Cherry Torres and Alexander Ferguson
From Peter: It’s possible that we’re riding high from the release of the Hamilfilm last Friday, but when it came to featuring Cherry Torres and Alexander Ferguson- there’s no way we would’ve “[Said] No to this”. We met them at separate moments on Disney Cruise Line years ago and, to our delight, they both worked their way onto the Hamilton Angelica Tour in 2018. They each had their work cut out for them, performing and covering all of the leads within the show. Yet, when you read what it took to get there, you’ll understand how they’re able to make the performing part look easy.
We never got to perform with either of them, but, luckily, talent and kindness stick with you. It’s been a joy to watch them achieve their dreams via social media. It’s even better when you realize they’ve started dating! When good people find good people, and do good things- it’s just all good.
Alex and Cherry filled out a feature for us in March right before Alex was scheduled to leave the tour. As the world shut down, we put their features on hold. They were generous enough to fill out a Corona Coping for us at the end of May and were able to share some early thoughts on the importance of continuing creating, addressing our flaws during quarantine, and racism. We HEAVILY encourage you to follow them on Instagram for a continuation of those thoughts, pictures of their time performing together, and opportunities to train with them. Cherry and Alex are the kind of people that excite us for the future of theatre, a feeling we don’t always have in spades. We hope they do the same for you.
Cherry, Our favorite Disney employee turned Peglizica (Are we cool? Did we even get that Hamilton term right??) and Alexander Ferguson, the most perfect name for a Hamilton company member! Would you please introduce yourselves to our readers?
Cherry: Hahaha you nailed it. I love smushing words together so that was just my poor attempt at it. (insert crying laughing emoji) Hiii guys! My name is Cherry Torres and I’m currently the Schuyler Sister and W5 cover with the Angelica tour of Hamilton the musical. I was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and moved to south Florida when I was around 12. Thanks to my mother being a background singer and my father being a sound engineer as well as growing up surrounded by musicians I developed a love for music very early on. Growing up my cousins and I would play West side story pretty non-stop until we could reenact full scenes from the movie. We would bring skirts, fight over who would get to play Maria and Anita, and learn the choreo for hours upon hours. About a year later I auditioned and began rehearsing for my middle school's 8th grade production of “South Pacific”. I remember my mother picked me up from school at around 10pm from a tech week rehearsal. I was exhausted, delirious, and had bruises on my legs and that was the moment I looked at my mom and told her that I knew I’d want to do theater for as long as I could. My mom laughed at me for saying it that night, mostly because I was half asleep, but here I am still doing it! Haha.
Alexander: I am from Winter Park, Florida. I’m a martial arts and ballet kid who turned to musical theatre. I love movies and Batman.
Cherry, You attended Berklee College of Music. Did you showcase out of school? How did you find your representation?
Cherry: Actually I didn’t. It took me a few years to find representation. It wasn’t until my first Disney Cruise Line contract when I was around 25, that a friend referred me to their manager that I was represented for the first time.
Alexander, What made you choose AMDA (the American Musical and Dramatic Academy)... Being in NYC, what the school gave you, or both? Ultimately, what was the most impactful thing AMDA did for you?
Alexander: AMDA was great for getting an education in the field, without feeling tied down for four years. And certainly not bogged down by homework. The student atmosphere is sort of dog eat dog, so I enjoyed the comparison it has to auditioning in general.
Cherry, You’ve had such a methodical rise in your career- starting on cruise ships, playing leads regionally and now touring in Hamilton. From an outside view, those seem like smooth transitions. Did it feel that way?
Cherry: Thank you so much! Actually I used to feel very much like a late bloomer, but I am so thankful for the way things have happened. I was able to travel the world doing ships when I was younger, have gotten to experience the New York audition hustle, and got to work with some insanely talented people doing some of my favorite shows. It’s made me so appreciative of all of those experiences and the lessons they’ve taught me. I would be lying, though, if I said that at the time it didn’t feel like starting over after every job. Hahaha. Because of the nature of our career it honestly did not feel very methodical. One job would end and I’d be crossing my fingers and praying for the next opportunity to present itself. I’m insanely thankful that the last time an opportunity presented itself it turned out to be my dream show, which I feel so insanely lucky to be a part of, but I’m certain when I find myself between shows again I’ll still be crossing my fingers and praying for the next opportunity.
Was there ever a time where you thought about leaving the business? If so, how did you get through that time?
