#FFB: Tony Gonzalez
I first started chatting with Tony via email and was immediately attracted to his amazing energy and positivity. I couldn't wait to meet him! During the photo shoot, his enthusiasm and warm spirit completely wowed me. Tony's discreet confidence certainly comes from his knowledge and experience as a seasoned professional and he is the perfect example of how much enthusiasm really contributes to success. Working hard is one thing. Working hard with a genuine, beaming smile is quite another and the reason why Tony is 100% FIT FOR BROADWAY!
BIOGRAPHY: As I can recall, my first ever public performance was a self-choreographed routine to "Uptown Girl" in the 1st grade. I have since seen video footage and I can honestly say it was a mess, but it makes my mom happy, so it was worth it! Throughout grade school, Miss Kunes helped me shape my early performing career in "The Nutcracker" and "Bye, Bye, Birdie" (where I played a very young Shriner who looked up "Rosie's" skirt each night). My middle school performance opportunity was mainly Show Choir, with some community theatre mixed in. A production of "Oklahoma" with my mom, and "Guys and Dolls" with some dear lifelong friends. Also these years were filled with a handful of sports, which I was not good at, but have carried the experiences with me ever since. Teamwork is huge. High school and college provided countless performances, shows, classes, technique, training, and abundant life lessons. My professional career started on stage at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. I would go back and perform there tonight if they would have me, it means that much to me. Post college, I got to spend a good amount of time touring the country with productions of "Saturday Night Fever", "Joseph..." and "Mamma Mia!". I also spent some enjoyable years performing in Las Vegas with these shows as well as "We Will Rock You". I am currently in my eighth year with Mamma Mia, now in the Broadway production as the swing/dance captain. Some of my Mamma Mia highlights include performances on the Tony Awards, Today Show, and Madison Square Garden, as well as assisting in moving the show from the Winter Garden to the Broadhurst Theatre. It was also a huge honor in assuming the role as Assistant Choreographer with the STELLAR premier cast of Mamma Mia! on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas. I have also recently had an amazing, life changing experience touring Japan with Disney on Classic. THAT country and THOSE people are inspiring, they have a phenomenal work ethic and wonderful outlook on life, and they LOVE Disney!!! Most recently I have been working with the Transcendence Theatre Company in Sonoma, CA. This incredible group of performers and artists are working as a huge team to inspire others to 'go beyond the usual limits and change the world in extraordinary ways'. My entire family and friends have been ridiculously supportive ALL my life. My new niece, Eva, brings joy to me daily and my Angel, Becca, is always close by. I'm convinced that she is at every performance, but I know she has a lot of duties as an Angel.
INTERVIEW:
Q: How did fitness first become a part of your life in support of your performance career?
A: I feel like early in my career I was using "fitness" or going to the gym solely for vanity reasons, only concerned with how I looked and my fitness goals were strictly about looking "good" with my shirt off. I was wildly unsuccessful at that. I also used plenty of excuses to NOT go to the gym: "I've been traveling every week", "my show is really too difficult", etc. I had convinced myself that I HAD to sleep all day because doing a show at night was so difficult. I realize now there is truly no excuse. In the last four years I have taken more control over my physical health, and have never been happier. I have been working on "Mamma Mia!" for eight years and almost feel that an eight show week, two show day, or 6 hour rehearsal is EASIER to do now than it was 8 years ago. I have made it a priority, and tell myself that it is part of MY JOB to be in the best physical and mental health possible.
Q: What is your advice for people who assume working out is just about looking a certain way?
A: I honestly think folks who feel that way will never be truly happy with how they look. Right? Won't we always stare at the mirror and find something wrong? What good does that do? It wasn't until I stopped feeling that way that I truly understood how eating right and keeping active help me take CARE of my body as opposed to reshaping it. My parents have made serious healthy lifestyle changes and it's been awesome to learn from them. I wanted to tell my mom "You look so thin!" but I stopped myself because I didn't see that as a compliment. I said to her instead, "Ma, you look so healthy!!"
Q: What are your favorite types of workouts?
A: Well, I have to give some serious credit to MARK FISHER FITNESS. The team over there has helped shape my workouts to be more focused, more efficient, and more fun! Every time I go to the gym, I basically think "WWMD?" I also love a good spin class! Soul-cycle AND Flywheel (I don't discriminate) and classes at my gym, Crunch 54. (All of the sudden I'm advertising?) Riding up and down the west side of Manhattan is an enjoyable workout especially up north when you have the river on one side and trees on the other. I recently did a handful of hiking in Northern California and THAT is a brilliant workout. The scenery out there is mind-blowing and the AIR is so fresh!!
Q: How do you keep your voice healthy?
