Jean Smart in 'Call Me Izzy'! Plus, Betsy Wolfe and Ella Stiller

Summary

Episode Summary: "Jean Smart in 'Call Me Izzy'! Plus, Betsy Wolfe and Ella Stiller"

Release Date: July 17, 2025
Podcast: The Broadway Show: Uncut
Host: Tamsen Fadal
Guests: Jean Smart, Betsy Wolfe, Ella Stiller

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Introduction

In this episode of "The Broadway Show: Uncut," hosted by Tamsen Fadal, listeners are treated to an in-depth exploration of three remarkable women shaping the New York City theater scene. The episode spotlights Jean Smart's triumphant return to Broadway with her solo performance "Call Me Izzy," Betsy Wolfe's heartfelt portrayal in the new musical "Joy," and Ella Stiller's Off Broadway debut in the provocative play "Delaria." Each segment delves into the personal journeys, creative processes, and profound insights of these talented performers, offering listeners a comprehensive view of contemporary Broadway dynamics.

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Jean Smart on Her Broadway Return in "Call Me Izzy"

Timestamp Highlights: [00:04] – [13:19]

Jean Smart, an Emmy and Golden Globe winner, marks her first Broadway appearance in 25 years with the solo show "Call Me Izzy." The interview, conducted by Paul Wontorek, delves into her motivations, challenges, and the nuances of performing a one-woman show.

• Career Reflection:

  • Jean Smart: "Extraordinarily blessed, especially in the last 10 years or so" (01:16).
  • Smart reminisces about her early theater days, noting how pivotal Off Broadway plays were in launching her career.

• The Challenge of a Solo Show:

  • Jean Smart: "The idea of it was very daunting" (01:57).
  • She discusses the initial intimidation of undertaking a one-person performance but emphasizes the empowering experience once rehearsals began: "Once we started doing it, I thought, okay, I think I can do this" (01:59).

• Character Depth and Audience Connection:

  • Jean Smart: "She talks directly to them" (02:22).
  • Smart highlights the intimate nature of the performance, where her character, Izzy, engages directly with the audience, creating a compelling and personal theatrical experience.

• Historical Context and Career Trajectory:

  • Reflecting on her journey, Smart shares, "I always wanted to come to New York. I didn't really think about doing television and film" (08:44), underscoring her steadfast commitment to theater despite ventures into other mediums.

• Audience Reception:

  • Jean Smart: "The audience reaction has been just more than I could have hoped for" (02:09).
  • She expresses immense gratitude for the positive reception, which has reinforced her confidence in the show's impact.

• Personal Insights:

  • Smart delves into her personal growth and how "Call Me Izzy" has rekindled her passion for Broadway, culminating in a performance that blends humor, vulnerability, and raw storytelling.

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Betsy Wolfe on the Musical "Joy"

Timestamp Highlights: [13:53] – [27:21]

Betsy Wolfe stars in "Joy," a new musical based on the true story of the inventor of the Miracle Mop. This segment explores her deep connection to the role, the creative process, and her entrepreneurial ventures alongside her acting career.

• Journey with "Joy":

  • Betsy Wolfe: "I just fell in love with her so much" (03:24).
  • Wolfe recounts how she initially discovered the story behind Joy and her evolving attachment to the character over seven years, culminating in her starring role.

• Character and Story Connection:

  • Betsy Wolfe: "She's a survivor and she still has optimism" (06:33).
  • She emphasizes the resilience and creative spirit of Joy, portraying her as a multidimensional character whose struggles and triumphs resonate deeply.

• Broadway Evolved Initiative:

  • Betsy Wolfe: "Broadway Evolved... students come from all over the world" (18:36).
  • Wolfe discusses her role in Broadway Evolved, an initiative aimed at fostering personal and technical growth for aspiring performers, highlighting its impact beyond just theatrical training.

• Balancing Personal and Professional Life:

  • Betsy Wolfe: "I have to balance being a mom and a wife" (17:44).
  • She shares the challenges and rewards of juggling motherhood, entrepreneurship, and a demanding acting career, drawing parallels to her character's journey in "Joy."

• Thematic Depth of "Joy":

  • Wolfe explores the broader themes of the musical, including generational dynamics and the emotional significance of creating something that simplifies and enriches lives: "This mop made her life easier, and she knew that it would make lives easier for women" (22:30).

