How to Succeed In Theater (by sacrificing everything)

How to Persevere through Chaos, COVID, and Closing with Chloe Nadon-Enriquez

September 25, 2023 Katie Coleman Episode 6
How to Persevere through Chaos, COVID, and Closing with Chloe Nadon-Enriquez
How to Succeed In Theater (by sacrificing everything)
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How to Succeed In Theater (by sacrificing everything)
How to Persevere through Chaos, COVID, and Closing with Chloe Nadon-Enriquez
Sep 25, 2023 Episode 6
Katie Coleman

Today’s guest is Chloe Nadon-Enriquez, coming at us straight off of Broadway’s Bad Cinderella. I caught her while she was in New York, just before flying back to close the And Peggy tour of Hamilton, where she was a swing for a couple years just after graduating from Northwestern. Chloe is not only super talented, she is also SMART - she has a degree in Neuroscience, and ran a fruit fly lab during the COVID shut down. In this episode, we discuss her chaotic audition and final callback for Bad Cinderella, what it’s like to transition after a show closes, her process for nailing it as a swing, and other fun stories from tour and that unpredictable life of working in theater. 

Find Chloe:
www.chloenadonenriquez.com/
IG: @chloealexandrine

Theme music written by Rachel Dean and orchestrated by Katie Coleman

Audio engineer Mike Rukstad

Special thanks to the following folks from the SIX Boleyn Company for lending their voices to the intro:
Mike Rukstad
Dylan Dineen
Sarah Ortiz
Jane Cardona
Kaitlin Ciccarelli
Kami Lujan
Jillian Bartels

Find us!

on IG @howtosucceedintheater
https://howtosucceedintheater.buzzsprout.com

Show Notes Transcript

Today’s guest is Chloe Nadon-Enriquez, coming at us straight off of Broadway’s Bad Cinderella. I caught her while she was in New York, just before flying back to close the And Peggy tour of Hamilton, where she was a swing for a couple years just after graduating from Northwestern. Chloe is not only super talented, she is also SMART - she has a degree in Neuroscience, and ran a fruit fly lab during the COVID shut down. In this episode, we discuss her chaotic audition and final callback for Bad Cinderella, what it’s like to transition after a show closes, her process for nailing it as a swing, and other fun stories from tour and that unpredictable life of working in theater. 

Find Chloe:
www.chloenadonenriquez.com/
IG: @chloealexandrine

Theme music written by Rachel Dean and orchestrated by Katie Coleman

Audio engineer Mike Rukstad

Special thanks to the following folks from the SIX Boleyn Company for lending their voices to the intro:
Mike Rukstad
Dylan Dineen
Sarah Ortiz
Jane Cardona
Kaitlin Ciccarelli
Kami Lujan
Jillian Bartels

Find us!

on IG @howtosucceedintheater
https://howtosucceedintheater.buzzsprout.com

02:30.33
howtosucceed
Okay, oh my gosh I'm trying to think a where to start I feel like I had so much. Um I definitely want to hear all about bad Cinderella.

02:35.10
Chloe
I don't.

02:46.32
Chloe
Yes, um it it was amazing. Um I had the best time. Um I was a swing and that was my first time swinging a brand new show. So um, it was hard.

02:48.43
howtosucceed
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah.

03:04.19
Chloe
I covered 9 tracks. Um, which I know four more than I did in Hamilton so like that was a huge challenge. Yeah, and you know things change every day in previews and obviously every day during the rehearsal process so it it would be like.

03:06.29
howtosucceed
Oh my God that's crazy. Wow.

03:17.37
howtosucceed
Oh right.

03:22.87
Chloe
I would take all of these notes and then all of a sudden I had to change them or modify them. Um or start from scratch and it was very hard and then you know people would be out for costume fittings and then they'd be like okay Chloe can you jump in for Sarah and I'd be like oh shoot I don't know if I even like studied this.

03:29.34
howtosucceed
Ah, oh my gosh.

03:37.39
howtosucceed
Oh.

03:41.52
Chloe
Particular number for this particular track. So it was a lot. There were 3 3 female swings and then um, 3 male swings. Yeah.

03:42.57
howtosucceed
Right? Wow how how many other swings were there. Okay and did all 3 of you cover like the same nine tracks or was it different.

03:58.45
Chloe
Yes, so we all technically like contractually covered all 9 but we were assigned like primary secondaries and tertiaries. Um, so like ideally you would never go on for a tertiary track unless the other 2 swings were already on for someone else right.

04:04.96
howtosucceed
Oh cool. Okay. No, right? yeah.

04:15.41
Chloe
Um, but there was one day where I had to do a mid show swing on for a tertiary track. Yeah I could not believe it. Um, it was fine. Um, the the actor she was so kind she was like listen like.

04:19.31
howtosucceed
Oh Wow Oh my God How did it? How did it go.

04:34.87
Chloe
I don't really have to dance much for the rest of the first act. So I'm gonna give you I'm I'm gonna call out during intermission. So like you have all of act 1 to study my act to like she's the best. Yeah, she was amazing. She did um and that's what happened and I basically like watched the archival video reference some notes.

04:40.41
howtosucceed
Oh my God So she like gave you warning.

04:54.58
Chloe
Um, during all of act 1 and then act two I went on and act 2 is hard because it's like nonstop even though we would have a few breaks they were all um, dealing with wig changes and costume changes. So like you don't really have time to learn or study on those breaks. So I pretty much had to know all of act 2 like at the top of act.

05:07.42
howtosucceed
Ah, right? Oh wow.

05:13.95
Chloe
So I was like it is what it is.

05:17.15
howtosucceed
And were the were the ensemble tracks like similar like was it like the same choreography but from a different place or were they all pretty different.

05:25.31
Chloe
Um, there were like variations I would say um, it was the same like formula the same idea and then like obviously different spots and then there were like 4 couples who in the waltz and like the wedding party. They did a particular.

05:32.48
howtosucceed
Aha.

05:42.60
howtosucceed
Got it.

05:42.40
Chloe
Set of choreography and like the other couples did different choreographies so it it wasn't too bad like it was definitely manageable. It's kind of like variations of the same framework right? So yeah, yeah, yeah.

05:48.87
howtosucceed
Yeah, yeah, that's nice I guess but still, but then in some ways I feel like that's also harder because you're like okay, it's the same kind of the same but slightly different and all these details. Wow Um I feel like you.

