This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Quincy Brown: It is bonkers to me that that is not in our audition packet.

[0:03] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[0:04] Quincy Brown: I feel like it is one of the hardest songs. And I feel like there are plenty of women who can sing popular and who can sing Let Us Be Glad.

[0:16] Quincy Brown: My name's Quincy.

[0:17] Kevin Bianchi: And my name's Kevin.

[0:18] Quincy Brown: And this is Sentimental Men from Theater League. We are here to talk and maybe scream about our favorite women in musical theater.

[0:31] Kevin Bianchi: Hi, Kevin.

[0:33] Quincy Brown: Hi, Quincy.

[0:34] Kevin Bianchi: Another special episode for Kevin Bianchi today.

[0:37] Quincy Brown: It's a good one.

[0:38] Kevin Bianchi: I'm feeling excited, but it's a special episode for sentimental men overall because we're talking to a pair. We're talking to Jennafer Newberry today, and that's the first time that we've done a current pair, and we've yet to have a current tour witch on the podcast.

[0:55] Quincy Brown: Yeah.

[0:56] Kevin Bianchi: It's always been someone after they've finished.

[0:58] Quincy Brown: I was dying in the last episode when Lissa was like, I feel like you're not officially in Wicked until you're on Sentimental Men.

[1:05] Kevin Bianchi: There will come a day where we ask an alpha, a current alphabet to come on, and they tell us no.

[1:10] Quincy Brown: Yeah.

[1:10] Kevin Bianchi: And we'll deal with that when we get there. So we are very grateful for anyone who has agreed to come and let us be annoying to them on this podcast.

[1:18] Quincy Brown: Yeah. Who are we talking to today, Kevin?

[1:20] Kevin Bianchi: We are talking to Jennafer Newberry, the current and honestly fabulous Glinda on the National North American National Tour of Wicked.

[1:31] Kevin Bianchi: Jennafer gives me, this is maybe a spicy take, and I would say high praise, but she's giving me like golden era Glinda. Like I feel vocally impeccable. Like she is giving me the like range, the colors, the variety that like a Megan Hilty, Katie Rose Clark would give me.

[1:51] Quincy Brown: I'm pulling out the big names.

[1:53] Kevin Bianchi: And if you watch her popular bootleg on YouTube, it's like she gives me like old school.

[2:01] Quincy Brown: I was just doing it as a bit.

[2:04] Kevin Bianchi: Okay. Well, no, you can do it as a bit. Thank you for derailing me.

[2:10] Kevin Bianchi: When you watch her popular bootleg on YouTube, she does that whole middle section. Like, she draws it out. She is giving me like zany, kooky, Ali Mozzie vibes. Like, she's doing the screaming, she's doing the back bends. She's got it all. She's pulling out all the tricks.

[2:29] Kevin Bianchi: That whole toss-toss section. It's insanity. And I love it.

[2:32] Quincy Brown: Yeah.

[2:33] Kevin Bianchi: Like a truly like unhidden. She's gonna be here any second. So let's go through her resume. Because I know that you have listeners. We have a Glinda Corner. And by we, I mean Kevin has a Glinda Corner prepped for you all.

[2:44] Quincy Brown: Remember that?

[2:45] Kevin Bianchi: I do. I do, I do, I do. I know. We're digging deep into the archives. I feel like this is gonna be like a throwback to the original format of this podcast.

[2:54] Kevin Bianchi: Jennafer Newberry joined the national touring company back in 2019 in the ensemble understudying Glinda, specifically understudying Erin Mackey, absolute legend. When the tour reopened after the pandemic, Jennafer was in the reopening cast again in the ensemble, understudying Glinda. She's out on tour for like a year, and then she was bumped up to full-time principal Glinda, where she remains today.

[3:18] Kevin Bianchi: I'll say it again, honestly, like a new favorite of mine. I think she's great. But on top of all of that, Ms. Newberry has also played the title role, the titular role in the Finding Nemo live show at Disney at Disney World. Which I believe Disney Theatricals has just released Finding Nemo Jr.

[3:36] Quincy Brown: I think you are correct.

[3:38] Kevin Bianchi: And like honestly, mad respect for that because that's like six shows a day, or like eight shows a day, or something crazy like that. And that's a high score. So like props for doing it for like years and years and years. Also, we love a queen who worked at a Disney park. Shout out to Stephanie J. Shout out to Eden.

[3:54] Kevin Bianchi: Jennafer also went on tour with Freaky Friday in 2017, playing Gretchen, one of the friends of my personal favorite daughter.

[4:03] Quincy Brown: One of your personal faves.

[4:04] Kevin Bianchi: And then regionally, she has also appeared as Clara in The Light in the Piazza, as Shelly in Bat Boy, one of my favorites. And then she was also in the first all-female production of 1776, which I think is really cool as well.

[4:21] Quincy Brown: So Miss Newberry, she's working, she's busy. I also feel like this entrance into Wicked, I feel like is gonna be a big turning point. Like, I hope we see like a lot more from her now moving forward. I hope this is a great platform for her. And I hope to see her and Lissa on Broadway one day together.

[4:40] Kevin Bianchi: Same. Keep them as a pair. They're so good together.

[4:43] Quincy Brown: All right, hit me with your Glinda Corner before she arrives.

[4:47] Kevin Bianchi: Ugh, okay. Okay, so what I want to talk about in Glinda Corner today, and I feel like I've maybe touched on this like in the green circle on our close friends. But when I was watching videos of Miss Newberry in preparation, she does one of my favorite choices, which is the no breath bridges you've crossed. Which, on top of being just like technically impressive, I also just love from an acting standpoint because so like at school, we learned that like human beings naturally take enough breath to say what they know they're going to say.

[5:20] Kevin Bianchi: And so then, like the same thing applies with singing. I love when you go all BFA on me.

[5:24] Quincy Brown: Listen, it is Kevin's Glenda Corner, baby. We're dusting off the degree. When I was training, we learned that the way to kind of like think about singing through the phrase, singing to the end of the phrase, is because if you were speaking, you would know what you were gonna say, so you would have enough breath to say it. So then the extension of that is when somebody breathes through to the next phrase, it's almost like that character is saying something they didn't plan on saying.

