Lance Avery Morgan
How To Succeed In Theatre By Really Trying Is His Superpower
Photography courtesy of Nicholas Rodriguez, Archival
In a world where Broadway stars are often born on Manhattan sidewalks or under Hollywood spotlights, Nicholas Rodriguez is proof that sometimes it takes a little Texas sunshine to light up the Great White Way, according to our Lance Avery Morgan, who caught up with him in Austin to perform at a fundraiser for the American Artists Project.
Raised with deep roots in Lone Star soil, Austin-raised-turned-New Yorker Rodriguez didn’t just learn how to sing—he learned how to soar. “I sang in church, in school, in the shower…anywhere I thought someone might listen,” Rodriguez laughs, with the kind of Southern charm that feels like a warm breeze and sweet tea on a front porch. “Music was my first language before I learned to talk with any finesse.”
And finesse he has in abundance. Whether commanding the stage as Tarzan on Broadway, stealing hearts in The Sound of Music Live! alongside Carrie Underwood, or making audiences swoon in his GLAAD Media Award-winning role on One Life to Live, Rodriguez possesses that rare quality of being both larger-than-life and wholly down-to-earth.
Rodriguez doesn’t just act a role—he inhabits it, pours a little Texas heart into it, and leaves audiences wondering if maybe they’ve just seen a little bit of magic. He credits his upbringing with grounding his artistry. “In Texas, you’re taught two things early in theatre: how to look someone in the eye, and how to stand tall when the spotlight hits. I just took that and ran with it—straight to Broadway,” he shares.
His voice? Velvety and powerful. His presence? Commanding and graceful. His impact? Undeniable. Rodriguez has become a go-to for roles that require vocal brilliance and emotional depth. Whether belting out a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein score or bringing a contemporary Sondheim musical to life, he does it all with a wink, a heart, and a deep respect for the craft.
Rodriguez appears on all three volumes of the Grammy-nominated Sondheim Unplugged, and his debut album, based on his one-man show of the same name, The First Time… is available on iTunes and at PSClassics.com.
And yet, despite all the acclaim, Rodriguez remains wonderfully, unmistakably Texan. He still drinks his coffee strong, says “y’all” with unapologetic pride, and can two-step with the best of them. When he’s not performing, he’s mentoring the next generation of performers, reminding them that talent will get you noticed, but heart will keep you in the game.
So, what’s next for this multi-talented marvel? “Hopefully, a role where I get to wear cowboy boots and hit a high note,” he jokes, eyes twinkling.
Rodriguez has served as the artistic director for the Broadway Dreams Foundation. The native Texan holds a BM and MM in Vocal Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. With a voice that soars, a heart that leads, and boots planted firmly in the values he grew up with, Nicholas Rodriguez is Broadway’s Texas treasure—and he’s just getting started on a very long road to success in the American theatre.
Here’s a closer look at the world of Nicholas Rodriguez…
Performing on stage? To me, it means…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Performing means the world to me. It’s incredible to share through stories and songs and connect with other humans. It’s truly a gift.
One of my favorite recent theatrical shows I’ve done is…
Nicholas Rodriguez: The Bridges of Madison County by Jason Robert Brown. I got to play opposite my dear friend, and two-time Tony nominee, Kate Baldwin. Every day was a joy. The score is epic, and to get to work with someone as talented and giving as Kate was a gift. It was the ride of a lifetime, and I’d repeat it in a heartbeat.
A show I saw on Broadway that I recommend would be…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Maybe Happy Ending. It was truly a breath of fresh air and hope with an original story, a beautiful score, and a fantastic cast. My friend, Michael Arden, directed it with so much heart and vision. Run, do not walk, to see it.
My go-to song for performance would easily be…
Nicholas Rodriguez: This is not an easy question. It’s like picking a favorite child. But, if forced, I would never pass up the opportunity to sing Stephen Sondheim’s Being Alive.
The best career advice I’ve received is…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Be the person they want to ask back again, regardless of whether or not you want to return.
Three qualities that got me where I am today are…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Passion. Practice. Persistence.
Easiest career decision I ever made is…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Moving to New York.
Regarding my own personal style, I have found that…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Times change, fashion changes, and bodies change. Hang on to the pieces that are timeless or unique because everything comes around again.
What is influencing me right now is…
Nicholas Rodriguez: The need to take care of the people around me during this ever-shifting political landscape. And, trying to stay positive in, and prepared for, a brighter day.
How I made my first dollar…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Teaching line dancing at Dance Across Texas when I was significantly underage to be in a bar.
First music I bought was…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Madonna’s True Blue at Barton Creek Mall after vacation bible school.
Last thing I binge/marathon watched…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Binged seasons one and two of White Lotus in preparation for season three.
Book that left a lasting impression on me…
Nicholas Rodriguez: The God in Flight by Laura Argiri.
My real-life hero has got to be…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Mayor/Secretary/Husband/Dad/Future President Pete Buttigieg.
If I lived in a foreign city, it would be…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Sydney.
What everyone should try in their lifetime is…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Scuba Diving. There’s a whole other world out there that most people never see.
If I could compete in an Olympic sport, or create one, it would be…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Women’s gymnastics. Those bitches are fierce.
If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be a…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Mess!
My hidden talent that most people might not guess is…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Cooking.
If I had a superpower, I’d want it to be…
Nicholas Rodriguez: To be able to stop time.
A simple way to get people to laugh is easy. Just…
Nicholas Rodriguez: When you find out, let me know. We need more laughter in the world.
A phrase I might overuse would be…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Do you know what I mean?
My motto? Easy. It is…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Lead with kindness, empathy, and heart.
Favorite scent these days is (because)…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Jo Malone’s Wood Sage and Sea Salt because it just feels fresh and clean.
My style icon is…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Maria Callas, Cary Grant, and James Bond
My personal style signifier is…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Good tailoring! It can be off the (clearance) rack but still look custom.
The classic designer I wish was still designing today would be…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Yves Saint Laurent.
The last meal that truly impressed me was…
Nicholas Rodriguez: White Rabbit in Moscow…mind blowing!
In my fridge, you will always find…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Chorizo, huevos, queso y tortillas.
My perfect day would end…
Nicholas Rodriguez: A quiet night at home with my husband.
My autobiography will likely be titled…
Nicholas Rodriguez: Waiting on the N.R.When I first moved to NYC, I lived in Astoria, and the subway I could take was the “N” or the “R”—nicknamed “the never or the rarely”. It wasn’t wasted on me that I shared the same initials as that subway. Sometimes dreams take a long time to come true, and for most people, they rarely do, but they definitely won’t if you don’t show up, wait patiently for the doors to open, then take the ride.
