An Interview with Actor Ernie Pruneda

Orlando Shakes spoke with Ernie Pruneda to discuss his career and taking on the iconic role of Usnavi in In the Heights.

Orlando Shakes: Describe In the Heights in three words.

Ernie Pruneda: Love, legacy, and familia.

Orlando Shakes: List three ways you and your character are alike.

Ernie: Well I’m a complete bumbling dork whenever I’m on a date, haha!

I think Usnavi has a lot of love for the people around him. He is constantly trying to protect everyone and look out for those in his community. My familia and tribe of friends all look out for each other in NYC, and I see a lot of that same kind of love in our barrio.

I actually live in Washington Heights in NYC! I’m at 171st and St. Nicholas! It’s so cool to be sharing the story of my actual neighborhood with you all down here in Orlando.

Orlando Shakes: List three ways you and your character are different.

Ernie: Believe it or not… I don’t like coffee. So if you watch the show closely, you’ll never see my Usnavi drinking any. LOL!

I’m the youngest in my family and I don’t have any younger cousins, so it would have been cool to have a buddy like Sonny growing up.

I don’t own a bodega?

Photo by Tony Firriolo features Zach Infante and Ernie Pruneda.

Orlando Shakes: What has been the most challenging part of working on this production?

Ernie: This climate! Why are there so many bugs down here?!

Orlando Shakes: Did you do anything unique to prepare for this role?

Ernie: I listened to a lot of different styles of rappers and I really tried to focus on my diction and communicating the absolute truth with every line I speak. The words move so quickly at times it’s easy to go on autopilot, but Usnavi really has a lot of important information that the audience needs to hear, so clarity and articulation are vital.

Orlando Shakes: What challenges do you face when memorizing a rap? What makes learning the music in In the Heights different from a traditional musical theater piece?

Ernie: You really have to make sure your “tank” is always full when you rap. You can’t ever let your air deplete to a level that could cause you to put a lot of muscle behind your words. The phrases are very long at times, so you have to really sneak them in at places that wouldn’t make sense if you were singing that same phrase.

Orlando Shakes: Tell us a bit about your background and career path.

Ernie: I’m from South Texas and started doing musicals in the 5th grade. SHOUT OUT TO A STORY BOOK CHRISTMAS GARZA ELEMENTARY OG CAST! I went to college at Oklahoma City University, which is the alma mater for Kristen Chenoweth and Kelli O’hara. After that I moved up to NYC and I’ve been up there ever since. Since being there I have worked on cruise ships, on TV, national tours, broadway and regional theaters around the country.

Orlando Shakes: What’s your favorite role in your career so far?

Ernie: Usnavi is pretty close to my favorite so far, but besides that I’d have to say Clopin Trouillefou from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I was able to channel all of my wild creativity into a character that was part joker/jester/gypsy and storyteller. Stepping into his shoes was a crazy trip!

Orlando Shakes: What’s your advice to aspiring performers?

Ernie: Always keep learning. Keep reading, take classes, and discover more and more about yourself and the world around you. You have a gift that no one else has and that is your unique talents coupled with your life experience. No one can tell a story like you can. Oh, and always listen to your heart… it won’t lead you astray.

Orlando Shakes: If you were a piragua flavor, what flavor would you be?

Ernie: HAHAHA! um… China con crema because I really love dreamsicle flavor… mmmmmm.

Orlando Shakes: Which style of Latin dance best suits your personality?

Ernie: The Merengue because I’m fast paced and can change directions at any time.