Patricia Duran and Leandro Salazar in Alley Theatre’s December: a love years in the making. Photo by Lynn Lane.
After some delay from the snow, The Alley Theatre presents, “December: a love years in the making,” a love story between two people spread over twenty years and told within three scenes.
Leandro Salazar, actor and UH alum will be performing in the show as Benjamin (menor/younger). Cooglife was very fortunate to have an interview with him ahead of the show.
Leandro Salazar, actor and UH alum
Salazar holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Houston and has performed in many shows during his time in college. After he left Houston to further pursue his career in New York, he starred in several films such as, “El Joven,” “SAFE” and “Called Up.”
Preceding his career and education, Salazar migrated from Cuba to the U.S. with some expectations of success from his grandfather. His grandfather wanted to make sure Salazar got a college degree. “That’s all he asked, you know, he said, ‘learn English and get a college degree’,” Salazar explained.
With two years of debate already under his belt, this led the Houstonian actor towards becoming a lawyer. Salazar, however, did not feel too passionate about this route.
Around this time, he acted in his first black box show in high school. Though, he wasn’t too enthused with the role at first. Nevertheless, he pep-talked himself into it. From there, a new era began for Salazar. “As soon as I stepped on stage, all the fear left my body,” Salazar said.
From there his high school career showed promise.
UH’s impact on his stage life
When participating in the University Interscholastic League theater in his junior year of high school, his school placed second. In his senior year, he landed a larger role when competing in UIL, and placed first runner-up. Afterward, his high school director encouraged him to seek conservatory training. As a result, he enrolled in UH and began his collegiate career.
In college, Salazar trained in several theater styles such as Suzuki by movement professor Adam Noble, the current Head of MFA Acting at UH and Fight Director/Intimacy Specialist for “December”. Learning under a man of such talents helped him prepare for work in professional stage shows, especially with the intense rehearsals of “December.”
They have been rehearsing since Dec. 17. “Over and over again you have to do runs and runs and runs” Salazar said. “This is when all those drills I was doing in college just like really stood out.”
When it comes to preparing for a role, Salazar has a system for getting into character. Salazar explained, “I start from the body. I go into the mind, and I always finish with the voice.”
Salazar’s exploration of the body uses Laban, another physical technique he learned at UH. This technique breaks down the movement, posture and actions a character expresses, using the script as a guide. “The director is gonna give you guidance on what they’re trying to do, my job as an actor is to justify the direction,” he said.
When it comes to the mind, Salazar focuses on curiosity, asking why a character would do or would not do something.
When voice comes into play, however, Salazar finds it to be a bit more difficult. “It’s the most unique thing we have… there’s truth to your voice and you can never change it,” Salazar explained. In his experience, you must make your voice believable by believing in the character.
An actor’s hopes and dreams
Salazar’s future goals include acting in more Houston productions, in hopes of acknowledging the “new renaissance” of theatre which allows a wider variety of topics to be discussed, dissected and expressed.
Another personal goal of his is making movies with 86 Luck, a Houston Art Syndicate creating films and other projects, possibly including the creation of his own production company.
To those aspiring to make their mark on the stage, Leandro assures the only piece in the machine of progress to focus on is yourself. He warns of the dangers of trying to impress others and reiterates the version of you who appears on screens, or belts out on stage, must be the most authentic version possible.
“Be proud of who you are. Be proud of the work you do, because you are enough.” – Leandro Salazar
“December: a love years in the making,” will be performed at Alley Theatre until Feb. 2. Tickets start as low as $28 and are selling fast!
It’s a show you won’t want to miss. It will be, in Salazar’s words, “…a good show to come see people be themselves.”
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