When the curtain goes up at the opera, it’s easy to get swept up in the glamorous costumes, impressive sets, and sweeping high notes. Perhaps less noticeable, but equally worthy of attention, are the supernumeraries. They move silently throughout the production, playing important, non-speaking roles, filling out crowds, and adding to the grandeur of the opera’s constructed world. In Charlottesville Opera’s Tosca, supers play critical roles like the cardinal, the bishop, and Roberti the Torturer. Jay Yñiguez is one of these supers, and he dishes on his dream role, proudest accomplishment, and more. See Tosca July 14 and July 16. charlottesvilleopera.org
Name: Julian “Jay” Yñiguez.
Age: 46.
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois.
Jobs: Air Force officer, program manager.
Worst thing about living here: No Chicago pizza.
Best thing about living here: Mountains and all the camping.
Favorite restaurant: 106th Street.
Where do you start and end a night out: Starr Hill in Crozet, O’Barrio’s (my basement bar).
Who is your hero: My Dad.
Best advice you ever got: “Do it right the first time, so you don’t have to do it again!”
Proudest accomplishment: Every time my daughter makes a good decision, and retiring from the Air Force after 20 years.
Describe a perfect day: Hitching up our Airstream and heading to the mountains, setting up camp and fishing with my wife and daughter, a campfire with a dram of Colonel EH Taylor Single Barrel Bourbon.
What’s something about yourself that people would be surprised to learn: I gave the graduation speech at my college graduation.
If you could be reincarnated as a person or thing, what would you be: Apologies, but life doesn’t get much better than this. I’m so grateful for my family, friends and life experiences so far … Tosca is yet another cherry on top!
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for: A safe and happy life for my daughter, a long life for me and my wife, and a way to be united as a country again.
Do you have any pets: Two dogs, Rocco, the corgi mix, and Bruno, the dachshund … but we don’t talk about Bruno.
What is a supernumerary: A non-singing extra.
First role you ever played: This one … a bishop in Act I and a thug in Act 2.
Dream role to play: Col. Nathan R Jessup, A Few Good Men.
What role are you playing in Tosca: A bishop in Act I and a thug in Act 2, then a stage hand between Acts 2 and 3. I’m above no task.
Favorite thing about performing: Practicing … then getting it right the first time 😉
Favorite opera: Tosca … since that’s kinda the only one to which I’ve been exposed.
Favorite movie/show: Tombstone.
Favorite book: Of Mice and Men.
What are you listening to right now: “O-O-H child,” Lisa Loeb.
Go-to karaoke song: “Georgia on My Mind,” Ray Charles.
Who’d play you in a movie: Young me: Lou Diamond Phillips; Old me: Danny Trejo.
Celebrity crush: Liv Tyler.
Most used app on your phone: Hero Wars.
Last text you sent: Pics of my daughter and I in full costume … and me in my Tosca thug costume next to a GIF of Vincent Vega (Pulp Fiction).
Most used emoji: Glass of bourbon.
Subject that causes you to rant: Entitlement.
Best journey you ever went on: Was handpicked by an alumni from my high school to be crew on a ’39 catamaran sailboat. Sailed 10 days from the Virgin Islands to Florida … didn’t get paid but didn’t pay for much either … still made out with a few core memories.
Next journey: Taking the Airstream to Cape Hatteras.
Favorite word: Sunuvah.
Hottest take: A solid/selfless work ethic is becoming more rare every day.
What have you forgotten today: That you can’t let your kid take reheated calamari for their summer camp lunch.