether it's in the movie theaters or on Broadway or a concert, we don't show up for those people, for our people. So we just have to show up and support one another, no matter what it is. Because if seats are full, then that relays a bigger message that yes, we want those spaces, we can fill these spaces. You know what I mean? Like it's just about showing up and supporting each other, and yeah, buy those tickets. It's important. Buy those tickets, stream the music, support that's more than just saying I want to, it's actually making it happen to put your money where your mouth is.

[16:42] Robert Bannon: You've been Maela, you've been doing this since you're like five years old.

[16:46] Mayelah Barrera: Yeah.

[16:51] Robert Bannon: So, Rodney, how about you? How long have you had the bug to do musical theater and to be an actor?

[16:56] Rodney Ingram: I mean, likewise, I feel like when we're kids and want to be actors, we all have that disease, maybe that you love to be clapped at and you love attention, and I think I was no exception, I was no exception. I was always the ham and you know, the clown or things like that. So I think that started it, but then I have to attribute it really to my mom showing me all the golden age musicals and all the My Fair Ladies and the South Pacifics and all these things that man, there's I could get really in love with a play or a movie, but I could be transported with a musical because the arc of emotion and obviously the melody through the storytelling, that's what made me fall in love with the art form.

And I think it's that same tradition and through line and such high quality you know pursuit of storytelling. That true line exists in this music and exists in all the greatest musicals ever written, and that's what's so continually motivating and exciting to get to do it, because these things aren't, you know, there's nothing wrong with a commercial success. But when you can blend a commercial success with really high quality music, lyric, and storytelling, and something that really moves an audience, that's what as an actor keeps it so increasingly motivating and exciting.

[18:26] Robert Bannon: Absolutely, absolutely that's the thrill of live art and going to a concert or a play. Florencia, I think you got them beat. You started your career at three.

[18:36] Florencia Cuenca: Yes, I started at three. My dad, he was in the business, he was a comedian, an actor, and my mom, she was a model. So I was born in the business. I always say, I wanted to be a mathematician, but they like didn't let me. I was born in the business, and I've been here my whole life, and I think that's my life. By the time Mayelah and Rodney were starting at five, you were an old pro. You were already like, listen.

[19:07] Robert Bannon: I've been in this business. I need, I want to find Florence yet, but on a side note, I know the amazing work you do, music singing and all of that. But I want like my dream is to be able to give the good shady telenovela look and shape with the eyes and the smolder. With the eyebrow.

[19:28] Florencia Cuenca: Yes, that's a whole that is a special style of acting that everybody needs to know how to do, even in their personal life.

[19:34] Robert Bannon: Your journey dramatic. We're dramatic. We love. But look, I'm a gay, so we're just as dramatic. So, you know, for you now and seeing the journey of your career, all of you starting at a young age and going through theater, going through television, going through all of this. What's it mean to be able to now this day get together, still be creating art, still be creating to be creating new work? Each of you around the Florence will start. What's it mean for you to still be in this business and to be making a difference to represent your culture, but just art in general, the opportunity to create.

[20:07] Florencia Cuenca: It's the honor of a lifetime. I never take it for granted. It's amazing to be able to do this, to do it with people that I love. I try to work with people that I love and that I feel good about it. And for example, this is an amazing night that is gonna happen at Sony Hall with Mi Familia, with Maguela, with Bronny, with Jaime, Alonso, my kid is always around, but also people that I admired for so long. Christina Alabado, Joel Perez, you know, these beautiful and talented, amazing storytellers and be together in a night and still doing it since I was three years old. Like the first time that I was on a stage. It's three years old. Now I'm about to turn 33. And I'm like, oh shoot, it's been a while. But I can wait to keep telling our stories and sharing it with the world.

[21:07] Robert Bannon: Yes, and make sure you listen to her to her music and her album and all of the stuff that you love. All of that information is gonna be below if you're listening to us or watching us right now. Maela, for you, what's it mean to be an artist nowadays and get a chance to do this?

[21:20] Mayelah Barrera: Um it's a huge responsibility. It's a huge responsibility and a huge privilege, as Florence said. It's been an incredible journey the past three years, finding my love for this again and being lucky to have found trailblazers like Florence and Jaime that are now my actual family away from like my home away from home. And just to be included in lineups such as this one for the concert on Monday, it's like I'm pinching myself every day. Like I'm just a newbie. I'm really just starting out here. So to be considered and to be uplifted by Jaime all the time and Florencia and Rodney and everyone that I'm singing with is a huge honor. And I'm really lucky and blessed to be able to do this at a time like this.

[22:15] Rodney Ingram: Absolutely. And Rodney, for you to be able to make art and to be a part of something like this.

[22:21] Rodney Ingram: I mean, honestly, I echo what everyone was saying. It's a privilege. I certainly don't take it for granted because it doesn't come every day that the blending of what you want to do and a project that's really awesome gets to fuse. And I think when things like this happen, it is so special and it's magic. And I think that that's the magic that it's certainly it's so tangible and palpable that all of us get to do this exciting work. And I think that same magic is what's in store for listeners of the album for people who come to hear this stuff because it really is. And I mean it sincerely. I know I've repeated myself, but it really does move you and transport you. And I think we as actors, we're in the business of hopefully, when done correctly, to you know, be a vessel for great songwriting to be able to transport and move an audience.

And I think when done correctly, which is what we're all endeavoring to do, of course, I think that's what's gonna happen. So when that happens, certainly not something to take for granted because it's a special kind of spark.

[23:29] Robert Bannon: Songs by an immigrant volume three. It's out now, it's streaming right now, and then on the 25th, get your ticket, Sony Hall.com, come see the show, come see the show live and appropriate. I'm so jealous of I'm so jealous, everybody of Rodney because that hair, like come on. Why? How does he get it like that?

[23:45] Rodney Ingram: DNA, perfect DNA.

[23:49] Robert Bannon: Yeah, I'm so mad. Rodney, get off my show. That's it. I'll lend you some.

[23:56] Robert Bannon: Thank you. I'm so excited for everybody. You better get your tickets, put your money where your mouth is, and go support this incredible new art. They're incredible. This cast is incredible. The album I got a chance to hear it is incredible, and now it's streaming. Thank you all so much for being here. Break legs, have a blast, have the best time. We're all excited for this. And I'm already on Florencia, the next volume. Let's go.

[24:22] Florencia Cuenca: Thanks.