• Authenticity and Collaboration:

  • Betsy Wolfe: "I have a chance to capture her essence" (27:35).
  • Highlighting the collaborative nature of the production, Wolfe emphasizes the importance of authentically portraying a living legend, ensuring that Joy's true spirit is reflected on stage.

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Ella Stiller's Off Broadway Debut in "Delaria"

Timestamp Highlights: [28:45] – [39:57]

Ella Stiller, daughter of actors Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, discusses her debut in "Delaria," a dark comedy that delves into themes of true crime and social media obsession. The conversation explores her motivations, the play's relevance, and her theatrical lineage.

• Excitement and Aspirations:

  • Ella Stiller: "This is my total dream come true" (28:54).
  • Stiller conveys her profound excitement about starring in "Delaria," describing it as the culmination of her lifelong dedication to theater.

• Role Exploration:

  • Ella Stiller: "She's so complicated" (31:07).
  • She provides insights into her character, Delaria, emphasizing the complexities and emotional depth that make the role both challenging and rewarding.

• Cultural Relevance:

  • Stiller discusses how "Delaria" reflects contemporary societal issues, particularly the impact of social media on personal identity and relationships: "Delaria loves attention... she may go to certain measures to receive that kind of love" (31:20).

• Family Legacy and Influence:

  • Ella Stiller: "I take a lot of pride in my family's roots in the theater" (35:22).
  • She pays homage to her grandparents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Mara, and her father, Ben Stiller, highlighting how their legacy has shaped her own career and passion for the stage.

• Personal Growth and Community:

  • Ella Stiller: "This is where my strong suit is" (38:24).
  • Stiller reflects on her growth as an actress and her commitment to the theater community, emphasizing the importance of authentic and meaningful performances.

• Balancing Tradition and Innovation:

  • Stiller navigates the balance between honoring her family's theatrical heritage and carving out her unique path, ensuring that her contributions bring fresh perspectives to the industry.

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Conclusion

This episode of "The Broadway Show: Uncut" masterfully intertwines the narratives of Jean Smart, Betsy Wolfe, and Ella Stiller, showcasing their diverse talents and unwavering commitment to the arts. Through candid discussions and heartfelt reflections, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the challenges and triumphs inherent in the world of Broadway. From solo performances and innovative musicals to groundbreaking Off Broadway plays, these women exemplify the dynamic and evolving nature of contemporary theater. Their stories not only inspire aspiring actors and entrepreneurs but also highlight the enduring power of storytelling and resilience in transforming lives both on and off the stage.

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Note: Timestamps in brackets (e.g., [00:04]) correspond to the moments in the transcript where the quoted statements occur.

Transcript

[Tamsen Fadal]

Welcome to the Broadway show Uncut. I'm Tamsen Fadal. This week, we're talking about three strong women up the New York City stage at three different phases of their careers. Jean Smart, Betsy Wolf, and Ella Stiller. Betsy Wolf is starring in the true new musical Joy, based on the inventor of the miracle mop. And Ella Stiller just made her Off Broadway debut in the new play Delaria. But first up, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jean Smart back on Broadway for the first time in 25 years in the new solo show Call Me Izzy. She talked to Paul Wontorek.

[Paul Wontorek]

Jean Smart, welcome back to Broadway.

[Jean Smart]

Thank you.

[Paul Wontorek]

It's been a while.

[Jean Smart]

It's been a while.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah.

[Jean Smart]

Didn't intend for it to be that.

[Paul Wontorek]

Long, but good to see you.

[Jean Smart]

Thank you.

[Paul Wontorek]

Last time you were here, let's see. It was the man who came to dinner. Right. Tony nomination. You came in, you, like, had a wildly successful moment, and then so many things happened to you. Your career. I love your career because you get to do so many. You get to do so many things.

[Jean Smart]

No, I can't explain it. Extraordinarily blessed, especially in the last 10 years or so.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah, yeah. But the theater, it's interesting when you look back, your career and how it all started. It really started here.

[Jean Smart]

Yeah.

[Paul Wontorek]

It really started, like, you know, walking these streets, right?

[Jean Smart]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Paul Wontorek]

For the next gig.

