We recently connected with Wilson Hernandez and have shared our conversation below.

Wilson, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I discovered my first love at nine years old, sports. I had no idea theater was going to sneak up on me and change that. I was captain of my high school’s varsity basketball and football team. I did outdoor track and field on top of swimming with my school’s swim team during my off-season. Obsessed is an understatement for how I felt about sports, until my junior year of high school, where I was introduced to acting. My English teacher, Ms. Emilio had our class perform scenes from the play, Fences by August Wilson. Each group consisted of two actors and one director. I was the chosen director for my group. Through my experience in sports, I developed a love for collaboration and that impacted the development of my scene for this class. I was fascinated by the idea of bringing something from paper to life. After telling Ms. Emilio how much I enjoyed that process, she encouraged me to audition for an acting program at NYU called “Looking for Shakespeare”. Ms. Emilio recommended me to do Ferdinand’s monologue from The Tempest and enthusiastically helped me prepare for the audition. Thanks to her, I got into the acting program with a full scholarship and was hands down my favorite acting experience ever!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have a special kind of love for classical theater. Studying the work of William Shakespeare is where I found my love for acting. There is something about the sound and rhythm of classical work that makes me lose myself. Regardless of the era, a single character in classical theater can reveal a great deal about the environment in which people live. In Hamlet, Shakespeare states “To hold as ‘twere the mirror up to nature”. I love this quote because Shakespeare’s continuing significance stems from his deep comprehension of human nature. His universal themes of love, power, jealousy, and betrayal speak to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Even after decades, his command of language and storytelling tactics guarantees that his works are still thought-provoking and captivating. This makes classical work an endless puzzle that I don’t get tired of solving.

As a first-generation Dominican-American, I take the most pride in telling Latinx stories. I like to work on projects that leave an impact on the audience. I can’t name a better feeling than someone telling me that they could relate to the stories I tell. One of my proudest productions has to be a devised play about the Young Lords Party called Pa’lante directed by the amazing Victoria Perez. The Young Lords Organization or Young Lords Party, was a Chicago-based street gang that became a civil and human rights organization. Throughout the rehearsal process, I learned about a forgotten part of history that shaped the way minorities were treated in urban cities like New York and Chicago. Most importantly, the young lords consisted of young Latinos. This inspired me to continue pursuing other similar projects that emphasize the importance of our upbringings. Pa’lante was the perfect comeback in theater for Lehman College as it was the first show we did after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, I performed in my dancing debut with Cortae Dance Collective at Lehman College’s Spring Dance Concert. This dance piece tells an epic story about minorities who assemble to form a resistance that leads to a revolution. I spent the last few months working on a variety of different styles of dance. At the same time, I built beautiful relationships with dancers who have way more stamina than me. Everyone I worked with is deeply talented and inspiring to say the least. This experience has opened my mind as an artist. I have a better understanding of how to tell stories with my physical body after being a part of this dance concert.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

This year, I have been reintroduced to stage combat after taking David Anzuelo’s class on hand-to-hand combat while studying at Intar Theater’s Unit 52. After three classes I learned so much about stage combat and it even sparked an interest for my future career in fight directing. Since 2020, I’ve been training in Brazilian/Japanese jujitsu and various martial arts. I’m thankful for my older brother who was an MMA fighter, because through him I discovered the beauty of fighting as an art form. One of my favorite things about watching stage combat is how I can analyze a person’s life from how they fight. My mission is to find creative and safe ways to tell a story through any fight scene, especially in stories that involve BIPOC actors as it can be a very sensitive moment for various reasons.

When my time is up, I want to be known for the stories I told, and the people they impacted. Storytelling comes first. My number one goal for me is to continue listening. To listen to everything around me, then to myself and how my reaction can express my narrative truthfully. I view myself as a mirror that reflects the raw reality of my environment. I want our shared experiences to teach us how to make the communities we live in a better place. I want to learn about other cultures as well as my own. Meeting new people, forming relationships, and creating a safe space where all of our voices can be heard are what drives my creative journey. I want to move the power of storytelling forward.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I have recently graduated from Lehman College with a BFA in Multimedia Performing Arts and one of my common fears has been what am I going to do outside of school? Luckily, I was introduced to INTAR Theatre when I watched the off-broadway production, Julissa Contreras’ Vámonos. I knew immediately I wanted to be connected to this theater once I graduate. Not too long after, I was told to audition for their program, Unit 52 and I’m so grateful I did. Intar Theater’s Unit 52 was the perfect way for me to step out and find a community outside of college. This program offers a space for talented, emerging actors of color to play, create community, and hone their skills under the mentorship of experienced INTAR artists for no cost. The one and only Nancy Rodriguez was our amazing teacher for this year’s class. One of my favorite parts about learning at Intar was taking the language of Shakespeare and analyzing it through different exercises. My favorite memories come from getting to know all the amazing actors who were a part of this program with me. The most rewarding aspect of being selected to be in Unit 52 was sharing quality time with a family of talented actors whose passions and goals align with my own. I love the process of learning something new with peers when I am in rehearsals, doing a workshop, or taking a class in my dojo. The most fulfilling moments in my life are growing with people I love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hernandezwilson234.wixsite.com/wilsonhernandez
• Instagram: the_names_will