New York City based singer and actress Addie Morales stars as "Lucha" in American Mariachi, the exciting music-filled play running from September 28 through October 20 at Two River Theater in Red Bank.
Morales spoke with WBGO's Doug Doyle about her role and the play directed by James Vásquez (Two River’s smash hit Hair).
In playwright José Cruz González's show, "Lucha" and her cousin "Boli" have a plan— start an all-girl mariachi band! So what if it’s the 1970s and no one’s heard of such a thing? So what if they can’t play and have no costumes? So what if their families disapprove? They are on a mission to find some bandmates and make their mariachi dreams come true.
Addie Morales agrees it's a timely play that focuses on family.
"It's a play about the tradition of Mariachi and where it comes from and where it becomes something different in the future. It's the story of "Lucha" and what it meant to her family. She's changing the scope for Mariachi in honor of her mom, tradition and her family."
Morales says she very much relates to her character "Lucha".
"Absolutely. I think many people will find that they are like "Lucha" in some way. For me, it's cultural, it's familial, and I think many young women in this culture who have a father like him can relate to the father-daughter relationship, the mother-daughter relationship. This speaks so close to home, especially hailing from Texas and having family from Texas."
Addie was born in New Orleans and later raised in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. She is making her Two River Theater debut.
"I haven't worked too much on the East Coast, so this is something close to New York for me. It's very exciting and very accessible to the New York community and city. That's something friends, co-workers and other various professionals can come and see the show. I've heard a lot about Two River having friends work here. If you look into the history of Two River and who has come through here. Some of the most amazing people have been here."
Morales most recently played the emotional role of "Cosette" in the relaunched Broadway National Tour of Les Misérables. The singer has also played memorable roles in her theater career, such "Maria" in West Side Story and Eva Peron in Evita
Addie is also a yogi, wanna-be-chef, and plant lover.
You can SEE Doug Doyle's entire interview with Addie Morales here.
NOTE: This interview is part of WBGO's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion feature series made possible in part by a grant for the Fund for New Jersey.
