Award-winning Broadway actress Eva Noblezada spoke at a cultural dinner hosted by University Housing Services, celebrating diversity and the arts in the Brown Ballroom at the Bone Student Center on Thursday. The event featured a dinner of Mexican and Filipino cuisine, and an audience of 575 gathered to hear Noblezada discuss her career and experiences.
Noblezada recently starred as Daisy Buchanan in “The Great Gatsby” on Broadway and has returned to her roles as Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” and Eurydice in “Hadestown.” She is a Grammy Award winner for best musical theater album and a Tony Award nominee for her performances in “Hadestown” and “Miss Saigon.” This was her second Tony nomination in her first two Broadway roles. She also starred in the West End revivals of “Miss Saigon” and “Les Misérables.” Before the event, screens displayed tributes to Mexican and Filipino icons.
Noblezada Addresses Industry Challenges
If we’re gonna put on a show and we’re gonna reflect the world, there better be some diverse bodies on that stage,
she said. University Housing Services Assistant Director of Marketing, Communications and Assessment Hillary Campos-Mathena moderated the Q&A and said Noblezada is deeply rooted and passionate about portraying characters correctly and passionately. She pours herself into her work.
She is so deeply rooted and passionate in what she does in portraying these characters correctly but also passionately,
Campos-Mathena said.
Advice for Aspiring Performers
Noblezada stressed the importance of self-care to students aspiring to be performers. You must take care of yourself, even more than you have passion for what you do, because your body, your brain, your vessel is literally bringing you through all of it,
she said. Noblezada also discussed her love for the rehearsal process. It’s just a time of experimenting and also just being really brave, being very vulnerable, trying new things and landing on your face,
Noblezada said. Junior musical theater major Tyler Schorsch found inspiration in her unique career path. She didn’t have a traditional route into the performance lifestyle.
Everyone kind of takes their own ways, and that kind of gives me inspiration of like if she can make it in her own way then I can make it in my own way,
Schorsch said.
Sold-Out Dinner Draws Fans Seeking Autographs
The dinner was sold out, with University Housing Services doubling the number of tickets normally sold to accommodate the demand. Illinois State University’s Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality catered the dinner and offered a diverse menu highlighting a variety of flavors and culinary traditions. Tickets were available through October 28, 2026, or until sold out. After the event, fans waited in line to get autographs and photos. Jacob Beinborn, an ISU alum, was excited to hear more about Noblezada’s life and career after seeing her perform “The Great Gatsby” in New York City. Noblezada also discussed her relationship with her husband and “Hadestown” co-star Reeve Carney. We definitely feel really blessed, especially with the fact that like, besides like working together, we’re a couple, but we’re also best friends, so it’s just like fun for us.
We just have the best time,
Noblezada said. We’re all doing our best, and we’re all really incredible people, and there’s no roof, I think, to what humans can do,
she said. I feel very honored at the same time, and it also reminds me of the power of theater and how it can bring everyone together, especially representation and how it can inspire people,
Noblezada said. I just think it was really empowering for culture as a Latina,
Paulino said.
