Daniel Diges (Alcalá de Henares, 1981) returns to where he believes his place is, to do what he is passionate about and, furthermore, to the theater where he has had such good times.
On Wednesday, April 27, he will return to the stage in the role of Charlie, the protagonist of the
Kinky Boots
musical
, which was a success with the public and critics at the end of last year in Madrid and now returns to the capital, to the central Teatro Calderon (Atocha, 18).
Based on the 2005 British film of the same name, the
show
, which has won six Tony Awards since its Broadway premiere ten years ago, is inspired by true events and tells the story of the overcoming of two people who, in principle, have nothing in common. common.
As he says, musicals are his place, where he is most comfortable (that and "
heavy scripted stage
shows ").
The artist, who participated in Eurovision in 2010 with the waltz
Algo tiny
, has been part of such important productions in Spain for almost 20 years as
Mamma Mía!,
Today I can't get up
,
High School Musical
,
Beauty and the Beast
,
The Doctor
and
Les Miserables
, in which he played the evil Jean Valjean
in Spain, Mexico and Brazil from 2014 to 2019. Despite this being one of his "fetish" characters and one that has marked him the most in his career, Diges qualifies Charlie, in Kinky Boots, as the one he likes the most and the one he would do again and again.
"Lately I choose characters that fulfill me as an artist, with another maturity. If they don't have those requirements for me, I don't take them directly."
Kinky Boots
has been a very important step for him, "because a lot of
people who didn't know me as an actor have discovered me. The character of Charlie is very well created dramatically. He starts out as a shy, insecure guy and then turns into a Totally different guy, who can even be a bit of a bastard and cruel. There have been people in the audience who have insulted me for his attitude (laughs). As an actor, I have enjoyed this musical a lot and I return to it with great enthusiasm and desire, "says the singer.
The play was a complete success while it was at Espacio Ibercaja Delicias at the end of last year and the beginning of 2022 and managed to put up a sold-out
sign
at almost all performances.
The good vibes and the wonderful soundtrack, with
music and lyrics by Cyndy Lauper,
attracted audiences of all kinds and ages, something that the artist hopes will happen again at the Calderón theater (Atocha, 18), where they are now moving.
"It is a work with a lot of message, very positive, which is closely linked to the times. It encourages you to be yourself and not be afraid; it is a celebration of friendship, expression and freedom. And I think that for that lifts people's spirits. And, if we add excellent music to that message, then things work great".
Daniel Diges (left) at a moment of the performance.
The songs are translated into Spanish, because as Diges himself indicates, the plot needs it.
"The themes are made for the script and are consistent with the work, so it was necessary to translate them. Each song has a message and tells a story."
The man from Madrid dreams of producing a musical in this category in the future.
"Little by little. I'm actually in the production world and even intend to partner with others to bring some from Broadway and London where possible."
Don't you think there's a
boom
in musicals right now?
"Well, it's been around for a long time. In fact, Spain has become the third country with the most musical productions in the world. Something that wouldn't happen if Gran Vía didn't exist. We're lucky to have this street in Madrid like the we have, full of theaters. It is difficult that, outside of New York or London, all the important theaters are together, like here".
While that dream is coming true, Diges is focused on continuing to make his own theatrical shows with a lot of script.
"At the time I decided to stop making records and spend all that money, effort and time creating
shows.
It's exactly what I did with the last album,
Broadway Street
, which I turned into a musical show. In the end you have to do in life what you do best. I'm not a record artist, I'm a stage artist. And that's what I'm doing, and for the moment I'm doing well. "
The actor will combine his role in
Kinky Boots
with his new show
Cinema Show
, a musical journey through the most emblematic songs in the history of cinema
humorously.
With a live band, the singer will go through the melodies and anecdotes of films such as
Cinema Paradiso
,
Ghost
,
Mary Poppins
,
La La Land
,
The Great Showman
... at the Gran Teatro Caixabank Príncipe Pío.
How are you going to combine it?
"Well, organizing myself a lot and putting a lot of energy into it. Look, being an actor is a profession in which you never know what is going to happen to you. There are times when you are calmer and others when everything comes out at the same time and there are to take advantage of and do them", he assures.
The Madrid of...
Daniel Diges lives on the outskirts of Madrid, in Majadahonda, with his wife and two children, but his heart is in Alcalá de Henares, where he was born 41 years ago.
"Although I don't live there, I'm a purebred Alcalá. Every week I go to see my parents, sisters, friends...", he assures.
Among his favorite places in Alcalá de Henares is the
Hostería del Estudiante Restaurant
(Colegios, 3; 918 88 03 30), a place where he loves to go with friends and family to eat traditional Castilian dishes.
"Then I take a walk around Plaza Cervantes, I go to a pastry shop to eat the Alcalá threads, yolk... that's my route every time I go there".
In Madrid he is fascinated by
the Gran Vía
.
"Where I walk the most is there, I like to get lost and start walking and strolling until I reach Sol and feel the energy of the people there, especially after the pandemic; see so many people, from all over the world walking it's a gift".
Another place where he got lost a lot before acting or when he was studying was the
Royal Palace
and the Sabatini Gardens.
"I sat there to read. I took the train in the morning, I came to Madrid to study theater and in the afternoons I used to have a casting. In between, as I had to wait, I always ate a sandwich in that area."
His favorite theater is the
Calderón
(Atocha, 18).
"I love it, it's very special to me. There I met my wife doing
We Will Rock You
, by Queen.
Something small
was also presented there , during my Eurovision period. Almost all my records and my
shows
have also been presented there It's my fetish theater."
His new production is now at the
Gran Teatro Caixabank Príncipe Pío
(Príncipe Pío Station), "a place that they have created very beautiful and with an incredible leisure space".
Favorite restaurants
: "I recently discovered
La Primera
(Gran Vía, 1; 910 52 06 20; ). I went with my girlfriend to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. It's Spanish food very well done, which is what I like the most. The more I travel abroad, the more I realize that what I like the most is Spanish food. When I lived in Brazil and Mexico, I dreamed of arriving in Madrid and having a pincho de tortilla. It was what I most wanted."
Another restaurant that he really likes is
Ouh...Babbo!
(Caños del Peral Street, 2; 915 47 65 81).
"It belongs to an actor friend of Italian origin and there you eat pure Italian food; it has even been brought to the oven from Italy for the pizzas. There is also a show and people sing. It is a very lively place."
A terrace:
La Azotea
(Alcalá, 42; 913 60 54 00), the space in the Círculo de Bellas Artes.
"The building is beautiful and the views are incredible."
A place to exercise:
"It's true that with the musical I keep fit because we do a lot of warming up and then we dance and move around a lot, but I like to ride my bike and walk around Monte del Pilar, a very nice place, with many trails and forests in Majadahonda".
Kinky Boots
Place
: Calderón Theater (Atocha, 18).
Dates
: from April 27 to June 12.
Price
: from 19.90 euros.
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