Danny Burgos can sing, dance and act! The triple-threat entertainer does it all in the Tony-winning blockbuster MOULIN ROUGE! The Musical.
The jukebox musical has won over audiences and critics alike. Burgos portrays Santiago, loyal friend of Christian, a young, idealistic songwriter who falls in love with Satine, star courtesan of the famous Paris nightclub Moulin Rouge. Set in 1899, the pair fall deeply in love, but must keep their relationship secret from the wealthy, abusive Duke who is paying to save the financially struggling nightclub in exchange for Satine’s affections.
Burgos graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre before hitting the road with the national tour of Beauty and the Beast, then made his Broadway debut in ON YOUR FEET! The Story of Gloria & Emilio Estefan. Burgos is currently touring North America as Santiago in MOULIN ROUGE!
Offstage, Burgos is a Registered Nurse and a certified CrossFit Level 1 Trainer whose passion for wellness and food helps keep his touring life on the road grounded.
Burgos sat down with Curtains Up for a candid Q&A to preview MOULIN ROUGE! at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier from June 9 to 14.
National tours are tough on the road. This is your fourth! How have you adjusted your regimen over the years?
Danny Burgos: The road just never gets easier, you adjust to it in different ways. Becoming a CrossFit trainer happened because CrossFit was something that I discovered on the road. It became part of my regimen. I tried finding ways of connecting to the local culture, and started joining local CrossFit gyms because I fell in love with the sport.
You joined the cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical after working for a year as a Registered Nurse in New York City.
Danny Burgos: Nursing was always around my family. My aunt is a nurse who emmigrated from Cuba to the United States where she took care of my paralyzed grandfather for a very long time. I admired her and her work, so I studied nursing in college. I ended up graduating a musical-theatre student, but when COVID happened I went back to school and completed my nursing degree. I’m trying to apply for my Canadian nursing license because I know nurses are in high demand in Canada, and I love your country. And after this tour, I have a nursing job lined up at a hospital in Newark, New Jersey.
What was it like to guest star on Law & Order: Organized Crime?
Danny Burgos: It was my first experience with TV. It was very cool to watch the process happen. TV and film is an editor’s medium, so they just have you doing the scene over and over again, and they’re like, “Hey, can you try it like this? Can you try it like that?” You never quite know what’s going to make the cut.
You made your Broadway debut in ON YOUR FEET! Did you get to meet Gloria and Emilio Estefan?
Danny Burgos: I did, in Miami and in Los Angeles. I enjoyed meeting and talking with them. They didn’t make it about them and then disappear. They really were involved in this musical.
Has being an out gay man affected your career in any way?
Danny Burgos: I’ve been very lucky in that I don’t think it has affected how people see me. Being Latin has pigeonholed me more than being gay. Thankfully I have a very creative career. Theatre is a very open-minded world. But I’ve never played a gay man onstage, which is something that I would like to do.
What is it like for you to portray Santiago in Moulin Rouge?
Danny Burgos: It is dream come true, to be honest. I’ve been doing this show for two-and-a-half years because I’m just so in love with this role.
What is your favourite number in Moulin Rouge?
Danny Burgos: I saw Moulin Rouge when it returned after COVID, and I will never forget the big musical number with Santiago and Nini called El Tango de Roxanne, which is some of the best dancing in the whole show. And now I get to do it onstage!
Why is Moulin Rouge a must-see?
Danny Burgos: Even if you’ve never experienced musical theatre before, there is something for everyone in this show, including 72 or 73 pop songs. It’s a really beautiful love story.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical presented for the first time in Montreal from June 9 to 14 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts.
Performance schedule:
- Tuesday, June 9 at 7:30 pm
- Wednesday, June 10 at 7:30 pm
- Thursday, June 11 at 7:30 pm
- Friday, June 12 at 7:30 pm
- Saturday, June 13 at 1 pm
- Saturday, June 13 at 7:30 pm
- Sunday, June 14 at 1 pm
- Sunday, June 14 at 7:30 pm
All photos courtesy Broadway Across Canada.
