Spotlight On...Anthony Michael Martinez

Name: Anthony Michael Martinez

Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Education: BA in Theatre and Mass Media Studies (Florida State University). 

Select Credits: Romeo and Juliet (Prince Escalus, Classic Stage Company); I’ll Be Damned (Joey, Vineyard Theatre); Cymbeline (Iachimo/The Queen, THEATREWORKS, Colorado Springs); Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt/Paris, Shakespeare Thaetre of NJ) and The Comedy of Errors (Balthasar/Antipholi Swing, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ); Restoration Comedy (The Flea Theatre); Floyd Collins (Skeets Miller, Kentucky Repertory Theatre); International: As You Like It  (Orlando, Hyde Park, UK).

Why theater?: John Douglas Thompson says it best: Theatre “helps me connect to my better angels,” so I can communicate big ideas. If I reach one audience member on a personal level, I have done my job.

Tell us about Romeo and Juliet: Our production is aesthetically simple yet dimensionally rich in its storytelling. Also, the theatre is intimate which makes the play engaging to audiences. The show is much richer than just the love story; it really embraces the darker themes of prejudice and violence. Our Romeo and Juliet sheds light on who is responsible for the tragedy at the center of the play. 

What is it like being a part of Romeo and Juliet?: It’s serendipitous; the play speaks to me on a very deep level. It’s an empowering piece that is still relevant today; political and social upheaval pervades not only our culture, but the rest of the world. It seems we are always witness to the violence that results from personal and political differences. It is fulfilling to play the Prince, who is desperate to restore peace. I also couldn’t ask to work with a more talented, dedicated cast and company. It is a dream come true.

What kind of theatre speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I am incredibly moved by Shakespeare's plays and classical theatre. But overall, I love plays with big ideas that expose what is ugly and what is real about the human condition. Plays like Long Days Journey Into Night, All My Sons, The Glass Menagerie, and, of course, Romeo and Juliet, where the characters are confused, broken, and at the height of war with themselves and each other. Artists, from Stella Adler to William Shakespeare, who settle for nothing less than the EXTRAordinary. It’s inspiring to watch and work with artists who are fully dedicated to their craft and always strive to elevate their work to a new level.

Any roles you're dying to play?: Romeo; Chris in Miller’s All My Sons; John in Cock; Edmund in Long Day’s Journey Into Night, and Lady Macbeth- yep. 

What’s your favorite showtune?: A tie between “96,000” from In The Heights and “I’m Here” from The Color Purple.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: David Tennant. He is fascinating and brilliant, especially when performing Shakespeare. His Romeo, his Benedick, his Hamlet: all captivating.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: 
Let’s say Zachary Quinto meets Andrew Garfield meets David Tennant and with their three powers combined the film is called “In The Vortex” or “Chaturanga Dandasana.”  

What show have you recommended to your friends?: Romeo & Juliet at Classic Stage Company, Julius Caesar at St. Ann’s Warehouse, The Glass Menagerie on Broadway

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I’m Cuban Puerto Rican Italian. So, I’m down for some Arroz Con Pollo with a side of pasteles and perhaps some lasagna, too.

What’s up next?: Auditions, agent meetings, and I’m also in the process of creating a cartoon series.