Interview with Mariand Torres, making her KC debut at the Rep in the title role of Eva Perón
2más2KC: Where did you grow up?
Mariand Torres: I was born in a small town near Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. When I was two, my family moved to New York so my parents could complete a dental program at New York University. When I was 4, my father died so we moved to Miami, Fla. My mom’s parents, Nilda and Raphael Victoria moved in with us to help [her] raise two very young children. It was amazing to have my grandparents around. They were like another set of parents and influenced me in a lot of ways. My grandfather loved the Dominican Republic so I got to grow up in that culture even though I lived here. My grandparents kept their house in the Dominican Republic so in summers, we went and stayed, and I got such an awareness of where we came from.
2+2KC: Are you the only member of your family in show business?
MT: My older brother is a screenwriter in American independent cinema. My grandmother was an opera singer, and her family had composers. She takes credit for my musical ability. My love of entertainment definitely comes from my grandmother.
2+2KC: Why are you only appearing in the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s presentation of Evita from Sept. 9-20?
MT: I’m going to New York to start rehearsals for a Broadway show -- In Transit, a new musical opening at Circle in the Square Theater in December. I was offered the part before I came here. Rehearsals were set to start Oct. 4 – after Evita closes, but a week into rehearsals for Evita, the New York producers decided to start rehearsals earlier. The Rep was kind enough to let me perform the first two weeks of Evita.
In Transit is Broadway’s first ever a cappella musical. It should be cool and challenging but fun.
2+2KC: What tempted you to come here to appear in the KC Repertory Theatre’s production of Evita?
MT: I’ve always wanted to play Evita in this role, and I’ve had a lot of friends who have worked at the Rep; I knew it would be a rewarding and artistic experience. The Rep has a really wonderful reputation. Then Nick Duckart (Torres’s boyfriend) got the role of my husband, Juan Perón.
2+2KC: Is your role as Eva Perón the first time you’ve portrayed a real person on stage?
MT: Yes.
2+2KC: Do you approach the role of a real person differently than you would a fictional character?
MT: Yes, I had to look at the character in an entirely different way. I did a lot of research about Eva Perón and what her life was like, especially the early years. People have images of her because she was so iconic so I watched some of her speeches to get the cadence of her voice and her physical mannerisms and capture her passion. It was so much of who she was. I’m playing Eva Perón so inevitably there’s an extension of me, but there are real things I have to honor. It’s different than creating a new character. I don’t have the freedom of playing a person from imagination. With a real person, I must respect and acknowledge who the human being was.
2+2KC: You’re a yoga enthusiast …
MT: Yes, for about eight years; it keeps me sane. Living in New York City and being in an unstable business, it helps keep me balanced and calm. Last year, I was certified to be a teacher of vinyasa yoga.
2+2KC: Has it helped your stage performances?
MT: Definitely, I’m a lot more grounded and aware of my breathing and body so it complements my performance beautifully.
2+2KC: What is your impression of Eric Rosen and the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s production of Evita?
MT: Eric is so incredibly smart and creative; he’s such an intelligent, informed director. He really likes his shows to reflect the city; Kansas City is diverse, and you can see it on stage. This is not a replica of a Broadway production, which is what happens a lot; I don’t think Evita’s been done this way.
