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[0:01] Linedy Genao: Hello, hello everybody. Welcome to Entre Acts, your favorite podcast. Ya tu sabes. I'm Linedy Genao and I'm so excited to introduce this week's guest.

[0:20] Linedy Genao: And it is our season one finale. Can you believe it? I can't. I'm so grateful to have this be our season one co-host guest.

[0:31] Linedy Genao: I'm thrilled to be joined today by a true force of nature and someone who has solidified herself as one of the most incredible performers of our generation. She is a multi-talented powerhouse who has captivated audiences on both Broadway and the West End, earning a Grammy and two Tony nominations for her first two Broadway outings in Hadestown and Miss Saigon, and recently reprising her acclaimed performances as Sally Bowles in Cabaret and Eurydice in Hadestown on the West End.

[0:58] Linedy Genao: I have personally admired her work from afar, but now from the best seat in the house, having the honor of sharing the stage with her in The Great Gatsby on Broadway, where she currently stars once again as Daisy Buchanan, a role she originated for one last week. Mi gente, please welcome the incredible Eva Noblezada.

[1:18] Eva Noblezada: Oh my god, what an intro! I love you! I'm emotional, I love you so much.

[1:22] Linedy Genao: She's literally like us in the dressing room. Literally, but we're wearing costumes and wigs.

[1:27] Eva Noblezada: Yeah, in our undergarments. I was going to say that, but I don't know. In our panties.

[1:32] Eva Noblezada: Thank you so much for being here.

[1:38] Linedy Genao: Oh my gosh. So, in Entre Acts, we like to start with a little game of dominoes. You know, culturally, dominoes is a big thing in our culture. I don't really know how to play, but we're going to play our own way.

[1:48] Eva Noblezada: I don't know how to play. I have no idea.

[1:49] Linedy Genao: So that's fine. So you're going to pick a domino, sum up that number, and that'll pertain to an icebreaker question, which everyone calls to you.

[1:56] Eva Noblezada: Okay. Four. I'm kidding. Six!

[2:00] Linedy Genao: Okay, number six. Pizza. Fold it to eat it, or use a fork and a knife like a monster?

[2:06] Eva Noblezada: Why would you use a fork and a knife? Right? That's like me saying, I'm going to use chopsticks to eat my ice cream.

[2:14] Linedy Genao: Wow, you just put that into perspective. I do have a hot take. Don't cancel me.

[2:19] Eva Noblezada: New Haven style pizza is sometimes very hot, like it burns the top of your gums. So I do start with a fork and a knife. But it's for safety.

[2:27] Linedy Genao: Hey, I would never cancel you. You got to do what you got to do. Some people do. Like I know Reeve doesn't like to eat pizza sometimes because it's like a pulling motion and like he had this thing done where you chip his tooth.

[2:37] Eva Noblezada: And so sometimes he doesn't want to like aggravate that. I get it. Whatever floats your boat. But I like to fold my pizza because I like to shove it into my mouth.

[2:45] Linedy Genao: Same.

[2:46] Eva Noblezada: Do you like pina on your pizza? No? I love pineapple, jalapenos, and bacon or ham.

[2:53] Linedy Genao: Okay, I haven't had it enough to know if I like it or not. I've only had it in the Dominican Republic. And I liked it there because it was like Dominican ham and pina. But I haven't had it enough. So I don't hate it.

[3:06] Eva Noblezada: I'm going to find a time to get you the best slice in Midtown. Pizzeria. It's on 46th Street.

[3:13] Linedy Genao: Oh my god, I love them across from the Imperial.

[3:15] Eva Noblezada: Yeah, but their pineapple ham is incredible.

[3:18] Linedy Genao: Okay, I'm sold. Okay. Okay. I can't wait. Okay, next. I'm gonna do another one.

[3:23] Eva Noblezada: Okay. I love this.

[3:26] Linedy Genao: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

[3:28] Eva Noblezada: Okay, 10. If you could travel through time, what era would you visit?

[3:33] Linedy Genao: 20s.

[3:34] Eva Noblezada: I would say like Victorian, but it was stinky back then. And there's, I mean, can I say malas palabras?

[3:41] Linedy Genao: Si.

[3:42] Eva Noblezada: I mean, it probably smelled like shit all over the place. Because the horses, there's horse and carriages. People, you know, like, where are you gonna, you know, you just, it was really stinky back then. But the 20s, I would have loved to go to a speakeasy.