Cherry: Yes, after my last cruise ship when I moved back to New York. I decided to settle down and give the NYC hustle and auditioning a true chance. That transition was quite rough since I’d gone from being able to survive through singing for 4 years to babysitting, serving, and doing any catering job I could squeeze in until about 2am to be able to pay my rent, student loans, and bills. On top of that I was waking up at 4 and 5am to attend open calls and trying to schedule my managers appointments while working. It was an insanely difficult time in my life but I’m so freaking grateful for it. Because it truly tested me and helped me learn the importance of perseverance and the value of hard work. I think one of the things that helped me through it was doing my best to make auditioning and performing anyway I could a priority. Even if it was difficult financially sometimes, singing in an audition helped me feel inspired, and finding a show or cabaret I could afford would remind me why I’m doing what I’m doing in the first place. Another huge huge help for me was meditating and visualizing my goals every time I went to bed or felt down. It truly kept me sane and helped keep me focus on what I was working towards.
Did you ever feel lost in the audition grind of NYC?
Alexander: I did at times, but this was mostly because I was sticking to gigs I knew. Companies that I had already worked for, and I would reach out in search of more work. May not be the dream, but it pays the bills and you have to keep the lights on.
What’s something you wish you knew sooner?
Cherry: I wish I would’ve known that believing and loving yourself is crucial and that comparing yourself to peers and friends will do you no good in this industry. It’s a hard thing not to do in an industry where we essentially are our own “package”, but truly no one can be better at being yourself than you. If a gig is meant for you no one in that audition room will book it but you.
Hamilton. Let’s talk about it. From the audition, to your first production tour, to your fellow company members, to the dancing, to all of the MANY parts you cover (Hamilton, Burr, Laurens/Philip, AND King George). What is the most memorable part of this experience?
Alexander: It’s taught me that talent has many shapes and sizes. I have gone back and forth with confidence during my entire time here. The biggest thing I am learn-ING: believe in yourself, unapologetically.
On your Instagram, you say you’re Puerto Rican De Corazón (From the heart). How does it impact who you are as an artist and person?
Cherry: Oh it impacts everything I do. I come from a tiny island filled with some of the happiest, most hard working, resilient, uplifting, jovial, music loving people. Being Puerto Rican has given me the love of music and art that I carry so close to my heart. It gives me such fervent pride to carry that flag everywhere I go!
What is something that you’d wish you had known or wish you had done earlier in your career?
Alexander: Nothing. We are where we are meant to be and we learn along the way.
Where are you on your mountain?
Cherry: I’d say I’m still climbing, still moving onward. The work never quite stops in my eyes. It doesn’t feel like my peak, but it’s nice once in a while to look back and see growth. Especially in an industry where we’re continually starting over.
Alexander: I’m looking up, very determined. Fully aware of the summit ahead.
RAPID FIRE:
Favorite Broadway show:
C: In The Heights
A: Sweeney Todd
TV show you binge:
C: “The Office” currently. “Naked and Afraid” and “Master Chef”
A: Lost
Podcasts?:
C: Serial and Spooked
A: The Grandma’s Virginity Podcast
Religious, Spiritual, or nah?:
C: I grew up Christian and still uphold some of those values, but consider myself spiritual.
A: Nature is cool.
Favorite role you cover in Hamilton?:
C: Eliza is definitely my favorite although I love singing “Say no to this”.
A: Aaron Burr
Former side hustles:
C: Serving, babysitting, dog walking, catering...haha you name it!
A: Vocal Coaching
One tip for auditioning?:
C: Prepare, perform and let it gooo haha
A: Know your damn song/sides!
Any bad audition stories?:
C: I haven’t fallen on my butt yet *knock on wood* but when I walked into my first final call back with Hamilton and saw Alex Lacamoire and Tommy Kail I pretty much went on panic mode. I was shaking through my entire audition, visibly shaking haha. The only other time I’ve been that scared was my first NyC audition...thankfully they gave me one more chance! Haha
A: Not really, but I hate pianists who ignore your tempo.
First play/musical you ever did:
C: South Pacific in 8th grade
A: Tateh (Ragtime)
Best part of dating, ex-mouse employee and fellow Hamilton company member, Alexander Ferguson:
C: Oh there are far too many things haha! He has a huge heart, which I love. He makes me laugh all the time and I can be my weirdest self around him. Also he is someone who is passionate about creating, and actually puts his ideas into motion. And I absolutely love that about him. He’s pretty wonderful.
