When Ryan González was a kid, dreaming of a career in musical theatre, they couldn’t see this “very short, very woggy” person as a leading man. Just couldn’t see it. 

By the time they were in their early 20s (González uses they/them pronouns) there was still a lot of doubt. “I had so much in me telling me I’m not right for that; I’m not good enough for this.”

The universe would beg to differ. González got a bit of a break and with it the imprimatur of theatre great Heather Mitchell. She was playing Shirley Hastings in the stage version of Strictly Ballroom; González was in the ensemble and also second cover for the role of Scott Hastings. At one point both the lead and first-cover performers were unavailable. González had to go on for a week or so.

Ryan González

Ryan González. Photo © Daniel Boud

“I never thought I could do it. I was just hoping to get to the end and not mess anything up. And I had Heather Mitchell telling me, ‘Darling, you are so good at this.’ That started it for me. I just didn’t know I...