#15 - Brandon Contreras: Broadway, Bodegas, and Big Queer Joy

#15 - Brandon Contreras: Broadway, Bodegas, and Big Queer Joy

Welcome to a beautifully raw and wildly entertaining episode of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! This week, Linedy is joined by the multitalented Brandon Contreras, a true native New Yorker of Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Colombian descent. The two real-life friends kick off the show with a game of dominoes, diving headfirst into a passionate discussion about the ultimate bodega counter orders. Brandon breaks down his rigorous three-tier sandwich system—ranging from a structured breakfast platter to his late-night "bad girl" double cheeseburger and the greasy magic of a perfectly seasoned chopped cheese. They revisit millennial nostalgia via TRL fashion trends, debate the "boredom of routine" versus the "fear of the unknown,”, and share a mutual terror of the deep ocean. Linedy even shares a terrifying childhood memory of a Make-A-Wish family parasailing trip to Hawaii that dropped her straight into the deep blue sea. As they layer into the heartfelt middle of the sándwichito format, Brandon gets vulnerable about the immense weight of entering the "business of affirmations.” He reflects on the high-profile whirlwind of making his Broadway debut in the ensemble of Tom Kitt's Almost Famous, only to experience the devastating double-grief of the show abruptly closing while simultaneously walking through a painful romantic breakup. Brandon details his sudden, savings-clearing impulse trip across Europe to find out who he was outside of his job and a relationship, proving that the "in-between" spaces are an essential invitation for absolute stillness and self-reflection. He also shares how those periods of not seeing authentic, joyful queer stories in traditional rooms inspired him and his best friend, Matt Coriano, to create The Homo Sapien Experience—a modern digital sketch comedy platform that has built a fiercely protective community of millions. The episode winds down with a festive look at Brandon's strict timeline for taking down a Christmas tree, an intense round of In the Heights-themed "Bed, Wed, Dead,” and a breakdown of why he is actively manifesting a villain edit on The Amazing Race. Brandon Contreras (he/him) is a multi-hyphenate Dominican-Puerto Rican-Colombian storyteller, content creator, and digital media trailblazer born and raised in New York City. He made his highly anticipated Broadway debut in the original company of Tom Kitt's Almost Famous and has performed extensively across elite regional theaters, independent films, and network television. As the visionary co-founder and co-director of The Homo Sapien Experience, Brandon has seamlessly blended traditional theatrical comedy with modern digital media, building a global platform of millions dedicated to queer humor, intersectional Latinx storytelling, and lighthearted advocacy. He is currently bringing his dynamic energy and brilliant comedic timing to the stage in the hit, Tony-nominated musical Operation Mincemeat. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Brandon: * IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/linedygenao/] * IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/entreacts] * IG: ⁠@ohhey_brandon [https://www.instagram.com/emmasofiaokay] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#14 - Emma Sofia: The Unstoppable Jellicle Cat

Welcome to a fierce and deeply authentic episode of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! This week, Linedy sits down with a true force of nature, the incredible dancer and actress, Emma Sofia. The two powerhouse Latinas kick off the show with a lively game of dominoes, diving right into some hilarious food chisme. Emma proudly defends her West Coast roots by crowning In-N-Out over Shake Shack—even coming to the defense of their highly debated papitas (with a tip to get them animal style). From declaring that a true maduro plantain must be bruised completely black before cooking, to sharing her love for gallo pinto, Emma brings immense color and humor to the mic. Moving into the heart of the sándwichito format, Emma opens up about the vulnerability of existing in an "attention-based economy," where artists often wrap their intrinsic human worth completely up in their last resume credit. She takes listeners on her own "hero's journey" after leaving Broadway in 2018. She shares the heartbreaking reality of booking two major television roles right as the pandemic hit, her subsequent move to Miami to care for her abuela, and a deep mental health break that left her silently crying while filling single-use ketchup cups at a vegan restaurant. Emma vulnerably details how surrendering to nature and dancing alone in her room brought her back to life, unlocking an empowering wave of artistic independence that led her to produce ten independent cabaret and film productions in a single year. The episode wraps up with a hilarious look at Emma's current routine—including how she efficiently uses her intermission time at the Broadhurst Theatre to change out her Cassandra wig and execute her full transformation into Skimbleshanks —before stepping into a wild round of "Bed, Wed, Dead" where she weds the Jellicle Ball and vows to take a life-changing trip to a ballroom in Harlem. Emma Sofia is a versatile and electrifying stage, screen, and cabaret artist. A proud Latina and an alumna of the prestigious dance conservatory at SUNY Purchase, Emma seamlessly transitioned from concert dance to commercial theater and television. Her extensive credits include appearing in the FX series Fosse/Verdon and originating roles in the Broadway productions of Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A boundary-pushing independent producer, filmmaker, and leader, Emma has mounted numerous highly acclaimed solo cabaret acts and immersive nightlife events throughout New York City. She is currently captivating audiences eight times a week in the critically acclaimed Broadway revival of Cats: The Jellicle Ball. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Emma: * IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/linedygenao/] * IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/entreacts] * IG: @emmasofiaokay [https://www.instagram.com/emmasofiaokay] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#13 - Victor Vazquez: The Architect of a Jellicle Ball

