Meet Fabio Antonio (Male Ensemble)
Meet Fabio Antonio (Male Ensemble)If you won $96,000 from the lottery, what would you do with it?
Pay off student loans, give to charity, start a production company, spend a year in Panama learning Spanish and connecting to family.
Who’s someone in your life that’s not blood-related, but who you would consider to be family?
I have many great friends that are like family to me: Connie Huey, Ryan Collins, Chrisy Alcaraz, the Kearns, Shelly Warschaw, the Natividads. All have seen me through good times and tough times as well. They all give great advice.
What was your neighborhood like when you were growing up? What’s that neighborhood like now?
The neighborhood was quite the opposite of Washington Heights at the time. My family was one of the first black families in the area. There were few times that I felt this difference with others in the community. We grew up with my aunt’s family on the same street, just five houses apart. Our block truly had a community feel with any adult parenting all of the children on the block; feeding us, teaching us, joking with us, etc. Today the neighborhood is much more diverse than it was then. My aunt still lives on the block as do many of the past residents. It continues to be a welcoming place that seems to celebrate the diversity it has attained.
What’s your favorite photo from your childhood? What’s your family’s favorite photo?
My favorite picture is one of me laying my head across my mother’s lap. She is wearing a coat with faux fur on the collar. I loved the feel of that coat on my cheek and I can remember to this day caressing the collar and how it felt.
Where do you call “home”?
I call anywhere close to my mom home, I call the stage home. Home is teaching the next generation, home is laying on the carpet in my condo.
Tell me about someone in your life that made sacrifices for you to succeed.
My mother, Lorna, sacrificed for me and my siblings in order for us to succeed. She left Panama in her 20’s, left her family and friends to start a life here in the US. First in NY. Growing up, my mom did what she could to provide, working two teaching jobs, and taking me to auditions. She made sure we had what we needed, not necessarily what we wanted.
If you met any of these characters on the street, who would you share a pint with and who would make you turn and walk away? And why?
As an ensemble member, I play many random characters throughout the course of the show. Jose, though, is the guy that tries to steal Vanessa in “The Club”. I would not hang out with Jose. He’s a little too chauvinistic for me. I’d hang with Benny. I like his drive to succeed.
Do you have a favorite moment in the play?
As of right now, I love the choreography in “It Won’t Be Long Now”. But Sonny cracks me up for most of the show.
What’s the biggest challenge for you in this production?
Coming back to the stage after a long hiatus and doing commercials and short films was a challenge in general. The biggest challenges were getting my mind around the intricate harmonies and learning choreography quickly.
What do you connect to in this story?
Being first generation Panamanian American, I connect to the mix of American and Latin culture that the show presents. I connect easily to the hope that our parents and grandparents have for us when making the decision to start a life here. I also identify to Benny’s desire to be seen only for the abilities he has and the love he has to share.
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