At Helena Padial’s center college manufacturing of Bye Bye Birdie, Chita Rivera—sure, that Chita Rivera—got here to look at. When she met the musical theater legend backstage, Padial burst into tears of disbelief, and Rivera gave her a hug.
Quick-forward to 2026 and Padial, at 21, has been named Broadway’s Subsequent Triple Menace, a brand new award created by the Chita Rivera Awards and New York Metropolis Dance Alliance. Since March, the Elon College senior had made it by two video rounds of evaluations by a panel of Broadway icons (Charlotte d’Amboise, Robert Fairchild, and Jessica Lee Goldyn, to call a couple of) earlier than an intense coaching workshop in NYC, ending with the awards gala. With the Triple Menace award, Padial has additionally gained the inaugural Chita Rivera Coaching Grant, which is able to assist fund her housing and coaching in NYC for the upcoming yr.
“It occurred so quick,” says Padial. Moments earlier than the winner was introduced on the gala, she and her fellow finalists had carried out Warren Carlyle’s Tony-winning “Too Darn Sizzling” choreography from Kiss Me Kate, quick-changed into gala apparel, and run upstairs and into the theater. As Bebe Neuwirth handed Padial the award, the Broadway luminary advised her, “That is only the start.”
It truly is only the start for Padial, who flew to North Carolina the subsequent day for Elon College’s senior week. With simply hours till she graduated along with her diploma in musical theater, she took a while to talk with Dance Spirit in regards to the competitors, her desires, and what it means to be a triple risk.
Might you describe your early coaching?
I began ballet after I was 3 and educated at Coupé Theatre Studio in Nanuet, NY, from after I was 7 during highschool. As I acquired older, I cherished doing jazz, up to date, and ultimately musical theater, after I realized I had a voice.
When did you determine to pursue musical theater after highschool?
Throughout junior yr, my vocal coach, Celeste Simone, was the primary one who made me understand I may do musical theater in school.
Elon was my dream college. I sprained my ankle within the audition (whereas studying a combo to “Too Darn Sizzling,” paradoxically!) however nonetheless acquired in. It actually was probably the most pivotal 4 years of my skilled improvement and creative development. And simply discovering myself.
How did you become involved in Broadway’s Subsequent Triple Menace?
Celeste is concerned within the awards, so she despatched me the flyer and mentioned I ought to apply. I used to be tentative—I didn’t wish to get too wrapped up in self-comparison (perfectionism is my Mt. Everest), and I used to be so busy as a senior at Elon. What made me determine to use was the concept of getting suggestions from business professionals.
You made it by the primary two rounds, then traveled to NYC for the finalist coaching session. What was that like?
It was principally Broadway Boot Camp. Sharing the room with such main performers, brokers, and choreographers, not to mention studying from them—that’s not one thing you assume may occur till you’re years into your profession. It was such a high-stakes surroundings, with a lot of adrenaline and actually tough choreography.
On Sunday, we realized “Too Darn Sizzling” with Warren Carlyle—4 and a half minutes of cardio, Broadway-level choreo in six hours, and it was technically a males’s half. For these of us in heels, it was actually tough. Our third run was in tech on Monday, so the gala efficiency was the fourth. In entrance of our idols, no much less. We had no time to consider any of that. We simply introduced our A-game.
Do you’ve gotten any desires to your profession?
I don’t assume Broadway must be the end-all, be-all for anybody. Clearly, my dream is to be on Broadway—don’t get me mistaken! [Laughs.] However I simply wish to carry out for so long as I can, and to fill my time with doing what I really like. Like, 100% of the time. Performing makes me so completely satisfied.
I don’t assume you’ll be able to ever grasp the sensation that occurs when the lights hit you onstage. It’s the final word vulnerability, expressing who you might be from inside. I simply wish to try this again and again.
What does it imply to be a triple risk?
That weekend, we talked about how there’s at all times the singing, dancing, and performing—however there’s a fourth factor, which is being a great particular person.
I wouldn’t name myself a dancer first or a singer first, or an actor first. I believe the best way I’ve gotten right here is by devoting myself to turning into a well-rounded human being first, and creating each aspect of my artwork by that.
