Gabe Martinez and His Journey to Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Gabe Martinez, a dynamic performer with roots in New Jersey, has been enchanting audiences since he was eleven. His journey, full of music, dance, and theatrical flair, has led him to a pivotal role in Broadway’s “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” In this exclusive interview, Gabe shares his rich artistic background, experiences, and dreams.

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Q: Gabe, you came from a family of performers. Can you share some of your fondest memories of growing up in such a vibrant environment? 

Gabe: There was always music. There were always instruments, there was always singing, and the singing was always in effortless three-part harmonies, and if you weren’t singing you were dancing. My father had a band, and I grew up singing and playing in the band. My mother taught Sunday school and conducted the choir, and there was never a moment in my childhood where art song, and joy were not at the forefront. 

Q: How has being raised in New Jersey influenced your artistic journey?

Gabe: Throughout my childhood, we were always within striking distance of New York. Broadway was always very expensive, but when we could get tickets, we dressed up, took the train into the city, and made a special evening of it. I was always just across the river from Broadway, always close enough to taste it, and because of that proximity, it was always my highest ambition. 

Q: Congratulations on your Broadway debut! How did you feel when you first heard the news?

Gabe: I immediately broke down and cried. I had a health scare a couple of years back and nearly didn’t make it this far, very nearly died without ever making it to Broadway. And then I learned that my debut would be on the two-year anniversary of that lifesaving emergency surgery. It was very emotional, to say the least, and it still is. 

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Q: You were cast for Santiago quite late in the game. Can you describe the emotions and challenges of joining a production that had mostly been cast before the pandemic?

Gabe: By the time we got to rehearsals last January, it felt like we were all on even footing. For most of us, it was our first job in almost two years, regardless of when we were cast. There was a real sense of fellowship and camaraderie there that remained throughout my time on tour and extended to the Broadway company. 

Q: How has the transition been from the national tour to the Broadway stage?

Gabe: It’s actually been very smooth! There are very few functional differences between the tour show and the Broadway show, and seven of my dear friends from the original tour cast were here already, so it was really just like the next tour stop. Except this time I get to stay. 

Q: You’ve been a part of tours like “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “Peter Pan 360.” How have these experiences shaped you as a performer?

Gabe: Both of those projects, as amazing as they were, and as much as I miss them and wouldn’t change a thing about them, were very intense and challenging, grueling even. One-nighters, sleeping on the bus, and very little access to things like physical therapy and mental healthcare as we have now. It made me appreciate all the more this opportunity to bring a beautiful and meaningful piece of theatre to thousands of people every week, just as I did on those tours, but with the hindsight to recognize and appreciate how lucky I am to have come this far. It also made me appreciate how important touring companies are to the American theatre, bringing the highest level of entertainment to people who might not have access to Broadway. 

Q: Working with stars like Courtney Reed, Casey Cott, and Tituss Burgess must be exciting. Can you share your experience?

Gabe: I worked with Courtney for well over a year on tour, and she is the gold standard of how to be an absolute star in this industry, onstage and off, twenty-four hours a day, and I’m so fortunate to know her. Tituss and I rehearsed together, and I feel so lucky to have been able to watch his process. He’s such a professional, such a smart actor, and I’ve learned so much from him already. I’m still getting to know Casey, but he’s the perfect leading man, charismatic and engaging, warm and kind offstage, and more important even than that, he’s a really excellent scene partner, which is so important in live theatre.

Q: What’s the dynamic like off-stage? Any fun anecdotes or memorable moments during rehearsals or backstage?

Gabe: The offstage vibes at the Hirschfeld are immaculate. One of the great joys of joining an established cast who all know each other really well is finding your place and adding your own flavor to it. And the cast of Moulin Rouge has been so welcoming and warm, it feels like there are several of those memorable moments every day.  

Q: Now that you’ve made your Broadway debut, what are some roles or productions you dream of being part of in the future?

Gabe: I’ll always say that Hadestown and Hamilton are the two big dream shows that I would love to work on, but the real answer is that I’m more excited to see what happens next, the show that no one has even heard of yet that will win all the Tony awards two or three years down the road. 

Q: Are there any actors or directors you’re eager to collaborate with?

Gabe: Honestly, I’m so new to the scene, I haven’t even thought about that yet. It may seem like I’m dodging the question, but at the moment I’m just enjoying the wealth of talent and experience at the Hirschfeld. I’m surrounded by so many wonderful artists and creators every day at work, and while I’m sure there will be many new and exciting opportunities in the future, right now I’m excited to show up tomorrow and tell this story with these people. That said, as a Latin American actor, I’m definitely always waiting to hear what Lin-Manuel Miranda is doing next and would leap at any opportunity to work with him. 

Q: Performing at the Hirschfeld Theater must be a unique experience. How does the venue influence the energy and dynamics of the show?

Gabe: After bringing this show to some of the grandest, most luxurious touring houses in the country, it has been so refreshing to come to the room that was built especially for this show. When you walk into the Hirschfeld, you are immediately ensconced in velvet, smoke and chandeliers. It is intimate in a way that I’ve yet to experience with this show, and it feels like coming home. 

Q: I know you’ve mentioned that Moulin Rouge! The Musical is your favorite show you’ve ever seen or done. What is it about this production that resonates so deeply with you?

Gabe: There are of course so many things to love about Moulin Rouge. It’s big, it’s splashy, it’s fun, it’s unapologetically un-self-conscious and un-ironic in a way that makes it impossible not to love. It’s classic musical theatre, comedy and tragedy, love and loss, sex and candy. But above all that, steering the ship, are the highest ideals: Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love. In a world mired in greed and duplicity, selfishness and bigotry, when you come to the Moulin Rouge, we are all united in the simplest, purest tenets of the human experience, and we are all Bohemians. It is hopeful and aspirational in a way that no other show is, and I love it more and more each day.

Q: For those familiar with the film, what surprises or new elements can they expect from the Musical?

Gabe: I don’t have much of a relationship with the movie, but everyone I’ve spoken to who loves the movie also loves the show. Baz Luhrmann was heavily involved in the initial production, and the musical is very faithful to the source material. Expect everything you love about the film, adapted expertly for the stage, with dozens of new songs that fit perfectly with the originals you know and love. It’s the perfect marriage of stage and screen, and in well over five hundred performances I’ve yet to speak with anyone who has anything negative to say about it.

Gabe Martinez’s journey from a New Jersey upbringing to the bright lights of Broadway is a story of resilience, passion, and the transformative power of the arts. As he continues to captivate audiences at the Hirschfeld Theater, his story serves as an inspiration to aspiring performers everywhere.