Meet Omar Dileon: A Mexican Voice You Should Hear in New York

He came from Mexico to pursue musical theater. Today, his cabarets invite audiences into the stories of the city and his own.

Some people show you New York with a map. Omar Dileon might sing you a piece of it. We met the Mexican performer to talk about his journey from Querétaro, the creative life he is building here, and why you should catch one of his cabarets while you are in town.

Conoce Nueva York: What brought you to the city?

Omar Dileon: Musical theater. I had the opportunity to do musical theater in Mexico, Argentina and Spain and I wanted to do it in the city that gathers the big productions and the best of the best. As soon as I got here I discovered I wanted to create a community and share my art. 

What can people expect from one of your cabarets?

I want them to feel like we are sharing a story. There are songs in Spanish and English, funny moments, and personal ones too. I love that cabarets let me speak directly to the audience and it combines the beautiful improvisation factor with the reaction that the audience has to your performance. So be ready to experience a new story and be part of it. 

You were also a tour guide. Do those two parts of your life connect?

Absolutely. New York is full of artists’ stories. When I walk through the city with visitors, especially Spanish-speaking visitors, I love introducing them to Broadway and the culture all around them. A place can feel completely different once you know what happened there. I get to share with them the stories of Broadway and my fellow artists friends, and they get to see the magic on the stage in the performances we do for them.

What would you say to someone thinking about coming to see you perform?

Come ready to sing along, enjoy and be surprised. You do not have to know every song or know everything about musical theater. I want you to have a great night and leave wanting more.

After meeting Omar, we wanted to see him onstage. The warmth he brings to a conversation about New York is the same quality he hopes to bring to his shows: an invitation to feel part of the story. If a cabaret date lines up with your visit, put it on your itinerary, it’s a must!