[3:56] Linedy Genao: Me too.

[3:57] Eva Noblezada: I like love vintage clothes. And I have a lot of 20s clothes. And I could literally put on a outfit and drop in there and no one would know.

[4:05] Linedy Genao: No.

[4:06] Eva Noblezada: And just go to like, like, you know, one of those underground where they're playing jazz with a big band like Cab Calloway style and have champagne and look at all the showgirls and show people what this means.

[4:19] Linedy Genao: And just like have a great time. Like that would be so much fun.

[4:23] Eva Noblezada: Oh my god, I'm sold.

[4:24] Linedy Genao: Where would you go?

[4:25] Eva Noblezada: I would go so many places but like the Roman Empire just to see what that was like. Like, oh my gosh, what's Egyptian Queen?

[4:34] Linedy Genao: Cleopatra.

[4:35] Eva Noblezada: Cleopatra. I would love to go back at that time and see what that was like. The Renaissance, medieval times.

[4:41] Linedy Genao: The Renaissance would have been crazy.

[4:43] Eva Noblezada: But the 20s style icon, like whenever you come out with your fits, I need to go thrifting with you. I need to go vintage shopping with you.

[4:49] Linedy Genao: Not today.

[4:50] Eva Noblezada: A little gorgeous.

[4:51] Linedy Genao: Today, my outfit is very cute. But the top, it's like a very, for those at home, it's a really tight leather top, Harley Davidson. And I've been sweating.

[5:00] Eva Noblezada: It's hot outside.

[5:02] Linedy Genao: My gooch off today. So I had, I was like, before I go upstairs, I'm gonna go into a gift shop and buy a little, that's cute, I can sleep in this.

[5:07] Eva Noblezada: Yes.

[5:08] Linedy Genao: You know, love it.

[5:09] Eva Noblezada: I love New York.

[5:10] Linedy Genao: I love New York. Okay, next.

[5:13] Eva Noblezada: Okay.

[5:14] Linedy Genao: Don't do math.

[5:15] Eva Noblezada: Eight.

[5:16] Linedy Genao: Eight. If you had to do the entire episode in an accent, which would it be?

[5:20] Eva Noblezada: Darling, I'd probably do it in a, like a London Adele accent. Because I just think like, it's honestly, like I lived in London for six, seven years, five, six years. And I just think Brixton, Essex, London, proper fish and chip. Hey, babe, you're right.

[5:40] Linedy Genao: I love, I love accents, though.

[5:41] Eva Noblezada: Wow. I wish you could do Daisy in an accent.

[5:44] Linedy Genao: Me too. What would you want me to do it in?

[5:47] Eva Noblezada: I don't know.

[5:49] Linedy Genao: What would you do?

[5:50] Eva Noblezada: I don't know. I'm not very versed, well versed with accents, girl.

[5:54] Linedy Genao: I love, I love your natural accent. I think your natural accent is so charming.

[5:58] Eva Noblezada: Thank you.

[5:59] Linedy Genao: And so just perfect.

[6:00] Eva Noblezada: Now that I, thank you, now that I do a Long Island accent, my husband is from Long Island, his whole family, I live on Long Island, so that accent is everywhere.

[6:10] Eva Noblezada: I think now I would do that because it's everywhere and it's fun. And I have a lot of fun doing it in the show.

[6:16] Linedy Genao: And you're really good at it.

[6:17] Eva Noblezada: Ay, gracias. Okay, last one.

[6:20] Linedy Genao: I love this icebreaker.

[6:22] Eva Noblezada: Six.

[6:23] Linedy Genao: Okay, okay.

[6:25] Eva Noblezada: San Pauly.

[6:27] Linedy Genao: San Pauly, we love you.

[6:32] Eva Noblezada: Oh, I have two really good ones. I'm just going to ask them back to back.

[6:34] Linedy Genao: Ask, ask.

[6:35] Eva Noblezada: This is a rapid fire. Is it okay to double dip?

[6:37] Linedy Genao: Yeah, but not if you don't know people.

[6:39] Eva Noblezada: Correct. I agree.

[6:40] Linedy Genao: Right, right. Don't be weird.

