Ep441 - Brandon Contreras: The Math of Mincemeat

Brandon Contreras is a New York City born and raised creative whose energy and versatility have made him a standout on stages ranging from the Golden Theatre to New World Stages. A graduate of Pace University, Brandon made his Broadway debut in the original company of Almost Famous and appeared in the first national tour of In the Heights. His diverse credits include playing Cal in the hit musical Titanique and appearing in Jerry Springer: The Opera with The New Group, as well as Road Show and Titanic at New York City Center Encores!. Beyond the stage, he is an accomplished filmmaker and writer, co-creating the award winning sketch platform The Homo Sapien Experience. Currently, Brandon is starring as Charles Cholmondeley and others in the Broadway production of Operation Mincemeat.

In this episode, Brandon shares what it was like growing up in Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, and the Upper West Side, describing himself as a "city kid" who learned to rollerblade before he could ride a bike. He discusses the pivotal role his sister played in his introduction to theater and the unwavering support of his parents throughout his journey. Brandon opens up about the tenacity required to break into the industry, including auditioning for In the Heights 11 times and negotiating his first national tour contract from the back of a New Jersey Transit bus at age 20. He also speaks passionately about queer and Latin representation, the journey of embracing his curly hair, and the importance of showing a delicate, sensitive side of brown men on stage.

Brandon also takes us behind the scenes of Operation Mincemeat, a show he describes as "the final destination show" due to its incredible technical specificity and fast paced nature. He explains the "math" of comedy, the transition from understudy to principal performer, and the joy of sharing the stage with his real life best friend. Throughout the conversation, Brandon emphasizes the power of being unabashedly yourself and the motivation he finds in love for his craft and community.

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Connect with Brandon:

• @ohhey_brandon
• @thehomosapienexperience

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