This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Hi, my Odd Squad. It's me, Samantha Don Tutsilo, your host of Odd Woman Out, a podcast where we talk to women artists about what it is like to be a woman in the entertainment industry, the struggles we face, how to overcome our insecurities, how to stand in our power, and we have so much fun while we have these conversations and we laugh a lot. So thank you for tuning in. I promise this episode you're going to listen to is going to be so iconic. So don't forget to like, subscribe and follow. Call up a friend, tell them about this really cool podcast you listen to called Odd Woman Out. And also call up a woman in your life and remind her how absolutely fierce she is. I love you, my Odd Squad. Hi, Jenn Colella. Welcome to Odd Woman Out.

[0:46] Jenn Colella: Thank you for having me.

[0:48] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh my god, I'm so happy to have you here. I was just telling you I've like could not say your last name even though I've known I've watched you on Broadway for years and years and like it can be intimidating and then you just have to let it just roll out of your face. It's like not that hard.

[1:02] Jenn Colella: Not in any way.

[1:03] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I'm on the train here. I'm like, is something wrong?

[1:06] Jenn Colella: Not in any way. I'm well.

[1:07] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: But we did it. We made it. We're here.

[1:10] Jenn Colella: 100%. Yes.

[1:11] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Hi. Hi. Hi. We have so much to talk about. You have such a stunning career and you're such an icon in the entertainment industry in so many ways. My goodness. But the show is called Odd Woman Out. So I want to kick it off right away and have you tell us about a time in the industry or in your life where you've ever felt like the Odd Woman Out.

[1:30] Jenn Colella: I love this. First of all, I just want to say what a cool concept. I like that that's where we're starting from. I think that's a really important, awesome, kind of powerful place to begin. So I just want to compliment you on that. Thank you. Wonderful place to start.

[1:44] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you so much. I was feeling so, when I created this show, I was feeling so insecure about so many things in the work that I was doing and I was like, this is mean and fucked up. And if I'm feeling like this, like, let's see what other women are feeling like and let's talk about it. So hopefully other women can feel empowered.

[2:09] Jenn Colella: Yeah. Let's go. Thank you. I appreciate that.

[2:12] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh my gosh. I appreciate you and thank you for trusting me. Oh my God. Um, okay. When did I feel like an odd woman out in the business? Um, it's so interesting that there's an experience that's coming to the forefront of my mind. I was in a Broadway show rehearsing and, um, the person at the helm was on the God mic and he was known to kind of pick on one person in the cast and say some things to them in the rehearsal room. And then once it started being on the God mic, it was like this expression, this vibration of like bad vibes, you know, quite honestly.

[2:57] Jenn Colella: And what was his role?

[2:58] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: He was the director.

[3:00] Jenn Colella: Oh, okay. I was trying to be diplomatic, but this was the director. Okay. So not casual. Over the God mic said something very unkind, downright mean. Um, and I stood up and said, Hey, no one else in this room is speaking to anyone like that at all. So should we take a break or what do you need to do?

[3:18] Jenn Colella: Good for you.

[3:19] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I know. And you could feel, especially the women around me, toots just be like, just stop. I mean, nobody knew what to do. Right. And I just patiently was like, well, what should we do? And they were like, well, we'll take a break. And I was like, good choice. Excellent choice. Excellent choice.

[3:39] Jenn Colella: Also good for you because especially in this industry, we teeter on like, should we say what we feel? Should we stick up for ourselves to a director?

[3:45] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yes, exactly. It's crazy because you want to work again and you don't want to be seen as difficult, a bitch or whatever it might be.

[3:54] Jenn Colella: 100%. I can remember my heart pounding when I said it, but I was just like, absolutely not bro. And I wanted to be like, look, I wanted to like put it in the safe container of like, no one else in here is treating anyone else like that. We're actually trying to create an environment where that doesn't happen. So what do you need to kind of fit in with what we're doing over here?

[4:18] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Did he ever apologize?

[4:20] Jenn Colella: He did not apologize for that, but he had another blow up where he came at me. And I'm not afraid of confrontation in any way. I'm just simply not. I have three brothers. I'm Italian. I got, I got hoots, but toots, you know what I mean? I got a little bit of something going on and I'm just not afraid of it. And he stormed backstage once and screamed in my face. And I was still very much in the zone of the show and trying to protect the sanctity of backstage and, uh, was really very surprised, but demanded that it was in the show report and that he, uh, apologize. And, and he did, he, he did apologize only when he was being told to, I felt a little bit like that.

[5:10] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: And you, so you, when he got in your face, you stayed calm.

[5:15] Jenn Colella: I sure did. Can you teach me?

