Entre Acts with Linedy Genao – Details, episodes & analysis

Ever feel like life hit “intermission” and forgot to hand you the rest of the script? Entre Acts with Linedy Genao is the podcast for anyone navigating a life transition: career pivots, creative reinvention, burnout, breakups, big moves, and the messy in-between (or in Spanish, entre) the acts of life. Hosted by Broadway star Linedy Genao, each episode delivers candid conversations and behind-the-scenes stories from artists and bold thinkers rewriting their next chapter in real time. Expect real talk, a little chisme, and the kind of insight that feels like a reset button for your confidence.  Whether you’re switching paths, starting over, or chasing a dream that scares you, Entre Acts is your reminder that you’re not lost. You’re simply in-between acts!  Because life doesn’t pause.  It just moves… entre acts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the debut episode of Entre Acts! Host Linedy Genao sits down with the incredible Laurie Hernandez—a two-time Olympic medalist, Dancing with the Stars champion, and now, an actor making her Broadway debut in & Juliet. In this fun and vibrant conversation, Linedy and Laurie explore the "in-between" spaces of life and artistry, playing games like dominoes to break the ice and discussing everything from the perfect hoagie sandwich to their favorite Bad Bunny song. Beyond the laughs and the chisme, Laurie gets vulnerable about her massive career transitions, comparing her rigorous Olympic gymnastics training to the intense, athletic demands of performing eight shows a week on Broadway. She opens up about navigating performance anxiety with the help of sports psychology, the importance of Latina representation on the world stage, and the profound realization that stepping into the unknown—like attending drama school at NYU after retiring from gymnastics at 21—can lead to beautiful new beginnings. Laurie Hernandez is a powerhouse talent who first captured the world's heart as a two-time Olympic medalist in gymnastics. Since retiring from the sport, she has continuously expanded her horizons, winning the mirrorball trophy on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars, becoming a two-time New York Times best-selling author, and serving as an NBC analyst. A proud Latina and national speaker advocating for mental health, children's rights, and women's empowerment, Laurie is in her senior year at NYU with a drama major and a creative writing minor. She is currently thrilling audiences while making her highly anticipated Broadway debut in the hit musical & Juliet. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Laurie: IG: @linedygenao IG & TT: @entreacts IG: @lauriehernandez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! In this episode, Linedy welcomes her true hermano and Broadway castmate Ryan McCartan. The two kick things off with a classic game of dominoes , debating the merits of ketchup over mustard and flat, crispy pineapple pizza. They also dive into some bilingual chisme, exploring how a guy from Minnesota ended up speaking Spanish with a perfect Puerto Rican accent thanks to his partner Natalia. Along the way, they share a hilarious round of "Bed, Wed, Dead" featuring Broadway icons and musical theater legends. Moving into the meaty middle of their sándwichito format , Ryan gets vulnerable about the realities of his 25 year acting career. He shares a powerful piece of advice from a mentor that being an artist is like waiting in a long line that only moves when others give up and go home. The duo opens up about navigating mental health, internet negativity, and the exact pre show mantra Ryan shared with Linedy to help her combat anxiety. Ryan also provides an educational look into managing Type 1 Diabetes while performing at the highest level. He emphasizes that surviving the hardest parts of a career is all about community, proving his favorite quote that if something is mentionable, it is completely manageable. Ryan McCartan is a celebrated actor and musician who recently starred in the titular role of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby on Broadway. His impressive theatrical resume includes playing Fiyero in Wicked, Hans in Frozen, and originating the role of JD in Heathers The Musical. Television audiences will immediately recognize him as Diggie from the hit Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie. Up next, Ryan is preparing to reprise his beloved role as Tony in West Side Story at the Washington National Opera. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Ryan: IG: ⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠ IG & TT: ⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠ IG: @mccarya Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Linedy welcomes the incredible Autumn Best to talk about navigating the messy middle of an artist's life. They kick things off with a classic game of dominoes, where they chat about everything from chickpea salad sandwiches and thin crust pizza to the highly debated etiquette of taking your shoes off on an airplane. (Note: You might hear a little Spanish sprinkled in as they catch up and share some chisme!) Autumn opens up about how she fills her "in-between" periods by spending time with her toy poodle Garbanzo and playing the violin just for the absolute joy of it. The conversation then dives into Autumn's major career transitions, including her bold move to New York City during the SAG strike to chase her childhood dream of doing theater. She shares the fascinating process of writing her own nightly political standup routines and the physical challenges of singing with a frontal lisp for her current off-Broadway role. Autumn also gets candid about disability advocacy in the entertainment industry. She reflects on her empowering experience working with director Anna Kendrick on her feature film debut in Woman of the Hour and how indie filmmaking provides a beautifully collaborative space for authentic representation. To wrap things up, the two bond over a hilarious game of Bed, Wed, Dead featuring Disney princesses and discuss exactly why Autumn would dominate on the reality show The Traitors. Autumn Best is an accomplished actor, aspiring screenwriter, and passionate advocate currently starring as Logan in the off-Broadway hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She made a splash on television in the CW series 4400 and recently made her feature film debut in the Netflix thriller Woman of the Hour. As a champion of independent cinema, she recently served as a script consultant and star for the indie film BRB, which took home an honorable mention at the Slamdance Film Festival. Beyond her work on stage and screen, Autumn is a dedicated musician and a vocal advocate for disability representation in the arts, continually proving that a strong sense of humor, collaboration, and self-belief can change the industry. