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John Leguizamo is back in the Bay Area, ready to delight theatergoers with his highly anticipated new musical comey — “Kiss My Aztec!” — at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
This original comedic work takes a variety of musical styles — from gospel and funk to Latin boogaloo and meringue — and adds a mix of Elizabethan and modern dialect to spin an intriguing tale about two Aztecs leading a rebellion against the forces of the Spanish Conquest in the early 16th century.
“Kiss My Aztec!” — which features a book by Leguizamo and director Tony Taccone, music by Benjamin Velez and lyrics by David Kamp, Velez, and Leguizamo — plays through July 14 at Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre. Unlike his previous theatrical productions, Leguizamo does not appear in this show.
We recently spoke with Leguizamo, the multi-talented artist known for such films as “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar,” “Summer of Sam,” “Land of the Dead” and “Ice Age,” about the new musical.
Q: You’re certainly no stranger to the Bay Area, having done a number of plays around these parts over the years. What keeps drawing you back?
Leguizamo: I came to the Bay Area in ‘98, I think it was, to do “Freak” at Theater on the Square. And I fell in love with the Bay Area. The audiences are phenomenal. They are really supportive of talent and experimentation. They are theater lovers. And there are not a lot of cities in America that have audiences with that kind of passion and trained that way. I was like, “Oh, my God, this is such a great town.”
Then I came back with “Sexaholix,” I think I was at the Golden Gate. Then I did “Ghetto Klown” here at the Berkeley Rep.
I met Tony (Taccone, Berkeley Rep’s artistic director) and Tony was incredible. I had a great experience with him, so I asked him to direct “Latin History for Morons.”
The crowds (in the Bay Area) are smart, man. Especially when I was doing Q&A’s — they are so bright. They really pay attention. They are very in-the-know. They know what’s happening. They are not afraid. They are not shy. They are very vocal. I love that.
Q: When did you first come up with the idea for “Kiss My Aztec!”?
Leguizamo: I guess when I saw “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” I said, “Oh, my God, history can be a lot of fun and funny.”
I wrote (“Kiss My Aztec!”) as a play originally, not as a musical. But, you know, the world wasn’t ready for Latinx content. They just weren’t. Nobody got it. They couldn’t understand Aztecs — how is that funny? Who is going to see a thing about Aztecs?
So, I waited and kept working on it and didn’t give up. Eventually, I got the idea of maybe turning it into a musical. Then I started loving it as a musical.
Q: Tell me about the storyline.
Leguizamo: It’s basically the story of the Conquest. We’re in (early 1500s), right after the Conquest, where the Spaniards took over Tenochtitlan, which was the capital of Aztlan of the Aztecs, and they enslaved the people and tried to get them to give all their gold and silver. And it’s at that point. So, they are in these slave camps and two of the rebels, a young man and a young woman, are at the center of the rebellion against the viceroy of Spain. And at the same time, they don’t realize that they have this incredible affection for each other and it blooms in their rebellion against the Spanish to free themselves, and to get back their land and their will.
Q: We should be clear for readers that you aren’t actually appearing onstage for this production. What led you to make that decision?
Leguizamo: I can’t sing. I mean, I’ve got a beautiful voice – don’t get me wrong. I just can’t remember melody or hit the pitch. But, other than that, I’ve got a really beautiful singing voice. (Laughs)
Q: And are you enjoying working in a more behind-the-scenes type of role?
Leguizamo: I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much. But I am enjoying it just as much. Because these (actors) are so great — I just enjoy sitting there and watching them. Because these are quadruple threats, bro. They can dance, sing, act and be funny. And all four of those ingredients are really hard to come by.
Q: What was it like putting together a musical?
Leguizamo: That was complicated. I was used to more like a film format. Even though I write plays, I still write in a very film, three-act structure. And this is very different. At first, I thought songs were like an opera — they just represented an emotion or what a character was feeling inside.
But then I quickly learned that it’s not — it has to move the story forward. It can do a lot of those emotional beats, but it’s got to move the plot forward. It can’t just sit there.
Unless, it’s really ridiculously funny, then it can. But if it’s not ridiculously funny, it better move the plot forward.
Q: Why was “Kiss My Aztec!” a story you wanted to tell?
Leguizamo: Well, if you look at me, that would be one of the reasons. Just to see myself represented onstage and to see our stories and our contributions to the world given the light of day — that was important. To have a seat at the table with all the other playwrights and all the other cultures — that’s really important to me.
‘KISS MY AZTEC!’
By John Leguizamo, Tony Taccone, Benjamin Velez and David Kamp, presented by Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Through: July 14
Where: Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley
Tickets: $40-$115, 30 percent discount for those under 30; 510 647–2949, www.berkeleyrep.org
