Jenn Colella

Jenn Colella (born Jennifer Lin Colella) is an American comedian, actress, and singer.[1] She first began her career in Los Angeles as a comedian and later branched out to musical theater. She had her Broadway debut with a 2003 performance as Sissy in Urban Cowboy, which earned her a 2003 Outer Critic's Circle Award nomination.[2] Colella went on to star in High Fidelity and Chaplin.[3][4] Her Off-Broadway credits include Closer Than Ever, Slut! the Musical and Side Show.

Jenn Colella in 2012

In 2014, she returned to Broadway in Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's If/Then directed by Michael Greif. She originated the role of Captain Beverley Bass in Come from Away on Broadway in March 2017 and earned the 2017 Outer Critic's Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.[5]

Early life

Colella was born in Charleston, South Carolina to Lindy Crawford and Mick Colella. She grew up in Summerville, South Carolina and attended Columbia College as an undergraduate, where she graduated with a dual degree in speech and drama. During this time she served as a company member of the Trustus Theater. Colella went on to attend the University of California, Irvine, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Acting. After graduate school Colella remained in Los Angeles, during which time she pursued a career in standup comedy and performed at the Laugh Factory and other comedy clubs in the area.

Career

Theatre

Colella has worked in many original productions, such as Kiki Baby, where she performed in the lead role and for which she won a 2011 NYMF Award for Outstanding Individual Performance.[6][7] In 2006 she starred in the world premiere of Twyla Tharp's The Times They Are A-Changin' at the Old Globe Theatre.[8]

That same year she also originated the role of Hedda Hopper in Chaplin: The Musical at the La Jolla Playhouse and later performed the role on Broadway.[9][10] Her Off-Broadway credits include Don't Quit Your Night Job, Slut! the Musical, and The Great American Trailer Park Musical. In 2011 she performed in Lucky Guy at the Little Shubert Theater.[11]

In 2013 Colella performed in the Broadway musical If/Then at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where she played the supporting role of Anne, a lesbian in a same-sex relationship. Colella commented that she was eager to perform the role, stating:

I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to play a gay character in If/Then, especially someone like Anne. She's a sassy fun-loving girl not unlike myself who's in a relationship with Kate (LaChanze). Anne is madly in love and very sincere about taking it to the next level and actually tying the knot. It's a very real look at a contemporary lesbian relationship. You don't see a lot of that in musical theater.[12]

The role was not Colella's first lesbian role, as in 2008 she had starred as the titular Beebo Brinker in the play The Beebo Brinker Chronicles, based on Ann Bannon's pulp fiction novel about a young lesbian's adventures in 1950s Greenwich Village.[13]

In the summer of 2015 Colella originated the role of Beverley Bass in the La Jolla Playhouse production of Come from Away, which transferred later in the season to the Seattle Repertory Theatre; it then played Toronto in late 2016 and transferred to Broadway in early 2017. The show received positive reviews, with many critics praising Colella's performance. She was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance. Colella and the real-life Beverley Bass also became friends. It was announced on October 17, 2019 that Colella will play her final performance in the Broadway production on November 10 and will be succeeded by Becky Gulsvig.

Comedy, film, and television

Colella started her career as a comedian while pursuing her MFA, during which time she worked the stand-up circuit performing in such places as the Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

She had her television debut in 2008 with the ABC comedy-drama Cashmere Mafia, where she performed as Erika in the season one episode "The Deciders". From there she starred in several other television shows including CBS's The Good Wife and the PBS Tribute to Stephen Sondheim with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. Film credits include the film Lay It Down for Good and Uncertainty.

Credits
Theatre
Start year Production Role Notes and awards
2003 Urban Cowboy Sissy
  • Original Broadway Production
    • Broadhurst Theatre (March 27, 2003)
  • Nomination – 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical[14]
2004 The Great American Trailer Park Musical Pippi
  • Off-Broadway
    • Revelation Theatre
2005 High Fidelity Laura
  • Workshop, New York 2005
Slut Delia
  • Original Off-Broadway Production
  • American Theatre of Actors
2006 The Times They are-A-Changin' Cleo
  • World Premiere
  • La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, CA (Regional)
  • Performances: Old Globe Theatre
High Fidelity Laura
  • Original Broadway Production
  • Performances: Imperial Theatre
2008 The Beebo Brinker Chronicles Beebo Brinker
  • Performances: 37 Arts Theatre (Theatre B)
2011 Lucky Guy Chicky Lay
  • Original Off-Broadway Production
  • Performances: Little Shubert Theatre
Kiki Baby Kiki
  • New York Musical Theatre Festival
2012 Closer Than Ever Performer
  • Off-Broadway Production
  • Performances: York Theatre Company at St Peter's
Chaplin Hedda Hopper
  • Original Broadway Production
  • Performances: Ethel Barrymore Theatre
2013 If/Then Anne
  • Out of town tryouts
  • Performances: National Theatre
2014
  • Original Broadway Production
  • Performances: Richard Rodgers Theatre, Mar. 30, 2014 - Mar. 22, 2015
2015 Peter Pan Peter Pan Sacramento Music Circus
Come from Away Beverley Bass
  • World Premiere
  • La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, CA (Regional)
  • Performances: Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre
Dear Evan Hansen Virtual Community Voice Recorded voice only
2017 Come from Away Beverley Bass * Broadway
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Cashmere Mafia Erika 1 episode
2009 Rescue Me Mickey 1 episode
2010 All My Children' TV Reporter 1 episode
2010 The Good Wife Julie 1 episode
2012 Pzazz 101 Jenn 1 episode
Hedda's Headlines: Backstage at 'Chaplin' with Jenn Colella Self Broadway.com Series
2014 Submissions Only Sarah 2 episodes
2015 Elementary Blonde Group Wife 1 episode
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Uncertainty Emily
2009 Lay It Down For Good Rebecca short film

See also

References
  1. Viagas, Robert; Asch, Amy (2007-08-01). The Playbill Broadway Yearbook. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 166. ISBN 978-1557837325.
  2. "Jenn Colella - Broadway Theatre Credits, Photos, Who's Who". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  3. Willis, John; Hodges, Ben (2004-11-01). Theatre World 2002-2003. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 49. ISBN 978-155783635-9.
  4. Willis, John; Hodges, Ben (2009-06-01). Theatre World 2006-2007 - The Most Complete Record of the American Theatre. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 53. ISBN 978-1557837288.
  5. "'Hello, Dolly!' and 'Come From Away' Lead Outer Critics Circle Awards (Full List)". Variety. Retrieved 2017-05-08.
  6. Sagolla, Lisa Jo. "Kiki Baby". Backstage.com. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  7. "NYMF Awards for Excellence Announced; Pride and Prejudice Leads With Six". Playbill. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  8. LLC, CurtCo/SDM (2006-02-01). San Diego Magazine. CurtCo/SDM LLC. p. 142.
  9. "Chaplin to Go Silent on Broadway; Closing Date Set for Musical". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  10. "Jenn Colella speaks about returning to Broadway in If/Then, Chaplin 's leading man Rob McClure, and finding her place in the Broadway community". Stage Door Dish. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  11. "Marquee Value: Lucky Guy at the Little Shubert Theatre". Playbill. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  12. "'If' out, 'Then' what?". Washington Blade: Gay News, Politics, LGBT Rights. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  13. Blank, Matthew. "PHOTO CALL: 'The Beebo Brinker Chronicles' at Off-Broadway's 37 Arts" Playbill, March 8, 2008
  14. Gans, Andrew. "Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; 'Hairspray' Leads the Pack" Playbill, May 5, 2003
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