At just a few years out of high school, Isabella Esler has already lived a theater-kid fantasy: going from an open-call audition to booking her first professional job as Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice, then carrying the role on a two-year national tour before landing on Broadway. In this heartfelt conversation, Isabella shares how one audition as a senior changed her life, leading to representation, community support, and ultimately the career she’s nurturing today in New York City.

She talks candidly about growing up without a creative family background, discovering musical theater at age six, and feeling deeply shaped by San Jose’s vibrant arts community. Isabella also reflects on how different it feels to return to Beetlejuice now, more grounded, more confident, and more aware of the emotional demands of playing Lydia night after night. From mishaps on stage to conserving her voice between shows, she reveals the unseen rituals and resilience that live theater requires.

Looking ahead, Isabella shares her excitement for film and television, her commitment to authenticity in auditions, and the grounding practices helping her navigate rising visibility while still doing her own social media.

Listen to learn:

- How an open-call audition led Isabella to Broadway

- The emotional and physical realities of touring versus performing in one home theater

- Her approach to staying grounded, silent, and centered between shows

- What Beetlejuice taught her about vulnerability, focus, and grace

- Her best advice for young performers chasing their first big role

In Her Words presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television, to media and gaming, and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5AfPfPQ...

Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85...

Find us on:

Instagram: ⁠ / inherwords_...⁠

Facebook: ⁠ / inherwordspodcast ⁠

Twitter: ⁠ / inherwords_wie ⁠

Tiktok: ⁠ / inherwords_wie

#IsabellaEsler #BeetlejuiceMusical #LydiaDeetz #WomenInEntertainment #InHerWordsPodcast #Broadway #ActingJourney #TheaterKids #SanJoseArts #BroadwayLife