[Jean Smart]

I used to be able to walk around the streets in these kind of shoes, but not anymore. Give me some hocus. Yeah, no, no. I mean, I did a. Yeah, I did a. A play. Was off, off, off. You know, little workshop play, and then we did it off Broadway, and it started my whole career.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah. Yeah. So call me Izzy. I'm very excited. Brand new play.

[Jean Smart]

Yeah.

[Paul Wontorek]

One woman show. That's quite a lift.

[Jean Smart]

Yeah.

[Paul Wontorek]

Is that daunting at this point in your career?

[Jean Smart]

It. The idea of it was very daunting.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah.

[Jean Smart]

Once we started doing it, I thought, okay, I think I can. Yeah, I can do this. And it really is just kind of in the last week, finally, really clicked.

[Paul Wontorek]

Well, you're finally getting it in front of audiences.

[Jean Smart]

Yeah. And the audience reaction has been just more than I could have hoped for. So that. That helps them, you know, because she's kind of needs them. You know, she talks directly to them.

[Paul Wontorek]

Have you ever done something like this? Like a long monologue show? Like, I mean, it's literally just you.

[Jean Smart]

The longest speech I've ever had was in a Christopher Drang play. I got to do it briefly with Christopher, too.

[Paul Wontorek]

Oh, wow.

[Jean Smart]

Called Laughing Wild.

[Paul Wontorek]

Oh, yeah.

[Jean Smart]

And the first act, See, the first act is the woman, the second act is the man, and then the third act is the two of them together or is the man first?

[Paul Wontorek]

I don't remember.

[Jean Smart]

But it's basically about a 30 minute speech of her just sitting in a chair talking to the audience and having a nervous breakdown. And so it's a lot of non sequiturs. And so that was hard to learn and that was a little scary. And I'm good at learning lines, but that was scary. But I was also in my 30s and had more brain cells, so I wasn't sure how this was going to work out. But. Yeah, not good. Yeah.

[Paul Wontorek]

So when you got the script in your hands and you just sat down and read it in bed or something, I'm sure. What about this woman and this story? I don't know that much about it. I'm excited to come and find out more about it. What about this story do you think got to you?

[Jean Smart]

I just fell in love with her so much, and I thought that it was it just an extraordinarily unique piece of writing. This woman who got married at 17, lives in a trailer park and this stunning poetry just pours out of her, but she has to hide it. And I just thought everything about it was unique and wonderful and I just fell in love with her, you know.

[Paul Wontorek]

So it's a woman who has a creative side that she's basically totally hidden from her day to day.

[Jean Smart]

Yeah. And from her spouse.

[Paul Wontorek]

Right, right. And so when you dug into the actual words of it and got into the rehearsal room, what was it like actually learning it? And has it been easy to.

[Jean Smart]

It didn't come as quickly as many things come. And that is not because of what I usually say about learning lines is, you know, usually the more well written something is, the easier it is to learn. That is absolutely true. But this is extraordinarily well written. But it jumps around in time often, things like that. So that's just one of the things that made it a little bit harder to learn. Plus, I'm voicing, I think, eight other people.

[Paul Wontorek]

Oh, wow. Okay.

[Jean Smart]

90% of it is Izzy, but the rest of it is her husband, her teacher, her neighbor, an older couple that she meets briefly, a cowboy she picks up. You know, I mean, it's not like I think what Sarah is doing, Sarah Snook. I think where she's literally embodying other characters. This is just. I'm. I'm telling a story. And yeah, it's sort of. They're filtered through the lens of Izzy. But, yeah, I think it's eight other people.

[Paul Wontorek]

I love the wide range of characters you get to play in your career.

[Jean Smart]

You know, oh, I've been so lucky I haven't been pigeonholed.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah, I mean, it's really wild when you look at it. I mean, I can't think of other actors who really get these opportunities. But, you know, obviously I love you on Hacks. I'm so thrilled that Hacks happened for you. It's been such a.

[Jean Smart]

So am I.

[Paul Wontorek]

It's been such a delight to watch you do it. And obviously, you know, you're playing a famous person on Hacks, and then now this is a woman. Well. Oh, yeah, well, Deborah's experience, obviously very famous. And now you're playing sort of a woman in a trailer and very working class. And, you know, you've played, you know, maybe when you were younger, you got sort of cast as a lot of probably like waspy. Right. Like, I've seen some of your early credits, a lot of sort of those, Those girls. Really.

