So Rico

At this point, Antonio Rico is something of an HGO veteran. The eighth-grader made his company debut as Young Laurentino in El Milagro Del Recuerdo in .2022, followed by the role of Robin in Falstaff last fall. And now, he’s returning for another mainstage production! Rico is playing Kurt in The Sound of Music, his biggest role yet. Wanting to hear more about his opera career, we invited Rico for a chat at a local ice cream shop, where he displayed a level of poise not often found in your average 13-year-old, whether discussing ice cream—rainbow cake with a French vanilla cone is, in his professional opinion, the only way to go—or acting. In between bites, he told us more...  

Opera Cues: How long have you been in theater? What was your first ever show? 

Antonio Rico: I’ve been performing ever since I was in elementary. That’s when I joined my school’s drama club. Then I joined theater class in middle school, where I auditioned for the school musical. I ended up being cast as the Bullfrog in Honk!, who was such a funny, charismatic character that was a lot of fun to play. Later that year I decided to audition for El Milagro, and the rest is history.  

OC: What do you like about performing?  

AR: It’s really fulfilling to see something that you’ve put a lot of time, energy, and effort into finally come together on stage. More than anything, though, I just think it’s so much fun forging a connection with the audience. I love making people laugh and giving them a good time. It’s pure excitement, and it motivates me to do the best I can.  

OC: Do any of your classmates know about your second life on stage? 

AR: My close friends do! They’ve even come to see me in prior shows because they’re just as passionate about theater as I am. I’m very lucky to share that with them.  

OC: What made you want to audition for The Sound of Music? 

AR: I was starring in Falstaff when I heard about the auditions HGO was doing for the von Trapp kids. Some of my friends were auditioning and told me that I should give it a shot, too. The Sound of Music is a classic, so I went for it. Being able to play Kurt is a major milestone in my career; it’s such an honor. I hope I can do him justice.  

OC: How are you preparing for this role?  

AR: I’ve been rewatching the movie trying to really understand Kurt as a character and slide into his shoes. Listening to The Sound of Music soundtrack to memorize the songs before rehearsals start has been helpful, too.  

OC: What are you looking forward to about it? 

AR: I’m excited about the chance to work with all these great artists, especially Isabel Leonard, who plays Maria. I’ve heard great things about her, and it’s an honor to take the stage alongside her. I also just can’t wait to get to know the other kids and work together to bring the von Trapp family to life. 

OC: What are some of your dreams for the future? 

AR: I really want to broaden my horizons to all forms of theater. While I love the opera, I don’t want to limit myself when I’m so young. Why not aim for the stages on Broadway, or the big screen in Hollywood? I want to experience as much of the performing arts world as possible.  

OC: How does it feel to be singing at the Wortham again?  

AR: It’s been such a privilege to work with HGO not once but twice already, so being back for a third time is unbelievable. El Milagro was an incredible first experience, but it was still all so new to me that I didn’t really know what to expect. This time I feel prepared. I’ve picked up so many new skills and tips from all the amazing artists I’ve worked with since my initial performance here, and I can’t wait to use them in The Sound of Music. There’s been a lot leading up to this moment, and it feels like a dream come true. ∎