[6:41] Eva Noblezada: Exactly. You can only have one for the rest of your life, chicken adobo or tacos al pastor.

[6:47] Linedy Genao: I know. A lot of my questions are regarding food because I love food.

[6:51] Eva Noblezada: That's racist.

[6:52] Linedy Genao: I know, I know.

[6:53] Eva Noblezada: Choose one.

[6:54] Linedy Genao: No, it's not, it's not.

[6:57] Eva Noblezada: Chicken adobo. I love chicken adobo. I love adobo. I love rice.

[7:02] Linedy Genao: Yeah, probably chicken adobo.

[7:04] Eva Noblezada: I love tacos al pastor, but I also have never tried birria ramen.

[7:09] Linedy Genao: There's birria ramen?

[7:11] Eva Noblezada: I feel like that's a whole other collaboration of food and culture that I don't know how I feel about that.

[7:18] Linedy Genao: I'm stunned right now.

[7:20] Eva Noblezada: It's too much wet. I like a taco because, or like a, something with a corn tortilla or like a tortilla that's, it's just a texture thing.

[7:29] Linedy Genao: Yeah.

[7:30] Eva Noblezada: Because you're having ramen, then you're having birria, it's just too many wet things.

[7:32] Linedy Genao: Yeah.

[7:33] Eva Noblezada: I need something crunchy, like chicharron on the side.

[7:37] Linedy Genao: Chicharron. Meanwhile, I haven't had breakfast and I'm like, oh my god.

[7:40] Eva Noblezada: You haven't had breakfast?

[7:41] Linedy Genao: No, girl.

[7:42] Eva Noblezada: Don't throw up my salmon.

[7:43] Linedy Genao: No, it's okay, thank you.

[7:46] Eva Noblezada: She walked in with a beautiful piece of grilled salmon.

[7:50] Linedy Genao: There's a salad that's supposed to, I'm supposed to put that on top, but I can't be asked.

[7:53] Eva Noblezada: I'm too lazy.

[7:54] Linedy Genao: Mix it up.

[7:55] Eva Noblezada: I'm screaming.

[7:56] Linedy Genao: Okay, that concludes our dominoes.

[7:58] Eva Noblezada: Thank you so much.

[7:59] Linedy Genao: I loved it.

[8:00] Eva Noblezada: That was so much fun.

[8:01] Linedy Genao: So, Jinx.

[8:02] Eva Noblezada: Jinx, knock on wood, you want me a Coke?

[8:04] Linedy Genao: Do you like Coke?

[8:05] Eva Noblezada: I do, I haven't had one in a long time.

[8:07] Linedy Genao: What's your favorite soda?

[8:09] Eva Noblezada: Ginger ale.

[8:10] Linedy Genao: Love!

[8:11] Eva Noblezada: What about you?

[8:12] Linedy Genao: I like a root beer.

[8:13] Eva Noblezada: It's okay.

[8:14] Linedy Genao: I want Dr. Pepper.

[8:15] Eva Noblezada: Dr. Pepper just tastes like ass.

[8:16] Linedy Genao: Yeah.

[8:17] Eva Noblezada: Sorry.

[8:18] Linedy Genao: Dr. Pepper.

[8:19] Eva Noblezada: I have to try root beer float.

[8:20] Linedy Genao: Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew.

[8:21] Eva Noblezada: Ay, Mountain Dew no me gusta.

[8:22] Linedy Genao: I don't like it.

[8:23] Eva Noblezada: I like a Fanta, but it has to be really chilled.

[8:25] Linedy Genao: Me too, cold.

[8:26] Eva Noblezada: Yes.

[8:27] Linedy Genao: You get it.

[8:28] Eva Noblezada: You get it.

[8:29] Linedy Genao: But you know what I really want right now?

[8:30] Eva Noblezada: A beer.

[8:31] Linedy Genao: Do you like lime on your beer?

[8:32] Eva Noblezada: I can't.

[8:33] Linedy Genao: I love those.

[8:34] Eva Noblezada: Open a Corona, you get a little wedge of lime, and I ask you to do this.

[8:37] Linedy Genao: You put it in.

[8:38] Eva Noblezada: You put it in the Corona bottle. You put your thumb in it. You put it upside down, and clog the Corona, and the lime goes all the way to the top, which is the bottom of the bottle, and then you put it back down.

