Jenn Colella

Jenn Colella was born in Summerville, South Carolina, to Lindy Crawford and Mick Colella. Her early life involved singing in church and school choirs, where she developed her vocal skills. Colella also participated in theatre classes, securing her first role as Gertie in “Oklahoma!”. An impactful moment in her youth was seeing “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway, which solidified her dream of performing on stage. She pursued her education at Columbia College, graduating in 1996 with a dual degree in speech and drama. During her undergraduate years, she was also active in sports, playing basketball, tennis, and flag football. Following her time at Columbia College, Colella worked at an insurance company call center for three years.

Colella furthered her acting education at the University of California, Irvine, earning a Master of Fine Arts in Acting in 2002. Her career began with her Broadway debut as Sissy in “Urban Cowboy” in 2003, a role that also earned her an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination. A significant turning point in her career came in 2017 when she created the role of Captain Bass in the Broadway musical “Come From Away.” This performance garnered her a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress, and she won a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critic’s Circle award. Colella continued her work on Broadway in “If/Then” (2014) and “Suffs” (2024), and has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway and regional theatre productions throughout her career.

Beyond theatre, Colella has engaged in film and television work. Her television credits include appearances in “FBI: Most Wanted” (2022), “Evil” (2019), “Madam Secretary” (2019), “The Code” (2019), and “Elsbeth” (2024-2025). Her film roles include “Uncertainty” (2008), “Lay It Down for Good” (2009), and the filmed recording of “Come From Away” (2021). Colella also recorded several cast albums for her musical theatre performances and received a Grammy Award nomination as part of the “Dear Evan Hansen” cast for Best Musical Theater Album in 2018.