[5:56] Kevin Bianchi: And so I always like to think of the no-breath bridges as like Glinda meant to stop at bridges you crossed, you didn't know you crossed until you've crossed, and then end if that joy just kind of like slips out of her because it's like what she's feeling is just bubbling up too much and she can't contain it. And then you always see like a Glinda kind of have to like catch herself on that thrill as if she's kind of like covering like no, no, no, but like this is a joy, this is a thrill. I'm like happy to be here. I might I might have just looked sad, but I'm super happy. And then she kind of like dips back down into like a lower, sadder part of herself, but right back into we love you, Glinda, if we may be so frank.

[6:37] Quincy Brown: And so I just love that moment and I love I don't know if like every actress who makes that choice is thinking about it in that way. Probably not, but as an audience member, I love that because I think it just creates like such a little like cherry on top acting moment in what is already a very like acting heavy song for Glinda the Good.

[7:00] Kevin Bianchi: That makes me want to watch Thank Goodness right now.

[7:02] Quincy Brown: Well, lucky for you, you can.

[7:05] Kevin Bianchi: It's available on the internet, it's yours for the viewing. Let's get into this interview with Jennafer Newberry.

[7:16] Quincy Brown: Jennafer Newberry, thank you so much for joining us on Sentimental Men. Welcome to the pod.

[7:20] Jennafer Newberry: Thank you for having me. This is so special.

[7:24] Quincy Brown: We are so excited to chat.

[7:26] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah, I'm excited to chat, especially because we just spoke to Lissa last week. And so this is the first time we've ever done like back to back a pair that is like currently performing together.

[7:37] Jennafer Newberry: Oh, I'm so happy. We're very much in a national tour headspace. I love it.

[7:41] Jennafer Newberry: Oh, wow. Thank you all so much for having me.

[7:45] Quincy Brown: So we start every interview with how did Wicked come into your life as a person? So not as an actress, but what is your first touch point with the musical?

[7:52] Jennafer Newberry: Great. So I remember I remember hearing about this new musical that was opening on Broadway, and I was like, oh cool, cool. And I think that it opened and I heard the soundtrack, I believe. Because everyone, you know, when it opened, we were all like, whoa. Um, and I listened to the soundtrack, and I was like, okay, well, I was actually in New York the summer of 2003, and I guess it would have maybe been in previews, but I'm not sure. And I remember I was at a summer program, and then I went to college and I got to experience Wicked, and my parents took me when they were dropping me off to college, and I was like, oh my gosh, this is just incredible.

[8:40] Jennafer Newberry: Like, I remember because I had I read the book, I did everything. No, I didn't see the original cast. I wish, you know, I've been trying to like, I really need to like do the math. You could probably help me. Because you know someone. It was 2004, and I went and saw who did I see? Okay, yeah, 2004, and I know that Kristen wasn't there anymore. So it must have been Jennafer Laura Thompson.

[9:07] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah. And I think it was Adina. It probably yeah, because I don't think Shoshana came in until oh five. And Adina did the whole thing. She like never missed a show. So unless it was during that like week she was filming something, it was probably her.

[9:20] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah, I actually found my ticket for it. Like, because during the pandemic, I was home. Um, and I was like, let me clean out my stuff. I found all of my old Broadway tickets, and like from the first show that I saw to all this, like, and it was I was like, now I know the date, now I can figure out who I saw. But this whole time I thought I saw Kristen. But Kristen left like shortly after the Tonies.

[9:43] Quincy Brown: Right, right.

[9:43] Jennafer Newberry: So yeah, she was out of there. I didn't see her because it was in August.

[9:47] Quincy Brown: You went into the show having already been a fan. Because of all the material that you were consuming.

[9:53] Jennafer Newberry: Yes.

[9:54] Quincy Brown: What was your perception of the show after you saw it?

[9:56] Jennafer Newberry: I mean, it was just this, like, it was on a huge pedestal because it's like I yeah, I'm gonna say iconic a lot today. But it's just this iconic show that like really changed musical theater. And I just remember seeing it and being like, oh my gosh, like one day, one day I'm gonna play that role. Like, I have to, I have to. But you know, of course, I was also the girl in my bedroom growing up, just like trying my best to belt Defying Gravity.

[10:22] Quincy Brown: Um me too.

[10:24] Jennafer Newberry: So I mean, weren't we all? Yeah, so um, but yeah, it's my I don't I think that I went in with this like fierce love of it. And I remember there would be year chunks like between when I would see it, because I would have a friend in it, like that I went to school with that I would like go and I'd be like, oh yeah, like Alex Brightman is playing Bach. Let me let me go try to win the lottery. Let me like run over there. And I would like go over and see the show, and and I act two always caught me off guard because you know, we remember act one, like everything that happens in act one, but then act two comes and you're like, wait, wait, Nessa sings a whole song, yeah.

[11:00] Jennafer Newberry: Cause you know, like and it's awesome. And I'm like, why is this it makes sense that it's not on the soundtrack? You know, spoilers all that. A little bit. Oh, but I was like, every time I would see it, because there would be these chunks. Even when I came and joined the tour in 2019, I remember sitting out there and being like, All right.

[11:21] Quincy Brown: Yeah.

[11:22] Jennafer Newberry: Oh, like completely just no idea.

[11:26] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah. I don't know if I answered your question.

[11:28] Quincy Brown: No, that's a great answer. I have a question too, just because you mentioned that you were you saw the show right as you were going into college. So did you then I feel like now girls go to a musical theater program and it's like, are you an alphabet or a Glinda? Like, that's like a shorthand for for like what is your type. Did you go through your college program and your training like with Glinda in mind, or were you just kind of like because you said you were saying defined?