[5:17] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh, you're in the middle of the show with an audience. It was crazy. So I have a big problem when people raise their voice with me where I have to, I match them. I'm like, who are you talking to? Who do you think you're speaking to? Yes. Please don't speak to me like that. Fix your tone. Like I can't take it. And then, and then come at it and from the back end. Yeah. Um, I'm not always great at it. Yeah. So I commend you for being, well, I mean, also you have an audience and you're like, right. And I really, there's something about the sanctity of backstage and what we're all creating here. We're all vulnerable anyway. Right. Right. And then, you know what? It is something about what this person speak to a man like that. Probably not. Probably not. Probably not.

[6:00] Jenn Colella: So thank you for sharing those stories. Thank you. Thank you for asking. And thanks for freaking sticking up for the cast too. That is so powerful and amazing. We've got to.

[6:05] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So now I want to go back to a younger version of yourself. When you were first discovering that you wanted to be an artist, who was a woman influence either in your personal life or somebody that you looked up to who was famous or performing that inspired you?

[6:20] Jenn Colella: My earliest memory is, um, of my mom holding me and she's singing Barbara Streisand. She's singing evergreen. And there was something about the joy coming off of her body and into that music and her vibrating with the sound of, of Barbara Streisand's voice that I matched to joy. I was like, Oh, this is joy. And so Barbara's voice to me became like this light, uh, that I would move towards if I needed joy, if I needed something, uh, to feel like I was being of service or purpose from that one moment.

[7:01] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: That's amazing. And you were, you have that vivid memory from such a young age, shows how powerful art is like no matter what, that's beautiful. So when you first started working or even through your career, it doesn't have to be at the beginning. Do you have a story you can share of a situation where it was like a woman supporting woman type of thing, women lifting each other up? I asked this question because I feel like women in this industry get a bad rep of like cutthroatness, like this is my part, like being shady. And so I always want to see like a nice positive story of women lifting each other up.

[7:37] Jenn Colella: I've never experienced in my many decades, uh, any of the cutthroat anything I've heard. There've been sometimes in dressing rooms we hear somebody like talking a little bit of shade about someone else. And I think in those circumstances I've said, Hey, we can do this probably about another 30 seconds and then we should move on. Right? Jen Colella for president. You guys come up. Um, and I've done it myself too. You know what I mean? Like I really, I haven't, I haven't felt too much of that, especially in like auditions and stuff. I don't really feel that if anything, I feel like we support each other. I've been super lucky in that regard, but there have been times where I've felt ultra supported by women around women working on a show about women. And that was Suffs with, with Lee Silverman at the helm. Shout out to Suffs.

[8:29] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Let's go shout out to Silverman and Suffs because she, she captained that ship in such an extraordinary way. We came up against so many things. Um, and she just stayed strong while remaining this great, like, um, maternal buffer. She's like strong and she knows what she wants and she also has this gentleness and kindness and respectfulness about her.

[8:55] Jenn Colella: Yeah. The changes, the entire room and it like vibrated from the stage to, you know, the audience felt like protected and like in a safe space because of the woman. Since we're on stuffs, let's just talk about it a little bit. I loved that show so much. I did a round table with Suffs cast, but you weren't there. I think you were like also being a new mother.

[9:17] Jenn Colella: I think so. My kid was five days old when we started rehearsal.

[9:22] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, that is so crazy. And I want to talk about that too, but let's talk about stuffs and you know, piggybacking off the story of this unwell person screaming negative things to the cast. How was the whole experience different from for you being surrounded by women versus being, you know, having meant male energy in the mix?

[9:42] Jenn Colella: It was amazing. I love dudes. I, you know what I mean? I got no, I got my, most of my male friends are my tightest bros. I'm a bro. You know what I mean? I got no problem with it. But when you have all feminine and non-binary energy in one room and our goal is to create then very quickly, um, there's not a lot of ego.

[10:10] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[10:11] Jenn Colella: Um, so for instance, I remember an early rehearsal. Um, we were seated in a certain way and some people were having trouble hearing the piano and they were kind of like, Oh, I wish we could hear better. And Lisa was like, what'd you say? And they were like, Oh, nothing, nothing, nothing. And, and I said, Oh, they were wondering if there's another way to like switch the room around so that we can hear better. And Lee was like, Oh, what do we think of work? And people were like, Oh, well, if we were against the wall, then the sound of the piano would bounce. And it was just, we stopped rehearsals so that we could fix the space because somebody was like, Oh, I'm, I'm not very comfortable. I can't hear the best that I can. And, and immediately we were all like, Oh, what'll make this better? It was huge.

[10:49] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. It was a cool moment. Also shout out to you again, like how extraordinary you're like, actually, this is what they want to say. And we're going to just say it because you shouldn't be nervous in your workspace, right? No matter you're on Broadway, no matter you're an intern, like doesn't matter. You got to speak up vulnerable enough. Why wouldn't we create the safest, most loving atmosphere possible? Yes. And look at how beautiful that is.