05:59.87
Chloe
Right? right? yeah.

06:06.12
howtosucceed
Had a really cool audition story for this show was there something about like multiple flights and yeah, tell us that story.

06:12.30
Chloe
Yeah, he yes, um it was insane. So I um I was on tour with Hamilton and I was in I believe I was in Edmonton or Calgary like pretty far west in Canada. Um.

06:24.71
howtosucceed
Okay, yeah.

06:29.75
Chloe
I had the initial appointment and I flew and I believe I'm trying to remember because it was so back and forth. But I'm pretty sure the first time around my flight was either delayed or I might have like missed my layover um and they lost my luggage which I was really upset about.

06:42.93
howtosucceed
Okay, oh no, yeah.

06:49.47
Chloe
Um, yeah, basically like customs at torontopearsonairport is the worst thing ever. Um, people have missed layover flights because you have to go through customs. Um, before you get onto the plane. Um, so like you I think when you enter Canada you go.

06:59.00
howtosucceed
Ah, ah.

07:02.99
howtosucceed
Right.

07:08.82
Chloe
Into customs there um out of the Us. But when you're leaving Canada you're going through us customs in Canada so exactly and I think I had like a 3 or a 4 hour layover and I missed my flight because of customs.

07:09.15
howtosucceed
Okay. Oh so you have to allow a lot of time. Oh no, Oh my gosh.

07:27.74
Chloe
Yeah, it was so backed up. It was such a mess. Um, so yeah, it it was really bad. Um I missed my flight and then oh yes and then I got on another one. You know how like Delta will like reschedule your flight I get on another one and then they're like.

07:39.58
howtosucceed
Yeah up.

07:46.30
Chloe
This flight is cancelled. Oh actually oh my gosh I'm being so spastic I'm sorry I should have thought about this before um, okay, no, the first time around I believe it was like 1 delayed flight or 1 canceled flight I got on another one. No problem but they lost my luggage um and then I ended up flying back to tour.

07:51.90
howtosucceed
Um, no, that's okay.

07:58.67
howtosucceed
Her. Okay.

08:06.10
Chloe
And then the second time when I got called back I had to go out of Edmonton again. But then I couldn't book like a round trip because then I had to come back to tour to Calgary because it was a travel day for them. Um, and I actually um after my first audition I came back to the show.

08:15.70
howtosucceed
Oh right.

08:25.64
Chloe
And I was on for 7 performances that week I'm a swing and I literally did like a 7 show week. Um I was exhausted I did a 5 show weekend 2 show Saturday 2 show Sunday and then my roommates who had we had a car there and we were living in company housing they were like.

08:29.38
howtosucceed
Oh right? Oh my God yeah.

08:42.33
howtosucceed
Ha ha.

08:44.95
Chloe
Okay, Chloe like we're gonna smuggle you right? after the show put your suitcase in the car and we're gonna bring you right to the airport I had booked in a red eyee for Sunday night. My audition was Tuesday morning. Um during the show I remember it specifically I was checking my phone during dear theodosia and I was like.

08:51.32
howtosucceed
Oh Wow Oh gosh.

09:02.70
howtosucceed
Um, ah ah oh no.

09:04.45
Chloe
Um, my gosh it says my flight is canceled and like what it said was there are no similar flights that will get you there within 48 hours so like try to call air canada and like their whole time was like 3 hours long it was absolutely insane.

09:10.91
howtosucceed
Oh no.

09:18.61
howtosucceed
O Oh no.

09:23.62
Chloe
So I booked another flight and put it on my credit card in hopes that I could just get a refund for the first one I book another flight and then toward the end of the show. It says your flight has been canceled and I'm like what is going on so there's no flights going out that night no

09:26.11
howtosucceed
Ah, yeah, sure.

09:35.44
howtosucceed
Oh my God was there like a weather thing or something. Ah, she's.

09:42.58
Chloe
I just think it was like understaffing it was like in the summer of when was this summer of 2022 when flights were really bad I don't know if you remember that like on the news people were losing luggage flights were like not taking off and getting canceled all over the place and getting delayed. Whatever um.

09:48.57
howtosucceed
Okay, yeah.

09:58.73
howtosucceed
Um, right of so frustrating. Yeah.

10:02.15
Chloe
So it was so frustrating so I ended up getting a flight I think I booked another one on my own that left at like six zero a m um, so great then I lay over in Toronto and then I go through customs and it's all fine and then they say your flight has been canceled.

10:08.27
howtosucceed
Ah, ah, ah, ah, no the Ah oh ah, ah ah.

10:20.16
Chloe
So then I begged delta they put me on another flight to land at like 7 pm and then they're like that flight has been canceled and at that point yes and at this point I think they were like there are no more flights going to New York tonight

10:27.51
howtosucceed
So this like 4 flights canceled.

10:38.60
Chloe
And I think it was because of a storm in New York yeah really so this is Monday and my audition is the next day at like 11 I think so then they're like you have to get a hotel in Toronto because and they they don't put you up because if it's not on the airline.

10:38.64
howtosucceed
Okay, and this is now Monday. Okay tuesday.

10:57.84
Chloe
So like if it's a weather issue or whatever. They're not obligated to put you up so I had to get a hotel with my own money it it was so tragic I'd already spent so much money auditioning for this? um and at one point and.

10:59.80
howtosucceed
Um, okay, nice, no right? Ah yeah.

11:11.83
Chloe
Like I give up you know and then I was like no, you've made it this far just like commit to it just go like you've already spent the money just do it figure it out. So um, someone tells me like hey if your flight's at 7 a m I like ran into someone at the airport he was like I heard you have to get there at like.

11:13.87
howtosucceed
Yeah, like figure it out. Yeah.

11:27.77
Chloe
3 am like get there 4 hours before and I was like the airport doesn't technically open and and he said yeah but people start lining up for security at that time and I was like okay so I get there and then I check in and it says your flight cannot be found and I'm like what's going on. So then I call delta.

11:33.80
howtosucceed
Oh Oh oh my god. Um, what?? Yeah oh yeah.

11:46.51
Chloe
And they're like oh yeah, that flight got canceled and I'm like what are my options and they said don't worry. We put you on a flight that it's going to lay over in Atlanta but you arrive in New York at 2 and I was like my audition's at 12 or 11 and 11 or 12 I was like I can't do that I need to be on the first flight out.

