Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet the Artists Shaping Our Season
September 12, 2025
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th – October 15th) with us as we shine a spotlight on the extraordinary Hispanic artists featured in our upcoming season. In this special blog, we honor their voices, stories, and creative journeys—highlighting how their heritage shapes their work and inspires audiences in Philadelphia and beyond.
Through exclusive quotes and personal insights, these performers share what Hispanic Heritage Month means to them and how they bring their cultural identity to the stage.
Alizé Cruz — Performer, SIX
We are capable of achieving anything and everything, and more!
Question: How do you hope your art contributes to the ongoing legacy of Hispanic culture and resilience, and the future of representation in your field or industry?
Answer: I hope the art we leave on our stage inspires young Hispanic people to feel the strength to speak up, to stand up, and to show out. Our show is so beautifully diverse and represents all of our cultures and backgrounds, and I hope I am able to inspire other littles that look up onto our stage and say, “She’s just like me.” I hope that shows, written and not written yet, continue to represent minorities by allowing us to show the younger generations that we have just as much opportunity as anyone else, and that we are capable of achieving anything and everything, and more!
Miguel Gil — Performer, Kimberly Akimbo
Being Hispanic is an integral part of me.
Question: What does being part of the Hispanic community mean to you, and how do you celebrate your heritage through your work, your art, and/or your daily life?
Answer: Being Hispanic is an integral part of me. It's my personality, how I dress, how I talk and how I express myself. I get to bring that to every character I play because I wouldn't be me without it. Something I do to remind myself to always give it my all is bring my flag with me into every dressing room. To me it represents the opportunity to represent my family through my work. It also gives me motivation to make my work excellent and to keep striving to improve.
Sophia Yacap — Performer, Back to the Future: The Musical
I am extremely proud to be continuing the legacy of Hispanic culture.
Question: How do you hope your art contributes to the ongoing legacy of Hispanic culture and resilience, and the future of representation in your field or industry?
Answer: I am extremely proud to be a part of continuing the legacy of Hispanic culture, especially in the arts. Our resilience is constantly being tested, particularly in career paths that haven’t properly represented and uplifted my community. I hope to show other Hispanic artists that our voices, creations, and talents belong in this industry and deserve to be amplified.
Javier Ignacio — Performer, Beauty and the Beast
As a proud immigrant, I stand on the resilience and sacrifices of my mother, to whom I owe everything.
Question: How do you hope your art contributes to the ongoing legacy of Hispanic culture and resilience, and the future of representation in your field or industry?
Answer: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast has been woven into American culture for decades, and stepping into the role of Cogsworth in the first Disney-produced tour in 25 years is an incredible honor. As a proud immigrant, I stand on the resilience and sacrifices of my mother, to whom I owe everything. Each night, I carry both my American and immigrant identities onto the stage, adding new colors and textures of Hispanic culture to the beautiful quilt of representation that continues to grow in our industry.
Nicholas Rodriguez — Performer, The Sound of Music
I’m proud to bring representation to a role not traditionally seen through a diverse lens.
Question: How do you hope your art contributes to the ongoing legacy of Hispanic culture and resilience, and the future of representation in your field or industry?
Answer: As a Mexican-American actor playing Max Detweiler on the national tour of The Sound of Music, I’m proud to bring representation to a role not traditionally seen through a diverse lens. Representation matters—when audiences see someone who looks like them on stage, it sparks possibility. If even one young person sees me and feels a path forward in this industry is possible for them, then there’s hope. Especially now, when immigrants are so often politicized in America, it’s vital to show how vibrant, talented, and essential we are to the fabric of this country—on stage and far beyond it.
Serena Mendez Gastaldo — Performer, Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Connection and warmth are what I cherish most about our culture.
Question: What makes you most proud to be Hispanic in today’s world, and how does your cultural background influence your creative journey?
Answer: I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and I take pride in our cultural blend of Spanish, Italian, and Latin roots. We are warm, family-oriented, and celebrate life despite challenges. When I join a new cast, I form strong and lasting friendships, as we open our hearts from the start. This connection and warmth are what I cherish most about our culture.
Samantha Rios — Performer, The Notebook
I want to honor the shoulders I stand on while also expanding the space for future generations.
