Nico Ochoa (top left) was a unknown hello todaylast minute fill-in joining cast of The Diamond as Big as the Ritz. Photo by R.C. Staab
An actor emergency. Desperate producers. And an actor just arriving in New York. It's story often told in the musical theatre world from Broadway musicals such as 42nd Street and Applause to the movie All About Eve. This past, Nicholas Joseph ("Nico") Ochoa was a last-minute substitute for the lead actor in off-off-Broadway production of the musical, The Diamond as Big as the Ritz, (www.ritzmusical.com) playing through Sunday, Sept. 29 at the ATA Sargent Theatre in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
For co-producer Seth Bisen-Hersh, Nico was the "hero" the saved the show from cancelling nearly half of its scheduled 16-performance run. Having only moved to New York in late Friday Saturday Sunday Monday-August, Nico filled in with last a half day notice, went on the stage that night and, with book and score, in hand, went on four more times. This is Nico's story.
It was Friday, September 20 late morning when Nico got a text from the producer asking if they were willing to learn the show and go on that night and most of the rest of the weekend. Nico says, "I asked a couple questions to make sure I was right for the job, and within less than 15 minutes I decided that I was taking the challenge. Seth had my information on file because I submitted for his Cabaret Series at Don’t Tell Mama. Thank goodness I submitted for his cabaret series because otherwise we would’ve been strangers and I wouldn’t have been asked!
It's a daunting challenge for anyone but even more difficult with new material. Nico says, "I had never done anything like this before. The agreement was that I would have the book in hand so I wasn’t worried about memorization. I knew learning music, original music at that would be difficult, but something in the air that day was inviting the challenge and I love learning new music and new works. So it wasn’t too difficulty of a choice to make. It didn’t hurt that it was my NYC/Off Broadway debut!
But all accounts and the audience reaction, they did remarkably well, learning the songs and getting basic blocking in a few hours before the 7:30pm show. Nico says of the show, "Performing in this show has been unlike any other show I’ve ever done. Because I’ve only had the material for a short amount of time, I’m constantly learning things about my character and the rest of the show. I’ve described myself as a sponge during this process and I keep soaking up the work that is in the show. And every performance I start finding my take on Yash/John."
"I’m finding that the characters of Yash and John are very different, " Nico says, "but where they meet in the middle is the fact that they both have big dreams/are dreamers."
See Nico perform at Seth's Cabaret Showcase at Don't Tell Mama on 7pm, Tuesday, Oct. 15. (shows.dontellmamanyc.com)
Nico first became enthralled with theater at an early age at their home in Northern Virginia. Nico says, "I grew up playing the piano and was taught at a young age for five years, then I traded the piano for the violin and played the violin for five years, THEN in middle school I did the school musical for the first time and was in the ensemble of Grease Jr. It was from that moment on that I knew I had to be more involved in theatre, and now it’s been my life ever since."
They attended Robinson Secondary School, then continued musical theatre training at The Boston Conservatory At Berklee for three years after transferring and spending three semesters at The University of The Arts.
In terms of favorite roles they has played, Nico says, "Now the crazy thing is, I’m not typically cast as the leading man type role. I play a mean comic sidekick, troubled child, or even a wide eyed ingenue on occasion. However, two of my favorite roles I’ve ever played have been Jack in Into The Woods at the Boston Conservatory, and Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show at Central Square Theatre Co. both having happened in Boston. My favorite role I ever played in Virginia has to be Patsy in Monty Python’s Spamalot, it was such a fun and funny show and it was nice to receive recognition for my work in the comic role at the NCA Cappie Awards by receiving their Best Supporting Actor In A Musical award in 2018.
What part would they like to play next? Nico says, "I have my sights set real high, so in a dream world I get to play May in & Juliet on Broadway. Being Non-Binary/Genderfluid, seeing characters created for a person like me makes me so happy, and the message of the show being to empower women, all the while singing some amazing pop hits! It would be a dream come true!
From September 25-29, there are six remaining perrformances of the Diamond as Big as the Ritz at the ATA Sargent Theatre on 54th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Dates and more information about the show are at ritzmusical.com.
This is 100-minute, no intermission musical with catchy melodies. Take a minute to listen to this dynamite all-star Broadway cast sing, “Enough Already,” a song from the show that was nominated in England for Best New Song. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=706ExF-sdJQ).
Veteran director and Broadway actor John Hickok directs a cast of five that includes Johana, Ethan Yaheen--Moy Chan, Megan Lomax, Bobby Barksdale and Richard Rowan. The Diamond as Big as The Ritz features music and lyrics by Seth Bisen-Hersh and book and additional lyrics by R.C. Staab.
Tickets are only $29 with the code FRIENDS at https://tinyurl.com/SeeRitz. For more information, check out ritzmusical.com.
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