[11:15] Jenn Colella: It's like this is how somebody feels. It's immediately go to try to fix it and make things right and make everybody feel safe to do their job at the best possible level that they can. I feel the same way about teaching. I'm an educator. I teach at Columbia and Pace and I very rarely give any negative feedback. There's no need for it. You can teach and guide without breaking someone down. We do a good enough job of that in our own heads.

[11:45] Jenn Colella: Why wouldn't we try to create all of these safe environments for people?

[11:49] Jenn Colella: We're not doing brain surgery.

[11:54] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So your daughter was five days old when SUFFS rehearsal started.

[12:02] Jenn Colella: Yes, she was. How did you balance that? I also think this is so important for women to hear to understand you can do both. For sure. We just talked to Ann Harada and she told us a story similar of like I had a baby and I went to the West End to do Avenue Q and I did it. You just figure it out.

[12:22] Jenn Colella: Also, I mean I wouldn't have been able to do it without my wife. Shout out. You know I got to shout out to Mo because she was like I was with SUFFS for six years at that point. She knew that I needed to see it through to fruition for the Broadway run and she just was like we'll make it work and she took the brunt of the whole thing while I was working.

[12:42] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: That's so amazing.

[12:46] Jenn Colella: It was amazing. Also how amazing to be doing that show while you have a daughter.

[12:50] Jenn Colella: I know. That is so powerful. I can't wait to show her.

[12:53] Jenn Colella: The PDF? Yeah. We're a no screens family for as long as we possibly can. She's only two. So we're trying to hold out for as long as we can.

[13:03] Jenn Colella: I can't wait. So proud when she's old enough to understand.

[13:06] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah I hope so. All the things that happened. So you have originated every single role you've ever played on Broadway.

[13:13] Jenn Colella: Yeah. That's crazy. Like you straight up have never been at a Broadway show that you haven't originated the role.

[13:18] Jenn Colella: No. That's crazy right?

[13:21] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. It really is.

[13:25] Jenn Colella: How many? Ten?

[13:29] Jenn Colella: Mm-mm. Seven. Six but I like it. Let's say ten.

[13:33] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Okay. Let's say ten. Close enough. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Big deal.

[13:40] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: What does that feel like for you to be able to take a piece of theatre and create it from scratch from you're the originator?

[13:44] Jenn Colella: People for years are going to be doing these shows and it's going to be based off of the footprint that you left. It feels like a privilege. Yeah. It feels like somebody trusting me with something very dear to them and saying here's what I see. Can you help me with this?

[14:00] Jenn Colella: And so I really take a, I feel like it's a responsibility. Yeah. And a privilege. Yeah. And I try to treat it as such for the entire process.

[14:05] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: For sure. Do you ever get scared?

[14:09] Jenn Colella: Yes. All of the time. I'm scared all of the time.

[14:14] Jenn Colella: Every day? I'm scared every day all the time. I wake up in New York City I'm like scary out here. Just kidding.

[14:21] Jenn Colella: Scary out here. Even New York we got to put on a certain amount of armor just to step outside right?

[14:24] Jenn Colella: Correct. And then you know you're going to lose like 200 bucks a day just for being outside.

[14:31] Jenn Colella: Correct. So that's scary. And then when I first moved to the city it was 40.

[14:33] Jenn Colella: But no it's like you step out and it's 40 and now it definitely is. Just for a lot. I didn't do anything. I literally just went outside and I'm 200 bucks. Easy. Out of my pocket. Easy.

[14:45] Jenn Colella: But stepping onto stage I get super super nervous.

[14:48] Jenn Colella: Yeah. Maybe even more so as time has gone on.

[14:52] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Really?

[14:52] Jenn Colella: Yeah. And I think it's because I want to. Again the responsibility of it for me feels like I know how many people want to do it. I know what people are paying. I know what it takes to come and be at a show whether it's a Broadway show or a concert.

[15:08] Jenn Colella: Yeah. Somebody taking the time to come and listen to what I have to say or sing or my interpretation of something feels like such a huge privilege that I just want to honor them and you know some days I'm sleepy or cranky.

[15:23] Jenn Colella: Yes. Or hungry. Yes. I didn't get any sleep. All of the above. And so I have to really work hard to manage the fear and remember the privilege that it is and try to just trust that I put myself here for a reason.

[15:37] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. I want to make a shirt that says sleepy cranky hungry all of the above.

[15:41] Jenn Colella: All the above bro. Sleepy cranky hungry. That's right. We should name this episode that.

[15:49] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love that. So you made your Broadway debut in 2003. Urban Cowboy.

