For Ricky Rojas, there weren’t that many Latinos to look up to when it came to Broadway. Born in Chile, but raised in Australia, the actor, singer, songwriter, and performer has seen international success in productions all over the world. And as he ends his 2024 run on Broadway’s Moulin Rouge! The Musical, it’s important to reflect of his stage presence, the importance of the arts, and how he wants to be remembered.
Rojas made his Broadway debut in 2009’s Burn the Floor with multiple appearances in London’s West End throughout the years. And in 2019 he created the role of Santiago in Broadway’s Moulin Rouge! The Musical, based on Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film of the same name and starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. In Broadway’s Moulin Rouge, Rojas played Santiago, “an Argentinian bohemian.” The original Boston run led him to Broadway in 2019 until around 2022, with multiple runs since then because of how much he and the fans love the show and his performance. And now, he’s saying goodbye to the Moulin Rouge once more. But his legacy will always remain.
“I feel it’s very important to see one represented and to see someone like themselves on stage because it inspires people at the end of the day. So I feel it’s super special and I’m really honored,” Rojas shared in an interview with Remezcla. And with fans coming from all over the world to see his version of Santiago, there’s something so special for him when those fans are Latine. “It’s like greeting family. It’s like greeting people that you’ve known your whole life. You automatically have something in common with them. […] You don’t feel alone.”
As Moulin Rouge celebrates their 5th anniversary on Broadway, Rojas knew that this production would take the world by storm back in 2018 and he stands by it in 2024. “To see it become the monster of a show that it is all over the world. I mean, we’ve got companies in London, Japan, Korea, soon to launch the global company on tour here in the States on Broadway, there was an Australian company. So it’s like everywhere. It’s huge,” Rojas said, before proudly continuing to gush about the show he loves, “So to see it become that big is something that we’re all very, very proud of. And we knew it was going to be big and a big hit, but I think it’s surpassed what we thought it could achieve.”
For Rojas, the magnitude of love that Moulin Rouge! The Musical has is one of the reasons why the arts are so important. Because it’s not solely about seeing people like yourself on start. Art is an experience that connects you with others and opens you up to new and worthwhile experiences. “If you can’t involve the arts and creativity, what do we live for?” Rojas said, “I think art is something very special. It gives people an outlet to express themselves. And I think that the more we include everyone in that process, I think the more that the world’s society, everyone, benefits from it.”
At the end of the day, Rojas is very clear on how he wants to be remembered. Because yes, his legacy on Broadway’s Moulin Rouge! The Musical is unmatched and for many, he’s the first Latino performer they’ve seen on stage. But for Rojas, he wants to be remembered for something a little different. “To remember me by personally, that I was someone that was good to work with, someone that was fun to work with, a good company member.” And if the warm and loving messages from fans and the company itself are any indication, that’s exactly what he’ll be remembered for.
Until next time, Ricky Rojas.
To learn more about Moulin Rouge! The Musical, visit their official website here.
