Hello Everyone! Happy Monday!
Monday seems to be a good day for me to introduce our next featured celebrity musical director, the multi-talented, award winning Andrew David Sotomayor.
For those of you who don't know Andrew, here's a little bit about him to get you started:
Andrew David Sotomayor is an award winning musical director based in New York City.
His music directing credits include the Off-Broadway premiere of Curvy Widow, Newsies (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), The Will Rogers Follies (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse), Cutman: A Boxing Musical (Goodspeed), Little Shop of Horrors, The Drowsy Chaperone, Lucky Stiff, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and Bingo: The Winning Musical.Soto served as Music Supervisor and Arranger for the new musical South Street at Pasadena Playhouse and has had the pleasure of providing arrangements for Rockers On Broadway. Additionally, he has been Music Director for the Paper Mill Playhouse August Intensive.As a composer, he has provided music and lyrics for the original musicals 50 Shades of F***d Up, Committed, Sarah Crewe, The Circus Animals, Guardians, and Third Party Ruling, as well as scores for the short films Cuba 1961: A Love Story and Timeless, and the independent feature film, BX3M.He is a proud graduate of Stetson University, Florida.
I've known Andrew long before I’ve discovered my passion in cabaret when I was part of the Blue Hill Troupe. I was, once upon a time, cast as Ronnette in the Troupe's production of "Little Shop of Horrors" and guess who was my musical director? :)
Bumping into Andrew in the cabaret world was like a blast from the past (in a wonderful way). Have you ever bumped into an old friend that you've lost touch with? It is a joyous feeling!
Andrew is super fun to work with not to mention that he is amazing on the piano! It is impossible not to smile when working with him.
Here's a treat for you!
For my interview with Andrew, I asked the following questions:
1) Can you share with us a couple of interesting facts that most people don’t know about you?
I'm a huge Superman fan. Season 3 of Twin Peaks is the best 18 hours of television I've ever seen. I think everything tastes better with cheese on it.
2) You are a wonderful musical director, arranger and composer. What started your passion for music? How did it all began?
A woman named Liegh Ann Faires asked me to be her assistant music director when I was 17. I was an actor at the time, but she said she thought I might be good at it and should give it a try.
3) Do you have some particularly interesting stories in your musical life that you'd like to share with the readers?
One time I was music directing on a cruise ship while a song I wrote was being sung in London and a show I wrote was being performed in Manhattan. That day I was making music all around the world and it was pretty special to me.
4) What motivates your creativity and passion for life? What inspires your music? Name three things that never fails to put a smile on your face!
My motivation is that nothing else feels better than working hard and the particular job I love most is music. My greatest inspiration is collaboration. Seeing a group of people's ideas come together to create art.
Love, Family, Mozarella Sticks. Always put a smile on my face.
5) Share with us what you have in the pipeline for us to be on the lookout for!
Music Directing Newsies at Axelrod Performing Arts Center in New Jersey this coming May.
Come to the next Spotlight On YOU Open Mic on March 16th and experience Andrew for yourself! Andrew can play anything you bring and he will make you smile, guaranteed!
Stay tuned for my interview with our featured celebrity guest Gretchen Reinhagen, coming soon!!!
With love
Natasha