How Fil-Am Marco Paguia ‘quietly’ rose into a two-time Tony winner

Marco Paguia recently made waves on Broadway, securing not one, but two prestigious Tony Awards. He became the first Filipino and Asian recipient of the Best Orchestrations award and also received a special Tony as part of the acclaimed Buena Vista Social Club band.

Standing on the iconic Radio City Music Hall stage to accept his awards, Marco shared a touching memory of his father. He recalled his dad telling stories of visiting Radio City as a student in New York City, always speaking of its grandeur. Marco found it deeply fitting to honor his parents, Victor and Ruby Paguia, from that very stage, reflecting on their journey and how far they had come for their son to be there.

The news of Marco's success added to a celebratory year for Filipino-Americans at the 78th Tony Awards. While Nicole Scherzinger and Darren Criss initially garnered headlines for their wins, Marco's triumph, reported later, sparked further jubilation over a historic night with three Fil-Ams recognized in theater's top honor. Marco also highlighted the significant Asian-American representation this season, including Francis Jue's win.

His second Tony, a Special Award for the Buena Vista Social Club band, marked a historic first for the Tonys, recognizing a band's collective performance on stage. Marco expressed immense joy for his fellow band members, most of whom are Cuban and deeply connected to the music. He noted that for many, this was their first Broadway experience, making the recognition for their unique on-stage contribution incredibly meaningful.

Winning two Tonys on the same night was beyond Marco's imagination when the season began. While honored by his individual orchestration award, sharing the band's special Tony was particularly fulfilling. Despite appearing as an "overnight success," Marco's rise is the result of 25 years dedicated to theater, starting from playing piano for dance rehearsals and working his way through regional theater and tours to becoming a music director and orchestrator.

Key past projects in his journey include music directing shows like "Gutenberg! The Musical!," "Girl From the North Country," and others. His orchestrations for "Buena Vista Social Club" had already earned him Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards before the show even opened on Broadway.

Marco traces his love for musicals back to childhood in the Midwest, watching touring Broadway shows with his parents, who are immigrants from the Philippines. He cited Lea Salonga, the "Michael Jordan of Broadway" for Filipinos, as a significant icon who represented the Philippines on a global stage. Being counted among celebrated Filipino artists like Lea, Nicole, and Darren this year felt "quite shocking" to him.

His musical foundation began with piano lessons at a young age, encouraged by his parents, alongside his brothers. While they all studied piano, Marco pursued it the longest, developing skills in both classical and jazz, which broadened his musical appreciation and ability to analyze different genres.

Growing up in Illinois as the middle of three children to Filipino immigrants, Marco reflected on navigating dual identities. He shared that in their predominantly Caucasian community, the inclination was often to blend in and "not make waves," a trait he sees as common in Asian-American assimilation culture – putting your head down and doing good work.

This background makes the recent visibility and recognition for Asian and Filipino-Americans in the theater world, particularly at the Tonys, especially exciting for him, fueling a sense of Filipino pride in the industry.

Music was a constant presence in his childhood home, with his parents enjoying opera, The Beatles, and Elvis. They consistently supported his musical aspirations. Marco's younger brother, Vic, was a diver for the Philippines and is now a stunt coordinator, while his older brother is Emil. Marco has family in the Philippines and visited in 2003, an eye-opening trip seeing his parents' roots and experiencing the culture.

Naturally, Marco speaks with particular enthusiasm about "Buena Vista Social Club," the show that has brought him such significant recognition. He feels fortunate to be part of a production that celebrates Cuban music, noting its global appeal and the heartfelt appreciation it receives nightly from diverse audiences on Broadway, from those familiar with the original album to newcomers.

He lauded the "incredible" musicians in the band, many of whom are masters of their craft, some having grown up with the music. Playing alongside them, especially being featured on stage rather than in the pit, has been a revitalizing experience, reminding him of the inspiration he felt studying music early in his career.

Another career highlight Marco shared was playing piano for the recording sessions of Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" film with the New York Philharmonic and Maestro Gustavo Dudamel. He described it as a major "pinch-me moment," feeling initially intimidated by the iconic score and renowned artists but gaining confidence from the experience, including a moment where Dudamel singled him out.

Being in the presence of Steven Spielberg and working on one of his films felt like a dream come true. Later, meeting Broadway legend Rita Moreno, who appeared in the film and watched "Buena Vista," Marco was able to share how much those recording sessions, including playing solo piano accompaniment for her song "Somewhere," meant to him.

Reflecting on other significant career breaks, Marco mentioned serving as music director for "Girl From the North Country," a show featuring Bob Dylan's music. This production, which reopened after the COVID-19 shutdown, was the first time he felt truly embraced as a leader in the room, learning valuable lessons in guiding a Broadway show, especially navigating the complexities of returning after the industry-wide pause.

His Broadway debut as a music director came with "Everyday Rapture," a one-woman show where he formed lasting friendships with the cast, including Lindsay Mendez, with whom he has continued to collaborate on music. This opportunity after years of playing in pits and subbing felt like a major milestone.

"Gutenberg! The Musical!" presented another unique opportunity. Beyond music directing, Marco played a character with speaking lines, introducing the lead actors Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells at the start of each act. This experience of standing center stage and delivering humorous lines helped him feel more comfortable addressing large audiences, proving useful when giving his Tony acceptance speech.

The "Gutenberg!" run also brought memorable interactions, as celebrity guests would perform a scripted bit. Marco had the chance to meet figures like Steve Martin, Martin Short, Hillary Clinton, Anne Hathaway, Anna Wintour, and Henry Winkler.

At "Buena Vista Social Club," the guest list has also been impressive, including Panamanian artist Ruben Blades and director Spike Lee, who visited backstage after a Knicks playoff loss and said the show lifted his spirits.

Marco revealed he had been working on a musical adaptation of "All The President’s Men" with the brilliant artist Michael Friedman. They even presented an opening number to journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, who were deeply impressed. Sadly, the project halted with Friedman's untimely passing shortly after.

His family, whom he affectionately calls "Koreapino" (his wife Helen is Korean), is a constant source of inspiration. Marco described his marriage as an "amazing, beautiful partnership," crediting Helen, a former dancer he met on tour, as the family's rock who understands the demands of show business. Having children has deepened his sense of purpose, making everything he does feel like it's for them, and he cherishes being able to share the excitement of his recent success with them.

Marco remains incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of "Buena Vista Social Club," especially since it places the band front and center, valuing the musicianship in a way not common in many Broadway productions. He admitted that after this experience, it will be difficult to return to the orchestra pit where musicians are heard but not seen, preferring to embrace the energy and audience connection he gets being on stage with this remarkable band.

While a national tour for "Buena Vista Social Club" is being planned, Marco doesn't anticipate joining on the road extensively, but expects to be involved in its organization. He is also hopeful about the future of "Goddess," another musical he worked on, aspiring for it to reach Broadway. With ongoing conversations about other projects and potential concerts, Marco is happily occupied, savoring this period of being in the spotlight after decades of dedicated work in musical theater.