Leslie Navarro

When I saw Leslie Navarro on stage in NTPA’s RENT, I knew immediately that this young woman had something special. She delivered the role of Mimi with so much energy, heat, heart, and soul that it was almost impossible not to fall in love with her character. I have seen many Mimis over the years, but it is Leslie’s performance that will stay in my memory. Her incredible presence and power amazed me. Take a few moments to learn more about Leslie Navarro. Her thoughtful, heartfelt responses will impress you.

When was your first time on stage?

 The first time I got to be on stage where the feeling of wanting to be a performer STUCK was wayyy back in eighth grade. I got roped in by some friends to audition for the fall play, Oh, What a Tangled Web. It was this small, over the top, farce in ONE act involving a single lie that leads to an absolute chaotic web of lies. It was meant to be a one-time thing just to spend time with my friends, but through the laughter, bonding, memories, and connection with the incredible director, Richard Garcia, I stuck around for the rest of the season. 

When did you know you wanted to be an actor?

 That same year that I had decided to stick around the theater company back in eighth grade, I had gone to see Carrie: The Musical at the sister high school for my middle school at the time. It was my first exposure to a musical that wasn’t just about kick lines and showgirls. I saw a story that was flawed and messy, frustrating, and real. I was sitting there in my seat thinking “oh, so a musical can be like…just about MY life if I wanted it to be. It could be about my friends. It could be about my friends’ friends and their enemies. A musical could tell a story from NOW.” I sat on the edge of my seat the entire show and just felt…hungry. I felt this craving I hadn’t felt before. I wanted to create. I saw these students each with different backstories and motives and I was absolutely fascinated with their storytelling. I believed for a second these characters were real, I felt personal CONNECTIONS to them as if they were real! Like we had known each other all our lives…Then it hit me. That’s what I wanted. I wanted to make people feel. I wanted to invite people into a world, and by the time they left, they’d gone with new senses of emotions; something that resonated with them even as they were driving back home from the theater. It was by curtain call (with a standing O) that I had decided to dedicate the rest of my life to being a storyteller.

Who is your greatest mentor?

 This is a tough question to answer. Mostly because I have scavenged and accumulated my knowledge and passions for my craft from all over the place. I didn’t learn all I did from one specific “how to” book. It was more like finding different books from different stores but always with some kind of “.50 cents” or “50% off” sticker slapped on the cover that ended up being an absolute STEAL…It was like I had been given guidance at a time in my life that didn’t seem like much that are now the very roots of who I am now. All my mentors over time have functioned as some kind of parental figure for me and to this day, depending on what’s going on at that point in my career, I still reach out to every single one of them. I must use this time to specifically focus on the man who put up with me for probably the longest four years of his life, my high school theatre director, Michael Morales. I have never met anyone who could do what this man does. He puts up 4-5 shows a school year almost entirely by himself all while still teaching classes throughout the day. Mr. M has taught me the importance of focus, strength, patience, determination, ferocity, stillness, and everything in between. Anytime anyone had a question about literally any element in the theatre, he had an answer. And if he didn’t, he’d go out of his way to find it and come back as an expert. He is always growing, always striving. The most goal-oriented person I know. Mr. M has molded me into not just the performer, but the person I am today. I still have so much to learn from this man. And you know anytime either of us are in town, we meet up for some Whataburger and catch up on all that’s happened. Until next time, sir. Thank you. 

What role have you enjoyed the most in your career so far?

 It would have to be without a doubt, playing Mimi in NTPA’s RENT. While I did not at first know that this is the character, I thought I’d end up writing about, I now find it extremely difficult to think of any other role I played that had as much harvest as this one did. I laughed, I cried, I broke down, I found courage and strength. I loved/love every single person involved in this process with every fiber of my being. I thank the directors for allowing me to discover and play and breathe NEW life into this wildly famous character that the audience has always known and loved. While discovering the DNA of this character I was simultaneously finding new facets of myself. It was scary…but also exhilarating. I was allowed to try something new, fall on my face, get back up, and have everyone applaud me for it because I. Was. Trying. This role made me feel safe in my skin. It made me disregard any negativity that wasn’t worth my time. It made me feel beautiful, it made me feel fiery. And thanks to the insanely talented and sincere Conor Clark, it made me have a deep, deep trust in my scene partners. Thank you to everyone involved in this production for taking a chance on me and allowing me to play alongside you. Thank you. 

 Do you have a dream role?

 For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted a chance to portray Christine Daaé in Phantom of the Opera. This role would bring a whole new set of exciting and heavy challenges that come with it. A whole new meaning comes to strength when you think of Christine and what she stands for in this show. Not to mention the challenges that come with tackling a period piece especially as a woman of color within this world. Finding who Miss Daaé is to me and how she connects to everyone and everything else gives me goosebumps just thinking about the process. With the closing of Phantom quickly approaching on Broadway, I, like the rest of the theatre community, will sit here…waiting…patiently… 

What person(s) would you like to be on stage with?

  Now I may be a little biased at the moment…but from the moment I heard Spencer and Campbell Bovaird sing, I was entranced. From the moment I got to see these men perform, I knew it HAD to be my destiny to share the stage with both brilliant gems of the theatre world. If you have not had the honor to see the resilience, dedication, heart, and LIFE they breathe into their shows, you have not yet lived. Before my time on this earth finishes, I need to find a project fit for the three of us to create together. I do not know what that entails, but whatever it is, and whenever it happens, make sure to come out and witness my actual life goal and apparent last dying wish. 

 What performances have you seen that impressed you?

 The best kinds of shows I absolutely lose my marbles over are always the shows that do the most, with so little. Minimal sets such as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for example always blows my mind. Especially the production recently put on over at Theatre Arlington. I went out to support a few friends and was NOT prepared to have cried a handful of times. I was absolutely engulfed in the world. Other than minimal sets, the most insane minimalist show I’ve ever seen was not because of the set, but because of the whole FIVE WORDS SPOKEN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SHOW. I had the honor of seeing WaterTower Theatre’s The Great Distance Home back in 2018 and to this day, I still think about this show. It was a full length, fully fleshed out show with hardly any words spoken at all. The story was carried over by music, sounds, light, props, and the bodies of these few performers. I laughed. I cried. I understood everything that was going on at all times and didn’t realize that no actual words were being spoken until about 15 minutes into the show. I have yet to watch anything else that has struck me as much as this production did. 

 What are your career goals?

 I want to keep working as a professional actor for as long as possible, but it wasn’t until recently that I decided that I would not only love to go on to directing various kinds of projects/plays/musicals…but the end goal is to open a theatre company of my own someday. To be able to have the power to create accessible theatre for all with the production value and justice that all works deserve. I want to have a space where people can call home. Where both performers AND audience members can create memories and long-lasting friendships and get together every so often to share our mutual appreciation and respect of our beloved craft. That’s the dream. And for purposes of speaking it into existence, that’s THE plan. 

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

 I only ever lead with my heart instead of my brain. Oftentimes, that winds up with me in huge messes, myself stretched out farther than healthily possible, and my pockets a little emptier than I’d like, but at least I’m always true to myself. Granted, I should practice being logical a LOT more, and I am slowly, but surely…but my gosh, I’m happy. And I’m thankful. I have a heart full of love always worn out on my sleeve…and no one will ever catch me being less than 100% myself.