Nicolas Garza, second from left, finishes his year as Boq in the national touring production of Wicked next month. The show runs through June 14 at Fair Park Music Hall in Dallas. The Broadway Dallas production stars Jessie Davidson as Elphaba (Photo by Joan Marcus)
RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
The character of Boq in Wicked is certainly not a main player in the larger-than-life musical, but the Munchkin does play a pivotal role in the story of Oz. Still, that’s not the reason Nicolas Garza was drawn to what has become a dream role for the actor.
“I mean, I’m 5 feet, 6 inches, so how many roles call for that,” Garza said ahead of his evening performance at the Music Hall at Fair Park. “I mean, there’s Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, but I’m not quite there yet.”
Despite his humble words though, Garza turns in a lovely performance as the young student who loves Glinda but ultimately ends up in a loveless marriage with Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose. The actor delivers the role with a mix of earnestness and frustration that lead to the character’s pivotal turn.
Now, after a year of being with the show, Garza finishes his tenure as Boq during Broadway Dallas’ production of Wicked. The show is on stage at the Music Hall through June 14, but Garza ends his run in the show on June 7. So any repeat viewers may see two different versions of the character.
For the actor, it’s the end of an exciting year.
“This is sort of my Texas homecoming,” The San Antonio-area actor said. “I have family and friends coming in to see the first big thing I’m in.”
But Wicked has been in Garza’s life much longer than the past year. The guy had known the songs since elementary school, and he saw the touring show in San Antonio way back when.
Garza grew up in Helotes where he started his theater journey in middle school. He’s very matter of fact about it all despite reaching this high level.
“I really wanted to ensure I had a class with my friends at this new school at the time. Then I went to UT for theater education,” he said.
For many performers, theater and queer identity are often linked through a process of shared discovery. However, Garza’s coming out followed a path that was far more low-key. After his parents attended one of his productions, the family gathered for dinner.
“I was talking to a boy in New York City and was going to visit and they had all these questions until finally, I was like ‘This is the situation.’ And they responded ‘Oh, we knew,’” he recalled.
Garza, who identifies as a gay, Polish-Mexican biracial Texan, says today that he’s been lucky to serve his identity by having played many queer roles. His role in Matthew Lopez’s The Inheritance, an update of E.M. Forster’s Howards End reframed for the New York queer community, was perhaps the most significant to him. And there was his part in The Ugly Christmas Sweater Musical, as well as the queer-coded Franz in Rock of Ages.
Although Boq may be clearly for the girls, the character has given the 31-year-old gay actor an avenue to his own discoveries.]
“I think the universal aspect of this plot is that everyone wants to be loved, and Boq tries to make the best of it,” Garza said. “He leads with his heart and that’s been my takeaway — having an open heart and open soul like he does. And beyond that, just sharing this story with so many people.
“This journey has been so fulfilling. The universe said I was ready for this so I have all the gratitude.”
For tickets, visit BroadwayDallas.org.