Matías Bruno: Going Back Home and Becoming a Star

Matías Bruno as Pierre in El Jorobado de París at Luna Park, Argentina.

Today, we're thrilled to feature Matías Bruno, an extraordinary Argentinian talent whose career has spanned the continent, bringing his passion for musical theater to life on stages both in New York and back home in Argentina. We talk about the raw details of his evolution: from his experience as an international student, to navigating the complexities of being an immigrant artist in New York, and the pivotal decision to return to Argentina and find new successes. He discusses the profound impact of working in different theatrical landscapes, the unique community found in Chasing Dreams, and the invaluable lessons he's learned along the way. 

How was your experience as an international student/performer in NYC? 

My experience was incredible. It was definitely one of the best things I ever did in my life. It's something I still carry with me every time I go to an audition, a class, or a masterclass; even in the way I live my life as a full-time artist at the moment.

First of all, being an international student in NYC was great. It lit a fire in me every time I had to take a class or learn a new song. Moving to another country where you have to speak a different language sets a bar of constantly having to think about everything you do. Although it can be pretty exhausting, especially at the beginning, it puts you in a place where you always have to keep up with your work. So, I really enjoyed being a student. It was very tiring, but at the same time, extremely rewarding.

Not to dismiss Argentinian education, because I think it's great, but I learned a lot that I believe I wouldn't have learned here in Argentina. It was really good, really intense, and it set me up for what I was going to be doing as a performer later on in my career as a professional actor, singer, and dancer. I felt ready to throw myself out there and audition as much as I could.

How was your experience in New York as an immigrant artist? 

That was the hardest part, because you're always trying to find ways to survive and, at the same time, to enjoy what you're doing every day. Sometimes you forget to enjoy the little things; you're constantly thinking, "What can I do to stay in this country, to improve myself, earn money, and at the same time improve my craft as an artist?" When you get to your lower points, that's when you truly appreciate the good things in your life. And once you realize that, you make your friendships stronger; you start a new family in a new culture, which is lovely and great and teaches you a lot about life. But, at the same time, it can be mentally exhausting.

Matías Bruno in Cruel Intentions at Paseo La Plaza, Argentina.

What do you take out the most of your life in NY?

First of all, the working experiences I had. I got the chance to be in three different musical productions: two on Long Island—West Side Story in Babylon and Evita at the Argyle Theatre in Bellport—and I also got to work in a different state, New Hampshire, doing Carousel. I think I wasn't realizing that I was living my dream while I was doing it, and that was great. Second, the people, the family I crossed paths with along the way.

How was your experience with Chasing Dreams and what do projects like this mean to you?

My experience was lovely. Any chance to perform is great as an actor, especially when living abroad. And the fact that Chasing Dreams is a company that focuses on international people and building that community is very rewarding. You feel safe all the time; you don't have to pretend to be someone you're not, nor do you have to put on a strong suit or mask that allows you to be part of a culture you sometimes don't feel part of, and I think that's beautiful.

How was returning back home and booking your first gig with Pepe Cibrian and Angel Mahler in El Jorobado de París? What was the national tour like?

It was a very interesting experience. I've got to say that I kept living here in Argentina because of that job. I was planning on going back to NYC; I came back to Argentina because my visa expired and I was going to apply for the O-1 visa to return and live there. But the fact that I booked a lead role in El Jorobado de París in the Luna Park, and the National Tour, obligated me to stay. In a good way, it made me realize that I wanted to stay in Argentina, at least for a while.

It was a great experience, an opportunity for me to bring everything I learned abroad back to my country, with people who share the same culture and language as me. Having the chance to work with an eminence in Argentinian Musical Theatre like Pepe Cibrian and Angel Mahler, may he rest in peace, was very good and different in some ways, especially in the creative process.

The main reason I decided to stay was because of the people, my fellow cast members. They reminded me what it means to be a working actor in Argentina: that you're allowed to have fun and enjoy an experience beyond just the joy of working. The National Tour and living with the same people for months, getting to know new places, was the breaking point.

Matías Bruno as Roy & Bobby Jeremy in Fun Home , Argentina.

What are some differences you found between production in  NYC and Buenos Aires? 

I think that in New York and the US in general, because of their culture and the history of musical theatre in the Us, the work ethic is different. They take the idea of theater as a job, a regular job, more seriously. The way the production team approaches artists and the casting process is different. In the U.S., it's more efficient; they take less time to decide because they know what they're doing and can't hold you for a long time, as it would be a waste of time and money. The good part in Argentina, especially with Pepe, is that they focus more on the people. They realize you're a product and have to give your best, but they also care about who you are as a person and what your values are. Sometimes, I think that's why they keep calling you in for callbacks for days—because they want to know the person behind the artist.

What is your advice for those international artists who decide to go back home and pursue their dreams in their country?

First of all, this is something that I had to say to myself: don't think that coming back home means you're a failure. I think we tend to see NYC as the best place to do theater, and in a way it is, but you're definitely not a failure for needing or simply wanting to go back home. If you approach it that way, you won't make much progress because you'll constantly be thinking about something you don't have, instead of focusing on what you do have—your talent and your working capabilities.

What are you working on right now? 

Right now, I'm auditioning a lot. I just ended my run in Cruel Intentions and Fun Home, but besides that, I'm working on a show called Hostias Isabel! It's a small and beautiful musical comedy that we're presenting every Sunday in September and October in Buenos Aires at the Astrolabio Theatre. I'm very happy about this project because I've been working in big productions since I came back home, but it's nice to be in a smaller project that has a lot of heart.

What dreams are you chasing next?

OMG! It’s been a while since I set a big dream for myself, I try to enjoy day by day every experience that I have. When I made my dreams come true in NY I didn't realise at the moment that I was living them, I was surfing the waves. So, In a short term I’d like to be part of a huge production again, but in a new theatre and production team. I’d like to be working in a stable job in calle Corrientes, but beside that I still think that I am living it right now, working as a full time actor. I am nor foreseeing anything bigger for now. Tomorrow I might have a different answer.