[8:49] Linedy Genao: The way that Reeve does it, I think it's because he puts his fingers in it.

[8:53] Eva Noblezada: Boom.

[8:54] Linedy Genao: Sorry.

[8:55] Eva Noblezada: Sorry.

[8:56] Linedy Genao: He's my husband.

[8:57] Eva Noblezada: Married queen.

[8:58] Linedy Genao: Corona with a lime is really, really good.

[9:00] Eva Noblezada: Oh my God.

[9:01] Linedy Genao: Okay, I got to try that.

[9:02] Eva Noblezada: So, Entre Acts is where we talk about those transitional periods as artists that we face when we're not working, whether we know what's next or not, but how we navigate that, because unfortunately, in this industry, there's a lot of shame that comes with that.

[9:15] Linedy Genao: It's like, what are you doing next? Oh, you're not working? I always say, we don't ask a teacher in the summertime, oh, you're not working? No, I'm living my best life and enjoying my life until September comes.

[9:30] Eva Noblezada: So, I wanted to create a space where we talked about that in a positive light, and also, we all go through that, and it shouldn't be something that is negative or anything like that.

[9:39] Linedy Genao: Yeah, stomp on the stigma.

[9:40] Eva Noblezada: I love that.

[9:41] Linedy Genao: I love it. What does that in-between period mean to you?

[9:45] Eva Noblezada: Any time of rest and recovery is essential to the human body, no matter what line of work you're in. I've been really lucky enough to be working consistently a lot of my life, so I think the longest time I've had in-between jobs was literally three weeks.

[9:59] Linedy Genao: Eva.

[10:00] Eva Noblezada: I know, other than the pandemic.

[10:01] Linedy Genao: I mean, the pandemic.

[10:04] Eva Noblezada: But 18 months, that wasn't really a time for us to be traveling and feel relaxed, because I didn't think our line of work was going to come back. I remember calling the strip club, I'm not even kidding, on the West Side Highway, because I was doing pole dance. Because I was like, what am I going to do? I can't do concerts. I can't do whatever. And they were like, hello, and I hung up.

[10:26] Linedy Genao: I got so scared.

[10:27] Eva Noblezada: Because I also felt like that was wrong of me to take a place of actual sex workers who, you know. I haven't had a lot of time in-between other than the pandemic. But I will say, recovery and rest is so important. So for me, it's just time for you to live life on your own timeline.

[10:45] Eva Noblezada: I mean, our whole lives are dictated by our schedule, which I think is so unnatural. And I feel like my spirit is constantly fighting the urge to do things for myself, because we have to reserve energy for everything else but ourselves.

[11:01] Linedy Genao: And people go, oh, you get one day off.

[11:02] Eva Noblezada: Yeah, to do everything that people have a weekend for.

[11:05] Linedy Genao: Literally everything, yeah.

[11:06] Eva Noblezada: When people go, oh, I can't wait for the weekend, I get so jealous.

[11:09] Linedy Genao: Same.

[11:10] Eva Noblezada: Or like, oh, three-day weekend, I get so jealous. Or, oh, time for Christmas vacation, I get the whole week off. Huh.

[11:16] Linedy Genao: Must be nice.

[11:17] Eva Noblezada: Must be nice. I haven't had Christmas with my family in 13 years.

[11:20] Linedy Genao: Ay, Dios mío.

[11:22] Eva Noblezada: Yeah. Crazy.

[11:24] Linedy Genao: Crazy. But now I'm preparing for this next chapter, which is going to be free, and I'm so excited.

[11:30] Eva Noblezada: Yay.

[11:31] Linedy Genao: I know you have a lot of trips coming up, and your honeymoon. That's so exciting.

[11:35] Eva Noblezada: I'm excited.

[11:36] Linedy Genao: So yeah, you have vacations coming up, and your honeymoon, and you're in your last week at Gatsby.

[11:41] Eva Noblezada: I'm so grateful we got to do the show together, even though we have so many scenes together, y'all.

[11:45] Linedy Genao: We have so many.

[11:46] Eva Noblezada: My favorite one is in Act 3, when we, the other one where we kiss.

[11:50] Linedy Genao: Yeah.

[11:52] Eva Noblezada: It's so sad. We have no scenes together.

[11:54] Linedy Genao: You know, the closest we do have a scene together is when I see you and Tom.