11:59.69
howtosucceed
Um, yeah, yeah.

12:05.91
Chloe
And they were like okay the only seat left is on a it's a business class ticket so we can't transfer your funds but it'll get you to Jfk at eight thirty and I was like all right I was like do I give up at this point do I go home like what do I do you know.

12:17.70
howtosucceed
Oh my God ah.

12:23.90
howtosucceed
Ah, yeah.

12:25.19
Chloe
And then I'm like I don't know I just in my soul I was like I gotta try I gotta try so I went I made my flight I found a hotel that would give me like an early check-in a random like not great hotel in Times Square Just so I could shower.

12:27.82
howtosucceed
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

12:40.39
howtosucceed
Oh my gosh. Yeah right? Ah home My God Oh my God and you got the role.

12:44.73
Chloe
And put on makeup and I went to this audition I hadn't slept in two days I got it I forgot my words in the audition room.

12:55.16
howtosucceed
Um, did you like when you got into the room did you? So did you just pretend like everything was fine or were you like oh my God I had fights like so what did you do.

13:05.38
Chloe
So for the first part it was like a dance call and it was really hot in there and everyone was like having heatstroke they brought popsicles because of how hot it was. They were like casting was like hey we brought you popsicles like we know it's really hot and we were like what um I felt like.

13:10.50
howtosucceed
Ah.

13:15.89
howtosucceed
Ah, okay.

13:22.34
Chloe
I like my adrenaline kicked in I felt really good about it and then they were like okay Chloe since you have to go back to tour since you can't be here for final callbacks. We're just gonna put everything on tape today. It's just the same material. You did last week so I go in they have me sing a song from my book I crack my voice is shot like it's just I'm too tired.

13:23.18
howtosucceed
Yeah, good.

13:33.90
howtosucceed
Ah, okay.

13:40.44
howtosucceed
Um, ah yeah, oh no, oh no.

13:41.64
Chloe
And then I get in my head and I forget the words to my own song and I just like this is it was so candid and so like unprofessional but honestly, they probably enjoyed that energy just like the brute honesty right? I was like.

13:56.47
howtosucceed
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

14:00.71
Chloe
I'm so sorry I forgot the words to my own song and our director Lawrence was like that's okay, do you want to start again and I said I absolutely do I do it again I still crack. But I finish the song um, and then they had me read the two ensemble sides and and then I was honest and I said listen like.

14:03.14
howtosucceed
I.

14:09.57
howtosucceed
Um, yeah, ah ah.

14:19.82
Chloe
I'm not trying to make this an excuse but I kind of told them about my flight troubles and I was like I'm really not showing up as my best today like I'm struggling a bit and they were like that's all right? That's all right? They were very kind and then on my way out. Um, it was very short a very short callback and then he said our director he was like.

14:22.15
howtosucceed
Good. Yeah.

14:33.27
howtosucceed
Yeah.

14:38.19
Chloe
I Really hope that you make it home and I was like I do too. Thank you? Um and I was convinced I did not get it convinced I was sure I didn't yeah yeah.

14:40.74
howtosucceed
Yeah, oh oh my God Wow Oh oh gosh that? Okay, so then when did you find out that you did.

14:57.95
Chloe
Um I Ah a month later and I'm one of those people who like I really struggle and I'm learning and I have to do better but I struggle to let auditions go um.

15:00.18
howtosucceed
Oh wow. Um, yeah, ah.

15:11.74
Chloe
Like really like to harp on them and like ruminate and be like I kind of done this better. You know I'm anxious. Um, and so even though I like felt like after that callback. There's no way I'm going to get it. No way I kept kind of holding onto the idea of it.

15:14.60
howtosucceed
Sure yeah.

15:23.76
howtosucceed
Right.

15:30.75
howtosucceed
Aha Of course.

15:31.80
Chloe
And I would like I would check like callback quarter and audition update like regularly. It's this. It's this forum online if you're not familiar with it where people random put. It's like Reddit for auditions you know, um and people will be like I heard or I heard this or whatever. Um I checked it occasionally.

15:34.50
howtosucceed
Um, yeah, um, oh gosh. Okay I see so you know whether people hurt I see. Okay.

15:50.78
Chloe
Yes, yeah, um, and then I remember so one of my best friends was in finals as well. My best friend from college or I'm I'm sorry not college. My best friend from high school childhood friend literally my prom date. Yeah, very exciting. Yeah, we've never worked together in the industry so that was really exciting.

15:52.40
howtosucceed
Home.

15:58.43
howtosucceed
Quote Oh Wow Oh that's so fine. Yeah, ah.

16:09.81
Chloe
Remember him calling me and saying like I think people might start to hear this week my agent said that like offers should be going out this week and I was like oh gosh I haven't heard anything from my agent I'm like really stressed I don't think I'm gonna get it blah blah blah and then my.

16:15.33
howtosucceed
Okay, okay. Yeah.

16:28.64
Chloe
Um, and then I emailed my agent and he goes no news is good news right now and I was like oh what does that mean and then I remember I think I found out August fourth um, my best friend from high school Jonathan he called me and he was like Chloe I'm making my Broadway debut.

16:33.59
howtosucceed
Ok.

16:40.72
howtosucceed
Aha.

16:47.80
howtosucceed
Oh my God Oh yeah, yeah, ah oh I God wow.

16:48.00
Chloe
And then I was like I haven't heard I'm so happy for you and and I'd made peace with it and I was like but I'm so happy for you I can't wait to see you and then an hour later my agent called me. So yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

17:04.86
howtosucceed
Oh wow, That's so exciting. Oh what is journey right? Ah, yeah, that's kind of torture. Oh my goodness.

17:08.30
Chloe
It it. It was exciting. Yeah, it was um it I don't know if I said this it was a month after my final callback so it took a while? Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's hard.

17:21.45
howtosucceed
Okay, so so you were on tour at that time with Hamilton and then what was the timeline after that. Okay, oh nice.

17:23.54
Chloe
Yes, um I had three months um I believe I had three months um I knew that I started rehearsals December Twenty Seventh um you know.

17:34.37
howtosucceed
And.

17:38.28
Chloe
My agent was encouraging me to take time off see my family and like he was absolutely right? But um Hamilton was going to Hawaii for the first week of December and I was like I was like I have to go you know? um I want my last show to be in Hawaii.

