Meet Rachel Oliveros Catalano (Camila Rosario)
Tell me about someone in your life that made sacrifices for you to succeed.
My mother has made great sacrifices in order for me to succeed. She worked extremely hard my entire life to ensure I was given every opportunity she never had. She was also fearless in going against tradition- pushing me, a female, towards education and giving me the opportunity and support to explore my own passions within the performing arts world instead of solely desiring for me to make a living. The first in my family to graduate from college, the first to surpass all expectations and receive an MFA…I stand on her shoulders. Quite simply, every success I have I owe to this remarkable woman I have the honor and blessing of calling “Mom.”
Do you have a favorite moment in the play?
I have several favorite moments in the play, so let me choose a moment my character gets to live. As Camila, there’s an incredibly moving song I get to sing (“Enough”) in which I say to my daughter, Nina: “When you have a problem you come home. As long as we’re alive you’re never on your own.” These words, this sentiment, resonate with me down to my core. As human beings, that’s really all we want, isn’t it? A place to call home. People to turn to, people who love us and will be there for us no matter what choices we make, regardless of the outcome. Whether our families were formed by blood or family we have chosen, we all want to be loved unconditionally and to feel like part of a community. The unconditional love and support in this specific moment can also be found throughout the play. It’s the reason I believe this play is beloved by so many. It’s the reason I’m so passionate about this show and this particular production.
What do you connect to in this story?
For me, In The Heights is a story about the importance of family. Of remembering where you came from, where your ancestors came from and honoring that while forging ahead to build a better life-not just for yourself but for future generations. As children, my parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba. They didn’t even know the language but they and their families had a fierce work ethic, ceaseless determination and their success (and the success of those of us who came after them) are proof that the American Dream is, in fact, achievable.
Also of personal connection to me is the character of Abuela and her unwavering faith in God, her praise for even the smallest of blessings-because I grew up with my own Abuela who held these same convictions and was a rock in my life. This faith, this gratitude for all blessings, remains the cornerstone to my life even today. We see these characters and feel their struggle to rise above adversity and succeed when the odds are stacked against them…hopefully, they inspire us to work harder and be better ourselves. The themes in this play are universal and can be shared by everyone. This is our aim in the theater: To engage, unite and build community. It’s been my honor and great blessing to work on this production, to live this rich character, to explore this wonderful world with a gifted and supportive cast and crew, led by our immensely talented and giving director, Oanh Nguyen. May you all feel the love we have infused our characters with and carry that feeling with you long after you leave the show.
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