Welcome to a beautifully grounding episode of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! This week, Linedy sits down with a true visionary and industry change-maker, the brilliant Victor Vazquez—founder of X Casting. The two kick off their conversation with a lively round of dominoes, diving into Victor's deep appreciation for tacos al pastor, his daily commitment to building up a spice palate, and a hilarious look at his absolute refusal to eat mid, Midtown business-meeting salsa that tastes suspiciously like ketchup. Linedy also takes a moment to share the incredibly moving story of how Victor profoundly changed the trajectory of her career nearly a decade ago, looking past a missed role to connect her with her life-long manager and make her feel safe, seen, and valued in the audition room. Moving into the deep, reflective layers of the sándwichito format, Victor flips the script on what it means to be an industry gatekeeper. He redefines the transitional "in-between" periods as highly curatorial, intentional chapters of an artist's path that require immense self-care and nourishment. Victor shares his profound personal North Star—a vivid imagery from a college business class of designing his own kitchen to host his community rather than chasing traditional accolades like Tonys or Oscars. He opens up about the massive responsibility of world-building through casting, detailing the historic year-long open portal methodology used to prioritize the ballroom community for Broadway's Cats: The Jellicle Ball. He also shares a jaw-dropping, framed piece of history: a personal recommendation letter sent to his desk on official Supreme Court letterhead by none other than Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who deeply understood how difficult an actor’s profession truly is. To close the act, Victor treats listeners to a whisper-quiet ASMR casting secret, breaks down why a bánh mì is the absolute perfect umami sandwich, and shares a wild audition room story that involved calling security over a rogue machete. Victor Vazquez (he/him/él) is a creative architect, world-builder, and the pioneering founder of X Casting. As a prominent Latinx casting director and the proud son of Mexican immigrants, Victor is dedicated to dismantling binary pass-fail structures in theater and amplifying the voices of global majority and queer stories. His revolutionary casting methodologies are behind monumental theatrical milestones, including the history-making hit Cats: The Jellicle Ball and the critically acclaimed musical adaptation of Real Women Have Curves. Formerly the Lead In-House Casting Director at the prestigious Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., Victor holds a degree in directing and writing and continues to serve as an indispensable bridge-builder, cultural curator, and community leader across both coasts. Connect with Linedy and Victor: * IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/linedygenao/] * IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/entreacts] * IG: @victorvictorv [https://www.instagram.com/victorvictorv] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#12 - Betsy Wolfe: You Are Worth So Much More Than Your Last Role

Welcome to a beautifully candid episode of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! This week, Linedy sits down with her long-time inspiration turned colleague, the brilliant Tony Award nominee Betsy Wolfe. The two kick off their conversation by bonding over a nostalgic connection to The Last Five Years—including a wild realization that the driving scene's background footage featured the exact Connecticut highway tunnel Linedy used to drive through every day! Diving into a lively round of dominoes, Betsy delivers some hilariously direct takes, explaining why a 90-minute show with no intermission is an absolute blessing for an actor, crowning high comedy over high drama, and inventing a brand-new iteration of "Bed, Wed, Dead" to navigate the chaos of performing 20 costume changes a night in her current role. In the heart of the sándwichito format, Betsy gets real about the immense pressure and identity crises that occur during a performer's downtime. She reflects on the painful, out-of-control industry moments that left her with zero agency, revealing how she channeled that career intermission into founding Broadway Evolved—a transformative mentorship program that has spent eight years teaching teen theater students that their humanity and integrity matter far more than their next credit. Betsy also shares her refreshing strategy for balancing an eight-show Broadway week with raising her daughter Poppy, explaining why prioritizing uninterrupted motherhood actually makes her a better artist on stage. To wrap up, Betsy chats about her secret passions for pickling, kayaking, and interior design, proving that life's pauses can be the most fulfilling acts of all. Betsy Wolfe is an acclaimed Broadway powerhouse and a 2023 Tony Award nominee for her standout performance as Anne Hathaway in the hit musical & Juliet. Her illustrious career includes originating the titular role in the off-Broadway musical Joy, starring as Jenna in Waitress, and delivering a critically lauded turn as Cathy Hiatt in the iconic 2013 revival of The Last Five Years. Currently captivating audiences as Madeline Ashton in Broadway's Death Becomes Her, Betsy is also a passionate educator and the co-founder of Broadway Evolved, a groundbreaking training program for the next generation of theatrical artists. Beyond her immense creative talents on stage, she is a dedicated mother and 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 Betsy: * IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/linedygenao/] * IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/entreacts] * IG: @bwolfepack [https://www.instagram.com/bwolfepack/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#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]