Hispanic and Latino Broadway Theater – A Syncopated History on the Great White Way

 

Contemporary Stars to Watch 

 

Didi Romero

The dynamic Boricua actress who has starred as Katherine Howard in the Broadway sensation SIX, and recently took on the iconic role of Roxie Hart in Chicago

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A highly accomplished Puerto Rican actress, musical theater performer, and social media influencer. A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), she has quickly made a name for herself across major regional stages, national tours, and Broadway.

Notable Stage & Screen Credits

• SIX the Musical: Romero gained widespread acclaim for her powerhouse portrayal of Katherine Howard. She originally joined the North American Aragon Tour (2022–2023) before transitioning to the Broadway production, where she starred at the Lena Horne Theatre from 2023 through early 2025.
• Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo: In mid-2026, she starred Off-Broadway at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) as the Duchessa. Facing off against Jennifer Nettles, Romero delivered the standout solo number “Always Get What I Want”. You can explore her rehearsal journey and behind-the-scenes insights through Theatrely.
• In the Heights: A frequent interpreter of Nina Rosario, Romero has tackled the role across multiple high-profile iterations, including productions at the Coliseum of Puerto Rico and Broadway Sacramento. She has spoken openly about evolving with the character to bring layers of resilience rather than simplicity to the stage.
• Other Musical Theatre: Her versatile stage credits also include playing Roxie Hart in Chicago (2026), Mimi Marquez in Rent (2025), and Sherrie in Rock of Ages (2025).
• Television & Film: On camera, she is best known for starring as the titular character, Gina López, in the 2023 Disney+ musical series Gina Yei and appearing as Karla in the movie Mixtape (2022).

Digital Presence & Advocacy

Outside of traditional theater spaces, Romero has cultivated a massive online following since 2017, referring to her fanbase affectionately as her “DIDIOKREZ”. She balances comedic and lifestyle content on her Instagram Profile with a dedicated focus on championing Puerto Rican representation and visibility within the arts.

 

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Josh Segarra

Beloved for originating the role of Emilio Estefan in the biographical Broadway musical On Your Feet! 

Josh Segarra is a highly versatile actor who has made a significant impact on Broadway, most notably by originating the role of Emilio Estefan in the smash-hit biographical musical On Your Feet! He starred in the production at the Marquis Theatre from its opening in the fall of 2015 until July 2016, delivering an energetic and widely praised performance alongside Ana Villafañe as Gloria Estefan.
Before his breakout leading role in On Your Feet!, Segarra made his Broadway debut in 2011 by originating the role of the charismatic basketball player Mick in the musical Lysistrata Jones (a role he previously played Off-Broadway with the Transport Group).

Notable Off-Broadway and Regional Theater Credits

An alumnus of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Segarra built a robust theatrical resume in New York’s Off-Broadway scene:
• Dogfight (2012): Originated the role of Boland in the critically acclaimed world premiere at the Second Stage Theater, directed by Joe Mantello.
• Around the World in 80 Days (2013): Stepped into the classic leading role of Phileas Fogg at The New Theater at 45th Street.
• Fat Camp / Gigantic (2009–2011): Played Brent in the early musical iterations and workshops of this comedy.
• The Boys Upstairs (2009): Portrayed Eric at the SoHo Playhouse.

 

While he has since transitioned into high-profile television and film work—earning widespread recognition in series like Arrow (as Adrian Chase/Prometheus), The Other Two, She-Hulk, Abbott Elementary, and the horror hit Scream VI—his deep roots in musical theatre remain a core highlight of his early career.

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Krystal Hernandez

A rising talent who has commanded the stage as Anna of Cleves in the Broadway company of SIX.

Krystal Hernández is a Puerto Rican-American actress, singer, and dancer who made her highly anticipated Broadway debut as Anna of Cleves in the Tony Award-winning musical SIX at the Lena Horne Theatre. Originally from Waltham, Massachusetts, she earned her BFA in Acting from Salem State University before ascending to the Broadway stage.

Journey to the Queendom

Hernández famously landed the role of Anna of Cleves—Henry VIII’s fourth wife and the ultimate “great survivor” featured in the powerhouse number “Get Down”—after standing out in a competitive pool of over 400 actors. Before conquering Broadway, she firmly established herself in the role by starring as Anna of Cleves in the Canadian company’s tour and the Toronto production throughout 2024.

Notable Stage Credits

Prior to her breakout Broadway success, Hernández built a rich resume on prominent regional stages, particularly across the Greater Boston area. Her notable theatrical credits include:
• Olivia in Miss You Like Hell (American Repertory Theater and Company One at Oberon)
• The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (Wheelock Family Theatre), where she notably belted “King of the Forest” in its original key
• The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet (Trinity Repertory Company’s Shakespeare en el Verano)
• Regional Tour of Octavio Solis’s acclaimed play Quixote Nuevo
Driven by a mission to use her voice and physical storytelling to redefine Latinx stereotypes and celebrate the human experience, she has quickly become a standout presence in contemporary musical theater.

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Julio Agustín

Julio Agustín  

(born Julio Agustín Matos, Jr.) is an accomplished American musical theatre multihyphenate who has made significant contributions to the stage as an actor, director, choreographer, author, and educator.

A prominent Broadway veteran and an advocate for Latiné representation in the performing arts, he serves as the Artistic Manager of Musical Theatre at Texas Woman’s University.

