Mandy Gonzalez

South Orange resident and Broadway icon Mandy Gonzalez possesses one of today’s most powerful and versatile voices. On the SOPAC Mainstage, the current star of Broadway’s Sunset Boulevard presents an evening of seasonal cheer and delight, serenading audience members with beloved holiday standards and signature repertoire, including “Feliz Navidad,” “All I Want for Christmas is You,” and “Into the Unknown” from Disney’s Frozen II. 

Gonzalez Performs “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” for WRTI Music

About Mandy Gonzalez

Mandy Gonzalez is an accomplished film, TV, and stage actor and author. Currently starring on Broadway as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, she possesses one of today’s most powerful and versatile contemporary voices. Her passion for theatre began at 15 when she attended a musical theatre camp with teachers like Ann Reinking, Treat Williams, and Gregory Hines. At 19, she left college to go on tour with Bette Midler as a backup singer before moving to New York City to pursue her Broadway dreams. Her first Broadway role was in Aida. Gonzalez then brought her talent to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights, where she originated the role of Nina Rosario, and for which she received a Drama Desk Award.

As a proud Latina-American, the story of Nina resonated deeply. Mandy then soared as Elphaba in Wicked and left an indelible mark on megahit Hamilton, where she starred as Angelica Schuyler for six years. She also received an OBIE Award and overwhelming critical praise for her performance in the Off-Broadway production of Eli’s Comin’. At the beginning of 2020, Mandy was diagnosed with breast cancer and battled the disease doing chemotherapy while still performing eight shows a week in Hamilton. Her fight persisted through the pandemic which included remote schooling for her daughter as well as continuing chemotherapy alone due to visitor restrictions. In July 2020 she rang the “cancer-free” bell.

Gonzalez has appeared in recurring roles on Madam Secretary, BULL, and Quantico, and alongside Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building. She appears on the silver screen in Across the Universe and Man on a Ledge, and serves as the voices of Mei in Disney’s Mulan 2 and Mother Rose for Disney series Alice’s Wonderland Bakery. In October 2024, Gonzalez will begin guest-starring in the role of Norma Desmond at select performances of Broadway‘s upcoming Sunset Blvd. When not on stage, on set, or traveling, Gonzalez resides in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.

About SOMA Stage at SOPAC

Creative Community Brain Trust member Diana Spialter and her local theater company SOMA Stage proudly support and partner with SOPAC.  SOMA Stage is a non-profit theater company based in the South Orange/Maplewood (SOMA), NJ area that provides our many local professional theater artists with a creative home in their backyard and allows our community to support and enjoy the talent of their neighbors.

Accessibility & Accommodation

If you or a member of your party needs assistance, please notify SOPAC at the time your tickets are purchased. Contact the SOPAC Box Office at (973) 313-2787 or boxoffice@SOPACnow.org.