Entre Acts with Linedy Genao

#11 - David Mendizábal: The Magic Behind the Award-Winning MEXODUS

Welcome to a beautifully insightful episode of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! This week, Linedy is joined by the brilliant, award-winning director and designer David Mendizábal. The two kick off their conversation with a game of dominoes, debating who delivers the harsher critique—a Broadway reviewer or his Tía —and crowning New York City actors as the ultimate source of theater drama over their more laid-back Bay Area counterparts. David keeps it hilariously real, admitting they would immediately blow $96,000 in cash rather than waiting a decade for a lottery chance, and challenges the traditional nonsense of theater etiquette by advocating for a more vocal, interactive audience experience. In the heart of the sándwichito format, David shares the profound beauty of navigating a director's "in-between" spaces, viewing the initial chaos of a production lull as an eventual path toward structured clarity and new cosmic collaborations. They open up about the "superpower" of embracing vulnerability and collective intelligence in a rehearsal room when you don't have all the answers. David details the intentional, meticulous craftsmanship behind directing the award-winning live-audio production Mexodus, tracing its genesis from raw pandemic video exchanges to transforming an entire stage into a live looping machine. Finally, David shares the sheer disbelief and imposter syndrome of getting the offer to helm the highly anticipated City Center gala production of In the Heights, reflecting on how the musical serves as a profound baseline of cultural resilience and a deep tribute to their ancestors. The episode wraps up with an intense round of No Me Diga hot takes, including a recurring Entre Acts public safety warning against wearing chancletas near New York City trash piles. David Mendizábal is a Lucille Lortel and Helen Hayes Award-winning director, designer, and visionary leader shaping the landscape of contemporary American theater. They currently serve as the Associate Artistic Director and Director of In Dialog at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, a Founding Collective Member of The Sol Project, and a Producing Artistic Leader of the Obie Award-winning Movement Theatre Company. David's acclaimed directorial vision spans major works including the award-winning Mexodus at Audible Theater, The Bandit’s Place at Roundabout Theatre Company, and the upcoming City Center Fall gala production of In the Heights. An alumnus of NYU Tisch , David continues to champion authentic representation, collective storytelling, and community empowerment across the country. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and David: * IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/linedygenao/] * IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/entreacts] * IG: @its_daveed [https://www.instagram.com/its_daveed/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#10 - Deanna Giulietti: Finding Main Character Energy in the Intermission

Welcome to a high-energy episode of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! This week, Linedy is joined by her "prima," TikTok superstar and actress Deanna Giulietti. The two Connecticut natives kick things off with a rowdy game of dominoes, where Deanna makes the controversial claim that deep dish pizza is superior to thin crust. They swap New York City horror stories, including the time a rat ran over Linedy’s foot in Washington Heights, and debate the ultimate airport rules—concluding that while taking your shoes off is a privilege reserved for business class, wearing socks through the TSA scanner is a non-negotiable hygiene requirement. The heart of the episode explores Deanna’s incredible journey through the "messy middle" of the entertainment industry. She shares how the pandemic pause transformed her from a cruise ship performer in Jersey Boys to a construction worker building outdoor offices with her father. Deanna gets candid about the "star success" vs. the financial reality of booking her first acting jobs   that did not  pay the bills, leading to her being evicted from her apartment even as her social media following exploded. From discussing the empowerment of producing her own show, Barbara and Kenneth, to Linedy sharing her own dream of becoming the next Guy Fieri to rate restaurants, this episode proves that being multi-faceted is the key to surviving the in-between. Deanna Giulietti is a multi-hyphenate actress, content creator, and social media sensation widely known for her infectious positivity and "10 out of 10" energy. She recently starred as JoJo in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of Mystic Pizza and originated the role of Hips in First Bloody Girls. A proud Connecticut native, Deanna’s career includes performing in Jersey Boys on Norwegian Cruise Lines and leading a sold-out run of her fringe show, Barbara and Kenneth, which she is now personally producing for its next journey. When she isn't on stage or filming viral TikToks, Deanna is an interior design enthusiast. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Deanna: * IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/linedygenao/] * IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/entreacts] * IG & TT: @deannagiulietti [https://www.instagram.com/deannagiulietti/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#9 - Jordan Tyson: Living in the In-Between: Jordan Goes Down to Hadestown