17:44.82
howtosucceed
Ah, oh yeah, yeah for a little while? Yes Wow. Okay.

17:54.55
Chloe
So I had my final performance December Eleventh and then I moved to New York yeah Yeah, yeah,

18:00.40
howtosucceed
Cool and what was it like to be a part of this new show. So the show had already been in the U K Um, and then you said you guys made a lot of changes here. So yeah, what was that like.

18:07.39
Chloe
Yes. Yeah, yeah, um I watched a bit of the Uk bootleg here and there and there were some things that stayed the same and then a lot of things that changed they did a lot of lyric rewrites. Um, they completely rewrote the opening number.

18:22.33
howtosucceed
Ah, her.

18:25.80
howtosucceed
Okay, oh Wow interesting.

18:30.92
Chloe
It was a completely different number. Yeah yeah, so it it was really cool. Um that you know like we were encouraged to make it our own and to build it from the ground up even though there was like an existing framework. Um, so our choreographer Joanne.

18:44.44
howtosucceed
Um, ah yeah.

18:48.58
Chloe
You know had like choreography that she'd already worked on but then she was always tweaking it. So um, it was really cool to get to like infuse a part of ourselves into it even though the show had already existed in one form I think they our director Lawrence um said what he.

18:52.80
howtosucceed
For.

18:59.93
howtosucceed
Yeah.

19:07.60
Chloe
He was like you know the the west end version that was like our out of town that was our workshop. They also kind of they were setting it during the pandemic. So um to my knowledge they didn't have that much time to work on it either.

19:13.66
howtosucceed
Ah, oh got it sure.

19:21.45
Chloe
So I think they were using Broadway as like a second life a second opportunity right? to actually have a chance to work on it with the cast and crew in the space whereas they weren't able to do that during the pandemic. It was all like a rush process on the west end to my knowledge. Yeah.

19:30.42
howtosucceed
Yeah, oh got it and it was the same creative team cool and did you get to work with andrewlaid Webber aha.

19:39.74
Chloe
Yes, it was yeah I did um I met him a few times he mostly like had his 1 on 1 work with the principals. Um, but he did like give a few speeches and it was really awesome. It was really inspiring.

19:49.72
howtosucceed
Sure yeah.

19:57.40
howtosucceed
That's great. How fun and how long did it run.

19:58.45
Chloe
Yeah, yeah, it ran for oh gosh two months March Twenty Third to june fourth I think yeah yeah yeah I know not a very long run but Broadway's kind of suffering right now. Yeah.

20:05.80
howtosucceed
Yeah, all right? And yeah, but still. Oh yeah I mean it's such a gamble and I think that that's something that I'm kind of trying to talk about in in this podcast is just like.

20:18.38
Chloe
Yeah.

20:25.10
howtosucceed
Even you know we set these goals like oh I want to be on Broadway but then that doesn't mean anything like being on Broadway might mean that you perform for a couple weeks and then you've achieved that goal and then you're like oh okay, now that's over so now what you know I start over and the next.

20:33.62
Chloe
Um, oh right? yeah.

20:43.56
howtosucceed
Broadway show or you know what? what happens next? um, look so you had you had been on tour for a long time so you'd been working for what like 3 years minus the pandemic break. Yeah.

20:45.80
Chloe
Um, right? Yeah yeah, yeah, minus the pandemic. But yeah since 2019 and I have to say like That's why this period of my life is kind of a wake up call as to what the industry really looks like um because I was auditioning for Hamilton while I was still in college and then I got the job right when I graduated. So yeah, yeah.

21:01.28
howtosucceed
All right? That's true.

21:10.40
howtosucceed
I Remember that that you were like fresh out of school when I met you and you studied I was looking so you went to northwestern Um, and you also studied neuroscience just so cool. So.

21:16.99
Chloe
Yeah.

21:23.80
Chloe
A dead. Yeah.

21:27.70
howtosucceed
And did you do a little bit of that went during the pandemic during the shutdown.

21:32.45
Chloe
I did um so when I was in college I worked as like a work study student at a neurobiology lab and I maintained a good relationship with my um boss you know after I graduated.

21:37.83
howtosucceed
Quote.

21:45.99
Chloe
And when the pandemic happened I like sent a check an email and I was like how are you doing I'm off tour now. Whatever and he's like do you want a job and I was like yes so I went back and I I was like the lab manager the lab technician um for his lab. Yeah.

21:50.62
howtosucceed
Oh oh oh.

21:59.31
howtosucceed
Oh that's so cool. Okay, yeah, did did you like it like did you like that job.

22:04.54
Chloe
That was really cool. Yeah yeah.

22:10.62
Chloe
Um I liked that it gave me a form of consistency here's the thing I was mostly doing like the menial jobs like I was um it it was like admin work it was making schedules. It was um, taking care of like it was a fruit fly lab. So like you have to flip all the different.

22:11.98
howtosucceed
Sure.

22:28.76
Chloe
Genomes of fly like um, the different kinds of flies into like new vials every three weeks because they die and like you got you know, put the offspring into like a fresh vial and you do that every three weeks and like honestly that was the majority of my job just like listening to music and like flipping flies into new vials all day.

22:28.88
howtosucceed
Oh. Oh wow.

22:42.53
howtosucceed
Oh my gosh. Oh my god I feel like I want to talk about that for an hour because that sounds fascinating but that that's very different podcast.

22:48.22
Chloe
Um, yeah, it's yes, yes, um, it was really fascinating but also like I I didn't get to kind of be part of like the actual research, the academic investigative part of that lab.

23:02.57
howtosucceed
Yeah.

23:08.20
Chloe
Because again, that's what a lab technician does right? Oh and you're like cleaning glassware and um I had to make fly food so it was like hard labor. Um, but it was really nice to keep me busy and um I yeah.

23:13.29
howtosucceed
Um, well.

23:20.77
howtosucceed
Yeah, during such a crazy time and how long did you do that.

23:25.80
Chloe
Yeah I got to work in person. It was nice. Yeah I believe I did it for six months wait ah no I joined I believe in October and then I left in June so however, long that is yeah yeah, a good amount of time eight months yeah

23:37.55
howtosucceed
Okay, oh that's great. Yeah wow that sounds really nice and do you see yourself ever like going back to that field.

23:45.39
Chloe
Yeah.