A: Interestingly enough, I had some voice trouble this winter but I have been lucky to be in pretty good vocal health most of my career. It opened my eyes to the importance of good hydration AND most importantly BREATH SUPPORT! Man, breathing plays a big role in life, right? After singing the same music for so many years, I think my body has tried to find easier or lazier ways to get the sounds out. Basically not using my breath as much as necessary. I feel same can be said for dancing. If you do the same physical motions everyday for years and years, your body is going to find a way to "make it easier" for you, but not necessarily "make it BETTER".
Q: Do you follow a specific diet?
A: I used to despise broccoli…hide it under my plate, spread it out so it looked like I had eaten some, feed it to my sister. I did everything. Now, no joke, if it's not in my fridge, I am lost. I again have to give props to Mark Fisher Fitness. With help from Mark, I started seriously looking at my daily intake and recognized how much eating VEGETABLES is really AWESOME! As many as possible, at all times. (Except mushrooms, I'm still not a big fan of mushrooms) I love to eat of course so I often carry around a bag of green beans because I can eat as many as I want all day! Also recognizing that we put food in our body to fuel it so that it works at its highest potential at all times. I love feeling the effects of a brilliant meal; the energy that it gives to do a show, take a long ride, or have a strong workout.
Q: What is your favorite energy-boosting snack/meal?
A: Lately, I'm cutting up broccoli and a turkey burger, heating them slightly, then tearing up kale and mixing it all together with some jalapeño hummus and a bit of hot sauce. I have a huge bowl of this quite often. It's so good to me. I call it "dog food".
Q: Do you feel fitness and health play an important role in your daily energy levels?
A: Absolutely! I cannot deny how much better my day is when I keep active and eat right. I am also at the point where I feel unprepared for my show if I haven't paid a visit to the gym and appropriately warmed up my body for the show. Our show is like a series of sprints. It’s a few minutes of hardcore physical activity (dancing, jumping, running, etc) and then a handful of down time in between. If I am not fully prepared, I can feel the result when I go onstage because my body feels cold and not loose. Also, I sleep better at night when I have treated my body appropriately during the day.
Q: What is your best advice for stage confidence?
A: Rehearse, focus, and breathe. Regardless of what I am doing onstage in front of a live audience, I never feel confident unless I have rehearsed the piece as much as possible. Having been with Mamma Mia for sometime now, it is still very necessary to rehearse and make sure everyone is on the same page. Focus plays a huge part in my confidence onstage. As a "swing" in this show, I often play different roles each night and some nights more than one role. It's imperative to focus and let's be honest, there are nights when it is harder than others but it is necessary to focus to give my strongest performance and also for everyone else onstage. Unfocused, unconfident performances can lead to mistakes and injury. Once again, breathe. Back in college I started this habit of preparing for a role by taking a few minutes to breathe IN characteristics of my character and breath OUT characteristics of myself. I'm sure this was an exercise from a teacher or coach, though forgive me that it slips my mind who. I feel this helps me best to become the character and confidently tell the story when onstage.
Q: Tips on finding the time to stay physically/vocally fit?
A: Making it part of my "job" has been huge for me. As a performer, what I have to offer each day is my body. I have to remind myself this, and when I do, I realize there is ALWAYS time to stay fit!
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: My parents inspire me. My mother always walks into a room bringing light. She can carry on a heartfelt conversation with anyone and she has been a teacher and a mentor for years and has taught me to do the same. My father, also a teacher and coach, finishes everything he starts with 100% drive and dedication. He has TEAMWORK at his core and foundation and I am inspired to do the same. I am also inspired by family and friends supporting each other through good and bad times. I am surrounded by a team that inspires me everyday.
Q: What is your advice for those trying to perform on Broadway?
A: Having the opportunity to perform in a "Broadway" show is really pretty amazing. Some people in this business, and many who are not in this business, measure the success of a musical theatre performer on this single credit; a Broadway show. When I have been asked in the past, "what's your favorite thing about being on Broadway?", my answer is the stage door. To me, the stage door in a Broadway theatre is the only thing that makes it different from any other theatre anywhere in the universe. Once you are inside, it's another stage and another audience. And it's ALL incredibly exciting!! My advice is actually not limited to performing on "Broadway". My advice to those who wish to perform professionally, and possibly make a career out of it, would be to always keep your options open. Tell yourself, and believe, that you will perform anywhere, anytime, doing anything. I feel if you are truly put on this earth to be a performer than it doesn't matter what stage you are on or what city you are in. We are here to entertain, to tell stories, and to make art for others to enjoy! The most inspiring people I have worked with are the ones that feel this way. I will never be able to measure my success based on the stage that I perform on.