[11:55] Jennafer Newberry: I was so trying. But you know, I actually went to I went to a high school in Houston. Um I went to the high school for the performing and visual arts in Houston, and I was a vocal major as opposed to a theater major, and they wanted me so badly because I'm a soprano, they wanted me to study opera and like go into that realm. And you know, like I I was very fortunate I got to do like this program during my senior year with the Houston Grand Opera, which was incredible, and but I loved musical theater so much, and so I was like, no, like I have to do musical theater. And I think because I grew up watching musicals, I I've always had this weird thing where I was like, so in Carousel, like I can be both of these women.

[12:42] Jennafer Newberry: And I'm so that has been like the kind of like internal struggle in my brain for a long time, just like not knowing, just being like, okay, well, like what do you see me as? You know? So like going in, I knew I was a Glinda, like going into college. I knew that. And like, and that's the beauty of this show. There's no like in between. It's like these characters are so specific that it's just like there's never been a thought in my mind, like, could they paint me green? You know, like it would have to be like it would have to be dire circumstances, and even then they wouldn't. So like I long answer of it. Like, I knew I was a Glinda, and I and I I went into to school just like kind of being like, okay, yes. But also, like there's the I do I do relate a lot with Alphaba. Um because I like injustice just really like irks me. So I'm also bubbly and fun. So you know right. Yeah, I mean you really like walk into a room and you read as Glinda.

[13:47] Kevin Bianchi: Thank you. Okay, so walk us through now when did the first wicked audition come across your desk?

[13:57] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah, I would say I got to audition for the show. You know, like I went, I started going as soon as I could, like to EPAs and chorus calls and things like that. Cause I was just like, hello, hello, hi, hi, hello, I'm wearing pink. But was Glinda the goal from day one, or were you kind of like, let me get in the ensemble and just see what happens?

[14:16] Jennafer Newberry: Oh, yeah. I was just like, please just like let me show. Like, I yes, Glinda was absolutely the goal, but I was just like, just to touch the show in any way. Like win-win. Like so um, like you can't. Was there ever a Nessa path open for you?

[14:33] Jennafer Newberry: I could see that happening too. No, but like that would be really fun. I would love that. No, that would be that would be fun. And it's gonna continue. I love her. So you're going to the open calls. Slowly but surely, you know, sometimes like I had I had a friend who was like, Oh, you would be so right for Glinda. And they were like, let me see if we can just like even get you into a pre-screen. And so I got into a pre-screen, and I, you know, I went in. I the thing is, is for a very, very long time, I looked so young. I mean, I said I still like read very young, but like I I looked like I was 16 for years. So I was just like, and I had this like bait, I had this round like baby face, and and I I just I knew I was like, I don't, there's absolutely no way.

I'm five foot tall. Right. I was like, there's absolutely no way they're gonna say yes, put her in the bubble. You know, like it's just it wasn't, it wasn't mine, it wasn't the time yet. And I I trusted in the timing too, because you have to with these things. But I auditioned for it for years and years and years, and I remember the last audition came uh came around, and I I had auditioned for it in the fall, and I had gotten some feedback that I was just like, oh man, I guess I I guess this maybe might not ever happen for me.

[15:57] Kevin Bianchi: And so I What was the feedback?

[15:59] Jennafer Newberry: The feedback was because I had I had coached and I had been told like make her really real and I think I just like I I can take a note but apparently I took it I I took it too well so I it like it became like film and TV Glinda, which was very like very still very like very age. So it was like it was like the popular scene and it just kind of became like a little too sad. And um so I was like I was told that like my community like I I lacked some comedic timing, and I was like, oh that hurts, that hurts because you're like no, I was just taking a note. I was like, I I don't, I don't think that I do, but okay, maybe like I'm maybe I maybe it's not me. Maybe maybe this isn't for me. So then I remember I went, I was walking by the Gershin one day.

I was on my way to a survival job and I walked by the Gershwin, and I remember I like got out of the subway and I looked up and I was just like, okay, if this is for me, like just please, please, please, just please let them come to me this time because I I knew they were looking. And I and I was like, I have knocked on the door so many times, and and I am I will always knock on the door. Like what the worst they can do is not open it, you know.

[17:16] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[17:16] Jennafer Newberry: So but I but I was just like, I just remember standing there and just being like, if it's if it's mine, if it's for me this time, please just just like let them come to me. And literally, like three days later, I had an email with an audition. And I was like, Wow, oh my gosh. Like, okay, okay. I got it on Thursday. I went in on Friday to sing.

[17:36] Kevin Bianchi: And what was the audition for specifically?

[17:38] Jennafer Newberry: It was to, it was in the ensemble for the fanny track. And um I went in, yeah, it was for Fanny and to understudy Glenda. And I just remember like that audition cut as you go in and you sing Let Us Be Glad. Mm-hmm. I think you sing popular. And then you sing the no one mourns the wicked, wicked, wicked. Like, which is just rude, but like as a soprano, are you going into that like, oh, I got this. I got the let us be glad.

[18:07] Jennafer Newberry: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I I was like, yeah, this is great. Okay, so it was it was the ensemble like portion of those like eight bars to sing at the end that I was just like, just a high C, just a casual high C at you know, even if it's noon, you can only like, you know, it's like a hope and a prayer. And you're out in the holding room with all these other girls in pink, and you're just like trying.

[18:33] Kevin Bianchi: Wow, do you hear that? That was good.

[18:35] Jennafer Newberry: Um, you're out there just trying so hard to like keep warm while you ate.

[18:40] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[18:41] Jennafer Newberry: And hearing every other girl's high C come through the door.

[18:44] Kevin Bianchi: Absolutely.

[18:45] Jennafer Newberry: And then you're all just kind of looking around and you're like, here we go. Like, here we go. But yeah, yeah, I it was incredible. I went in, I sang that Friday. I had to endure the entire weekend. Monday, I found out that they wanted to see me dance on Tuesday. So luckily I already I grew up dancing, so it's never it was like never, you know, uh an issue. If I have enough time, I can do it.

[19:11] Kevin Bianchi: I feel like I can tell that from the way that you use your arms in in Blue Linux. Because like you have such like beautiful movement in your arms that I was like, oh, she can dance.