23:51.64
Chloe
Um, not um I don't see myself doing like a p not immediately I don't really see myself doing like a Ph D in neuroscience but I could see myself um, studying public health and wanting to do like Health policy and health administration I was actually.

23:55.84
howtosucceed
Ah, not immediately.

24:05.41
howtosucceed
Oh ah, um.

24:08.88
Chloe
Really inspired by the pandemic. Um I was like honestly like if theater doesn't work out I want to be Anthony Fauci like um, yeah I would really love to work in epidemiology. Um, and I feel like it's the perfect um cross between science and like the humanities and policymaking right.

24:16.41
howtosucceed
Ah, yeah, cool.

24:25.52
howtosucceed
Yeah.

24:27.87
Chloe
Um I can see myself doing that but I have to say I really lost a part of myself during the pandemic like not knowing how to engage as an artist and um yeah I I.

24:33.93
howtosucceed
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

24:43.33
Chloe
Think I do want to do theater I Really do think the only reason I would go back to Science is if you know I'm unemployed for long enough that it's just like no longer serving me if that makes sense. Yeah, yeah.

24:46.27
howtosucceed
Her. Right? Absolutely Yeah, yeah, it's nice to have that like other skill and that confidence of just like knowing that you you have something else, you could do but um, yeah, it's not always as fulfilling. So what.

25:01.70
Chloe
Um, yeah, yeah, absolutely.

25:10.77
howtosucceed
So what's next for you I mean I hope that you're taking time to just kind of enjoy being not on a show for a little while.

25:19.45
Chloe
Yeah, um, well it's funny actually the day that bad Cinderella closed. Um, my agent texted me and he was like Hamilton wants you there on Tuesday so um, someone had an emergency medical leave and they were already.

25:22.99
howtosucceed
Yeah, yeah.

25:36.95
howtosucceed
Um, ah yeah, oh geez.

25:37.32
Chloe
You know they had a lot of injury and illness in the building. There was like a little flu pandemic going on. Um, so I actually flew to Hamilton on that Tuesday right after I closed bad Cinderella they were in Toronto. Yeah, and yeah.

25:47.33
howtosucceed
Ah, and were they in in Toronto is that where they were staer back again in the canadian airports.

25:56.16
Chloe
Ah, yes, oh my gosh, the traumatic canadian airports. Um, yeah I was there for two weeks and then the woman came back for medical leave. They let me go and then I really had time to sit in my unemployment. Um I mean it was nice I got to go to my best friend's what.

26:00.80
howtosucceed
Ah, yeah, okay.

26:08.97
howtosucceed
Yeah.

26:15.62
Chloe
That was something I wasn't sure I'd get time off for um, you know I've had time to like just kind of chill out but it has been hard I realize that I really need routine and it's hard to self-motivate and you know what? um I feel very lucky.

26:16.46
howtosucceed
Um, yeah.

26:28.54
howtosucceed
Ah, yes.

26:33.47
Chloe
Someone is leaving the Hamilton tour early. So now I'm going to close out the tour I started with I go on Tuesday and I'll be there for four weeks so I get to go back. It is yes yes.

26:37.80
howtosucceed
Oh my god that's nice. Yeah I feel like Hamilton is the gift that keeps on giving like that show is gonna be around for a while and you know all the roles like it. Yeah I see a lot of people who leave the show and then come back and you know.

26:53.33
Chloe
Yeah, absolutely.

26:54.98
howtosucceed
That's really cool. Wow Um, and are you auditioning for other things too.

27:01.77
Chloe
I am I'm getting some you know it's a dry period. But I think it's going to get better. There's a few things that I have to self- tape for this week um yeah yeah, there's some stuff out there I'm like really using the time to.

27:07.65
howtosucceed
Her core.

27:15.59
Chloe
You know, maybe revamp my book I'm back in voice lessons like all the things I kind of neglected to do when I was really busy. Um, so that's good. Yeah yeah.

27:21.53
howtosucceed
Yeah, that's great. Yeah, and do you like being a swing you must like being a swing.

27:30.89
Chloe
I Do um I feel like it's a um I have a difficult relationship with swinging um I don't like to be idle at work I mean there were times on tour where it was like honestly, really nice to just be able to.

27:37.94
howtosucceed
Um.

27:42.53
howtosucceed
Yeah.

27:49.27
Chloe
Watch Netflix and get paid for it. Um, once I gotten into the groove and knew my tracks. Um I would read books I would you know, but at a certain point it can get hard when you haven't been on stage in like two weeks um but then I have experienced doing the same track for like.

27:49.88
howtosucceed
Um, right? Yeah yeah.

28:01.91
howtosucceed
Um, yeah, yeah.

28:08.44
howtosucceed
Great.

28:09.16
Chloe
Two weeks because of a medical leave and I get bored and my body starts to hurt because you're doing everything on the same side so you're getting overuse injuries and so that's its own thing. Um, and I realize that like if.

28:17.86
howtosucceed
Um, oh yeah, yeah.

28:25.73
Chloe
We lived in a perfect world and if I could decide how swinging works I think my perfect way of swinging would be to do between 4 and 6 shows a week different tracks like my brain thrives off of newness and novelty and like frankly stress.

28:34.40
howtosucceed
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

28:45.24
Chloe
Um, I actually really work well and under a high pressure um situation. So I enjoy that part of swinging I like to keep things fresh I like to interact with different people and partner with different people and yeah, um, so I like that part of swinging.

28:45.55
howtosucceed
Ah, yeah.

28:48.58
howtosucceed
Her.

28:57.60
howtosucceed
Yeah, that sounds really fun.

29:04.60
Chloe
I I did struggle like emotionally with swinging bad cydrella because you know it's like you even though you're not second best you feel like it. You know your costumes are made months later after everyone else's you you don't get the same opening night feeling like I mean.

29:12.92
howtosucceed
Yeah, right.

29:21.92
Chloe
Our team was amazing. They allowed us to bow um in our you know street clothes. Yeah for both opening and closing which was amazing. Yeah, our team was amazing and they really understood it. Our choreographer had been a swing so she gets it. Um, ah but I will say that like.

29:23.25
howtosucceed
Oh that's that's cool. Oh that's me, it's good. Yeah.

29:36.93
howtosucceed
Ah, yeah.

29:41.66
Chloe
I think maybe that version of swinging I did not love I think I much preferred swinging a Hamilton which was already up and running I had a lot of time to settle into my tracks and yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.

