By Charles Baran

Singer. Dancer. Actor. Triple-threat Florida native Brian Piedra is back in town after a two-year cross-country tour in PAW Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure where he played, among other things, a PAW Patrol pup named Tracker. But it won’t be long before he heads back out on the road, this time to China. Before leaving on his great adventure, I had the chance to sit down with Brian to find out more about this talented young man.

Charles Baran: Hi Brian! How does it feel being back in Florida?

Brian Piedra: Touring and performing across the nation is amazing but it does feel great to be back home and see my family. The Paw Patrol Live! tour literally closed on my birthday, May 19th, and I was able to celebrate it here in Miami. It was a nice alignment of the universe! We celebrated at Cheesecake Factory. My mom, her boyfriend, and my siblings. But I’m hoping to get to Wilton Manors and celebrate with my friends at Hunters or Alibi.

Charles Baran: Is the US tour of PAW Patrol over?

Brian Piedra: We closed it domestically but now we head to China. We leave in July for five months.

Charles Baran: Are you excited?

Brian Piedra: I’m excited but also a bit nervous about the challenges it will bring—like adjusting to a whole new country and the food. But I’m ready to face them and have this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Charles Baran: Tell me a little about yourself.

Brian Piedra: I was born and raised in Miami. Initially, I didn’t even have an interest in theater. I was a very quiet and introverted kid and had no intention of being on stage because not only did I have stage fright, but I had an irrational fear of the stage collapsing on me. It was silly, but I’m glad I can look back and laugh about it.

Charles Baran: When did you realize that those fears were unfounded?

Brian Piedra: I think the first time I realized I could be on stage was my first Holy Communion. Somehow, I was put with a group of singers, singing a song during the ceremony and I remember afterwards at the reception everyone telling me I had a beautiful voice. I didn’t delve further into performing until the 8th grade when my school was doing Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and I got the part of Charlie! I loved the book and the movie with Gene Wilder. So, I think this was the launching pad for everything that came after.

Charles Baran: How old were you?

Brian Piedra: I was 15 years old and it was then that the “showbiz bug” bit me. Before that, I wanted to be an architect. I loved drawing and sketching. My grandfather was an architect and an interior designer. In high school—I went to Christopher Columbus in Miami—I wanted to fit in with the cool kids, so I tried out for a lot of sports. Cross country and track. Then in sophomore year, I tried out for the Drama Club. The first production I was in was a British farce, See How They Run. One of the female leading characters dropped out of the show and they asked me to play the role! I was suddenly playing a woman in an all-boys catholic high school production! That was also my very first taste of drag.

Charles Baran: Were you nervous?

Brian Piedra: Yes, I was very nervous. I didn’t want to let the production down, but I was also nervous about my high school reputation being ruined. Surprisingly it didn’t turn out like that at all. I’m very grateful that the Drama Club turned out to be the highlight of my high school journey. I even helped my school create the very first “Thespian Honor Society.” My old high school’s Thespian Society is now winning awards and going to competitions, so it’s really something I am proud of. After high school, I just kept getting into more and more shows. In my freshman year in college, I was at a crossroads. I applied for the BFA program but didn’t get in so I thought I wouldn’t be able to pursue theater. But, as it turned out, I went into the general theater BA program at Florida State University and spent the next four years learning everything about theater, from lighting to costumes to makeup. I’m very grateful it turned out that way because I developed a greater appreciation of everything that goes into doing a show. Now, whenever I’m in a production, I take it upon myself to give credit to everyone behind the scenes because they deserve it.

Charles Baran: How did you get cast in PAW Patrol?

Brian Piedra: I got the part by applying online through Backstage. It was my very first national tour and I was so excited! This was a dream come true. I had been doing a lot of local regional theater around South Florida and really wanted to book a cruise ship gig or a national tour. All my friends were booking tours and I felt bad because I wasn’t. I know I shouldn’t compare myself to others. Whenever I do I like to remember a quote I heard from Andre De Shields who played Hermes in Hadestown. He wisely said, “Slowly is the fastest way to success.” I’m a very firm believer that things happen for a reason and in a very specific time and place. The universe always tells you that “this is where you need to be right now.” Everything happens for a reason. Like getting in the BA program and learning every aspect of theater.

Charles Baran: What part do you play in Paw Patrol?

Brian Piedra: I play a bunch of characters in the show. I play a Pirate Parrot, a dancing Pirate, a Paw Patrol pup named Tracker who is Hispanic and an animal rescue pup. And I do most of the puppeteering in the show, puppeteering three different kinds of puppets.