Artist Spotlight: Meet Benji Santiago of ‘In the Heights’

For each production this season, Artist Spotlight will highlight one Muny star for you to get to know.

This week, meet Benji Santiago, who makes his Muny debut as Usnavi in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. The Muny premiere runs Aug. 9-15 and is proudly sponsored by Emerson.

Born in Puerto Rico, Benji is an actor/singer/dancer based in New York City. Previous credits include Spring Awakening (Melchior, Vanguard Theater Company) and El Otro Oz (Scarecrow, The Forestburgh Playhouse). He trained at Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama.

We spent some time with Benji early in the rehearsal process for In the Heights, just as he was stepping outside to get his first look at The Muny’s 11,000 seats.

Q • This is your first Muny production! How is rehearsal going so far?

A • The environment that we walked into was so welcoming, and everyone feels so prepared that I feel like it’s easy to get psyched out with a process that’s as quick as this. But the fact that it feels like it’s already in everybody’s bones makes the work so much easier. Everyone I’ve met who has done a Muny show before always talks about how you hit the ground sprinting. But really, we’re just working as efficiently as possible, and it feels like everyone’s being super diligent. It’s fast, but it’s very fulfilling.

Q • What kind of preparation did you do for this role before arriving here?

A • I’ve been listening to this cast album since I was 16. It’s been my favorite show for years and years. And this role is one that I’ve sort of been manifesting for a while, so I’ve been off book for a pretty long time. But ever since I got the call earlier this year that I was going to be playing this role, I’ve been listening to it every day and rapping in the shower and just going over it as much as I can so that I can come in here and be able to play with the other actors.

Q • What does it mean to you to book a starring role at The Muny at this point in your career?

A • It’s incredible. It’s a dream come true. I mean, this is the first time I’m seeing — right now as we walk inside — it’s the first time I’m seeing this audience in person, this venue. And it’s insane because this show is meant to reach a lot of people.

I know that’s important to our director, William [Carlos Angulo], and the whole team. And having a venue like this — 11,000 seats — is exactly what we want. It’s exactly the purpose of the show — to reach as many people as possible. I think it’s one that can speak to so many people, not only Latino people, Latinx people, but everybody. So yeah, it’s a dream. And also, I’m at ease because of how familiar I am and how familiar we are with this show.

I would want to do other shows here, for sure, if y’all would let me. But this is definitely the perfect scenario of the first go-up because there’s not those nerves of, like, Do I have to sort of muscle to fit a role? We can kind of just exist as we are onstage. And it just happens to be in front of 11,000 people.

Q • How did you get into theatre?

A • I’ve always kind of been performing. I’ve been performing since I was younger, but I didn’t really start theatre officially until my sophomore year of high school. We were having auditions for Peter and the Starcatcher, and a couple of my friends were like, “Are you going to audition for the show?” And I was like, “Maybe.”

And I auditioned, and I had a small part, and I guess I got bit by the bug, as everyone does at some point. And in high school, I did as many shows as I could and decided that that’s what I wanted to do in college. It’s just been like a snowball effect since then.

Again, just sort of hitting the ground running. I don’t see myself doing anything else. And In the Heights was one of the first — if not the first — cast albums and shows that I was really obsessed with. It wasn’t the first musical that I had ever heard, but when I did see it, it was the show that made me believe, OK, I’m meant to do this, you know? And I could really just see myself onstage.

I didn’t know that was a thing. And I know that that’s an experience that I and a lot of other people share, which is something that’s so cool about this show specifically.

Q • What’s next for you?

A • Just telling stories like this, whether it be onstage or in film and TV. Like, I definitely want to get into that as soon as I can.

I feel like my mind is always kind of on the next thing, because I just think it’s important to have more people — more BIPOC people in mass media and onstage — not only telling cultural and ethnic stories but stories that have that have BIPOC bodies onstage is the representation that I feel like is going to change the narrative — and continue to develop that narrative.

Go into the Muny rehearsal studio with Benji as he sings a selection from “In the Heights.” Music Director/Conductor Roberto Sinha accompanies on piano.

Benji tells Broadway World how Lin-Manuel Miranda and In the Heights inspired his career in the theatre, leading to a starring role on the Muny stage. Read the interview