[Jean Smart]

I'm trying to think. Well, one person I played was very, very Waspy was a movie I did called Guinevere with Stephen Ray and Sarah Polley. Ultra WASP woman.

[Paul Wontorek]

There's a nice range of humanity on your resume. So what do you love about somebody like Izzy and digging into this kind of woman that maybe you walk by, you know, in a store, on the street and don't think about her in her life?

[Jean Smart]

Yeah, no, absolutely. It's not. It's very unexpected, but the way it's written, it seems perfectly natural for her to have this unusual gift. But, yes, I love her optimism. I love her humor, I love her love of language, her love of nature. She's just. She's a survivor and she still has optimism, she still has joy, even when she goes through really, really, really rough time.

[Paul Wontorek]

What's it been like getting in front of your fans and your fans from many different things. Right. Over the years and some really passionate sectors of certain fans after certain projects, and then people like me who just sort of love the. The scope of everything. What is it like getting in a room with them and just in the quiet, in the dark and telling a story with them?

[Jean Smart]

Surprising and humbling. It's. Yeah, it's been. It's been nice. It's interesting because I know that some people are going to come to the state, to the play to see Gene.

[Paul Wontorek]

Sure.

[Jean Smart]

There's some people going to come to see Deborah Vance, and there are some people going to come because they love the theater and they want to see this new play and.

[Paul Wontorek]

Right.

[Jean Smart]

And so it's a nice. It's an interesting mix.

[Paul Wontorek]

Can you look back a little bit on your. I love thinking about you in your 20s. And, you know, I've looked back on your credits and you were doing plays all over the place. Right. And doing the regional shows and off Broadway, and you had a big success Off Broadway. Right. And the last summer. Yes, yes. At the Actors Playhouse, which seems like that was really kind of got you to Broadway off. Right. I just love thinking about the actors at that point. And sometimes you just think, like, is this ever gonna. Is this gonna add up? Is this gonna happen? And you're just going from gig to gig looking for the thing. Do you remember, like, when you actually sort of felt like, something's happening for me and.

[Jean Smart]

I mean, I always. I always wanted to come to New York. I didn't really think about doing television and film. It was just basically going to go to New York, do theater. I wish I'd stayed longer in New York when I first came, but I happened to audition for a TV show in New York that was shooting in la, and I was.

[Paul Wontorek]

What show was that?

[Jean Smart]

It was called Teachers Only with Lynn Red. Lynn Redgrave.

[Paul Wontorek]

Okay.

[Jean Smart]

And it was a sitcom. And I had never. I had done theater for a long time in Seattle and at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and kind of go back and forth, back and forth. And I was now about 31, I guess, and I thought, well, maybe I should find out what being on camera is like. And so I, you know, took the job and it didn't last long at all, but. But I stayed in LA for a while, but I wish I'd stayed in New York a little longer, established myself here a little bit more before, but.

[Paul Wontorek]

Obviously now you can. Do you feel like you can come in and obviously people want to see you. You know, it's that whole trick. Everyone says you have to go become famous on film and tv and then you can.

[Jean Smart]

Or vice versa. Because a lot. I mean, a lot of casting directors in LA are very. They're very impressed by New York actors. I had a friend who could not get arrested in la. I mean, almost literally couldn't get arrested. And then he was a friend of David Mamet's. He had worked with David Mamet and he did one of David's plays on Broadway, won the Tony. And all of a sudden, every casting director in LA who would not even give him the time of day suddenly were like, oh, you know, he's Thinking the same actor. What the hell.

[Paul Wontorek]

Right.

[Jean Smart]

You know.

[Paul Wontorek]

Right.

[Jean Smart]

But they suddenly just could not, you know, do enough for him.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah. So you're here for a nice summer run at Studio 54. Did you ever cl. Did you ever go dancing here back in the day?

[Jean Smart]

No, No, I, I, I think I just missed it.

[Paul Wontorek]

Okay.

[Jean Smart]

I think I came here in, what, 80. 80 or 81. I think it was just getting ready to close.

[Paul Wontorek]

Okay.

[Jean Smart]

And I wasn't really a club person.

[Paul Wontorek]

Right.

[Jean Smart]

So I probably appreciated it.