[19:21] Jennafer Newberry: I can tell. Oh. So I'm glad to hear you say that. Thank you. My ballet teachers at Houston Valley will be so happy to hear that. Shout out.

[19:31] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah. So I was very fortunate because while I was down in Florida at Nemo, I was like, you know what? I had heard, I had heard from people. They were like, there's there's the show has been around for 15 years at the time. They were like, there's no excuse for people to not know these dance accommodations. When you go in, it shouldn't be the first time you're seeing it. And I was like, they were like, there are bootlegs online. There are a million people who've done the show. Learn it. Come in and do it. And I was like, oh gosh, you're totally right. And I realized that a woman who used to be a dance captain on Broadway and on the tour, Lindsay Wood Ho's, she was at Nemo with me. And I was like, please, please, please, let's learn this. Teach me the dancing through life combination.

[20:11] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[20:11] Jennafer Newberry: So she did. She taught me that. And I just like I practiced and I practiced and I practiced all through the weekend because I was like, if I get a call back, it will be to dance, and I am not letting this time waste. And I went in on Tuesday and I danced. But the kicker, this is a funny story. So I got really nervous right before my audition on Tuesday. It was at like four o'clock, like from four to six. And I, you know, got to the studio so early, and I like rented a studio, and I was like, we're gonna, I'm gonna, I know this, it's gonna be great. And then I started to realize I was like, oh my gosh, what if I have to do the like the dance in Ozdust? What if that's what I'm supposed to be learning? And they're about to like teach me the like I was like so. I freaked, I had a full freak out and learned that.

[21:00] Kevin Bianchi: Oh my god.

[21:00] Jennafer Newberry: Oh, I was a sight to behold. I was just like, and then I and I went into the audition and I was like adrenaline. I was like, I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready. My curls aren't, but I am like, here we go. Let's do it.

[21:10] Kevin Bianchi: They were not.

[21:12] Jennafer Newberry: They were flat, but I said, whatever, it's okay. And um Yeah, and I went in and they were like, they and it was Corinne, and and she was like, I was like, oh, oh thank God. Okay, it's the one that I know.

[21:26] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[21:27] Jennafer Newberry: And it was great. And then we did some partnering, and then I got a call the next day. The next day. The next day.

[21:33] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[21:33] Jennafer Newberry: And they were like, how soon can you come out? And I said, Oh, um.

[21:39] Kevin Bianchi: Because did you know it was for tour?

[21:40] Jennafer Newberry: I did. You know, I was actually auditioning at the same time for tour in Broadway. So I knew both were an option. Celia booked Broadway at the same time that I booked the tour.

[21:50] Kevin Bianchi: Gotcha, okay.

[21:51] Jennafer Newberry: And so I was just like, okay, okay. Uh, but we had my husband and I were getting married in like a month and a half. And we had a bridal shower that was like set up in Florida, and I was like, ah, I'm having to cancel all of my showers, everything. Can I can I just keep the one on Saturday and I'll fly out Saturday night? And they were like, yeah, absolutely. So I started on Sunday.

[22:13] Kevin Bianchi: Wow. Insane.

[22:14] Jennafer Newberry: Wow. So like 10 days start to finish. Yes, like what this thing that you're hoping and praying for for so long, and then like seemingly overnight. Like you're just you're out there, like sitting with the music director, like in Denver, Colorado, being like, popular, like just

[22:32] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[22:32] Jennafer Newberry: So how does that work when you're understudying, when you're new to a company and understudying? Do you learn your ensemble track first and then add Glenda on top of that?

[22:40] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah. Yeah, usually, I mean, that's what I've seen so far. I learned all my ensemble stuff first. I learned it like like maybe eight days. I like learned it in like a week. Um, and then I had my put in, and then as soon as my put in happened, um, it was the end of the city, so then I debuted the next week in Seattle, and um, once I debuted and like got a week of shows under my belt, um, I went into rehearsals for Glinda. And like I I think I was already doing Glinda like music and stuff. As soon as I learned my ensemble track, they started me on music, but then staging and scene work and all of that started after I was like in the show in my ensemble track.

[23:19] Kevin Bianchi: Okay.

[23:20] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah. So having grown up been a fan of the show, what was most surprising about actually being in it and having to do it?

[23:28] Jennafer Newberry: I think I could probably have a few answers for that. So one of the most surprising is that you know, you grow up singing the soundtrack, and then you get there and you're learning the pieces, and they're like, no, no, no, that's not that's not what you sing. And I'm just like, but that's what Kristen sings, so and they're like, no, no, no, no, that's not it. It's I mean, she's always singing the right thing, but like when you're learning your ensemble track, you're just like, oh my gosh, what do you want me to sing? Um, so there were a few of those moments. Then I think I think the thing that really surprised me, especially stepping into Glenda, was like the pacing of her show and and just how I remember when I made my debut, like I felt in the best way, like I was strapped in in like kind of in the passenger seat, um, going like 120.

And I was just like, here we go. Like there's no there's no turning back. It's just like it's a freight train, and yeah, it does feel like one of those things you just have to black out and do and then think about after.

[24:31] Kevin Bianchi: Yes.

[24:32] Jennafer Newberry: I actually with especially with Glinda too, is it's like you're there from the downbeat. Alpha Butt, like we all know Alpha Butt, like also goes 120 miles an hour for the whole show, but like Glinda is off the bat. Like you have to set the tone for the whole show.

[24:44] Kevin Bianchi: Yes.

[24:45] Jennafer Newberry: Yes, that's a lot. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And like, and it's just I mean, yeah. Um, and she has this like epic entrance. You just feel you do feel the way, like, you feel the weight of it, and it's this beautiful, scary, intense, incredible ride. And you're like, how long were you understudying before you went on for Glinda the first time?

