Meet the Stars of NYMF: Gil Perez-Abraham of MANUEL VS. THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

New York Musical Theatre Festival is in full swing and BroadwayWorld has taken the time to sit down with some of the stars of this years NYMF musicals.

Like any great art form, musical theatre is shaped by the events and philosophies of the day. The strength and vitality of musical theatre lie in its ability to stay fresh and relevant. It was with that idea in mind, ten years ago, that the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) was created - to provide an effective platform to introduce new shows, new perspectives, and new blood into the musical theatre canon.

MEET THE STARS OF NYMF sits down with Gil Perez-Abraham of MANUEL VS. THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

What's your favorite thing about performing as part of NYMF?

My favorite part of being in NYMF is the decathlon that the festival becomes for the entire team - from creative to behind the scenes every single hand is on deck. That level of dedication and drive from the production team (I think because of the necessity that the wildness of creating new work purports) creates an environment that is very unique; there is no time to waste so every minute is treated as precious. This combined with the magic of bringing new work to the stage make for an incredibly unique experience.

Have you participated in NYMF before? If so, what's your favorite part and what drew you back to the festival?

No.

What other NYMF show are you most intrigued by or excited to see?

I want to see and support as many shows as possible but I definitely want to make it out to see my brother Zachary Infante in The Calico Buffalo, John Tartaglia's Claudio Quest, andAcapella the Musical. I will say, it would be a shame to miss ANY of the shows this summer. Definitely an awesome line-up this year.

Tell us about your show/your character?

I play Manuel in Manuel Vs. The Statue of Liberty. The show centers around the true-life story of Manuel, an undocumented immigrant who dreams of reaching much higher than his situation allows him. Refusing to take no for an answer, Manuel boxes his way to his own definition of the championship ring - United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Manuel is scrappy and determined. I relate to him on so many levels but at the same time continuously find new things about him and the world he lives in. One thing that has stayed true throughout callbacks and the current rewrites is the soul of the quintessential American Dream inside of Manuel - I think this is key not only to the development of the piece but also the enduring effect that the show will have with audiences. There is something very "Rocky"-like inside of mail that is inspiring and electrifying.