Two-time Tony nominee and Broadway powerhouse Eva Noblezada is the latest star to headline the Kit Kat Club — New York City’s steamiest theatrical hot spot. Noblezada steps into the iconic role of Sally Bowles in Rebecca Frecknall’s electrifying revival of Cabaret, starring opposite country music sensation and New York theater newcomer Orville Peck, who plays The Emcee. Spectrum News NY1 entertainment journalist Frank DiLella caught up with Noblezada to talk about performing her “dream role” — in a show that hits with haunting relevance.
Sally Bowles has been a dream of yours for quite some time.
She’s been on my wish list for a long time. I was attracted to Sally’s world and the way she sees herself in the world. She’s a disillusioned young woman who has her dreams, and they unfortunately clash with the backdrop of the setting of the show. She has some incredible numbers. Who doesn’t want to sing Kander and Ebb music?
I agree. Favorite tune?
I would say “Maybe This Time” — but I love “Don’t Tell Mama.”
You’re doing this with Orville Peck. Talk about going through this experience with him.
He’s something else! He’s a treasure. I really respect his work ethic, and it makes me want to work harder and dig my nose in the research of it all. He’s himself, always. He’s a great scene partner. He blows my mind with his Emcee.
Orville is doing Cabaret without his iconic mask. When did he reveal himself to you sans mask?
Frank, he just showed up! He’s just Orville — no mask. [Laughs.]
Can you talk about tackling this show in 2025?
It’s deranged. This is the world we’re living in. It’s terrifying, and it makes me thankful that I’m in a group of people who have been doing this show for a while so they know the effect of performing this type of material in front of audiences who are actively being affected by the material that’s happening in the world we’re living in. This piece of theater is not made up; it was created from a real time in the world.
I’ve seen you originate roles and also take on roles that were created prior to you stepping into them. Talk about crafting your own Sally Bowles.
There’s a natural desire for me to want to keep the integrity of the show. I’m a small part of a big show like Cabaret, and seeing it like that takes the pressure off me in my head. It’s not about me. It’s about what we create in the moment, the actor and the audience and the material. One of the cool things about stepping into Sally is that it’s been done so many times before; it gives me permission to take it to my extremes. I don’t want to copy anybody and plagiarize someone’s art or brilliance on stage.
You’re performing in the round at the Kit Kat Club. Talk about being totally exposed.
It’s so much fun! I will say it’s humbling, because I feel like I have a good side physically. So it’s a good challenge to force myself to ignore that and think we’re humans and have insecurities. If I think of that too much, I’m not thinking as my character, I’m thinking as Eva. It’s a good challenge for me to disappear into this world.
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You just got engaged to your partner, Reeve Carney, while you were filming the live capture of Hadestown in London. Congratulations! You both met doing Hadestown in New York.
A lot of people thought we were a showmance, but it wasn’t. I’m so thankful we had time to be friends first and do our own thing. It feels heavenly to be engaged to him — and feels the same. I love him more and more every single day and I’m excited to continue to live our lives together and do more projects on stage together.
Speaking of Hadestown, that show is still going strong here on Broadway and all over the world. Why does it have such staying power?
There’s an active message of hope and optimism for the future despite tragedy and setbacks. And people want to hear a message like that and have that optimism. Plus, the music and love story — you can never go wrong with that.