A Chat With Tony-Nominated Olga Merediz

When first asked to play the role of the grandma on Broadway, this accomplished actress said no. Then she reconsidered. Now she's up for a Tony

When she first heard about the role of the grandmother, Olga Merediz was not interested. After all, she's far younger than the character and she certainly didn't want to pigeonhole herself into an old-lady role. But when she read the script of In the Heights, she saw that playing Abuela Claudia, "Grandmother Claudia," would require an emotional depth she'd never explored, either personally or professionally.

In a Broadway season that's riding high on revivals and stage versions of popular Disney films, this original musical sets itself apart as a breakout piece. Clever rap meshes seamlessly with classic, show-stopping ensemble numbers, and crescendo-hitting solos, as In the Heights expresses the Latino experience in New York City's Washington Heights. The sets re-create a vibrant neighborhood in the shadow of a looming bridge, while the stories of a dozen locals, as told through pulsating, salsa-inducing lyrics, reverberate throughout the theater. All echo the struggles and dreams of a community on the edge of gentrification and foreseeable displacement. But in this show, as in all good musicals, there's always hope. Add to that the 13 Tony nominations, including one for Merediz for best performance by a featured actress in a musical.

Photo by Joan Marcus

Olga Merediz as Abuela Claudia

As a college kid, Lin-Manuel Miranda began writing the show and when it arrived on Broadway, it made sense that he play the lead role. His character, Usnavi, a young bodega owner, is the brains of the storyline; all the tales revolve around and involve him. But Merediz as Abuela Claudia is the heart of the show, sharing with the rest of the cast her legacy, experience, and her life's motto, paciencia y fe, patience and faith.

Grandparents.com had the chance to catch up with Merediz as she was eating dinner, just before showtime.

Grandparents.com: How does it feel to play a grandparent, especially since you're not in that generation. Abuela Claudia is such a low-key but enormous presence in this production.

Olga Merediz: It feels great to put this character on the stage in this epic way. I try to give this lady as much humanity and respect as grandparents deserve. They have so much wisdom and so much to give back. They’ve been through it all. To have a character center-stage like that, being the soul of the piece, I'm honored and grateful for it.

GP: Do you see yourself in that role in real life one day?

“They say, 'You reminded me of my Nana.' That gives me the goose bumps and it really makes my day.”
OM: I don’t have children. I never had the time to become a parent. But I know that the most important thing for kids is to let them know they are okay, and life takes care of itself. Things sometimes turn out bad and things sometimes turn out good. Kids just need a mirror that says that everything will be okay.

GP: Your family is from Cuba. Do you think that being a Latino grandmother is different from being an American grandmother?

OM: In this society they throw people away so quickly. In the Latino community, as a rule, we don’t do that. We don’t throw our grandparents or elderly parents away. We keep them at home where there's a sense of respect for them. We include them in our family gatherings. I would love to be in a world where people will respect me as I get older. It’s a shame that we don’t have more reverence and respect for the elderly.

GP: Outside the stage door, there are a lot of youngsters waiting to meet you. Does that surprise you?

OM: I'm playing a grandmother and there's that special bond with grandparents and grandchildren. I feel honored to be in a place where I can represent that bond. It's a thrill for me to have young fans. Children are so fragile and sensitive. It's understandable when adults get it. But when you're reaching kids you know it will affect their lives for years to come.

GP: What was the first Broadway show that touched you?

OM: I remember coming to New York City when I was in high school and going to see My Fair Lady. My high school teacher took me to see some Fellini movies, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Fellini had these big, big women who were expressive and passionate and that stuck with me.

GP: By the way, what are you eating?

OM: I'm having some fish, breaded with Japanese panko [breadcrumbs], and vegetables.

GP: Did you cook it yourself?

OM: I'm getting my food ordered now since I don’t have time to cook. I have to eat by a certain time otherwise I'm too full to sing.

GP: Understandable, especially since your solo about life as a child emigrating to New York City from Cuba is a major show-stopper. It even comes through so powerfully on the cast's new soundtrack. So why the initial reluctance to play the part?

OM: At first I thought, I don’t want to play an older woman. A lot of actresses don’t want to play older women because we live in a society that’s all about youth. But this was a chance to play a role I've never explored so I figured, why not go there. That’s what actors do, explore new territory.

GP: How did you prepare for it?

OM: I put a lot of heart into the part, and a lot of thought. Around my neighborhood, in midtown Manhattan, I watched elderly ladies and I was glued. What does her face say, what is she carrying, I watch the elderly to see how they are coping.

GP: Beyond the character, have the observations had any effect on you personally?

OM: Yes, can you believe it? I have a completely different energy than Abuela Claudia. I have very stressful days but the calmest part of my day is playing this part. I have to slow down and be present and get grounded. It actually calms me down. Otherwise I'm a chicken with its head cut off. She's opened my own heart. I play her as someone with a big heart, who cuts to the chase to see what's important. We're all bogged down with the stresses of life and the stuff we have to do. She's all there and present, and she's taught me a lot. I know that sounds funny, but she's the person I would like to be when I get older.

GP: What do your fans say?

OM: "You made me cry," grown men say. "I haven’t cried in a long time." They say, "You reminded me of my Nana." That gives me the goose bumps and it really makes my day.

GP: Knowing that you've touched so many people, and the show just opened in March, what was your reaction when you heard you were nominated for a Tony for best performance by a featured actress in a musical?

OM: I was relieved, to tell you the truth. I've never missed a show. I take a lot of Chinese herbs and supplements to stay healthy. It's hard to do eight shows a week. All that work and energy and time has paid off. To be recognized by your peers is the ultimate. It doesn’t matter if I win or not, I'll always be a Tony-nominated actress and that's such a great honor.