29:46.66
howtosucceed
As a.

29:53.65
howtosucceed
Yeah, there is like a method to the madness in Hamilton yeah, and do you have any like organize organizational tips or um, like ways that you approach learning how to swing.

29:59.36
Chloe
Yeah.

30:09.71
Chloe
Oh gosh. Um I feel like I allowed so many people to tell me how to do it right? Um I think swinging I had not no oh my gosh My my college.

30:10.60
howtosucceed
Yeah.

30:15.95
howtosucceed
Yeah, yeah, had you done it before Hamilton like in college. Yeah wow oh wow.

30:26.61
Chloe
Not teach us how to swing I did I I went to a B a program. Um, so you know there were I would say maybe gaps I think like I thrived and benefited a lot from ah the the B a format but I think there were a few things that like maybe be Bfa's emphasized more.

30:28.66
howtosucceed
Like okay.

30:44.83
howtosucceed
Oh I see Yeah um.

30:46.50
Chloe
So like I have a lot of friends who like knew what swings were when we entered the industry I like did not know what a swing was until I went to Hamilton like I was like what does that mean it exactly what I'll say is Hamilton is nice because again like I was a replacement and they.

30:55.00
howtosucceed
Ah, and they're like here you go ghost go swing the heartest show.

31:06.20
Chloe
Allowed me to learn all of my tracks 1 by 1 in private rehearsals I had an an amazing team like all of the resources went toward me. Um that was really helpful.

31:11.21
howtosucceed
Yeah, right I actually I interviewed Cammi um, so she's gonna be I think yeah I think she's gonna be episode number 1 Um, yeah, right now so to Hamilton's wings yeah

31:26.18
Chloe
That makes me feel happy. Oh I hope she's well she's she taught me Hamilton you remember that? Yeah oh my gosh. That's amazing. Um, yeah so I think swinging is about learning like it's.

31:28.95
howtosucceed
She's great. She's fantastic. Yeah, yeah, yeah, um.

31:44.50
Chloe
It's how you learn best some people are flashcard people. Some people are like Google doc people some people literally just have a photographic memory and that works for them. Um, some people always like need to be reviewing it and keeping it um and like.

31:44.72
howtosucceed
Yeah.

31:52.65
howtosucceed
Oh my gosh right.

31:58.92
howtosucceed
I had.

32:02.40
Chloe
Like watch the archival video and then like go on immediately I'm kind of that kind of a person. Um other people like practice practice practice until it's second nature and it doesn't leave them like I really don't think there's a right or a wrong way to swing. It's about figuring out how your brain works and then like not being ashamed of.

32:05.69
howtosucceed
Wow.

32:16.27
howtosucceed
Um, yeah.

32:20.76
howtosucceed
Right? right.

32:20.95
Chloe
How you make it work for you. Um, it's a lot of trial and error I actually think um, the hardest part about swinging is not the job itself I think it is um the emotional journey of it I think swinging is really hard for perfectionists. Um.

32:28.76
howtosucceed
Are.

32:36.96
howtosucceed
Yeah.

32:40.30
Chloe
You it you know if you make a mistake and you harp on that mistake The train's going to keep going without you right? It's like life. Um, you have to adapt you have to move on and let it go but that was actually the hardest thing for me. Um, and I have to say swinging probably.

32:47.36
howtosucceed
Yeah, yeah, keep going. Ah.

32:58.80
Chloe
Changed my relationship with my own perfectionism and anxiety. Um, it did it helped a lot actually and that is a skill that I think every swing needs to learn that it's like it's It's a mental framework. It's it's not about you.

33:00.60
howtosucceed
Oh yeah.

33:09.45
howtosucceed
Absolutely.

33:17.45
Chloe
It's not about your personal performance with the show and the show goes on and you don't have to be perfect. Yeah yeah I think yeah.

33:23.81
howtosucceed
Right? Oh yeah, that's great advice. Um I feel like I thought of something else and now I forget what it was gonna be no I know you're on, you're doing awesome. Um.

33:30.99
Chloe
He I ramble So I'm sorry.

33:41.20
howtosucceed
Let's see so what else like what else? Yeah, what else? What else is interesting about your life. Um, what? yeah like so you're you're living in New York now is this the first time that you've been like settled in New York

33:54.13
Chloe
I am yeah my first time. Yeah I live in Hamilton heights. Um, it's very nice. Yeah.

33:59.71
howtosucceed
And where do you live? nice. Do you have roommates? Oh great that is great. Well sure.

34:08.50
Chloe
No I live alone which is great. Um, financially probably not the best move given that bad cydr closed. But you know you can't predict. Um, but it's wonderful. It's been really nice. Yeah I did.

34:18.47
howtosucceed
Yeah, and did you sign a lease like are you there for a year yeah well that is okay well yeah, definitely yeah I mean I'm sure you'll be great. You will find stuff to do. Ah.

34:24.52
Chloe
Yeah, so my lease started in December so I'll be here till December and then we'll see what happens. Yeah, yeah, yeah, thank you, thank you? It is.

34:37.86
howtosucceed
But it's got to be weird like being like very successful and then you find yourself like ok like starting this new life. Yeah, what are some ways in which you're like.

34:47.86
Chloe
Um, yeah, yeah, absolutely.

34:55.39
howtosucceed
Dealing with that and finding peace with that or are you ah.

34:59.00
Chloe
Oo that's a good question. Um I would say like I'm not actually if we're gonna be completely honest and I don't say this to like oh Welle is me and maybe I'm even oversharing. But I think it's important to.

35:10.67
howtosucceed
Of course.

35:17.25
Chloe
For other people to hear that like this is normal. Um I I think I relied way too much on like others validation even like when auditioning and self-taping and like that honestly took a toll on some relationships.

35:18.65
howtosucceed
Yeah.

35:28.50
howtosucceed
Her.

35:34.67
howtosucceed
Yeah.

35:36.29
Chloe
Um, I I really think like what I'm doing now is like I'm back in Therapy and I'm trying to find like identity as an artist and like self worth outside of you know, having a job and outside of.

35:54.48
howtosucceed
Right.

35:56.13
Chloe
Like I think it's really important to understand your worth as an actor and as a person without like those validating factors of like I got this callback or I got this job and you know I was just recently in callbacks final callbacks for something that I felt really good about and I didn't get it.