[25:11] Jennafer Newberry: Oh, you know, I think I had had my put in two weeks before, and so it was still very fresh. So I got to go on. I debuted in Eugene, Oregon. And um, and it was lovely because I found out like a couple hours before the show, and I was the West Coast, and so like nobody that I knew really had a chance to get there. So I just kind of went on and like did it, and it was great. It was amazing. It was oh, it was so good. It was so fun, and just like a surprise, you know. On tour, Glinda does not have a standby, right? It's just the understudy. We have two understudies, and um, it's the Fanny track and the fainter track, and Fainter track, who is played by Jackie Ray right now. She understudies both Glinda and Nessa, right?

So we have two Glinda understudies, but yes, I do feel like that. Like I got to go on eight times in like my first four months on tour, which was which was a lot, and it was amazing because like um I remember, yeah, it worked out. I remember my husband got to come when he was he was we were playing Vegas, and he got to come. I found out I was on kind of last minute, and he got to just like get a ticket and come. And like that is incredible, you know? Yeah, it was really really special, especially like getting to go on that often that soon after learning it because you know it takes some time to actually feel it out. And we do understudies and things like that, but yeah. Well, and to find your Glinda too, like to find the way you fit into that role. It's so valuable in those early weeks to really have that time.

[26:48] Kevin Bianchi: Yes, right. Like, when do you feel like you really settled into the part and could kind of autopilot isn't the exact right word, but kind of just do it and feel totally comfortable doing the role?

[26:58] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah, I mean, you know, I think there's something like special about having like 10 shows under your belt. Because I started to feel, especially after like six, I was like, okay, I've done I've done this. Like, I think the first time is the first few times, or just like proving to yourself that you can do this. Like she's massive, like it's a massive undertaking. But I think I think that really came when I took over in March with Lissa because we were able to find our show, and it it always just changes and shifts when you're on with different people, and I've gotten to go on with so many alphabets, so I feel like I've gotten to experience so many different shows, which is so cool.

[27:40] Kevin Bianchi: And you started by understudying Aaron Mackey, right?

[27:43] Jennafer Newberry: Yes, I feel so that's kind of iconic. I feel so cool. Because she's a staple Glinda. She is next level. Like, I just remember watching her, and just like every night, like, first of all, I was like gagged that I got to be her best friend on stage. I was just like, Hanger, and you know, and like she's just she's just the sweetest human, the most talented woman. Like, I just remember watching her every night at the end of act two and just being like, because she's just gosh, she's so good, and she's such a beautiful actress. I feel so fortunate to have witnessed her for as long as I did because I I was like a sponge trying to like take in as much of her as possible.

[28:29] Kevin Bianchi: Right. Yeah, are there any lessons or nuggets of wisdom from any of the women you understudied that you feel like you carry into your portrayal?

[28:37] Jennafer Newberry: Let me think. You know, I don't think any of them like really like sat down because it was Aaron and it was Alison, and like nobody ever like we never like sat down and they were like so yeah, you know, or even things you observed, yeah. Yeah, I I think I what I really appreciated about them is that they they took they took their time in the theater and they were very intentional about you know gathering themselves before the show and being and just like spending their energy wisely, you know, it's it takes a lot, and and that's definitely something that I like witnessed a lot with Erin is that she just she just really I loved getting to watch her like honor and respect her body and her voice because it's a lot, it's a lot, a lot, and she is such a professional that I was just like my gosh, and she would she would just say when like okay, I I need a moment, I need a moment, you know, or and and she that way she was always bringing 100%.

I really loved that, like knowing that they were they were there, they were in their dressing room, they were getting themselves ready and prepared so they could spend all of their energy out on the stage, and and to this day, I like I can be a very talkative person, but when I get to work, I I try really hard to conserve so that I can bring a hundred percent of myself out on the stage, and then if I have things left over, like I can spend it after the show.

[30:02] Kevin Bianchi: When did the idea or the conversation about becoming a full-time principal, Glinda come into the picture?

[30:09] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah. I imagine it was in the back of your head while you were.

[30:12] Kevin Bianchi: Oh yeah.

[30:13] Jennafer Newberry: You know, Carl, it was in the front of the head. But I think I think that, like, you know, every every woman who understudies the roles, of course, wants to do it full time. Like, that's why we're here. You know, we uh I think I can speak for for everyone when I say that, like, we love and cherish our time in the ensemble. And but it is something really special when you get to go on. We were in Kansas City, and I knew that they were looking. And I knew that I was like, man, I just really want to be considered. They know, they know that we want to be considered, you know. So I just remember telling my manager and just being like, hey, like, I just I want to like, I want to be able to be considered seriously.

I think I'm in good standing with the company. Uh so I and I just remember we after we did Kansas City, we went to Tucson, which was the world's like longest drive. And uh, because my husband and I drive the tour, and we got to it's so cool that your husband can come along with you on tour.

[31:16] Jennafer Newberry: It's amazing. I'm so happy. Yeah, we're very fortunate. We have a lot of husbands, a lot of partners, a lot of um dogs on the road. So it's like we're just like a traveling circus, a family affair.

[31:27] Kevin Bianchi: Yes, it is.

[31:28] Jennafer Newberry: I remember getting to Tucson and I woke up and I had an email that was like, they want you to tape. And I I just remember because Tucson was also a time change, so I was like, I got up and I was like, they want me to, what? What do they want me to do? And and they were like, as soon as possible, and you know, that was the day that we had sound check and a show, and I just remember like grabbing my friends, Nessa at the time, Amanda, and um and her fiance at the time, who's now her husband, and saying, like, oh my gosh, please, please, please, can you I'll buy you dinner? Can you help me self-tape? Like between sound check and the show, I have to record these things. And you know, sent it off with a hope and a prayer, and I ended up having to retape a few times just to make sure that it was like perfect, you know. But I just remember Tucson. It's funny because it it's like the year almost to a day, a week ago, that I found out that I was that I got it.

[32:19] Kevin Bianchi: And how did you find out? Like, was there a lot of waiting, or after you submitted the tapes, it was kind of bing bang boom.

[32:24] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah, let me think. We were in Tucson for two weeks. I think I finished recording and like submitted everything by the beginning, the middle of the second week of Tucson, and when we were driving to Cal when we were driving to California to Costa Mesa is when I got the phone call.

