Isabella Gonzalez grew up in Cincinnati surrounded by music — her parents played a variety of soul and 60s’ songs, and it left a lasting impression.
“My mom was showing me musical theater when I was [too young to] talk,” she said. “So I was singing by age five and professionally by eight.”
Gonzalez decided to pursue vocal work as a career, and like many Cincinnatians, ended up boomerang-ing to college away from Cincinnati — and then finding her way home.
The journey, while clarifying her career choice, also gave her a new appreciation for being Jewish. Gonzalez had attended Rockwern Academy (back when it was called the Yavneh Day School), and was part of synagogue life locally.
Gonzalez also comes from a Jewish-Cuban (sometimes called “Jewban”) background. On her mother’s side, she is descended from Holocaust survivors, who, according to family lore, were allowed to leave Nazi Germany because a cousin was the dentist for Eva Braun, Hitler’s longtime girlfriend (and for a few hours, wife).
“When I was younger, I didn’t realize the importance of my Judaism,” Gonzalez said. “I took it for granted, because when you’re always surrounded by it, you don’t realize how special it is.”
But going to Oklahoma City University for a theatre degree was a wake up call. There are only about 2,500 Jews in Oklahoma City, compared to roughly 32,000 Jews in the Cincinnati area.
Gonzalez found herself being the first Jew many of her peers had ever met, and missed the vibrancy of the Cincinnati Jewish community.
“That was hard, and there was antisemitism, for sure, that I experienced while I was at school,” she recalled.
On the flip side, the experience made Gonzalez more passionate about being Jewish and celebrating Jewish holidays. She now regularly celebrates Shabbat with her fiancé.
“Since being back in Cincinnati, I’ve just been hanging out more with the tribe, and I think more outwardly [things have also changed] — I used to not like my nose very much, and now I’m like, ‘I love my Jewish nose,’” she said.
In a way, Cincinnati and the local Jewish community also helped Gonzalez figure out how to approach her career. Like many aspiring vocalists and actors, she could have tried to make it big in places like New York City or Chicago.
Her last year in college, Gonzalez did a summer program in New York City. It was an incredible experience, but also extremely sobering.
“We got to work with a bunch of really cool people, but there was this whole conversation that we had…where they sat us down and talked to us about how to apply for unemployment and how this is going to be your life,” she said.
“This is the grind in New York: You have your job, you perform, and then once the performance is done, you have to find another job. Some people love that grind and are really good at it. It’s not for me.”
Cincinnati, meanwhile, is much more affordable. Gonzalez also has more flexibility to pursue her career while working as a nanny.
Another hit against New York City: Gonzalez didn’t feel that there was enough greenery. Central Park, though beautiful, is still in the middle of the city rather than truly out in nature.
As to where that bias came from? Jewish summer camp.
“I grew up at Camp Livingston, which is like the most green, muddy Midwest thing you can do,” Gonzalez said. “That’s just the lifestyle that I enjoy.”
So back to Cincinnati it was, where Gonzalez has been happy working on her career in a much more sustainable way than New York City offered.
As she continues to audition, pursue more voice acting roles, and plan for marriage to her fiancé in just a few weeks, Gonzalez is soon performing as a vocalist in Cabaret on the Runway.
The sold out March 24 cabaret — a combo of musical theatre and fashion show — is put on by The Ghostlight Stage Company. Four designers will present their work while Gonzalez and three other vocalists sing a mix of songs from musicals like “Sweeney Todd” and “Chicago.”
There will be “the coolest designs based off of iconic musicals, and the music is just gorgeous,” Gonzalez said. “It really is beautifully woven together. I’m definitely excited to be performing in it.”