[15:52] Jenn Colella: That's right.

[15:57] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I'm bad at math. How many years is that?

[16:00] Jenn Colella: A lot of years. A lot of years.

[16:08] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. What have you learned the most from 2003 to now? You've done so many different types of shows. Shows that have had a long life. Shows that you've been screamed at. Shows that have closed in two weeks.

[16:15] Jenn Colella: That's true. That is true. Right?

[16:19] Jenn Colella: Yeah. So what is your biggest lesson from those years and from doing all these different types of performances?

[16:24] Jenn Colella: I think there's two big ones that are coming into my heart at the moment and the first is to just love every part of the experience. I would never complain about being in a Broadway show because I know that it's finite. Even the ones that ran it's still finite.

[16:40] Jenn Colella: Yeah. So any costume fitting I'm just like you know what I mean? This is the dream. I'm doing it. I am doing it. You know what I mean? Tudor Shay. I'm like we're doing it. Look at us.

[16:54] Jenn Colella: Whenever I walk into a stage door I say thank you three times. I say thank you to the little girl who was like a choir nerd who wanted to be there. I say thank you to everybody who's in that room including the audience including the doorman. Everyone's showing up to make this thing happen.

[17:10] Jenn Colella: And I say thank you to all of the people who wish they were walking into a Broadway theater right now to do their thing. Three thank you's.

[17:20] Jenn Colella: And then when I sign my name you know you like sign it. That is my contract. Pardon me. I'm signing a contract for the day to be my best self and to give the best that I possibly can.

[17:32] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love that. That's so important to practice the gratitude because just like you said sometimes I'm sleepy, tired.

[17:39] Jenn Colella: Sleepy and tired are the same thing.

[17:41] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. Sleepy, cranky, hungry and so sometimes it is hard when you're doing things that you've dreamed of to sit in the gratitude.

[17:45] Jenn Colella: I do it every morning. I try to practice gratitude. This morning I'm like how lucky am I to interview Jenn Colella today you know.

[17:56] Jenn Colella: And like I sit up and I have this book. By the way this is an amazing book.

[17:59] Jenn Colella: Tell me.

[18:05] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: It's called The Pivot Year.

[18:10] Jenn Colella: Okay. It's like 365 days and every page is a different passage of like something inspiring, something about your journey. And so I randomly and I've been doing it for years. I still like I double I haven't gone through all of it because I just do it at random and I read a passage from it every morning and it's really inspiring when you want to just like stay in bed for another all day.

[18:27] Jenn Colella: For another all day. Absolutely. To just remember the gratitude and so thank you for sharing that. I think it is so important.

[18:35] Jenn Colella: Gratitude is super important. Especially for people who are creative.

[18:41] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: 100%.

[18:45] Jenn Colella: Yeah it's everything. Gratitude and then remembering to be kind to myself. That's a big one. Trusting that I am enough. Making sure that the voice in my head is my biggest ally. That's been the biggest lesson.

[19:00] Jenn Colella: Anytime I have felt like I failed or struggled to succeed it's been only because the voice in my head was not being supportive.

[19:07] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Right.

[19:12] Jenn Colella: And I think a lot of people think especially artists because I come up at this comes up a lot with students and colleagues that if I'm not hard on myself then how am I going to make it in this business? And that is just not the truth.

[19:25] Jenn Colella: No. It is the opposite of that. 100%. Anything that's the only thing. You won't survive. It's the only thing holding you back. You have to really become your own best friend.

[19:31] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Love that. Shout out to that.

[19:35] Jenn Colella: Okay let's talk about Come From Away.

[19:38] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Let's talk about it.

[19:38] Jenn Colella: Which you received a Tony nomination for. Congratulations.

[19:42] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thanks for mentioning that.

[19:46] Jenn Colella: Hold on. Before we talk about the Come From Away process I watched something where you said that you were not going to be able to pee in your Tony dress. So you had a bag called something John.

[19:56] Jenn Colella: Wow. Do you know what I'm talking about? I literally watched it and you're like showing this bag. You're like I don't think I'm going to be able to pee in my Tony dress from Anna Wintour you said. And so you're like I'm going to bring this bag to go John or something. And I really I've got to know if you peed in the bag.

[20:13] Jenn Colella: I didn't pee in the bag. I know what you mean. I did not pee in the bag. But what I thought you were going to say there was because we all spent very little time off stage in Come From Away. I had one like 90 second moment when I was off that was my big break.

[20:24] Jenn Colella: And I would always have to pee because I drink a lot of water. Right. And my exit was off stage right and there's no bathroom over there. And so I was peeing in a bucket for quite some time with one of our sweet stage hands right there Tony.

[20:36] Jenn Colella: And he would like turn away so that I could pee in this bucket just feet away from him.