Broadway Performance Career
Agustín spent over fifteen years performing on Broadway, frequently appearing in original companies and earning the prestigious Broadway Legacy Robe. His notable Broadway credits include:

• Chicago: Featured as Fred Casely opposite Bebe Neuwirth
• Fosse: Member of the original Broadway company
• Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown: Appeared as Ambite in the original cast alongside Patti LuPone
• Bells Are Ringing: Played Carl in the Broadway revival
• Steel Pier & Never Gonna Dance: Member of the original Broadway ensembles

Directing, Choreography, and Deconstructive Works
Transitioning into a sought-after regional director and choreographer, Agustín has earned critical acclaim for introducing Latiné and contemporary dance styles to classic musical theatre syntax.

• Latinx-Inspired Adaptations: He earned a Houston Press Theatre Award nomination for Best Choreography for his heavily re-envisioned, Latin-spiced production of Guys and Dolls at Theatre Under the Stars. He also received an AUDELCO Award nomination for directing Sweet Charity at the New Haarlem Arts Theatre.
• On Your Feet!: Directed and choreographed the hit production of the Emilio and Gloria Estefan story for the North Carolina Theatre.
• Ay! Ay! Ay! & the Westside Stories: A Puerto Rican Play: Conceived and wrote the lyrics for this meta-musical solo show, which explores the complexities of Latiné representation and systemic paradigms within the commercial theater industry.
• Movin’ On: Conceived and wrote the book for this 90-minute musical sequel that deliberately picks up the narrative where A Chorus Line leaves off.

 

Scholarship and Publications 

As an academic, career consultant, and author, Agustín focuses heavily on shifting professional environments for early- and mid-career artists. He wrote The Professional Actor’s Handbook: From Casting Call to Curtain Call, a comprehensive industry guide widely utilized in university theatre programs. Additionally, his scholarly article, “From Mu-Cha-Cha to Ay-Ay-Ay! A Critical Explication of the Use of ‘Latin’ Dance Styles and the Absence of Latinx Creatives in the Broadway Musical,” was published by Johns Hopkins University Press’ Theatre Topics, targeting structural exclusion and cultural appropriation in commercial musical theatre.

An accomplished Broadway multihyphenate and recipient of the Broadway Legacy Robe

 

Emil Herrera

American stage and screen actor known for his extensive history in regional theater and character roles in film and television.

Career & Performance Highlights
• Theater: A highly trained dramatic artist, he studied acting at the High School of Performing Arts, The Juilliard School (Group VII), and Carnegie Mellon University.

Early in his career, he performed in New York with notable companies such as the INTAR Theatre, starring alongside Brenda Feliciano in a 1979–1980 production of Federico García Lorca’s Blood Wedding. He has also performed extensively in regional theater, including portraying the Police Captain in Arthur Miller’s Resurrection Blues at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.

• Film and Television: On screen, Herrera has appeared as a character actor across several decades. His notable credits include roles in Factotum (2005), Joe Somebody (2001), Best Man Down (2012), Overnight Delivery (1998), and the classic daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow (1985).

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Latino plays and musicals 


The Capeman


Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue (Pulitzer Finalist)


Four Guys Named Jose and Una Mujer Named Maria


Hamilton


In the Heights


Kiss of the Spider Woman

Mariso


La Pasión según Antígona Pérez, a tragedy based on the life of Olga Viscal Garriga


The Oxcart/La Carreta


On Your Feet


United States of Banana


Water by the Spoonful (2012 Pulitzer Prize winner)


West Side Story


Watsonville 


The Hungry Woman  

 

Buena Vista Social Club  

 

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iforcolor

ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia.

Here's a summary of his background and achievements:

Early Life and Family:
Born on November 4, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio.
His family has a strong musical background; his grandfather and father were founding members of the Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet of Ohio, and his mother was part of the Turner Gospel Singers.
He is a cousin of boxing promoter Don King.
Education:
Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1970.
Holds both a BFA (1975) and MFA (1995) from Ohio University.

Career and Contributions
Theatre Professional:
Actor: Has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional productions. His television credits include The Cosby Show, Another World, Guiding Light, Saturday Night Live, and the ITV series Special Needs. He has also appeared in commercials and films.
Director and Stage Manager: Has extensive professional credits in these roles, including projects at Lincoln Center, The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, and The Joseph Papp Public Theatre.
Assistant Director: Served as assistant to Lloyd Richards and assistant director for the New Federal Theatre premiere of Ossie Davis's play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman.

Educator:
Professor: He is a Professor of Acting, Directing, Black Theatre, Black Studies, and Stage Management. He has taught at various institutions, including Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University (as artist-in-residence), and SUNY Potsdam.
Workshops and Programs: Conducted workshops for Joseph Papp's Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITS) at The Public Theatre for six seasons and represented the United States at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England, in 1988.
Artistic Activist and Historian:

Iforcolor.org: Creator and archivist for the Black History website Iforcolor.org, dedicated to preserving and sharing information about African Americans and artists of color. He also maintains the "Black Theatre/African American Voices" website on Facebook.
Project1VOICE Liaison: Serves as the Project1VOICE Liaison for the state of Ohio, directing "One Play One Day" events in Cleveland since 2011.

Awards and Recognition:
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award: Recipient in 2017.
Paul Robeson Award: Recipient in 2021 (jointly presented by the Actors' Equity Association and Actors' Equity Foundation).
AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award: Received in 2017.
Tony Award Nominee: Nominated for the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award" in 2015 and 2017.
Ebony Bobcat Network (EBN) Legend Award: Received from Ohio University in 2022.
ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund: Received in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Outstanding Professor Awards: Has received two of these and three "Educational Program of the Year" awards as a university professor.
The HistoryMakers archives: Interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, permanently housed in the Library of Congress.
Dale Ricardo Shields is recognized for his profound impact on the lives of his students and his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Black theatre history and culture.

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