Kruz Maldonado flies into Huntsville, leading the National Tour of Peter Pan!

 

There's a new Peter flying through the country on the National Tour of Peter Pan and his name is Kruz Maldonado! I was particularly invested in his casting because I followed Kruz's journey last year in NYC when he was a Jimmy Awards nominee, having won Best Actor at the Joci Awards in San Antonio, Texas. Another Jimmy Awards success story! 

To put it in perspective, the Joci Awards in San Antonio is what the Tallulah Awards will be in Huntsville next year. Can't wait to cheer on our first two Alabama high school theater students next year at the Jimmy Awards. It's getting real folks, and real fast! Anyway, I knew I must talk to Kruz on Kip's Korner because of the Jimmys connection. Here's a quick Bio of Kruz, before we dive into our interview:

"Originally from San Antonio, TX, Kruz was awarded Best Lead Actor in a Musical (Joci Awards) for playing the title role in Pippin. Regional credits: Sweeney Todd (Tobias), A Bronx Tale (Calogero). In 2024, Kruz competed in the Jimmy Awards on Broadway. Film: Jack (Jack), Desolate (Miguel, Best Actor - Texas Indie Film Festival)."

Hi Kruz! I'm excited about your story with the Joci Awards and then the Jimmy Awards because we are launching The Tallulah Awards in 2026. What was it like competing in the Jimmy Awards and did that change anything for you and your career path?

I think it was more that I worked really hard for the Joci Awards, which then got me to the Jimmy Awards. The Joci Awards really lit a fire under my butt kind of, because your goal is to win so you can compete at the Jimmys in NYC. So, I worked very very hard each year, improving, and did eventually get there.

Please tell us about your journey with Peter Pan and how you ended up landing this iconic role.

So, it was my second semester of college (I was a freshman at the New York Film Academy) and I got the audition for Peter. I got called back to audition again on a Wednesday and our first day back to school was Tuesday. So, I went to school on Tuesday and then I was pretty much like, "Guys, if I don't come back on Thursday (because my callback is tomorrow) I'm not going to be back." And then I didn't go back. I got the part! 

Playing the role of Peter Pan is no joke. You must be a QUADRUPLE threat: Singing, Dancing, Acting & FLYING!! Do you find it more challenging than other roles you’ve played? I mean the flying alone must come with its own unique set of challenges.

Yeah, absolutely hands down, Peter is the hardest role I’ve ever had. They really made sure to put me through the ringer with this one: You’re dancing, you're singing, you're flying, you're fighting… and you must keep the energy up the entire show. You must really think of where to place your stamina because it's crazy!

And before this, what was the biggest role you’ve played?

I'd say Pippin was really hard as well… just because all of the singing, but also Tobias in Sweeney Todd. I played that over the summer. and Sondheim’s music is just incredibly hard. So yeah, that was very challenging.

Do you have any superstitions or backstage rituals you do before you go on stage?

This one's kind of silly, but it's real. Before I do my first entrance, I always look at the person that is hooking my wires up to me and I give them a dab (does the Peter Pan “flying” hands gesture). And the one time didn’t do the dab, I went through the window and I did a flip through it and just kept flipping like this until they stopped and landed me right before I hit the ground, and slowly lifted me on my head. It was bad. It was really bad. hahaha

What advice do you have for our high school theatre students who will be competing at The Tallulah Awards next Spring, and the two which will be off to the Jimmy Awards next June?

I just say, if you're wanting to go to the Jimmys, you need to make it your goal. Because I don't think something that big can just be something that you do on a whim. Honestly, it's very intense, especially when you get to the Jimmys. It's VERY intense there. You must really make the conscious choice to say, "All right, this is what I'm going to spend my four years of high school working towards." And that’s what I did. And it took a while, but I did end up making it there. You must manifest it. And the Tallulah Awards will be your training ground just like the Joci Awards was for me.

When did you know that you wanted to be an actor as a career choice?

I definitely knew in middle school when I did a production of Singing in the Rain. I was in the ensemble. But yeah, I instantly knew that this is what I wanted to do.

Do you have any dream roles for what’s next after Peter Pan?

That's really hard to answer. There are so many things that I want to do. I would love to be in Hadestown, and play Orpheus one day. Hamilton would be great. I'd love to play the dual role of Philip and Laurens. And I definitely would love to play Usnavi from In the Heights one day. Dream role right there!

Why should people in Huntsville come out and see Peter Pan?

It’s the same Peter Pan that you remember. We still pull a lot from the original production, but there are some new and thoughtful adjustments that they made which makes it exciting to see again. One of them is me: Peter Pan is not played by a woman this time. We’ve added a couple of new songs that were not in the original and it takes place in modern London this time with some fun, new references. Our cast is so talented and there’s so much magic happening onstage. Come out and see us, you won’t regret it!

You have EIGHT chances to experience the magic of PETER PAN starting on Tuesday, April 22, at 7pm! Buy your tickets now --> https://broadwaytheatreleague.org/show/peter-pan/