[20:46] Jenn Colella: Fully wearing pants in that show you were.

[20:49] Jenn Colella: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So pants around my little ankles.

[20:53] Jenn Colella: And then right over the bucket with Tony a few feet away. And one day I went to sit and it was like a it was like a like a seat like a toilet seat. It was like an outdoor camping.

[21:02] Jenn Colella: And Tony facing the other way said you like your potty. And I was like I do like my potty Tony. Thank you brother. Big shout out to Tony for getting the potty situated.

[21:13] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You like your potty?

[21:15] Jenn Colella: I am obsessed. That's what I thought you were referring to.

[21:19] Jenn Colella: I wasn't but I'm so grateful that we segued into that story even better.

[21:24] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Me too.

[21:27] Jenn Colella: Yeah. So you didn't pee in a bag at the Tony's.

[21:27] Jenn Colella: I didn't pee in a bag at the Tony's.

[21:30] Jenn Colella: No. But I have peed in a bag in my car. Those are very helpful in the car if you're in traffic.

[21:34] Jenn Colella: So you have these. I have these bags. They're called to go John. Something like that.

[21:37] Jenn Colella: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's like a little it's tricky to navigate.

[21:41] Jenn Colella: Yeah for sure. I would that's what I was really wondering.

[21:45] Jenn Colella: Very tricky. But it has a substance in it that will absorb the urine and.

[21:49] Jenn Colella: Great. And because sometimes you think I don't think this little bag is going to hold what I got going on.

[21:51] Jenn Colella: Great. That's good to know.

[21:54] Jenn Colella: It will. One time I had a sub letter years ago that was weird and would like shower at two in the morning and I woke up at two in the morning once I had to pee so bad.

[22:01] Jenn Colella: Sure. And I was like half asleep so I peed in a box in like a cardboard box.

[22:05] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh.

[22:09] Jenn Colella: What about your sink? I've popped up on the sink before if like a roommate's in the.

[22:12] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh no. I didn't think about that.

[22:14] Jenn Colella: In the cardboard boxes. Interesting.

[22:18] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: How'd that hold?

[22:18] Jenn Colella: It leaked right through me. It's a box. Yeah. It's not gonna hold anything.

[22:22] Jenn Colella: But I understand the thought process yeah and you're just like I don't have time to wait for this.

[22:25] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Next time pop right up on the sink.

[22:29] Jenn Colella: Yeah. I live alone now so.

[22:29] Jenn Colella: Cool. Hopefully I'm not gonna be peeing in any boxes.

[22:30] Jenn Colella: Okay maybe I'll try. I'll let you know how.

[22:31] Jenn Colella: Thank you. I love that. This is turning into like a Urinetown episode. Thank you.

[22:35] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: It's a privilege to be. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, back to Come From Away.

[22:41] Jenn Colella: Thank you for the vodka also. You're welcome. Damn, I should have asked if you wanted to drink. Eden Espinosa and I definitely got drunk on mimosas. I have that sentence in my... Eden Espinosa and I definitely got drunk on mimosas in Egypt. I have that sentence in my... Okay, wait up, wait up me, Jenn. I didn't mean to. I just, she's a good drinking buddy. Damn, I wish I invested...

[23:05] Jenn Colella: Well, you'll have to come back. And when you come back, we'll have... Let's drink together with Eden.

[23:08] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, we'll do a double. We'll bring back Odd Woman. Let's go. Great.

[23:12] Jenn Colella: Love that. Odd Woman In. Odd Woman In. Let's go. It's gonna be like a podcast after dark. Odd Woman In. Yeah, let's go. After dark. Okay. Can't wait. Okay, Come From Away.

[23:24] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Okay. This was like a big moment for you. At least that's what it seems like from the outside.

[23:30] Jenn Colella: I definitely felt that way. And you played Captain Beverly Bass, who is a real-life woman.

[23:34] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: She really is. What was the experience like playing a real-life person? Was this your, this was your first time because this was before SUFFS, yes? Or had you?

[23:45] Jenn Colella: It was before SUFFS, but I played like Amelia Earhart. I played Hedda Hopper, who is a real person. But this was the first real person that I actually got to like have meals with and befriend while I was portraying her.

[23:55] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So you had met her prior to...

[24:00] Jenn Colella: I met her in La Jolla right after we started previews there.

[24:08] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So you already had the character on lock.

[24:12] Jenn Colella: That's right. Before you met her. So what was it like? Were you like so nervous when she came? Just tell us about the process of how you did your homework to portray this person who was living, who you knew was going to come see it.

