Miami, The national touring company of the Tony Award-winning, record-breaking hit musical CHICAGO will welcome Latin sensation & “Jane the Virgin” star Jaime Camil as he makes his tour debut in the role of “Billy Flynn” beginning Tuesday, May 8,. He will play a one-week limited engagement at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County until Sunday, May 13th.
Broadway History was made in 2016 when, for the first time ever, two Mexican-born actors led a Broadway musical! Together again – Latin superstars, and long-time friends, Jaime Camil and Bianca Marroquín will appear on stage opposite each other reprising their Broadway roles as “Billy Flynn” and “Roxie Hart” in Miami’s limited engagement of only eight performances! Bianca Marroquín is a CHICAGO veteran having appeared in the Broadway cast off and on since 2002.
Jaime Camil is one of the most well-known actors in the Spanish-speaking world and now the USA is welcoming him with open arms thanks to his performance as “Rogelio de la Vega” in the critically-acclaimed and multi-awarded TV show “Jane the Virgin.” He’s a Critic’s Choice and Teen Choice Award nominee and an Imagen Award winner for the role. He has starred in more than 20 award-winning films including Pulling Strings and 200 Cartas (alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda) and has won global and countless film and theater awards throughout his over 20-year career. Mr. Camil has led the most successful and highest-rated telenovelas of all time, including “La Fea Más Bella,” “Por Ella Soy Eva” and “Qué Pobres Tan Ricos.” He has recorded four platinum-selling albums and has led many musicals in his native Mexico City including West Side Story, Hook, Aladdin, El Diluvio que Viene and more. In 2005, he led the Broadway-bound musical The Mambo Kings, he previously appeared on Broadway in Latinologues and he also starred in a successful three-night only summer 2017 production of Mamma Mia! at the Hollywood Bowl playing the role of “Sam Carmichael” opposite Jennifer Nettles as “Donna.” Mr. Camil was also the voice of “Papá” in the Academy Award-winning animated feature, Coco, which is the top-grossing film of all time in Mexico.
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It was a pleasure to sit down with Jaime Camil for this Hotspots Exclusive Interview.
Were you always a performer, even as a child, or when did it start?
My mom is Brazilian and was a singer, writer and painter, so my artistic side came from the umbilical cord. My dad is a business man, and when I was a teenager he didn’t want me to pursue arts. He wanted me to go into business, but he gave me his blessing to go into the arts when he saw how passionate I was about it.
What was your first professional/paid gig?
I used to have a talk show like Jimmy Fallon…It was my first paid gig.
When did you know entertainment would be your career?
I really knew when I was a small boy and I used my study lamp as my microphone. I sang my heart out to the mirror, which was my audience.
How did you get cast in Jane The Virgin?
I was in Mexico, came to pilot season in LA, and got rejected ore times than I can count. A few years later, I got 3 direct offers. This was so foreign to me that I didn’t even know what a direct offer was. When my agent explained it to me, I was shocked and I read the 3 scripts. Without a doubt the script with the most creativity was Jane the Virgin. Even though it was on the smallest network, it was the project I felt was the best.
The cast seems to get along so well, are you all friends in real life?
Oh yeah, we are all friends. It’s like a big Costa Rican party and we adore the show and each other. The other day I went on the boat with Yael Grobglas (Petra) and Brett Dier (Michael).
What made you decide to come star in Chicago again?
They invited me to do it on Broadway in 2016, and I was super happy, as it was my first time on a Broadway stage. They called me back, and I said yes, but I can only do Miami as my schedule doesn’t allow any more time.
What is your dream role?
I am pretty much a junkie for scripts. I am not looking for a particular role. If I love a script with a challenging actor, that’s the one I want to play.
What should our readers expect from the touring company of Chicago?
Chicago as you know is the longest American show on Broadway. This show has heritage, it’s iconic and everyone needs to see this show. It’s a group of freakishly talented individuals that dance and perform the songs to expertise. It balances on the human element.
Tickets to Chicago are available through the Arsht Center Box Office in person at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132, by calling 305.949.6722, or online at arshtcenter.org. Ticket prices start at $29*.
Visit ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.
Chicago closes of the 2017-2018 Broadway in Miami season presented by Florida Theatrical Association and the Adrienne Arsht Center along with presenting sponsor Bank of America and with support from Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