[32:39] Kevin Bianchi: And how special you're like with your husband in the car, a perfect little moment of good news.

[32:44] Jennafer Newberry: That's so sweet. It was crazy, and yeah, I yeah, it was insane. And I remember we stopped at a like a rest stop, and we I was like, I want to remember this always, and we like sat the phone down and we just like jumped up and down for a little while, and yeah, it was really, really special. Uh it was ugly so crazy.

[33:03] Kevin Bianchi: And I imagine it had to have been cool establishing a new dynamic with Lissa, especially since she was brand new to the show and hadn't been in the company yet.

[33:12] Jennafer Newberry: Yes, it was so cool. I remember because I had a few people in the cast that like knew her or had like met her, and they were like, She is the best, she is so kind, and I was like, Oh, thank God. And um, and I remember like we I got her phone number and I texted her, and uh, you know, I sent her a very like Glinda text and said, Dearest, I said, I think I said like something like dearest darlingest Lissa. I hear you, I hear we're gonna rip be roommate such. And um yeah, it was really sweet, and she and like true Lissa form like responded back with like, yeah, just keep your stuff on your side of the room or something. And it was I was yeah, and I was like, Oh, I'm gonna like this girl.

[33:59] Kevin Bianchi: Oh my god, it's so funny.

[34:00] Jennafer Newberry: I'm gonna like because the minute I pushed send on the text, I was like, what if what if she thinks I'm serious? Like, oh, oh and I started doubting everything, you know, and she responded back like perfectly, and I was like, Oh, we're gonna be great. It's we're gonna be fast friends.

[34:15] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, and then did you re-rehearse with her?

[34:18] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah, yeah, I did. I I had three weeks of rehearsal with her. Um I think we did the final week in Costa Mesa, and then we rehearsed for another few two weeks in Spokane and then opened the last week of Spokane, Washington.

[34:31] Kevin Bianchi: Right, yeah. Kevin, I feel like you should ask the question.

[34:34] Kevin Bianchi: I feel like I should ask the question too.

[34:34] Kevin Bianchi: The question.

[34:38] Kevin Bianchi: The question.

[34:38] Kevin Bianchi: You know what's coming.

[34:40] Jennafer Newberry: I do.

[34:41] Kevin Bianchi: Miss Jennafer Newberry.

[34:43] Kevin Bianchi: Are you a no one mourns the wicked Glinda? A popular Glinda or a thank goodness Glinda, and why?

[34:50] Jennafer Newberry: Not a deep breath.

[34:54] Kevin Bianchi: A deep breath.

[34:55] Jennafer Newberry: Wow. Um, I heard that I he asked the question. I am I have been thinking about this. I've really been thinking about this. Like, and I, you know, you can tell if you've like been listening so far, I am not a short-winded Glinda. Like, I will explain things away for a while. I am a thank goodness, Glinda. Wow. Why? The argument could be made that I am a normal no one mourns the wicked, Glinda. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I think the argument could be made for any agreement. That is true. That is true. That is true. That is true. Um, but I think I am a thank goodness, Glinda, because I have always loved the song. I think it is one of the most complex songs in the show, both emotionally and musically. Yeah.

It's tricky musically, which I think lends itself beautifully to how tricky it is emotionally. And I just love the thing that I love about Glinda the most is that she is a real human. She's not a caricature. And I think it's very easy to think of her in that way because she is this larger than life personality. But the sheer like fact of the matter is that she is just somebody who is so in tune with her emotions that she just like she feels the highs so high, and she feels the lows so low and is not afraid to express that without like putting a filter on it.

[36:27] Kevin Bianchi: Right.

[36:27] Jennafer Newberry: And in that moment, too, it's she's feeling both of like she is feeling the high high and the low low. And that tension is so beautiful.

[36:35] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, and she's just she's just like cracking.

[36:37] Jennafer Newberry: It's like I I think of it as like this is such a silly like reference, but it's like that moment in in I, Tanya, if you've seen it, where Margot Robbie where she's like looking in the mirror and she's just like breaking inside and like everything is like she's like, oh, she's overwhelmed, but she's like, but I I have to smile, and and everything's gonna be fine. Everything's fine, you know, and I feel like the more life we experience, the more heartache, the more like even just like when we said goodbye to some of our cast members this past week, like just going through all of those emotions, those up and downs of like saying goodbye, all of these life experiences inform like how I sing this song and how I can bring like the reality of it.

There's it's just nuanced, it's like it's so layered, and and that's why I love that song so much and that scene and just everything about it. It's uh I love it. And I feel like that song too, you and every Glinda, really. But I having heard your performance, I feel like you especially get to use a lot of parts of your voice in thank goodness.

[37:43] Jennafer Newberry: Yes, which is also like such a treat for my ears. You know, what's so crazy to me is that it just all like kind of depends.

[37:50] Kevin Bianchi: You mean vocally though, right?

[37:52] Jennafer Newberry: Or kind of the whole package, like what number do you do, and you're like, that was exhausting. I think it would probably be between, I mean, my gosh, all of them, all three are or a lot, and you know, even sometimes for good, because we can be very emotional. I would say, I would say thank goodness, but I think I think the reason I even hesitate and think about the other songs is because I feel like I'm in a really good place with thank goodness. That doesn't change the fact that it's challenging every night, but no one more than the wicked is also incredibly challenging because you're interacting with the ensemble. You're it's kind of very much like for good because you are kind of putting on this front, like you know, the end to the beginning, the beginning is the end.

And so you're, it's just like, if you think about it, I've spent a lot of time thinking about the fact that like Glinda at the very end is maybe like a few moments, like a few minutes different from when she comes in and says it's good to see me, and she's crushed. And then she has to, they're like, okay, you have you have an appearance to make, and you know, she has to go and tell this story. Something else with the let us be glad section that I feel like nobody ever talks about. Everybody says, Oh, define gravity's hard because you're standing on this little platform and you're like having to sing like at the top of your range. But let us be glad too.

