Mandy Gonzalez has the kind of voice that lingers in your mind and heart long after hearing her sing. Her vocal power and precision, coupled with a palpable emotional depth, is deeply compelling. It’s the kind of talent that has earned her roles on Broadway as Nina Rosario in In The Heights, Elphaba in Wicked, Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton, and currently, Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.
“I have been so blessed in my career to play some incredibly strong female roles that so many audiences can connect to,” Gonzalez said. “I am thrilled to be part of [Sunset Boulevard] a groundbreaking production where women can uplift one another.”
Mandy will make her Hylton Center debut in Mandy Gonzalez in Concert (11/9) to perform an evening of Broadway songs, film scores, and music from her debut album, Fearless. The concert is sponsored by our Veterans and the Arts Initiative, a program with a mission that has a personal connection for Gonzalez.
“I am the proud granddaughter of a World War II Veteran and a proud daughter of a Vietnam War Veteran,” she says. “Our Veterans have meant so much to me throughout my life and it is an honor to sing and celebrate their service to our country with this concert.”
The word “fearless” seems to be a theme throughout Gonzalez’s body of work. It’s the name of her solo album (the title song was written for her by Lin-Manuel Miranda); it’s the title of her original book series (supernatural stories about friendship and theater for middle grade readers); and it’s the centerpiece of her online community #FearlessSquad.
“In my life, I have been so fortunate to have the support of my ‘squad’—my dearest friends and family have always been by my side,” Gonzalez says. “But I noticed that people started to reach out to me on my social media platform through messages. Messages, sometimes hard to read, about feeling unwanted and alone. I needed to do something more than read the messages. I could not turn away. It was time to lift my voice for them.
“I realized that if others needed a squad of hope and support, then they could be a part of my squad. It would be a safe place, an online community that encourages inclusiveness and belongingness. This turned out to be the inspiration for me creating #FearlessSquad. #FearlessSquad was created as a beacon call for others to let them know they are not alone. It has grown into a beautiful online community with millions of squad members from all over the world.”
This fearless performer is not to be missed, so be sure to get your tickets for Mandy Gonzalez in Concert (11/9) and hear for yourself why City Pulse describes her voice as having “a potency even the most revered divas would envy.” Or, in Gonzalez’s words, “get ready to sing a lot, to laugh, and to feel like you’re getting to know a new friend.”