35:59.82
howtosucceed
Absolutely.

36:14.95
howtosucceed
Ah.

36:15.64
Chloe
And that was the first time I've actually not booked something from a final callback. Um, and that was like ah but it's so funny because um, my ex-boyfriend at the time he was like chloe you have to let this go that was.

36:18.26
howtosucceed
Oh oh yeah.

36:34.24
Chloe
Like everyone goes through this like you know how many times I've done this. He's like I've been in the industry. He's like 5 years older than me and he's like I've been in the industry for years and like most of my life has been that most of my life has been not booking things and getting to the end and then them not choosing you.

36:34.72
howtosucceed
Um, yeah, yeah.

36:44.89
howtosucceed
Right.

36:52.73
Chloe
And he's like at some point you have to let it go and you can't let it destroy you You can't let it destroy the relationships around you Um, and that was a really tough pill to swallow and I'm like swallowing it and that's the only thing you can do I Hope that doesn't sound too dark. It's hard.

36:57.61
howtosucceed
Um, yeah, yeah, that's true. No it's it's so hard and like the fact is that like they did choose you.

37:11.80
Chloe
Yeah, yeah, yes, yeah.

37:15.15
howtosucceed
So many times you know they chose you to the final callback and like there's so many reasons why they choose the people that they choose and and most of those reasons are completely out of your control. They have nothing to do with your talent like it's like your height or you know like it is it could be something that.

37:22.64
Chloe
Yeah.

37:30.19
Chloe
Right.

37:34.90
howtosucceed
0 reflection on you as a person and yeah, you just have to like let it go but what a challenge.

37:35.49
Chloe
Exactly exactly it is. It's especially again a challenge for like like neurotic perfectionists like me like I'm neurotic you know and I hate to admit that about myself. Some people are really good at.

37:47.90
howtosucceed
Um, yeah, ah yeah.

37:54.63
Chloe
And some people are just it like I I I think I'm particularly on the extreme. So um, yeah, just learning how to let it go is like for me I think the next challenge in my life I Actually think that's more important than getting the next job right? because if I get the next job immediately and I don't.

37:59.96
howtosucceed
Yeah.

38:13.92
Chloe
Learn how to cope with like the uncertainty of this industry. What's gonna happen when I lose that next job right? Like I think the point. Yeah, the the point is to like deal with it now and like still feel motivated and still love what I do and like love being an artist and take class and like.

38:17.26
howtosucceed
Yeah, at some point you will yeah have to deal with that. Yeah.

38:33.71
Chloe
You know, um someone made a good point they were like do 1 thing for your career every day like you were used to going to a job. It can still be your job. Go to a dance class go to a voice lesson listen to a cast recording and pick something new for for your book. The smallest things pick you know, like go through.

38:34.84
howtosucceed
Um, yeah.

38:37.35
howtosucceed
The. Yeah.

38:53.20
Chloe
Closet purge and decide. What outfits are good audition outfits so that you don't have to like worry about it next time like even the smallest go on a walk go to the gym Any of those things serve you as an artist and are still part of your job and like that has been like the most helpful piece of advice I think in coping.

38:55.12
howtosucceed
Yeah. Right.

39:08.17
howtosucceed
Yeah, right? Oh yeah, that's that's really great advice I Love that? Um, yeah, so how how can people find you and and what.

39:12.67
Chloe
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

39:23.43
Chloe
Oh oh, that's oh that's very sweet. Um, um it is a hard question. Um, ah people can find me on Instagram um, my handle is Chloe Alexandrine

39:24.45
howtosucceed
Like what can people do to support you right now. Ah, it's a hard question to answer.

39:37.22
howtosucceed
Yeah, yeah.

39:41.91
Chloe
Ah, alexandrian is my middle name. Um, so chloe CHLOEALEXANDR I n e I guess not the easiest. Yeah yeah, um, yeah, yeah there you there you go? Um, yeah, um, I'm actually kind of.

39:42.39
howtosucceed
No okay.

39:50.54
howtosucceed
Okay, we'll put it in the show notes. Yeah well I'll tag you ah.

40:01.17
howtosucceed
Yeah, right.

40:01.35
Chloe
Trying to take a break from social media now though which is another hard thing because um, it feels like a lot of theater is self marketinget. Um, even down to like posting like lifestyle pictures of yourself and just like showing that like you can be in front of a camera.

40:10.57
howtosucceed
Yeah, yep, yeah.

40:20.28
Chloe
Um, social media has actually been really not good for my mental health lately. So um, if I don't respond to Dms in this moment. It's not because I don't care. It's probably because I'm overwhelmed. Um, but ah yeah, um, social media is a great way I have a website.

40:25.72
howtosucceed
Ah.

40:27.74
howtosucceed
Yes, that is totally fair. Yes.

40:39.78
Chloe
Um, Chloe Nadon enriques.com um yeah and people if they want to shout out that's really sweet. Um I don't know I'm I'm really doing I'm okay I promise I'm doing all right I think that.

40:45.80
howtosucceed
4 Um, yeah, um.

40:54.47
howtosucceed
Good. No yeah.

40:58.80
Chloe
Best way is like for people to ah I I want to see success stories of other people I think you know like if if someone listens to this and they're like oh my god like Chloe inspired me and they want to like post a picture of themselves and like tag me that would make me very happy to know that like i.

41:03.80
howtosucceed
Yeah.

41:14.49
howtosucceed
Oh my gosh. Yeah, you are very inspiring I mean you like to book Hamilton straight out of college. That's really incredible.

41:17.62
Chloe
Touched someone's life. Um, that would feel good. Oh thank you.

41:25.44
Chloe
Thank you it I Really think this industry though is like like so many of us we're all talented right? It's it's about fit and right place right? time right? like and accepting that is also a great way of coping with the anxiety of this industry. Oh.

41:31.65
howtosucceed
Yes, yeah, that's true, right? yeah.

41:44.60
Chloe
Also if anybody I am trying to teach. Um and I don't really know how to start? So like if anyone wants I don't know if any um educators are listening to this or parents or kids or something like I would love to teach master classes like I can do it on Zoom I can teach privates I can choreograph.

41:46.50
howtosucceed
Oh cool.

42:01.15
howtosucceed
Um.

42:03.46
Chloe
For pre-screens I Love to teach like acting for the song. So that's also another way if that's of interest to anyone. So yeah.

