On The Road: Darilyn Castillo
As Black History Month comes to a close, I wanted to finally feature the gorgeous and mega talented Darilyn Castillo! She is a New York native and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at The City College of New York. Darilyn is best known for playing Peggy Schulyer/Maria Reynolds in the touring company of Hamilton.
How long have you been a performer?
I have been a performer since I was 5 years old. I had the opportunity to open for Yolanda Adams when I landed an audition at my school to open up and sing a song in Swahili at 5 years old. That was the kick start to everything. I just kept going.
What was the first show you ever saw that changed your life?
The first show I saw that changed my life was 42nd street. It was my first Broadway show. The lights, the singing, and the dancing got me. I knew I wanted to be a part of that.
What is your favorite show you’ve ever worked on?
My favorite show I ever worked on was a play I did called "Sunday Morning in The South". It's a straight play that challenged me and changed my view on theater. It was a life changing experience. To this day it's my favorite thing I've ever been a part of.
Who is the coolest celebrity you’ve ever met at work?
The coolest celebrity I've ever met at work is Lin. I mean he's brilliant and so down to earth. Being on stage with him was probably the coolest thing that's happened in my career (so far).
What has been your most memorable moment on tour so far?
My most memorable moment on tour has been the moment on stage when Lin comes out at the top of Hamilton. The energy in Puerto Rico was unreal. The crowd went wild every single performance for a solid 3 minutes. It's a moment that I will never forget. I get chills just thinking about.
Are there any items you can’t live without backstage?
I cant live without my water bottle and straw. Shout out to Mike Ruckles, my vocal coach.
Do you have a favorite fun fact about Hamilton?
He was a poet. I love writing poetry so this was an interesting fun fact.
What is your favorite thing about playing Peggy Schuyler?
My favorite thing about playing Peggy Schuyler is playing with my sisters Eliza (Julia Harriman) & Angelica (Sabrina Sloan). I truly enjoy sharing that sisterhood connection on stage. It's empowering and so much fun.
How did you prepare to play Peggy and Maria? Did your education help prepare you for being in Hamilton or did you have to research your role?
I did some research in reading and our team is so knowledgeable. They were very helpful with any questions I had. Peggy and Maria are both very interesting because they both have many layers but in the show you can only explore so much. So you have to really commit and choose a specific point of view to clarify these two different and complicated characters.
Is it challenging switching characters during the show?
Gratefully there's a nice amount of time to go from Peggy to Maria. So this helps ease the transition from Peggy to Maria. It's a process and it's so much fun. I love playing these two roles.
What is your favorite number to perform in your show?
Say No To This. I truly enjoy the power play from Maria and how she uses her tools to conquer a man but then she finds herself vulnerable and helpless. It's a short amount of time I get to portray this all but I love hitting those emotions and letting it carry Maria away.
What is your favorite part about telling this story every night?
My favorite part of telling this story is looking around on stage with this incredible cast and seeing how beautifully diverse we are. I take a deep breathe often up there and soak it all in. It's truly a special sight.
What piece of advice would you give your 18 year old self?
Mess up. It's okay.
What is the best advice you've ever been given?
Always trust your voice.
FUN FACTS:
What was the first Broadway show you ever saw?
The first Broadway show I ever saw was 42nd street.
What is your favorite Broadway show you’ve ever seen?
My favorite Broadway show was "In The Heights".
What is your favorite costume in Hamilton?
We call it "The Butterball dress" - it's the dress I open the show in. I look like a "Dominican Belle from Beauty and The Beast." (Lin's words)
What is your favorite costume you've ever worn?
The Nala costume in The Lion King. Not the most comfortable but definitely the most beautiful.