[39:09] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[39:09] Jennafer Newberry: There's like no like stance you can take to get those notes out. No, no. And I've actually, as I have been able to be more aware of what my body's doing under the dress, I have realized that like I was standing in a very weird way on like the outsides of my feet, and like I was like, why are my calves hurting so much? And it's because I was like standing in this weird way on this tiny little platform in this massive dress, and I'm like, whoo! Like we're high up there. And uh, but yeah, it's it's like, and I've realized too, because like I can be pretty emotional in the opening, and when if I like even just like cry like a little bit too much, I feel the bubble go like No. And I can only imagine now that's that's how I'm sure Lissa feels because that thing moves a lot too. But there's something about because define gravity, you're clamped in something's clamped around you, the bubble, there's just a clip in the back, right?

[40:07] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, that's scarier to me.

[40:09] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah, yeah, there are there are moments that I'm like, I wonder if I just like literally like I have like this vivid imagination, and I have to take hold of those intrusive thoughts sometimes. Because I'm just like, first of all, I know that the men in our ensemble and like on that stage and frankly in the wings would all come running and I would be fine. But I'm like, how would I, how would I, like if I was just dangling, like how would I? What would happen? How would I fix this in the show if it happened?

[40:45] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[40:46] Jennafer Newberry: And when I'm up there in the bubble, like, and I'm I get to, it's so cool because I get to be up there and I get to watch everything happen down there. There have been times that I've like moved my feet around a little bit too much, or or I've like fiddled with the wand a little bit too much, and that wand is heavy. And I'm just like, gosh, I wonder if anybody's ever, or like when I'm holding the book at the end, I'm like, I wonder if anybody's ever dropped anything from up here.

[41:10] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, like you could take out an ensemble, man.

[41:12] Jennafer Newberry: You could really hurt someone. I feel the pressure. I'm just like holding it for dear life, and just like witches have dropped their broom and hat in defiant gravity.

[41:24] Kevin Bianchi: Have they?

[41:25] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah, that's happened. Somebody's dropped the broom.

[41:29] Kevin Bianchi: Mm-hmm.

[41:29] Jennafer Newberry: And she's trying to be knocked off her hat one performance.

[41:32] Kevin Bianchi: Oh no, but that's where her mic is.

[41:34] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah, so you hear the sound like go out.

[41:37] Kevin Bianchi: Oh no.

[41:40] Jennafer Newberry: Oh no. Just be careful.

[41:42] Kevin Bianchi: Not to give you more intrusive thoughts to worry about.

[41:45] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah. No, that's okay. I'm never gonna be like, I mean, I that's not my story, so it's okay.

[41:51] Jennafer Newberry: I don't know what in that broom.

[41:54] Kevin Bianchi: Oh my gosh.

[41:55] Jennafer Newberry: Wow. Ooh, I don't know how I would ever that's scary. Just hang on to that wand for the sake of your ensemble.

[42:02] Kevin Bianchi: Every night. I'm like, all of my tension. There's none in my jaw, it's all in my hands.

[42:07] Jennafer Newberry: Like, well, that's good. That's a good way to channel it, actually.

[42:09] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, yeah. Just you know, trying my best.

[42:12] Jennafer Newberry: Oh. Well, Jennafer, this has been so much fun. Thank you for doing this with us.

[42:18] Jennafer Newberry: Yeah, thank you all for having me. This is like, wow! This is so crazy. I love it. I love it.

[42:30] Kevin Bianchi: How are you feeling, Kevin?

[42:31] Quincy Brown: You know, Quincy, it just it makes my day when we get to talk to a Glinda. It makes my whole day.

[42:36] Kevin Bianchi: I just love it.

[42:38] Quincy Brown: You do get a little twinkle in your eye when we do these Glinda interviews.

[42:41] Kevin Bianchi: I do. Well, it's because I feel like I have so much to say about Glinda that I haven't like I'm out of stuff to say about Alphaba. You know what I mean?

[42:48] Quincy Brown: Sometimes is what I feel like.

[42:52] Kevin Bianchi: I understand. But you know what I mean? It's like sometimes I'm like, okay, wait, did have I said this already? But with Glinda, I'm like, I have books, notebooks full of questions for the Glinda girlies.

[43:01] Quincy Brown: Yeah.

[43:02] Kevin Bianchi: I'm really happy you got the opportunity to do a Glinda Corner in today's episode, too. I feel like we haven't done one of those.

[43:07] Quincy Brown: That was a real blast from the past.

[43:09] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, I know. I can already see the comments like, bring it back.

[43:13] Quincy Brown: I do feel like people forgot about it, and now we're gonna remind them that that was a thing, you know?

[43:18] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, surprise. You know what I was thinking when Jennafer talked about the compared Glinda and thank goodness to that moment in Itanya.

[43:28] Quincy Brown: Yeah, she like has the emotional breakdown but needs to like cover it up. I was like, love that that was her reference. However, my reference for a moment like that would be the Katy Perry documentary where Russell Brand texts her to get a divorce right before she has to go on stage and perform for thousands and thousands of people.

[43:45] Kevin Bianchi: That is that part is so. And I was gonna derail the conversation in the interview, but I was like, I can't do this.

[43:50] Quincy Brown: That's not true.

[43:51] Kevin Bianchi: No, I totally get that.

[43:53] Quincy Brown: Oh my god, that is so sad that you bring that up.

[43:57] Kevin Bianchi: But yes, that is exactly what it is. That moment in Itanya is one of my favorite gifs. Like it's so it's just so funny. And it's I totally get it too. Cause isn't she like putting makeup on at that moment too?

[44:09] Quincy Brown: And she's like literally trying to like make herself look ugh, it's so good.

[44:14] Kevin Bianchi: It's so good. What a good analogy.

[44:16] Quincy Brown: It was nice. I feel like this when we were talking about her Glinda Glinda Bowl of it all. I don't know if listeners refer to that question as Glinda and Alphabet Bowl, but that's how I internally refer to it.