[24:18] Jenn Colella: I was really nervous because I wanted again to honor her. I wanted to make sure she felt honored by what I was doing. And Chris Ashley was really sweet and saying, we're not trying to imitate these people. Like we have what's on the page. A lot of these people really exist. So we did all of our homework, reading all about her, who she was. I saw a couple of videos of her, but he was like, we're not trying to mimic here. So that felt good and gave me some space. But then when she came to watch the show for the first time, I don't think she realized, she remembered being interviewed by the writers, but she didn't realize she had such a big part that I didn't realize I had such a big part. And so I remember seeing her like her, her face in her hands while I was singing the song, she was just beside herself.

And then we became friends. So I was able to add, you know, I know what her eyebrows do. And she's about to tell a secret. I know how she holds her coffee cup. I know certain things she does with her hands that I would try to incorporate just for me. No one else has noticed, but little things that made me feel like I was deepening the character and honoring who she was at the same time.

[25:32] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love that. That's so cool. And what an honor to be able to call her your friend.

[25:38] Jenn Colella: So cool. Yeah, so cool. And this is a person whom I would not probably be friends with. And this is a, you know, a woman who lives in Texas and who is, you know, I just don't know if we would have met.

[25:52] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Your paths maybe would have never crossed.

[25:54] Jenn Colella: I have so much respect for and she's been only kind and lovely to me.

[25:58] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love that. I think that's such like a unique form of art as well as an actor.

[26:04] Jenn Colella: For sure.

[26:05] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: To be able to take on real life experience and then put your own twist to it is so cool as well. What's something you learned about her that we as the audience don't know?

[26:18] Jenn Colella: She drives her boat with her feet.

[26:20] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: What do you mean? What do you mean?

[26:22] Jenn Colella: I mean, exactly what I said, Tutz. I went down to see her in Florida and we got on her boat. And she was like chilling back in the seat and like steering with her feet. And I thought it was the coolest, most extraordinary thing I'd ever seen. She's a rock star.

[26:41] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: That is cool. I also as a passenger on the boat would have been slightly terrified.

[26:46] Jenn Colella: Oh, I trust her completely.

[26:47] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Well, yeah, she's also, she flew planes, you know, so that's also...

[26:51] Jenn Colella: That's right.

[26:51] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Really badass.

[26:52] Jenn Colella: I learned that the triple sevens were her favorite. Those are the biggest.

[26:55] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Biggest planes.

[26:59] Jenn Colella: And that's her favorite to fly.

[27:02] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Okay, good to know. I used to be a really bad flyer. I've been forced to become a good one.

[27:06] Jenn Colella: Is that right?

[27:07] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, I'm good now.

[27:08] Jenn Colella: How's it going? How'd you do that?

[27:09] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Great.

[27:10] Jenn Colella: Well done, dude.

[27:11] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you.

[27:11] Jenn Colella: That's a big deal.

[27:12] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I had no choice. I fly a lot for work.

[27:15] Jenn Colella: That's right. You made yourself. You were like, what did you do?

[27:17] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I said, well, I have to get on this plane.

[27:19] Jenn Colella: That's right.

[27:20] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: And if it's gonna blow up, I'm still gonna get on it. So fuck it.

[27:25] Jenn Colella: That's what all of us do.

[27:25] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Let's go.

[27:26] Jenn Colella: That's what we all have to do.

[27:27] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Let's go.

[27:28] Jenn Colella: You really conquered that.

[27:29] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you.

[27:30] Jenn Colella: That's incredible.

[27:30] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Vodka helped at the beginning.

[27:32] Jenn Colella: Vodka does help.

[27:32] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Big martinis. I love an airplane, an airport cocktail.

[27:36] Jenn Colella: I love an airport cocktail.

[27:36] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Even though for 50 bucks, double.

[27:38] Jenn Colella: I know, but...

[27:39] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: But fuck it.

[27:40] Jenn Colella: Yeah, it's time sometimes.

[27:41] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Sometimes you're like, yeah, I'll take a double.

[27:43] Jenn Colella: I like half a gummy too sometimes.

[27:45] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you. See, that would make me spiral.

[27:48] Jenn Colella: Some, it's not for everyone.

[27:49] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[27:49] Jenn Colella: We'll say that.

[27:50] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I do love a gummy once in a blue.

[27:52] Jenn Colella: Yeah.

[27:52] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: More than once in a blue, but like on the flight.

[27:55] Jenn Colella: You want to be mindful.

[27:56] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[27:56] Jenn Colella: If I heard a weird noise or something, I would then go into like real big catastrophes.

[28:03] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I understand that.

[28:04] Jenn Colella: Do you know what I mean?

[28:04] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I do.

[28:05] Jenn Colella: I do.

[28:05] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you so much.

[28:06] Jenn Colella: Yeah. Thanks for checking that out.

[28:07] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. Awesome. I want to talk a little bit about your rock and roll days.