Best part of dating, ex-mouse employee and fellow Hamilton company member, Cherry Torres:
A: She’s become the support system I didn’t know I could have.
Cherry, Nobody is talking about gender inequality in Musical Theater, but it’s so important because there are so many insanely talented women who are either not getting compensated nearly enough or simply not getting their chance to shine. I’d love to see a world in which female actors, directors, writers, composers, musicians, producers, stage hands, and stage managers are equally as recognized and compensated as their male counterparts. It’s something that as women and especially women of color we don’t speak out about nearly enough and the more we unite and make it a conversation the more we can take steps to end it.
Any good at impressions and/or have funny puns to tell us?:
A: BOTH?!??? GAH
Job you didn’t expect to book:
A: Hamilton!
Biggest beef with the business:
C: gender inequality and beauty standards.
A: Jukebox Musicals!
Favorite thing about the business:
C: The fact that we get to go on stage with our friends and peers and sing, dance, and tell a story for 2-3 hours knowing that we’ll get to put a smile on at least one person's face is pretty awesome.
A: Seeing new works
Social media handles?:
Insta: @cherrytorres
Twitter: @cherrytorres
FB: @cherrytorresmusic
IG: @fergusonbatman
Anything you’d like to promote:
A: @civilants @stringofconsciousness My animated series and film production studio.
CORONA COPING
What were you looking forward to that you lost because of COVID-19?
Cherry: I think the biggest loss has been my job. I miss Hamilton, I miss being on stage, and getting to see my friends and coworkers every day. It sucks! We were also supposed to go on vacation about a week after quarantine started. It would've been our first planned vacation, sadly that didn’t happen haha.
Alexander: This summer I had planned to make a new short film and had to pause, due to the unfortunate circumstances.
What is something (a thought, a family member, a hope, a piece of art, a meme, a song, ANYTHING) that is getting you through?
Cherry: Honestly Alex has been a huge part for me getting through this time. He’s been a constant support on those days where anxiety feels unbearable. He’s a pretty awesome quarantine buddy. His cooking skills don’t hurt too! Haha! Also, painting and some impromptu singing sessions have proven to be a super therapeutic hobby.
Alexander: Right now? Solar Opposites on HULU.
What do you think has an opportunity to change as a result of this time to reset?
Cherry: As difficult as this time has been it has been just that a reset and it’s opened so many doors for new skills and new hobbies to be developed, for art to be created, for much needed self reflection, and for healing among other things. It has also been pretty beautiful seeing the wonderful effects it’s had in nature all around the world. For me personally it’s pushed me to make time to practice and rehearse. It's been both therapeutic and fun to lock myself in a room and warm up my body and voice and just sing songs I’ve been working on or sing through Hamilton.
Alexander: The way we better ourselves. During this quarantine, we are trapped with our flaws and our insecurities. This is the time to address those issues head on, because when we come out of this...the human collective will be better off for it.
Anything else you'd like our readers to know during this time?
Cherry: This has been a hard time for everyone, but the black and Latino communities as well as the elderly have been hit especially hard. So know that it’s not just about you and me...practice kindness, be considerate, stay inside and don’t stop creating! Art is not done. I’m so proud to be part of a community that is so resilient and willing to adapt their art form to suit any circumstance. It’s been a joy to see people create youtube musicals, sing, dance, teach! We’re in this together!
Alexander: I went two days with no shower and wanted to die.
Quarantine Quickly:
Favorite snack:
C: I’m not a huge snacker, but Alex’s spaghetti carbonara is it! (insert laughing crying Emoji here)
A: Honeybuns
Home workout routine (you know, if you're into that):
C: running and shout out to B2 PT who have given structure to my workouts, and their workouts come from a physical therapy perspective, which is awesome. (Haha shameless plug for them cuz they’ve been life savers haha)
A: EEEEK
What are you watching:
C: Welp, I finished my 3rd watch through of the office, so we’ve moved on to “Rick and Morty” and “Naked and afraid XL” haha
A: Shivering Truth, Rick & Morty, Cowboy Beebop, Iron Chef ReRuns
What you are reading:
C: online articles mostly and we’re starting to reread Harry Potter. Cuz, why not?
A: Articles on racism and Food recipes
Yes or no… Out of pajamas before noon?:
C: Never haha! Pjs into workout clothes and back to pjs haha
A: HARD NO