NORWALK, Conn. — Broadway in the Park returns on Saturday at Mathews Park with a cast of Norwalk Conservatory students bringing to the stage popular songs from musicals and movies like Encanto, Frozen, and The Little Mermaid.
Among them are two emerging performers: Nate Braquet, a 19-year-old Musical Theater Dance major from Houston, Texas, and Amy Martinez, a 19-year-old Norwalk-raised Musical Theatre student and Brien McMahon High School alum.
For the pair as well as the rest of the cast members, rehearsals start at 9 a.m. sharp and consist of learning the choreography, such as blocking and spacing on the set pieces, as well as singing. However, while rehearsal ends at 1 p.m., cast members video their performances to work on them at home.
In the Q&A below, they reflect on the production, as well as their hopes for the future.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What is your role in Broadway in the Park?
Braquet: I am a soloist and ensemble member. As a soloist, I’m singing “Her Voice” from The Little Mermaid. I am also in a number from Mary Poppins called “Step in Time,” which is a big tap number. And I am playing Bert, who is the main chimney sweep played by Dick Van Dyke in the movie. And so I’m really excited about that. As an ensemble member, I’m also in all of the group numbers, like “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”
Martinez: I’m singing as Mirabel from Encanto. I’m singing as Ariel, and Elsa as well. There are other people singing songs from the same princesses, but different songs. We’re doing a lot of group numbers, but each of us has solos that we sing.
How do you connect the story of your solo to your own experience?
Braquet: It varies depending on the piece I’m working on. For “Her Voice,” I just try to think of the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard in my entire life. When I was little, every time I heard “Canon in D” by Pachelbel, I would cry. I’d beg my mom to continue playing it, and she’d say, “You’re crying, I don’t understand why you like it.” I’m like, “Just play it.”
Music used to influence me so much, and I think about a song that I just feel has a lot of emotional depth in the music. That song (Her Voice) is basically his song of yearning for Ariel. I also try to think of what I really miss, like my dog.
Martinez: I am such an emotional person and like to take things directly from my life and put them in front of me for the audience to see. Not enough to bum anybody out, but, so that they could see how much I love what I’m doing. How much every word and every sound and every riff and every song lyric come next to my life, and how much I’ve worked for this moment, and how hard I want to keep going, and that I want to do this in the future.
Mirabel is a person who is so misunderstood, and we understand her because we’ve all been in those shoes where we feel like we’re not seen at all in our families, and especially in Latino households, it’s so easy to go unnoticed or underappreciated, especially if you’re a younger child.
I have three older brothers, so I know how it is to be the oddball, or to be visible one day and invisible the next. Just thinking about all of the things that I’ve experienced with having siblings, because she is someone who doesn’t have powers, but she knows that she can contribute so much, but no one’s letting her do anything, and they see her as useless, or she’s so clumsy and she can’t do anything right. But she’s truly just trying to find her way in the world.
And it is the same for Ariel and Elsa. Everyone is trying to make a better life for themselves, but their own insecurities or mental anguish are getting in the way of achieving that or truly connecting with the people in their lives.
What surprised you about rehearsals versus your expectations?
Braquet: What really surprised me coming into NoCo about rehearsals is how unserious it is. I mean, yes, you can’t be on your phone. Yes, you can’t talk when the choreographer or director is directing. Yes, you have to be where you’re supposed to be. But also, you can’t forget that theater is supposed to be fun, and we’re here because we love doing theater.
Martinez: I am moving around much more than I thought I would. I was like, we’re just going to get up there, sing a couple of songs, do a couple of box steps, and we’re done. But I’m running around the stage, like, genuinely running, and I’m trying to sing at the same time. This is not what I expected. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
From your solo, what is one lyric, step, or beat that you really want the audience to notice?
Braquet: The thing I’ve definitely worked hardest on is the accent for “Step in Time.” I definitely worked hard as well on the ending note of “Her Voice.” It is decently high, but it’s also, and every singer knows that a high note on an E vowel is so difficult because it’s restricted, and you have to find the space.
Martinez: We just finished learning Family Madrigal, and it’s so incredibly fast. I basically have to rap at the end, which none of my friends know I can rap, and I don’t even know I can rap, but I can just sing really fast. I’ve loved it since the movie came out, and I’ve always known all the lyrics, because Latina representation in media is so important.
What would you hope that a kid in the audience takes away?
Braquet: I hope that kids can see this show and it really energizes them, and makes them excited for the future, and that their future is their own making.
Martinez: I hope that they take away that, even if maybe they don’t sing professionally like we do, that they can have the strength to be loud and be proud and to sing. Anyone should be able to sing their hearts out. There’s a platform for everyone so that even if they want to be an accountant or want to be in singing musical theater, they can have the power to do that. So, I just feel in just the two hours that we have together, that they can get up and sing and dance and cry and laugh.
What is a moment in this process that you think you’ll remember in 10 years?
Braquet: I would say working really fast. That’s what I would remember, which is very good because, on Broadway, they work really fast, and it’s really good practice. As well as having fun with my friends, because it’s a good bonding time as well.
Martinez: I am excited to be with my friends. Hopefully, I’ll be on Broadway in the next 10 years. They do Broadway in the Park for Broadway shows, and they sing their songs for the audience so that they can get a little taste if you can’t afford to go into the actual theaters, and I’ll be I did this 10 years ago when I was a little kid. It’s exciting that it’s a miniature version of what I would dream of doing in the future.
Broadway in the Park will be held rain or shine, on August 16, 23, and 30 from 4 to 6 p.m., but families are encouraged to attend from 3 p.m. for preshow activities.
For more information, visit: www.thenorwalkconservatory.org/broadwayinthepark
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