Ten years on Broadway in Miss Saigon, you cannot do that unless you are a major talent. That is exactly what Ray Santos is. Major talent. Actor, singer and dancer. He talks about his life and the journey from San Francisco to Broadway with what you would have to call a rickety start. He says when he heard himself sing for the first time, he was horrible. Hard to believe, but he insists it was true. His first connection with dancing was the hula lessons.
How did he learn to sing well enough to get a Broadway role in a major musical? Good question and the answer is kind of surprising. That he is diligent and self-directed helped. That he focused on what he needed to do and then did it every day after coming home from school, well that helped, too. The long and short of it is that he is self-taught.
To watch Ray talk about his life, his struggles and his triumphs is a lesson in finding your true self. His success is no surprise. Hard work, but no surprise. Ray is a man who has learned how to live life based on kindness, honesty, humility and diligence. As I watched this very approachable man speak, I found myself smiling and rooting for him at every turn. I think you will, too.
His love letter that he was shy about at first will be a prize winner!