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Laurie: IG: ⁠@linedygenao⁠ IG & TT: ⁠@entreacts⁠ IG: ⁠@itsautumnbest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! In this episode, Linedy sits down with the phenomenal Christiani Pitts to discuss the beautiful and challenging "in-between" spaces of a performer's life. After kicking things off with a game of dominoes, where they bond over focaccia sandwiches, airport arrival habits, and reality TV like The Secret Life of Mormon Wives, the conversation gets real. Christiani opens up about the struggle to separate her identity from her career, sharing a powerful reminder that artists are "human beings, not human doings". Outside of her acting, she reveals her pandemic-born passion for canvas painting and her self-proclaimed skills as an overthinking private investigator. The duo also dives deep into the realities of balancing motherhood with a demanding theater schedule. Christiani vulnerably shares her initial fears of how her pregnancy might alter industry perceptions, and the beautiful, warm support she ultimately received from her director and community. From reminiscing about sharing the exact same dressing room at the Broadway Theatre to swapping chisme about her "Roman Empire" of apocalypse prepping and throwback perreo anthems, this episode is packed with humor and heart. Finally, Christiani shares the magic behind her current romantic comedy stage hit, breaking down the quintessential New York energy of Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York. Christiani Pitts is a powerhouse stage and screen actress, currently starring as Robin Rainey in Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York. She is widely celebrated for her stunning leading roles on Broadway, including starring as Ann Darrow in King Kong and Jane in A Bronx Tale. On screen, Christiani shines as Pernessa Reid on the Starz hit series Power Book III: Raising Kanan and stars as Beverly Stratford in the Netflix film Resort to Love. A devoted mother to her daughter, Zora, Christiani continues to captivate audiences with her authentic performances and undeniable talent. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Christiani: IG: ⁠@linedygenao⁠ IG & TT: ⁠@entreacts⁠ IG: @christianiworld Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Entre Acts with host Linedy Genao! This week, Linedy sits down with her idol and Broadway powerhouse, Mandy Gonzalez. The two start off with a lively game of dominoes, swapping chisme and debating everything from the supremacy of California street tacos to the perfect cold turkey and cheddar deli sandwich. They also dive into the emotional impact of representation, with Linedy sharing how seeing Mandy as Nina Rosario in In the Heights changed her life. From chatting about Bruno Mars being the ultimate soundtrack for their "Señora era" to revealing why Mandy always keeps an elephant statue in her dressing room for good luck, this episode is packed with warmth, laughter, and authentic Latina joy. Moving into the deep "in-between" moments of an artist's life, Mandy gets real about turning intermissions into creative opportunities. She reflects on the early career heartbreak of her first original Broadway show flopping, Dance of the Vampires, and how her mother's steadfast advice, "We're Gonzalez’, we work," fueled her resilience. Mandy opens up about navigating the industry as a new mother, which led her to sing on cruise ships and eventually write her Fearless Squad book series to ensure young readers see themselves represented in theater. She also discusses her profound experience bringing her full, authentic self to the iconic role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard and performing Lin-Manuel Miranda's music at Carnegie Hall. Mandy Gonzalez is a true titan of the stage and screen, widely known for originating the iconic role of Nina Rosario in the Tony Award winning musical In the Heights. Her incredible Broadway resume includes starring as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton, Elphaba in Wicked, and recently taking on the legendary role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Beyond the stage, Mandy is a breast cancer survivor, the author of the Fearless Squad young adult book series, and a dedicated advocate for authentic representation in the arts. She is currently preparing to star in the highly anticipated world premiere of the new musical Basura, featuring music by Gloria and Emily Estefan and directed by Michael Greif. This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Linedy and Mandy: IG: ⁠⁠⁠@linedygenao⁠⁠⁠ IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠ IG: ⁠@mandy.gonzalez Get Mandy's book series, Fearless Squad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: @emmasofiaokay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: @victorvictorv Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: @bwolfepack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 IG & TT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@entreacts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: @its_daveed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices