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