Welcome to a new episode of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! This week, Linedy sits down with the luminous Jordan Tyson, who is currently starring as Eurydice in the Tony Award winning musical, Hadestown. The duo kicks things off with a high-stakes game of dominoes, where Jordan reveals she would rather travel to the past to keep the future a surprise and admits she is firmly in the "claim both armrests" camp when stuck in an airplane middle seat. They also bond over their shared Caribbean roots and the surprising fact that Jordan is a fluent Italian speaker, as well as Spanish since she grew up surrounded by Spanish speakers on Long Island.  The heart of the episode dives into the "intermission" moments of Jordan’s career, including a pivotal six-month break between her roles in Gypsy and Hadestown. Jordan gets candid about a time before her Broadway debut when she almost pivoted to a "Plan B" because the struggle of being a working actor felt too heavy. She also shares her journey as a recording artist and songwriter under the name, lovejordan, a passion she cultivated during the pandemic by teaching herself guitar via YouTube. From discussing her "easeful" audition process for Eurydice to a hilarious Hadestown-themed round of Bed, Wed, Dead, this episode is a beautiful look at trusting the timing of your life. Jordan Tyson is a multi-talented actress and recording artist currently starring as Eurydice in the Tony Award winning musical Hadestown on Broadway. She originated the role of Young Allie in The Notebook on Broadway and garnered critical acclaim for her performance as June in Gypsy opposite Audra McDonald. Outside of the theater, she performs and releases original music as a singer-songwriter under the moniker lovejordan, having recently released her debut single. A proud New Yorker with a deep love for language and simplicity, Jordan continues to be a rising force on both the stage and the music charts. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Jordan: * IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/linedygenao/] * IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/entreacts] * IG: @curlybroad [https://www.instagram.com/curlybroad/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#8 - Bailey Ryon: This Matilda Gal is Heading to the Beaches

Welcome to a new episode of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! This week, Linedy sits down with Tony Award winner Bailey Ryon to discuss the unique journey of growing up in the spotlight and returning to the stage as an adult. The episode kicks off with Linedy’s signature game of dominoes, where Bailey reveals her niche as a "TV nerd," sharing her love for shows like The Traitors, Bridgerton, and Derry Girls. They bond over their shared experiences as "flat, thin crust" pizza enthusiasts and discuss the hilarious reality of being a clumsy performer who would much rather fall on stage than forget a line. In the heart of the conversation, Bailey reflects on the "in-between" periods that allowed her to find herself outside of the industry after winning a Tony at just 10 years old. She shares heartwarming stories of how her mother protected her during her time in Matilda, ensuring she could still "be a child" by playing at the infamous Broadway playground with other young performers. Bailey also dives into the creative excitement of her current role in the new musical Beaches, explaining the fast paced nature of tech rehearsals and the thrill of working with a collaborative team that is constantly refining new scenes and lines. Bailey Ryon is a Tony Award winning actress who made history at age 10 as one of the original stars of Matilda The Musical on Broadway. For her performance, she received a Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre and a Grammy Award nomination. After taking time away from the spotlight to attend college for musical theater, she returned to the stage in the national tour of Kimberly Akimbo. Bailey is currently back on Broadway originating a new role in the world premiere musical Beaches at the iconic Majestic Theatre. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Bailey: * IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/linedygenao/] * IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/entreacts] * IG: @baileyrryon [https://www.instagram.com/baileyrryon/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#7 - Melissa Barrera: Making Waves with her Titanique Broadway Debut

Linedy sits down with the incredibly versatile Melissa Barrera. The two start their conversation with a fun game of dominoes, discussing their love for spicy salsa from NYC’s Mexican restaurant Cuerno, and debating the age-old question of whether Jack could have fit on the door in the movie Titanic. Melissa also explains why filming slasher movies is essentially just playing pretend, though she actively avoids supernatural horror films due to her upbringing. Backstage at her current Broadway show Titanique, Melissa shares hilarious stories about her castmates, from Frankie Grande’s pre-show ritual of blasting Celine Dion in the dressing room to Constantine “Connie” Rousouli’s  “attempt” at speaking Spanish with her.. Moving into the "in between" moments of her career, Melissa gets incredibly vulnerable about facing rejection and navigating systemic racism in Hollywood. She reveals how she combats these industry barriers, and strives to open doors for herself and her community. Melissa also opens up about overcoming singing trauma from a past reality show to land her current Broadway role, a journey that involved canceling a Zoom audition and flying herself to New York to prove her dedication. Offering profound advice for artists dealing with the negative outside noise, she shares a powerful quote about how a boat only sinks from the water it lets in, reminding listeners to value the opinions of loved ones over internet critics and trolls . Melissa Barrera is a global powerhouse actress and singer whose dynamic career spans from Mexican telenovelas to massive Hollywood franchises. She captured audiences globally with her stunning portrayal of Vanessa in the film adaptation of In the Heights. Since then, she has dominated the screen, surviving Ghostface in the Scream films, leading the Netflix survival hit Keep Breathing, and starring in the cult favorite horror rom com Your Monster. Currently having a massive 2026, Melissa leads the Peacock spy thriller The Copenhagen Test and is making her highly anticipated Broadway debut starring as Rose in the hit musical comedy Titanique. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Melissa: * IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/linedygenao/] * IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/entreacts] * IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/mandy.gonzalez/]@melissabarreram [https://www.instagram.com/melissabarreram/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]