[11:58] Eva Noblezada: I see you and John get on the couch to come on for Shady.

[12:02] Linedy Genao: You do?

[12:03] Eva Noblezada: And then I watch you leave in your sexy robe.

[12:05] Linedy Genao: That's like the closest we have to act with each other.

[12:07] Eva Noblezada: Oh, I didn't even know you were there.

[12:09] Linedy Genao: I know.

[12:10] Eva Noblezada: But I get to hold your hand and bow together.

[12:12] Linedy Genao: I know.

[12:13] Eva Noblezada: Oh, that's true.

[12:14] Linedy Genao: That's true.

[12:15] Eva Noblezada: Oh my God.

[12:16] Linedy Genao: Oh, I love that.

[12:17] Eva Noblezada: And also, I'm just happy that your dressing room is right down the hall.

[12:18] Linedy Genao: Me too.

[12:19] Eva Noblezada: You're like right there, which is great.

[12:56] Linedy Genao: I love that. I love arts and crafts. I think it's good too for artists to be creative and make things shamelessly knowing that you're not making money off of it and no one has to see it and it's just something that you make that you're proud of. I think that's important.

[13:10] Eva Noblezada: Absolutely.

[13:11] Linedy Genao: So does the in-between feel different now that you've done so many high-profile projects? Do you ever feel pressure or put pressure on yourself to keep that momentum going especially when you've only had three weeks off but now you're going to actually enjoy that time?

[13:28] Eva Noblezada: I think I always feel pressure but I think the older I get the more I don't care. I think now what I'll say the momentum that I'm trying to keep up with is a pace that I get to set myself period because anyone who hires me and I'm very lucky to be hired by people and very grateful but we need each other. I think I'm over those days where I'm completely in devotion to somebody or something because a lot of the times unfortunately in this industry as much as I love Broadway it's not a living human and as much as I love producers they have bigger fish to fry than thinking about my mental well-being and even though some of them do which is amazing I have to understand how much power I have and control I have over my life so I get to create my own momentum and my own pacing of it but in between there is pressure because people like to put pressure on you and people project their own insecurities and they want to see you doing something.

I don't even know why that is. Is it because like you know what I mean like why do people have to ask what are you doing next especially when it's like so what are you going to be doing? It's like why wouldn't you ask what do you have planned like what are you going to do to relax and unwind? That's what I'd rather ask somebody when they leave a massive run.

[14:46] Linedy Genao: Absolutely. Do you think it's because people like why do you think that is? Why do you think people ask that?

[14:50] Eva Noblezada: I think it's because the industry that we're in we're just so like out there and we're just our brand and the show and blah blah blah I don't know but you're right I don't sit and ask someone that's not in this industry like you know I literally ask them oh your day what are you doing tomorrow on your day off like what do you do for fun? I'm not like oh what are you doing next year and then and then this month and this month if you have a-

[15:11] Linedy Genao: Well yeah what concerts do you have coming up?

[15:12] Eva Noblezada: Hmm?

[15:13] Linedy Genao: Ah.

[15:14] Eva Noblezada: Wait till I tell you. El Diablo.

[15:16] Linedy Genao: El Diablo.

[15:17] Eva Noblezada: El Diablo.

[15:18] Linedy Genao: El Diablo.

[15:19] Eva Noblezada: El Diablo. That is if I took anything from this job that I love it's you teach me how to say Diablo.

[15:25] Linedy Genao: So Dominicans-

[15:26] Eva Noblezada: El Diablo literally means the devil but that's not how it's intended to be used or like what it means. Dominicans just say El Diablo like oh shit that's cool El Diablo or like El Diablo like El Diablo.

[15:39] Linedy Genao: Love that one.

[15:40] Eva Noblezada: You know? Because that's somebody's name.

[15:42] Linedy Genao: Oh yeah El Diablo.

[15:43] Eva Noblezada: Oh my god. So looking back is there a specific in between period that felt really difficult at the time but actually taught you something vital that you ended up using later on?

[15:58] Eva Noblezada: Yes. So I had I think it was like I got three weeks but two of them or most of it we were in LA and I was staying at my amazing new brother Zane Carney's house and it was mainly because Zane, Reeve and Paris were doing work the three of them and so most days I was by myself and just like walking around and I don't have a license.

[17:06] Linedy Genao: That's okay.

