"Don't Forget to be a Human Being!" - Chatting with Members of the Choir's Ryan Rodiño!

I would like you to meet Ryan Rodiño. Ryan was recently seen in Members of the Choir at The Chain Theatre written by Evan Edwards and directed by Rick Hamilton. Ryan has appeared in the National and Japan Tours of A Chorus Line where he performed the role of Bobby Mills and understudied Paul San Marco. He also reprised his role of Bobby in the Spain Tour Pre-Production which was directed by Baayork Lee and starred Antonio Banderes. Ryan has also appeared regionally at The Gateway Playhouse, The Rev (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse), Ogunquit Playhouse, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, at The John W. Engeman Theatre just to name a few. I am so happy to have the chance to feature such a talented artist!

How old were you when you knew you wanted a career in the performing arts? 

When I was four years old, my mother took me to see Blue's Clues Live at Radio City Music Hall. I was instantly hooked and told her that I wanted to do what Steve was doing onstage. She put me into acting and dance classes, and somehow, I haven't stopped since.

Where did you study? Are there any mentors who helped shape you into the artist you are today? 

I grew up outside of the city on Long Island. I studied back and forth between The Gateway Acting School in Bellport and The Broadway Workshop in Manhattan. My biggest mentor was (and still is) one of my dance teachers, Mary Giattino. As her student, she scooped me under her wing and would take me to rehearsals of Broadway tours she was the associate on. It really was the most incredible education. I ended up getting to do the Jimmy Awards on Broadway in high school and then went to Montclair State for college. I'll never stop being a student. There are always new things to learn and new ways to grow.

Congratulations on Members of the Choir! Evan Edwards is a true gem in this industry and it is so exciting to see new works come to light like this. What about Members of the Choir excited you?

Thank you! I really enjoyed working with Evan on his beautiful material. It's rare to have the opportunity to work on something that requires and celebrates a cast of queer folks of color. We're thankfully seeing more of it in tv/film, but it's unfortunately still lacking in theatre. A play like Members of the Choir gets me excited about the future of our industry. It's the kind of story I want to be telling as an artist. As a theatre-goer, it's the kind of story we need to be seeing more of.

You have worked all over the world. Are there any shows, performances, or moments in your wonderful career that sticks out and are near and dear to your heart? 

One of the best moments of my life to date was working on A Chorus Line with Antonio Banderas. Baayork Lee assembled a cast to workshop the show with Antonio before he left for Spain to play Zach and co-direct with her. The cast was a mix of Broadway, City Center, and tour alums. It was essentially a glorified "put in" rehearsal for him to rehearse the show with a full cast. He said all of his lines in Spanish, and we responded in English. Getting to banter back and forth between the languages is unlike anything I've ever experienced. My favorite part was watching the Zach and Cassie scenes between him and Robyn Hurder. It was like an Olympic tennis match of two languages. It's truly the most special, unique experience I've ever had. It filled my heart, and I knew it would have made my grandmother so proud.

What advice would you give any young aspiring artists?

Never stop learning, and don't forget to be a human being! This industry is always evolving. It constantly puts new faces, ideas, and challenges into our life. There is something new to learn from every single person and experience. As artists, we tend to constantly be on the go. We typically think ahead and forget to just be. A teacher I love once told me to stop being a "human doing" and just be a "human being." I try to remind myself of that every day- both in life and in my work.