Jenn Colella

Jenn Colella is a Tony Award–nominated, Grammy Award–winning actress and singer recognized for her contributions to musical theater and Broadway. A graduate of the MFA Acting program at UC Irvine, Colella began her career as a stand-up comedian in Southern California, performing at venues such as the Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store in Hollywood, before establishing herself on the Broadway stage.

Colella was in the original Broadway casts of "Urban Cowboy," "High Fidelity," "Chaplin: The Musical," "If/Then," and "Suffs." Her Broadway debut in "Urban Cowboy" earned her an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, and she went on to originate roles in a variety of productions. She originated the role of Hedda Hopper in the world premiere of "Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin" at La Jolla Playhouse, which was later renamed "Chaplin: The Musical" and transferred to Broadway. Colella also won a Grammy Award for her work on the "Dear Evan Hansen" cast recording.

Colella's career reached a milestone with the Tony Award–winning musical "Come from Away," in which she portrayed Beverley Bass, the first female captain of an American Airlines aircraft. She originated the role of Annette/Beverley Bass in the La Jolla Playhouse's world premiere production before it transferred to Broadway. Her performance garnered Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards, a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, as well as Craig Noel, Helen Hayes, and Dora Awards for the pre-Broadway productions. She reprised her roles in the filmed recording of the musical. While working on "Come from Away," Colella developed a friendship with Beverley Bass, who presented her with the flight jacket, wings, and service pin worn on September 11 to be worn on Broadway.

Colella's role in "Suffs" continued her history of portraying groundbreaking women on Broadway. She starred as Carrie Chapman Catt in "Suffs" on Broadway, earning a Drama League Award nomination for Distinguished Performer. "Suffs" is also set to premiere on PBS Great Performances. On television, Colella has appeared in "Feed the Beast," "Elementary," "All My Children," "Rescue Me," "The Good Wife," "The Code," "Madam Secretary," "FBI: Most Wanted," "Evil," and "Beast in Me," and plays Captain Alison Kershaw on CBS's "Elsbeth."

Beyond performing, Colella partners with organizations, universities, and leaders to explore the psychology of high performance, delivering keynotes, master classes, and curated concert experiences focused on leadership and communication. She serves as an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University and Pace University. In addition to her stage and screen work, Colella teaches master classes, maintains a cabaret act, and participates in benefit performances, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to musical theater, acting, and arts education.