Mandy Gonzalez’s journey from Broadway to the page, written by Center Stage Ambassadors Izzie and Kaisten
The following article was written by Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program Student Ambassadors Izzie and Kaisten, in collaboration with the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.
Mandy Gonzalez is a powerhouse performer known for originating the role of Nina Rosario in In the Heights and captivating audiences in Hamilton and Wicked. Her journey in musical theater is one of resilience, passion, and an unwavering belief in the power of storytelling.
From an early age, Mandy’s competitive spirit and love for music shaped her path.
“I’m the youngest of three siblings, and I always wanted to outdo my brother,” she recalls. “I had to fight for attention in my house, but I spent a lot of time with my Grandma Marie, who loved to sing. She would play Judy Garland songs, and I would sing along.”
As Mandy was the only grandchild who would sing back, her grandmother saw her potential.
“She would look in the paper for performance opportunities and ask, ‘Do you do voice lessons?’ I remember going up the street for my first Christmas performance, and that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue singing,” she said.
That passion carried her through the ups and downs of a career in theater. She remembers the struggle of auditioning in New York, standing outside Broadway theaters, hoping for a chance. Years later, when she was in Hamilton, she found joy in the small, behind-the-scenes traditions that bonded the cast.
“You had to cross underneath the stage to get to the other side. There were all these different routines that you would do with different people in the cast. The Schuyler Sisters, before we went on, we would dance together — it had to be the same thing because we are all very superstitious in the theater,” she said.
For Mandy, playing Nina Rosario in In the Heights remains one of her most cherished experiences.
One of her fondest memories was a cast potluck where everyone brought dishes from their families, a moment of cultural pride and unity.
Her roles as Elphaba in Wicked and Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton challenged her in different ways. She says taking on Wicked was intimidating at first.
“I was still doing In the Heights when they asked me to replace on Broadway. I was truly terrified,” she admits. “I had never done something like this where I’m on stage all this time. But the assistant director told me, ‘I know what’s going on. I want you to run on the treadmill and sing.’ That helped me let go of the fear and just live in the moment. I ended up loving the role so much.”
Playing Angelica Schuyler, on the other hand, felt deeply personal.
“I felt very lucky to play Angelica. Becoming a mother helped me understand what it means to put yourself second. I could really embody that sacrifice,” she reflects. “The universe gives you what you need at the right time.”
Through it all, Mandy remains passionate about inspiring the next generation of performers.
“If you’re going for a career in the arts, I want you to know that it’s possible, and there’s a place for everyone,” she said.
She encourages students to explore their options and trust that the right opportunities will come.
Speaking with Mandy, it’s clear that her success isn’t just about talent — it’s about persistence, embracing challenges, and finding joy in every step of the journey. Whether she’s commanding the stage or mentoring the next generation, she brings a warmth and wisdom that reminds us all why theater has the power to change lives.
Carrying that power to change lives into another medium, Mandy Gonzalez has also branched out into the writing industry.
“I have been writing for a long time,” Mandy says, crediting her local library and her history with books leading her to become an avid reader.
She says she was never able to find a lot of books with characters that looked like her, or that she could totally relate to when she was younger. That’s what inspired her to start writing.
Mandy also credits her writing to her grandma, Abuela, who was “larger than life!” She says she loved seeing shows with Abuela. Where Mandy grew up, there was a dinner theater, which would eventually lead her to her getting her start in musical theater. One fateful day, Mandy would see the show Man of La Mancha with her abuela. After seeing the show, Mandy’s abuela asked the performer who played Aldonza if she taught lessons. The woman obliged, and from then on, Mandy’s journey to stardom was underway.
Mandy’s book series Fearless is about a young girl, Monica, going to New York with her abuela to be in a new Broadway show. Her book, along with her #FearlessSquad, shares the sentiment of being you, and being fearless.
“Lin [Manuel-Miranda] actually asked me that same question: What does being ‘fearless’ mean to me?” Mandy said, casually mentioning one of the greatest composers of the time, “And I asked myself, ‘what can I do about this?’”
Mandy’s #FearlessSquad has inspired others to look for the good, embrace their differences, and help each other when we fall. She has started a social media campaign that has changed the lives of many.
Her focus on a middle school audience was a shift that came after writing an article for the Harvard Business Review in 2018.
“There isn’t much of a difference between kids and adults,” Mandy says. “You feel the fear and you just keep going through it. All of your fears are just thoughts that tell a story.”
While Mandy has embraced her role as an author now, she still loves to read, as she used to when she was a child.
“My Brilliant Friend is one I read recently that I really enjoyed; I also liked the Postcard,” she said.
Mandy was a young reader, writer, singer and performer with a dream, and she made that dream happen.
The Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program is an educational initiative of the Fox Cities P.A.C. with support from corporate partner Fox Communities Credit Union. Additional partners in this program include Johnson Financial Group, Nicolet National Bank, Angelo and Jennifer Ninivaggi, Schneider Foundation, Star98, WFRV, and Wipfli LLP. Programs like the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program are also supported in part by contributions to the Center’s Annual Partner Campaign.