[17:07] Eva Noblezada: I don't need to because my husband drives.

[17:09] Linedy Genao: Exactly.

[17:10] Eva Noblezada: Period. Princesa. And so I was like what do I do? So like I would wake up I would smoke a joint I'm big on the pot. Get with it. I would do yoga I would take a little swim and then by that time you know because I have my free time it's 12 noon and I would just be sitting at the house twiddling my thumbs like do I do? And then I felt the pressure to be like should I write a script should I do something productive should I should I should I that was really hard for me because my brain feels so loud.

[17:55] Linedy Genao: Do you feel like that?

[17:57] Eva Noblezada: Oh. So many voices in my brain and they're so loud that I felt like a lot of shame for just like not doing anything like I should be resting productively I should be resting and creating and getting ready studying for my next project and the pressure of that was like man what's the lesson here? And I think what I learned was slowing down and actually like let me take a walk around the block with the intention of looking at something a tree a squirrel a patch of clover and really analyzing it.

[18:29] Linedy Genao: Wow.

[18:30] Eva Noblezada: One of my things I love to do when I get really overwhelmed like on my day off I'll wake up really early and go to Central Park and find four-leaf clovers I'm really good at that. I can the most I found in like 30 minutes was like four. I'm really good at finding four-leaf clovers because I have to my brain I just it's fun for me and I bring Petunia and we have like a little park morning but that was hard I was like how do I slow down and I think that helps with storytelling because if I'm excited to tell a story that's great but the character we're never gonna be on the same page you know what I mean? Daisy her world moves so slowly and it's such a simple world and I don't like that that's not how I live my life.

[19:09] Linedy Genao: So it taught me a lot actually about like how you can just observe and how actually that help that's helpful with physicality of like putting that in your body and making it different than my body so that when I'm on stage the biggest compliment you could ever give me as an actress is you completely disappeared. That is the biggest compliment you could give me as an actress I didn't see you once on stage. That to me is so amazing and so I think taking the time to analyze things and really magnify and take the space and take up space which requires stepping back and going what is this? Let me just stew here I'd love that but that was really hard because we always feel like we have to go go go.

[20:02] Linedy Genao: And you inspired me to I can't even tell you if I've ever gone to the park and looked for a four leaf clover and if I ever have it was when I was a toddler when I was young so you inspired me I'm gonna do that.

[20:07] Eva Noblezada: I think doing things that we liked as kids is actually really beneficial as adults I think there's a lot of like brain I can't speak English today there's lots of what is it called when brain cells you create a new pathway a neurological pathway there's a lot of things in our brain that have been traumatized or forgotten about or pushed to the side as we went from puberty into adulthood because we you know were taught so many things by society and our parents that maybe we didn't agree with and I think when we become adults if we want to set ourselves free from expectation we have to go back to who we were at the prime of us being children what we were interested in sometimes to help my vagus system my nervous system I'll put on hey Arthur or Arthur or hey Arnold or old Nickelodeon like like on YouTube there's like three hour long loops of just like 90s cartoons with ads okay I'm gonna do that just hearing that is like this is nice like I can slow down like I don't know just reminding us that like we can do things that we actually enjoy and we should I love that oh my gosh I'm gonna go on a deep dive now and you watch did you watch cartoons growing up a lot okay see what's your favorite hey Arnold oh my gosh what did you Arthur Arthur I loved out of the box what's the um so long farewell to you my friends goodbye for now until we meet again bitch that was so good that was so good wait what else and also wasn't it wasn't it like an Asian girl and a black guy yes I was like diversity period diversity that felt natural yes and the bear with the moon what was that one oh um and he would be like like smell the camera and I go close to me like he's smelling me and that little mouse yes and do you remember on Nickelodeon face no was it face like literally his face would take up the whole screen no wait also I don't know that wait there's one more that's in my head and I can't I don't remember zoom did you ever watch a zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom no I didn't know but I want to also um magic school bus come on the magic school bus a but see god I love that but it was also educational and less it the even the paces of those shows slow it's not it's slow and in charge and like trust the storytelling of it all it doesn't go it shows nowadays movies are so fast you look at any movie in the edits are so quick cuz our attention now it's like the attention span is it's sad I like fighting that I'm doing my best right now to fight going so fast I need to take that it's hard man thank you.

