Bianca Marroquin was raised on the Mexico-United States border in Monterrey, Mexico, between Matamoros and Brownsville, U.S.A. The actress who plays Roxie Hart in the national touring production of Chicago at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts says she grew up wanting to be a dancer, but when she was cast in the Mexico City production of the Tony Award winning musical, a world of opportunity opened up.
And, growing up with dual citizenship helped her carve out quite a career. “I had an interesting life on the border,” she says.
She began doing professional theater in Mexico City, appearing there in productions of "Beauty and the Beast," "Rent," and "Phantom of the Opera," but "Chicago" auditions in 2001 changed her life.
“The thing is I was too young for the part, not famous at all, but somehow (director) Walter Bobbie, well he saw me and he was the one that convinced the production in Mexico that, ‘out of all the celebrities you brought in, this is the girl. She is the girl you are going to cast as Roxie.’ So I learned the show in Spanish.”
Six months later, she was invited to “crossover,” as she says, to the American production to join the Broadway production.
“What ‘Chicago’ did for me was it allowed me to cross over in the role, from originating it in Mexico City in the Spanish speaking production, to being invited in to the center of the world, New York City,” says Marroquin.
She made history becoming the first Mexican actress ever to get be on Broadway in a leading role.
“I’ve been doing Roxie for 17 years in October.”
When asked if Roxie has more Latina infused in here than we might see in other actress's portrayals, Marroquin says, “I don’t bring anything ethnic to it. I am a proud Latina, but I just try to do justice to the character. I treat the role with such respect because it was such an important vehicle in my career and in my life.”
She plays one of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s most lovable murderesses. Its Chicago in the 1920s, Roxie Hart, a would be chorus girl, murders her boyfriend then convinces her hapless husband Amos to take the rap, until he finds out the truth.
Marroquin doesn’t argue that she’s first and foremost a dancer. Mentors along the way helped her develop her acting chops, she says, including Gregory Harrison, who played Billy Flynn, the flashy, self serving lawyer, in "Chicago."
“You remember him, right? From Trapper John, M.D.?” We’d sit and he would go over my monlogues with me.” She also gives props to that veteran Broadway dancer and "Chicago" revival choreographer Anne Reinkin.
Univision viewers may recognized Marroquin from four seasons as a judge on reality dance competition “Mira Quien Baila (Look Who’s Dancing),” a Spanish version of “Dancing with the Stars.”
Another Mexican born actor, "Jane the Virgin" star Jaime Camil joins Marroquin on stage at the Arsht. Camil as Billy Flynn made his "Chicago" tour debut at the Arsht production, plays the role in a limited engagement through May 13. They made history together in 2016 when they were the first two Mexican-born actors to lead a Broadway musical.
Marroquin says that even though she’s played Roxie for almost two decades, it’s still fresh for her every night. “The role really puts you through the emotional Olympics. But you’ll see a Roxie who loves to dance, and you’ll see some comedy, because that’s really my dynamic. I know when to be silent, and I know when less is more.”
“Chicago” plays through May 13 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami. 305-949-6722. Tickets $29 to $120. http://www.arshtcenter.org