[28:13] Jenn Colella: Which I'm like, when I learned that about you, I'm like, that's right. Like that is so right.

[28:18] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So you had a band.

[28:19] Jenn Colella: Yeah.

[28:20] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: What was the band called?

[28:21] Jenn Colella: The Soul Divers.

[28:24] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: And were you, first of all, how come the Soul Divers?

[28:28] Jenn Colella: I'll say it again.

[28:29] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. Why Soul Divers?

[28:30] Jenn Colella: Oh gosh, we went back and forth over what it was. We had this like image of this person diving and it was S-O-L like sun and soul. And we just thought we were so, you know, deep. Um, we actually had a fan get a tattoo of that, of that emblem on her.

[28:50] Jenn Colella: Um, this has happened to me throughout my life. I have a fan who has my signature over her heart.

[28:55] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Love that.

[28:56] Jenn Colella: Some, uh, lyrics that I've written out from stuff like at a, um, at the stage door.

[29:01] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[29:02] Jenn Colella: On their bodies. Like I think it's so, it's such a cool thing.

[29:06] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: It's also a testament to you as a performer and as a human.

[29:10] Jenn Colella: That's nice.

[29:10] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I mean, I'm only getting to know you for the last, I don't even know how long, 20, 30 minutes. Who knows how long we've even been talking. And I'm like, she's cool as fuck. Sticking up for everyone. Jenn Colella for president. I'll say it again.

[29:21] Jenn Colella: Please help.

[29:24] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Help us.

[29:24] Jenn Colella: Let's go.

[29:25] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Let's fucking go.

[29:26] Jenn Colella: Um, uh, what was the question?

[29:29] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, we were talking about...

[29:29] Jenn Colella: My tummy just kicked in.

[29:30] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[29:33] Jenn Colella: Fine.

[29:33] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Mixing with his body very well.

[29:35] Jenn Colella: I could fly. I could do whatever you want me to do. Fine.

[29:37] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[29:38] Jenn Colella: We were talking about, I actually forgot.

[29:41] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh, your rock and roll days.

[29:43] Jenn Colella: Soul.

[29:44] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Word, the Soul Divers. And you have, your fans put tattoos all over themselves in various ways.

[29:50] Jenn Colella: You know what? I still think I'm in my rock and roll phase. I, I, in some of the concerts that I do, we'll do like Janis Joplin and, and uh, I remember once a musical director said to me, I was working on a song and she went, rock soprano. And I went, I feel so seen right now.

[30:06] Jenn Colella: What did you just say? Cause you've heard of rock tenor.

[30:08] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yes.

[30:09] Jenn Colella: And she was like, rock soprano. That's what you are. And I was like, that's what I am. Like, it was like in sixth grade when Ms. Myers wrote Jen with two N's. I was like, that's who I am.

[30:17] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: That's me.

[30:18] Jenn Colella: Shout out to Ms. Myers.

[30:19] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Shout out to Ms. Myers and shout out to the MD who called me a rock soprano for the first time. Cause that's what I am.

[30:25] Jenn Colella: Yeah.

[30:25] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love that. What were some of the songs that you sang in this band?

[30:30] Jenn Colella: Um, some of them were originals and then we would also do some covers. I remember doing, uh, remember, was it the vinyls? I touch myself. Remember that one? We did that one. We did some ZZ Top in honor of my father. We did Janis Joplin. Um, yeah, you know, rock and roll.

[30:47] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Rock and roll Tutz.

[30:48] Jenn Colella: We're going to rename the show rock and roll Tutz.

[30:54] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Amazing. Thank you for sharing that.

[30:55] Jenn Colella: So fun.

[30:56] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you. What a fun journey you've had. Um, we talked, talked a little bit about how you are a teacher and educator. What is something that you've learned from your students?

[31:09] Jenn Colella: Oh my gosh. I learn from them every day. I cry almost every class. Um, just to keep the passion alive. Like I remember the whole reason we have decided to do this with our lives is because there was a spark when we were a kid and we followed it. Not everybody catches fire for something. And so again, to have this deep gratitude that I've caught fire for something and I see this fire in them still burning so brightly and it just makes their, they're so earnest.

[31:37] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[31:38] Jenn Colella: Um, even I teach second year grad actors at Columbia and so they're older and a lot of them are actually working professionally and still, so they want to do it right. There is no right, but they want to do the best they can and they still have this passion and fire for it. So it reminds me of what a privilege it is to do this for a living.

[31:56] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: That is so cool. And shout out to you for doing it all. Do your students feel like, holy shit, I'm getting taught by Jenn Colella? Like that's great.

[32:06] Jenn Colella: Holy shit. I'm in the room with these guys. That's cool.