42:08.14
howtosucceed
Um, yeah, that's awesome. Great Oh My gosh this you this has been so fun I Love talking to you and yeah, Ah yeah I think we got a lot I'm trying to think if there's anything else that like I don't know if you have any good. Stories moments.

42:28.30
Chloe
Um, um oh gosh I'm trying to thank? Oh oh my gosh I Loved Seattle I Loved it. Um, it was in oh my gosh. It's really cool.

42:30.21
howtosucceed
Like where was your favorite tour stop.

42:37.53
howtosucceed
Oh yeah I I lived in Seattle for our seniors. It's a very cool city. Yeah yeah.

42:45.86
Chloe
Um, you know, okay actually um, it has nothing to do with work but we were in Seattle and then one of the swings Jordana you remember her. Um, she me and ishelle and our physical therapist Mel we wanted to go camping and so like.

42:55.27
howtosucceed
Aha yep.

43:04.58
howtosucceed
Um, ah hello.

43:04.80
Chloe
Jordana took us camping. Um, we drove we drove like 2 hours outside of Seattle and like halfway through the drive. We lost cell service and yeah it was insane and we went to the woods and we hiked like.

43:13.31
howtosucceed
Um, ah oh my god.

43:23.29
Chloe
Four miles to the campsite brought everything on our backs. It was backpacking it was like real camping like there wasn't a bathroom I had to dig a hole. Um, which I knew I had signed up for it. Um, but still yeah so um.

43:24.98
howtosucceed
Um, oh Wow Oh so it was like backpacking.

43:36.40
howtosucceed
Ah, yeah, yeah, but stop.

43:43.57
Chloe
Yeah I we did that and that was like 1 of the most fun bonding experiences we've ever had um Seattle that I mean the nature around there is just beautiful I loved that city like yeah, perfect balance of nature and also like a really cute city with like cool vibes.

43:53.85
howtosucceed
Yeah, it is beautiful. Ah.

44:00.27
howtosucceed
Um, yes, like a really good food. Ah yes.

44:02.90
Chloe
Um, but actually this is oh the food. So good. Um, but this actually brings me um to this was a funny story I forgot about it and now I'm telling it. Um, we were exhausted like absolutely exhausted really dirty. Um, we.

44:12.89
howtosucceed
Ah, good.

44:19.81
Chloe
Hiked back the next morning Tuesday morning so that we could get back to Seattle in time for a half hour for a Tuesday show. Um and like we just like ended up maybe hiking slower than we thought we would and we were like oh no, like we're cutting it close and then all of a sudden eschele gets attacked.

44:23.90
howtosucceed
Ah.

44:25.41
howtosucceed
Okay.

44:31.78
howtosucceed
Oh no, like.

44:38.92
Chloe
And they're like you're on as soon as we regain service and she's like I don't know if I can do this I'm so tired like you know we it was like really hard and then Jordana starts not feeling well and we're like oh no, what's going on here.

44:40.48
howtosucceed
Um, ah oh my God oh.

44:47.30
howtosucceed
Oh no, oh.

44:51.72
Chloe
So then Eshelle was like okay chloe you need to go return the camping gear because I need to go home and shower and eat. So I can do this show and I was like absolutely I got you so I like return the camping gear and um and I'm like dirty and like it's awful and then.

44:56.58
howtosucceed
Um, yeah, yeah, ah, but yeah.

45:09.30
Chloe
Jordana and then I arrive at the theater and Jordana is at the theater doing a covid test and isolating so I'm like oh my gosh I think she's positive and then I walk into the building and Travis our stage manager was waiting outside for me I walked in at half hour still hadn't eaten because I was gonna eat during the show.

45:13.45
howtosucceed
Are oh.

45:21.89
howtosucceed
Ah.

45:25.77
howtosucceed
Ah, yeah, yeah, ah oh.

45:27.87
Chloe
And he goes hi so you're gonna be woman 4 and I will like what so here I am having not eaten having hiked and I walk in Ishelle is like getting ready. She's like scarfing down food and she's like.

45:37.50
howtosucceed
Oh my God yeah.

45:42.23
Chloe
Chloe what happened and I'm like girl I don't know and then here we are doing this show and then we were so fried that at one point and we'd done so many woman 2 woman four s like the 2 of us like switching back and forth. So I'm pretty sure that was the show like we were so delirious and we accidentally switched spots like without even like.

45:45.10
howtosucceed
Oh My god. Yeah.

46:01.55
Chloe
Like we just like both our brains did it at the same time and we were like this is the craziest day. Oh yeah I thought I was going to pass out during the show they were they absolutely were um but yeah and then Jordana did indeed get covid. So yeah.

46:04.56
howtosucceed
Oh my God Ah at least like eat all the rolls were recovered.

46:17.85
howtosucceed
Oh my God did the rest of you or no, ah sure oh my God Wow That's a great story. You lived to tell the tale. Wow.

46:20.40
Chloe
We didn't We felt a little under but like we tested every day and we never had it. So yeah, you know? yeah we did? Yes, yeah it is it really is.

46:34.88
howtosucceed
So fun touring is really fun. Awesome! Well thank you so much I'm so excited to have talked to you so I'm gonna um I'm gonna wait or I'm gonna launch soon I just have like to do the finishing touches on lip first.

46:40.38
Chloe
Yeah.

46:53.46
howtosucceed
Couple like I wanted to have like 3 or 4 really solid interviews ready to go before I like launched it so I'll definitely keep you posted and yeah, yeah, cool and good luck with that briefing. Yeah I would love that.

46:57.60
Chloe
Amazing! yay.

47:02.93
Chloe
Yay! Amazing! Thank you and we should definitely get coffee or catchup soon. So I want to hear about you too? Okay, ah yay. Okay, amazing.

47:11.52
howtosucceed
Yeah, and that be feel great I'm aran I'm going I'm going home to California next week but then I'll be back. yeah so I'll yeah I'll hit you up and I'm back like mid-au or something we can or I guess when you're then back from toronto yeah, cool. Okay, yes, that would be I would love to.

47:22.60
Chloe
Yes, yes, I'll be back on August Twenty first so yeah I'll hit you up. Yeah, all right? you too. This was so fun.

47:31.60
howtosucceed
Yeah, cool, all right? Thank you again and have a great rest of your day. Thanks Yes, Okay, we'll see you soon bye.

47:40.66
Chloe
By.