[44:28] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, that's the internal slang. When she was giving us her answer, seeing all the thought she put into it and hearing how she views the character and the the acting of the character of it all, it did hearken back to Scent Men OG when we were doing deep dives into the script and the show and the character analysis, and it was very fun to kind of have that energy again.

[44:51] Quincy Brown: Yeah, which I think too, like comes across in her performance. When I watched the I mean, there's like not that much available in terms of like bootlegs, but from what I have watched, it's like all so intentional and it's all like it all feels so genuine because it all feels like it's coming from like a well thought out, very genuine place of like herself rather than like I'm playing Glinda now. You know what I mean?

[45:15] Kevin Bianchi: Like it it all feels very in touch with who she is as an actress.

[45:21] Quincy Brown: You know what I would do with you, Kevin? Because we're going to see the Broadway company once Mackenzie Kurtz starts. I think if the tour is coming somewhere near us, I would be down to try and convince Auntie Theater Lee to send us to see the tour.

[45:34] Kevin Bianchi: Because now I really want to see them see these gals together.

[45:38] Quincy Brown: Together, I know. Now I feel like I know them.

[45:40] Kevin Bianchi: And it could be like a nice like weekend trip.

[45:43] Quincy Brown: I also thought it was really it was an interesting take to hear her discuss how Glinda or it made me view Glinda in a new way when she was like, Glinda is just a person who feels her feelings so completely. She feels the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows. And I was like, you know what? That is so true, and that's such an interesting way to view the character.

[46:04] Kevin Bianchi: I agree.

[46:05] Quincy Brown: And I really like me as a person, like as Kevin, I really relate to that. And I had never really thought not to get into the mental illness of it all, but I really feel that way too. And um, I had never thought of Glinda in that way, and I agree. I was like, oh yeah, because like popular is the highest high. Like she is home from a party. She's so excited. She has a new bestie, she's doing a makeover, like, and then so you know, and then some of her other moments. Like, think of I'm not that girl reprise. That is the lowest low any human has ever felt on stage.

[46:37] Kevin Bianchi: Also, I can't believe that's not in the audition packet. Cause like, what if your Glinda can't hit that?

[46:42] Quincy Brown: Uh not that. They'll just give them an option up to do at the end.

[46:48] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[46:50] Quincy Brown: Um it really does humanize Glinda because otherwise you're like, this is zany caricatury girly pop, but they're like, no, she's just like unabashedly being herself and feeling what she feels.

[47:03] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, yeah.

[47:04] Quincy Brown: Um, Quincy, before we go, we are approaching spring, which means we are approaching Broadway openings season. What are you looking forward to? I feel like I know the answer, but I imagine other people would like to know.

[47:17] Kevin Bianchi: I'm looking forward to Bad Cindovella.

[47:21] Quincy Brown: Beds in the Vella is the snugging name that they call me. What else am I looking forward to seeing? That's opening? Oh, I really want to see parade because I missed it at City Center.

[47:31] Kevin Bianchi: Oh, I'm hearing.

[47:33] Quincy Brown: Rumors about this Oliver cast at New York City Center. And I'm debating if I should just buy my tickets before the cast is announced because if it's like.

[47:40] Kevin Bianchi: I feel like that's kind of the move with City Center.

[47:43] Quincy Brown: It's like These days, City Center is really having a moment.

[47:45] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, you just have to like trust.

[47:48] Quincy Brown: You just have to trust. You know, so like trust.

[47:50] Kevin Bianchi: Um, yeah, I'm excited for parade. Well, Alice is coming to Broadway.

[47:54] Quincy Brown: I'm so excited for Sweeney Todd.

[47:56] Kevin Bianchi: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[47:57] Quincy Brown: I keep forgetting about that. I'm really excited about that. Because I feel like that's I've never seen that show uh live on stage.

[48:03] Kevin Bianchi: I I did like a very interesting production of it when I was in college, but I've never seen the show in like a proper prescenium stage.

[48:14] Quincy Brown: I was Toby.

[48:15] Kevin Bianchi: Mmm.

[48:16] Quincy Brown: I was Anthony in high school.

[48:18] Kevin Bianchi: That makes sense.

[48:19] Quincy Brown: He's gonna harm you.

[48:21] Kevin Bianchi: No ally moment. I remember I really wanted to be Sweeney or the Judge, and the castles came out, and my director pulled me in.

[48:27] Quincy Brown: Same director who gave me shit about Mr.

[48:29] Kevin Bianchi: Duval and was like, Mr. Duval, sorry to drag him again. And he's just like, I don't know who you think you are, but you're a tenor, so like I don't know why you want to be Sweeney or the Judge.

[48:41] Quincy Brown: Yeah, I I wanted to be Anthony.

[48:43] Kevin Bianchi: See you guys in a couple weeks. We have another exciting episode coming up.

[48:45] Quincy Brown: The most on top of episodes we've been in a while, I feel like.

[48:49] Kevin Bianchi: In a while. Thank you, Auntie Theaterly for keeping us in check and on schedule.

[48:55] Quincy Brown: Yes. I appreciate it. I'm sure the listeners appreciate it. Leave us a rating of review to show us how much you appreciate it, and we will talk to you later.

[49:04] Kevin Bianchi: Bye.

[49:04] Quincy Brown: Bye.

[49:12] Quincy Brown: You've been listening to Sentimental Men from Theaterly. This episode was produced by Quincy Brown, Kevin Bianchi, and the team at Theater League. Thanks to Anthony Abitangelo, the most swankified podcast editor in town. And another thanks to Michaela Reynolds for making us look downright Osmopolitan in our new key art. And to Julia DeMarzo for our logo design. If you want to get in touch, send us an email. We love to hear from you all. You can reach us at Scent MenPod at theaterly.com. That's T H E A T R E L Y. You can also connect with us across social media on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at Scent Men Pod. Thanks for tuning in. Till next time, I'm Quincy.

[50:10] Kevin Bianchi: And I'm Kevin.

[50:10] Quincy Brown: Also, if you haven't, follow Sentimental Men. They will be reaching out in two to three months.