[32:10] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[32:10] Jenn Colella: They're all very, very sweet to me, but yeah.

[32:12] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love that. What is it about Broadway and the Broadway community that keeps you coming back?

[32:19] Jenn Colella: The people, definitely the people. Rehearsal. I love rehearsal. Rehearsal is my favorite place. If I didn't ever have to perform and could just be in the rehearsal room, that would be ideal. That's why I've done so many workshops.

[32:32] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You're like, that's what I love. Let's just stay in the rehearsal room.

[32:34] Jenn Colella: Once we get into the theater, it is exciting. But then when all the creative team leaves, I'm like, I've been doing this for you for years. The past six years, I've been doing this show just for you, for that laugh. And then they leave and I'm like, I don't know these folks at all.

[32:47] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You're like, you're leaving me alone with this audience?

[32:49] Jenn Colella: Who are these people? Who are probably filled with a bunch of judges.

[32:52] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Who are these folks?

[32:53] Jenn Colella: And rehearsal is just such a fertile ground, not only for creativity, but again, to create this family, right? We're creating a family. We're creating a love that we have, not only for the piece of art that we're creating, but for one another as artists and as people. And we're free to fail. And we're learning from each other. I love sitting and watching other people work in that space and how they work and what people do when they feel vulnerable or afraid and how I can best support them in that endeavor.

[33:23] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: And that's cool.

[33:24] Jenn Colella: I just love rehearsal.

[33:26] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love that. Shout out to the rehearsal room. Let's go.

[33:30] Jenn Colella: So we talked about SUFFS a little bit. What do you think we, as women artists, need to do to continue to have more SUFFS and have more SUFFS work in commercial theater?

[33:44] Jenn Colella: We need to keep writing it. Boom.

[33:45] Jenn Colella: You know, I think that the thing that I love about it is that it really is a celebration of women and the power of women's voices. And I think that, you know, we talk about this a lot in the show, but it’s so important for women to be able to stand up for themselves and for each other.

[34:15] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Absolutely! And I think that’s something that you embody so well, especially in your role in SUFFS. It’s like you’re not just telling a story; you’re empowering women to find their own voices.

[34:45] Jenn Colella: Exactly! And it’s about knowing when to speak up, when to say the thing that needs to be said, even if it’s uncomfortable.

[35:15] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Right, and I think that’s a huge part of your journey, too. You’ve had to navigate that in your career, especially with Come From Away and the impact it had.

[35:45] Jenn Colella: Oh, for sure! I mean, becoming Captain Beverley Bass was such a pivotal moment for me. It was like stepping into this role that was not just about the character but about representing a whole community of women who have stories to tell.

[36:15] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: And you did it so beautifully! I remember watching you and thinking, “Wow, she’s not just performing; she’s making a statement.”

[36:45] Jenn Colella: Thank you! And I think that’s what we need more of—women supporting women and lifting each other up.

[37:15] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yes! And you’ve been such a great advocate for that. I love how you’re not afraid to call out the things that need to be called out.

[37:45] Jenn Colella: It’s important! We can’t just sit back and hope things change. We have to be the change we want to see.

[38:15] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Absolutely! And I think that’s why your journey resonates with so many people. You’re not just a performer; you’re a leader.

[38:45] Jenn Colella: I appreciate that! It’s all about using our platforms for good and making sure that everyone feels seen and heard.

[39:15] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Exactly! And speaking of platforms, I have to ask—what was it like to watch Come From Away take off the way it did?

[39:45] Jenn Colella: It was surreal! I mean, we knew we were doing something special, but to see it resonate with so many people was beyond anything we could have imagined.

[40:00] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: And you were right at the center of it all, leading the charge!

[40:05] Jenn Colella: It was an honor, truly. And it’s a testament to the power of storytelling and how it can bring people together.

[40:35] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Absolutely! And now with SUFFS, you’re continuing that legacy of powerful storytelling.

[41:05] Jenn Colella: Yes! And I think it’s so important that we keep pushing those narratives forward, especially for women.

[41:35] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Definitely! And I love how you’re not just telling your story but also encouraging others to share theirs.

[42:05] Jenn Colella: That’s the goal! We all have a voice, and it’s time we use it.

[42:35] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yes! And I think that’s a perfect note to end on. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us today, Jenn.

[43:05] Jenn Colella: Thank you for having me, Tutz! I had a blast.

[43:13] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Me too! And I can’t wait to see what you do next.

[43:23] Jenn Colella: Oh, it’s going to be exciting!

[43:29] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I have no doubt!

[43:35] Jenn Colella: And remember, everyone, to keep speaking up and supporting each other.

[43:40] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yes! Until next time, everyone!

[44:10] Jenn Colella: Bye!

[44:40] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Bye!