THEATERMANIA: You’ve been with In The Heights since it started its development process; was understudying Lin-Manuel Miranda as Usnavi — which you did before taking over the role — your first job?
JAVIER MUNOZ: At the very first reading, I played Nina’s brother Lincoln, a character who no longer exists in the show, and from there I got the call to play Usnavi at the next workshop. They said not to imitate Lin, but to take the material, make it my own and help with the development of it. So I would go on whenever Lin needed to sit out and just be the composer, and that became my place for every workshop thereafter. I remember Lin telling me that there were moments and choices I made that he wanted to incorporate. There’s no greater flattery than for the guy who’s originating the role to tell the understudy “That was so good, I want to use it.”
TM: You had quit the business before In The Heights came along. Why did you do that?
JM: Both my parents had become ill; so I moved in with them to support them and pay for things. I had to face the financial reality that I couldn’t make a living as an actor and also be there for my family. It was truly the hardest decision that I ever made, because it wasn’t just giving up on the business, it was giving up on myself and saying my dreams are no more. I took a management position at a restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen and I was miserable, but I did it because I had to. Then, a friend from college asked me to take part in an informal reading of a musical he had written; and luckily I did it, because an actress there heard me sing and told me about In The Heights. From there it’s been a series of dream come true events. And my parents are wonderfully healthy now.
TM: What made you respond so passionately to the show?
JM: I was so excited that someone wanted to bring Hip Hop onto a stage. But also, when I read through that script I saw no drugs, I saw no violence, I saw hard-working Latino people. Often as a Latino you’re called in to be “Drug Dealer #2.” This musical brought forth the things that I wanted to portray.
TM: How is your working relationship with your understudies?
JM: I’ve never had understudies before, so I take it upon myself to communicate with them. When they go on, I always call or text like Lin used to do with me. I want them to go out and do as good a job as I would or better, because the show always comes first. Lin set the example, and I’m following it.