This article originally appeared in the Spring 2026 Backstage Issue of Showstopper Magazine.
From the outside, Ava Noble’s story looks like a straight line toward Broadway. But growing up, she wasn’t just a dancer—she was the kid who wanted to try everything. “I grew up juggling all kinds of sports—softball, soccer, basketball, gymnastics,” she said. “But let’s be honest, my skill set definitely thrived most in dance and gymnastics.” Once competitions became more serious, she reached a turning point. “Dance was always my biggest passion,” she said. “Deep down, I always knew my heart belonged in the dance studio.”
Where it All Began
Even after choosing dance wholeheartedly, Ava never forgot the activities she loved along the way. One of her favorite serendipitous moments was returning to the tennis camp she once attended—now as a dance teacher. “It’s such a full-circle moment going back to the tennis camp I grew up attending,” she shared. Helping the kids step out of their comfort zones—and maybe discover something new—is one of her favorite parts of the job. “As much as I love sports, especially tennis, it brings me so much joy to open the door to a different kind of movement,” she revealed. “Most of these kids have never taken a dance class before, so I hope they discover something new they didn’t expect to love.”
Of course, Ava’s life hasn’t been all dance studios and sports camps. There’s also Sandy—the family mico pig. What started as her brother’s “surprise” before leaving for college became a beloved (and much bigger than expected) member of the family. “Safe to say…she’s not so micromini anymore!” Ava laughed. “She weighs about 125 pounds now, but we love her more than ever.”
Life on Broadway
Ava’s Broadway debut came with one of the most high-energy shows in New York: & Juliet. For over two years, she has performed as a swing and as Titania, covering more than six tracks at once. “Eight shows a week on Broadway is no joke,” she said. “Not doing the same role every day puts unique demands on your body.” Prioritizing her physical wellness—especially working with her sports massage therapist, “shout out to Rich Mhlenga”—has kept her going night after night.
One of her wildest swing moments happened completely out of the blue. She was sitting in her dressing room—”probably editing TikToks”—when she suddenly heard her name on the loudspeaker. She was going on mid-show for a track she hadn’t done in over six months. “There was no time for makeup, no time to review, no time to stress.” And somehow, she made it happen. “Honestly, that kind of pressure is part of what I love about being a swing. I’m grateful I get to be that safety net. As they say, the show must go on!”
Backstage, the & Juliet cast is famously tight-knit. “Mutual respect is at the heart of it all,” Ava said. When you spend every weekday and weekend together, you become part of each other’s highest highs and toughest days. And yes—the prank wars are real. Her favorite was the Oliver Tompsett prank that sent Ben Jackson Walker sprinting up the stairs after a fake music cue. “I have never seen someone run that fast in the theatre before.”
But nothing beats her Broadway debut. “[It was] the day I had dreamed about since I was a little girl,” she expressed. “I was standing backstage, nervous as ever, warming up and trying to stay focused. I could hear the crowd chanting, ‘Ava, Ava, Ava!’ My eyes started to water…completely overwhelmed that this moment I had worked so hard for was actually happening. […] Pure joy and gratitude.”
A Day in NYC with Ava
Living in New York means Ava’s days move fast, so she’s built little rituals that make the city feel like hers. Mondays—her Broadway rest days—have turned into “Food Crawl Mondays,” where she wanders the city trying the cafés and restaurants she’s eyed all week. Most mornings start at The Elk with coffee, followed by a walk along the West Side Highway to wake up her body and her brain. With her AirPods in and a good playlist, she lets the city set the pace. And more often than not, her day ends with dinner at Fairfax, the spot that’s quickly become her go-to comfort place in the West Village.
Inside the Audition Room
After years of auditioning in New York, Ava has learned that the mental game matters just as much as the technique. Her biggest mindset shift is that “the casting team wants us to solve their problem.” They want someone to walk in and feel like the answer. “A huge part of auditioning is avoiding psyching yourself out.”
She’s also honest about the nerves that come with auditioning—especially once she started singing more. “I didn’t experience feeling shaky during auditions until I started having to sing after dance calls,” she admitted. When nerves show up, her strategy is practical: acknowledge the moment, take a breath, and steady yourself before it can snowball. “You can only move forward and work with what’s within your control.”
Some of her most challenging auditions are the ones where she knows the panel personally. “That’s when I feel most intimidated—because I really want to do a good job and make them proud.” She stays grounded by approaching the room the same way she would any other. “Don’t let familiarity make you extra nervous, but don’t let it make you too comfortable either.”
New Horizons
Ava’s career isn’t limited to performing. Recently, she stepped into a totally different role that was a bit outside of her comfort zone—hosting red carpet interviews for Hamilton. “I reminded myself: how will I know if I enjoy something unless I give it a shot?” she said. And interviewing one of her biggest mentors, Andy Blankenbuehler, was a standout moment. “It was a meaningful way to explore a new side of my career.”
She’s also a huge fashion lover. “I would love to step into the role of a costume designer,” she revealed. “I genuinely believe a great outfit can change your mood, your energy, and even your productivity for the day.” And for her, fashion extends beyond just clothes—her post-breakup bob era was iconic enough to land her in Cosmopolitan. “Welcome to the magic of NYC!” she joked. “It’s amazing how something as simple as a haircut can completely shift how you go about your days!”
What She Knows Now
With everything she’s experienced on and off Broadway, Ava hopes dancers know one important truth about the industry: no one is perfect. “I wish every young dancer knew that everyone backstage is just a human being,” she said. Fame, credits, even Tony Awards don’t change the nerves and excitement happening behind the curtain. “It’s easy to put people on pedestals…but once you’re in the thick of it, you realize we’re all just trying to show up, do our best work, and balance whatever’s going on in our personal lives.”
And if there’s one lesson Ava herself lives by, it’s speaking your goals out loud. “If you want to assist a choreographer, tell them,” she said. “If you want to work in film, reach out for representation.” Some of her greatest opportunities came from simply sharing what she hoped to do next. “You never know who might see something in you and open a door. The worst that can happen is nothing changes, but the best…it can completely shift your path.”