[25:02] Eva Noblezada: Thank you so if you could go back to your younger self maybe during one of those early uncertain moments before my Saigon Hadestown cabaret what what advice would you give Eva about the waiting period about the in-between? I would say be true and do you seriously because I think so as a performer I found I find that I'm really I've struggled a lot with being performative being a people pleaser and I don't think I don't think that's helpful at all for the longest time I was like no no this is this will teach me something and it's like really it hasn't helped taught you anything except for how tired you are and also like if you're if you spend so much of your time being unaligned with who you really are and what you really want then it's gonna be easier for you to be to take you away from your like chosen destiny like you know like you don't want to be far away from who you are who you are and who you're meant to be so yeah it's hard though man like being also like having a great group of friends to like I would tell my younger self like keep those friends who love you like like really cherish that because people are really fickle and life is fickle and it's not all about you sometimes I know there's so much like because then it's like I don't know what the future holds so how do I prepare for that those are really big questions but also younger me I think if I were to go back in time give my younger me advice I think she'd be like right and roll her eyes she was so younger me was so mature like but putting it on and like she was so ready and like so excited so green but she was ready she was she needed to go and fall on her face and be humbled and learn about what it really takes to be a leading lady so I think I'd be like good luck bitch.

[27:22] Eva Noblezada: I think it’s so important to just be honest with yourself about what you need, and I think that’s something that I’ve been learning a lot about lately.

[27:52] Linedy Genao: Yeah, and I think that’s a huge part of it, especially in our industry where there’s so much pressure to always be on and always be performing.

[28:18] Linedy Genao: It’s like, how do you find that balance between being present and also taking care of yourself?

[28:46] Linedy Genao: And I think that’s something that a lot of people struggle with, not just in the arts but in general.

[29:12] Linedy Genao: So, what are some of the things that you do to check in with yourself?

[29:40] Eva Noblezada: I’ve started to really prioritize my mental health, and that means taking breaks when I need them, even if it feels like I shouldn’t.

[30:08] Eva Noblezada: I’ve also been trying to surround myself with people who understand that and who support me in that.

[30:36] Linedy Genao: That’s so important. Having that support system makes a huge difference.

[31:04] Eva Noblezada: Absolutely. And I think it’s also about learning to say no to things that don’t serve you, which can be really hard.

[31:33] Linedy Genao: Yes! The people-pleasing trap is so real.

[32:01] Eva Noblezada: It really is. I’ve had to learn that it’s okay to put myself first sometimes.

[32:30] Linedy Genao: Definitely. And it’s not selfish; it’s necessary.

[32:58] Eva Noblezada: Exactly! And I think when you do that, you’re actually able to show up better for others.

[33:26] Linedy Genao: 100%. So, what was it like for you during the pandemic when everything shut down?

[33:50] Eva Noblezada: It was terrifying, honestly. I was in a really weird place, and I didn’t know what to do with myself.

[34:19] Eva Noblezada: I started practicing pole dancing just to keep my spirits up, and it was a wild experience.

[34:48] Linedy Genao: That’s amazing! I love that you found something to keep you moving.

[35:02] Eva Noblezada: Yeah, it was definitely a way to cope, but I also had moments of panic about the future of live theater.

[35:30] Linedy Genao: I can only imagine. It was such a strange time for everyone.

[35:58] Eva Noblezada: It really was. And I think it made a lot of us reevaluate what we want and need from our careers.

[36:26] Linedy Genao: Absolutely. And now that things are starting to open up again, how do you feel about getting back into the swing of things?

[36:36] Eva Noblezada: I’m excited but also a little nervous. It’s a lot to jump back into.

[36:46] Linedy Genao: For sure. It’s like riding a bike, but also a completely different bike.

[37:06] Eva Noblezada: Exactly! And I think we all have to be gentle with ourselves as we transition back.

[37:16] Linedy Genao: Yes! That’s such a good reminder.

[37:26] Eva Noblezada: It’s all about finding that balance again and remembering to take care of ourselves.

[37:46] Linedy Genao: So true. And I think that’s a great note to end on as we wrap up this season.

[38:06] Eva Noblezada: Thank you for having me! It’s been such a fun conversation.

[38:16] Linedy Genao: Thank you, Eva! I can’t wait to see what you do next.

[38:26] Eva Noblezada: Me too!