#17 - Matte Martinez: Moonwalking Through the In-Between

Welcome to a special bilingual edition of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! This week, Linedy is joined on the couch by a fellow Dominican powerhouse on Broadway: the incredibly talented actor, singer, and songwriter Matte Martinez. The two dynamic creatives heat things up with a game of dominoes, facing off over a highly contentious debate between the ultimate Dominican staples—mangú con los tres golpes versus sancocho—and discussing why Matte strictly commits to drinking iced coffee even in the middle of a winter blizzard. Matte also shares a deeply vulnerable and humorous revelation, admitting that despite his heritage and childhood Telemundo viewing habits, he doesn't actually speak fluent Spanish. The duo wraps up the segment by analyzing the unique cultural phenomenon of eccentric Dominican naming customs and how Matte uniquely "Dominicanized" his own name by creatively pulling the 'E' from his middle name to change "Matt" into "Matte.” Moving into the deep and soulful middle of the sándwichito format, Matte opens up about navigating the intense, uncertain lulls of the entertainment industry. He reflects on the immense pressure of finishing his time as a Kidz Bop Kid, watching his peers advance while struggling with self-doubt and finding his footing. Matte credits his family's unyielding support and a deep spiritual mindset for teaching him that everything happens for a reason. He details his lifelong connection to the King of Pop—from throwing mandatory Michael Jackson childhood birthday parties to executing the moonwalk at age seven in custom jackets. He and Linedy share an emotional, full-circle moment discussing how seeing a Dominican performer lead a massive Broadway marquee provides crucial validation for their community. Finally, Matte shares how the isolation of the pandemic inspired him and his closest collaborators to pod together and write Oakwood—a therapeutic, six-year musical theater project tracking the chaotic, universal realities of finding your voice in the "in-between.”  Matte Martinez is a brilliant Dominican-American actor, singer, and songwriter making waves across traditional theater and modern entertainment. He began his professional career as a Kidz Bop Kid, touring the country at an early age before transitioning into television and voiceover work. His notable screen credits include appearing on ABC's The Good Doctor and voicing characters in Marvel's Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. As an accomplished commercial songwriter, Matte has penned music for hit Disney Channel global franchises, including High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Zombies 4. Alongside his closest collaborators, he is currently developing the book and score for his original musical, Oakwood. Matte is currently commanding the stage eight times a week in his critically acclaimed Broadway debut leading the Tony Award-winning smash hit, MJ the Musical. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for the day. Connect with Linedy and Matte: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: @mattemartinez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices