Meet Andrew Puente (Miguel)
Tell us something about your family that has shaped who you are as a person.
Well I’m the baby of five kids so that’s first and foremost a big impact on me as a person, but I think my relationship with my mom has been what has shaped me most. So much of my life it’s just been the two of us, I went with her everywhere. She would take me to work, then when she went back to college I went with her and sat in on her classes because she couldn’t find a babysitter. I remember getting to travel and going to her speech and debate tournaments and taking notes on people arguing about abortion laws, nuclear armaments in the Middle East, and everything in between when I was like eight. It definitely made me the most socially aware 4th grader I knew though. Then when she decided to go to Law school, I remember all the times we would be driving and she would just play all of her CDs to study. So road trips were all about contract law and torts. But all of that has made me a person hungry for knowledge, and well equipped to have a heated debate.
What social issue(s) are you passionate about?
Equal pay for equal work. I was raised by a single mom, and two sisters who are some of the smartest human beings I have ever met. Not to mention all of the other women I’ve met throughout my life, so the idea that just by virtue of the fact that they are women, they would be paid less is just abhorrent to me. Also the mistreatment of the LGBT community. As well as dealing with the remnants of racism and the huge effects it’s having on society. Oh and the crashing of our education system particularly in lower income areas. Basically just equal treatment of all people. It hurts me to see so much hatred and resentment perpetuated by willful ignorance, and a sheer lack of loving communication. Or communication of any kind for that matter.
What was on your mind on the verge of the new millennium in 1999?
Well I was born in 93, so I think what was on my mind was getting down how to hand-write letters correctly. And “FRIENDS”.
Tell us about one of your family heroes.
Definitely my mother. She came to this country when she was 16 and since that day has refused to be beaten by anything. She learned a whole new language, basically raised her 7 siblings then had five kids of her own, beat cancer, got divorced and still said, “You know what sounds good? Law school.” Then she went and got her law degree. She has always been the person I’ve looked up to the most and is the first person who encouraged me to really pursue theater. When she saw how much I loved it and how hesitant I was because it isn’t the most financially stable of careers all she said was “Mijo, I don’t care what you do. If you want to sweep floors for the rest of your life, that’s fine with me I’ll support you. But make sure that whatever you do, you love it, and that you are the best you can possibly be at that thing. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you.”
Do you have a favorite moment in the play?
Ah, is it narcissistic to say that my favorite part has me in it? Probably is, but it’s true! Working with Marina (Emma) is so much fun and getting to just go into rehearsal and play with stuff and really not know how things are going to play out from moment to moment is a really exciting feeling as an actor. Also Vera’s scene where she talks to Emma about sex. Because I turn into a giggling 14-year-old boy.
How do you prepare to work on a project like this?
With Sophie Cripe’s dramaturge packets. Honestly, the research is so extensive and helped me understand so much more about the world of the play. My hat goes off to her because I know I would have looked at the sheer amount of research she had to do and would have curled up in a corner and cried.
What excites you about this story and why should people come see it?
It asks such good questions. It’s one of those kinds of stories that isn’t as much about the answer being spoon-fed to the audience, but rather forcing them to really wonder, and question things. I think people should come for the challenge. For the fact that they’ll walk out thinking, “What would I have done in that situation?”
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I’m actually Batman.
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