Question: How do you hope your art contributes to the ongoing legacy of Hispanic culture and resilience, and the future of representation in your field or industry?
Answer: As a Latino actor, I want to honor the shoulders I stand on while also expanding the space for future generations—so that young artists who share my background see themselves represented in ways that are honest, nuanced, and inspiring. My hope is that the work I do contributes to a future where “representation” isn’t the exception, but the norm.
Diego F. Salinas — Performer, Dungeons & Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern
Our community can do anything.
Question: How do you hope your art contributes to the ongoing legacy of Hispanic culture and resilience, and the future of representation in your field or industry?
Answer: Growing up, I lived in an area where there were practically no other Latinos in the school system or neighborhoods. Being a nerdy little theatre kid, it was very difficult to find role models who looked like me succeeding at the things I wanted to do. I want the art that I make to be so boldly Latino, Salvadoreño, and me that everyone, especially the young people who might feel that they don't belong, can see that our community can do anything.
Mallorie Sievert — Performer, Shucked
I’m beyond proud to be able to show Hispanic people everywhere that we belong here: the stage is ours.
Question: How do you hope your art contributes to the ongoing legacy of Hispanic culture and resilience, and the future of representation in your field or industry?
Answer: As the only person of Hispanic heritage in the entire traveling company of Shucked, my very being on stage is radical. I’m beyond proud to be able to bring this show from city to city and show Hispanic people everywhere that we belong here: the stage is ours just as much as this country is.
Monica Tulia Ramirez — Performer, Suffs
Representation is not about one single image; it’s about the mosaic.
Question: How do you hope your art contributes to the ongoing legacy of Hispanic culture and resilience, and the future of representation in your field or industry?
Answer: I hope my art adds another layer to the story of what it means to be Hispanic — that our identities are diverse, layered, and constantly evolving. By sharing my own experience, I hope others who grew up between languages or across cultures see themselves reflected, too. Representation is not about one single image; it’s about the mosaic. I want my work to help build that mosaic, honoring where we come from while opening the door wider for the next generation.
Rachel Sanchez — MasterChef Finalist, Season 15, MasterChef All-Stars Live!
Your culture is your superpower.
Question: What message, inspirational quote, or personal mantra would you share with young Hispanic creatives or leaders during Hispanic Heritage Month that reflects your pride in your heritage?
Answer: My message to young Hispanic creatives is this: your culture is your superpower. Never hide it — embrace it. The flavors, the music, the stories you grew up with are gifts. Use them boldly in your art, and you’ll not only honor your heritage but inspire others to find strength in theirs.
Christian Arredondo — Performer, The Outsiders
Being Hispanic sparked my desire to convey love and passion through song and dance.
Question: What makes you most proud to be Hispanic in today’s world, and how does your cultural background influence your creative journey?
Answer: In today’s world, what makes me most proud to be Hispanic is the innate resilience and love that comes embedded in our culture. Being Hispanic has influenced my creative journey in so many ways. Most importantly, I think it sparked my desire to convey love and passion through song and dance—a pillar of the Hispanic community.
Gabriela Mesa — Demi-Soloist, Philadelphia Ballet
The culture I come from is vast and rich in color, rhythm, and flavor.
Question: What makes you most proud to be Hispanic in today’s world, and how does your cultural background influence your creative journey?
Answer: Nothing fills me with more satisfaction and pride than the history and culture I come from — vast and rich in color, rhythm, and flavor. Being strongly anchored to my roots allows me to focus on my goals today, because when you know exactly where you come from, where you are going becomes clear. In the blood of Hispanic culture runs perseverance and a fearless approach to hard work and effort.
As a dancer, I believe this is an advantage. My cultural roots connect me not only to Spanish dances and rhythms but also to the complex and powerful African dances, giving me a broad artistic vocabulary and allowing me a wide and versatile expressive range.
As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, we are honored to celebrate the artists who bring depth, passion, and cultural richness to our stages. Their stories and performances reflect a dynamic heritage that continues to influence the world of culinary arts, music, dance, and performance in powerful ways. We invite you to discover their work, hear their voices, and join us in recognizing the impact of Hispanic artists on Philadelphia’s vibrant arts scene. Explore our season and be part of the celebration.