[Paul Wontorek]

So it's just a house of arts.

[Jean Smart]

But it would have been. But it would have been fun to experience.

[Paul Wontorek]

Fine theater happens here.

[Jean Smart]

No, I was looking at the. I was looking at the floors last night in the theater, and I thought if these floors could talk.

[Paul Wontorek]

Exactly.

[Jean Smart]

I don't know about the walls, but if these floors could talk. There was a lot going on on the floor.

[Paul Wontorek]

Right. So you're here for a nice summer run, and then I guess in the fall you go back to your other jobs. Right. It's nice to be able to sort of. You have to really make it into your schedule to do Broadway.

[Jean Smart]

No, it's like I said to somebody, when you live some 3,000 miles away and you've got a family and you've got dogs and you've got a house, and it's a huge ask of your family to say, let's all go to New York for six months or something.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah. So it's fun.

[Jean Smart]

Your kids are in school and, you know, it's fun.

[Paul Wontorek]

Sure. Yeah. So it was Deborah Vance and then Izzy and then back to Deborah Vance.

[Jean Smart]

Yes.

[Paul Wontorek]

I love that.

[Jean Smart]

Yeah, I do, too. I love that very much.

[Paul Wontorek]

What do you want people to know about this play? And, you know, you know, obviously in the summer, people have all kinds of things going on. And it's also an interesting time in the Broadway season. Right. Sort of in between the spring and the fall season. It's like a nice, special summer treatment.

[Jean Smart]

Yes, I hope so. I mean, I know a lot of people leave the city in the summer, but I hope if they're back sometime in August, they'll really catch the end of it. I just think that it's. And judging from the audience's reaction, they're having so much fun with the humor in the play. They're just getting it more than I ever could have dreamed, but also to the very, unfortunately, kind of dark parts of the story, they seem to be just riveted on. So that's been very, very gratifying, and it's just a wonderful story. About an extraordinary woman. And the ending is kind of a little ambiguous, so you'll have to make up your mind about what you think that actually happens at the end.

[Paul Wontorek]

I love it.

[Jean Smart]

Sounds good.

[Paul Wontorek]

I can't wait to see it. Thank you so much. So great to talk to you.

[Jean Smart]

Thank you.

[Paul Wontorek]

Welcome back to Broadway.

[Jean Smart]

Thank you. Thrilled to be here.

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[Tamsen Fadal]

You can find Joy off Broadway this summer. It's the new musical Joy, starring Tony nominee Betsy Wolf. It's the true story of the inventor of the miracle. Mom, I sat down with Betsy Wolfe. All right, so let's talk about where we are right now. Thank you for stepping out of rehearsal.

[Betsy Wolf]

Oh, yes. I always look like this when I rehearse.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Fresh out of rehearsal. What has it been like?

[Betsy Wolf]

How long have you been so we have been in the studio for one month, and today's the last day before we start tech tomorrow at the theater. But my journey began with this show a long time ago.

[Tamsen Fadal]

It did. Tell me about where it all started. I want to know how it came across your desk. I want to know how you. How did you get here?

[Betsy Wolf]

So this is the longest I've ever been with a show. Okay. Every other show has either been a revival or, you know, I had the pleasure of just getting it and it was gonna go straight to Broadway, this show. I first got an email in 2018 from Ken Davenport saying, look, I don't know what you're doing right now. I don't know what you're up to, but there's this show called Joy and based on the movie. And of course, I went home immediately and, like, watched the film and was like, this is unbelievable. Her story is unreal. And I thought, is this actually true? And then I, you know, read more about her and realized, oh, this is all true. They couldn't even fit everything that was true about her life in the film. And so I did one reading and then I did other readings. And then the show slipped away from me for a little while because I said, I'm gonna go do this other show called Ann Juliet. And this show wasn't quite done, you know, Baking. And so good analogy. When it came back to me, I was throwing. Thrilled. I've never thought about a show so much when I wasn't doing a show, when I wasn't doing that particular show. So I was amazed that here we are seven years later. Wow. And I'm actually getting. We're actually doing it.

[Tamsen Fadal]

What attracted you so much to it? Because it is a fascinating story.

[Betsy Wolf]

So it's funny, I think about my attachment to it then and then my attachment to it now and it's just grown. She's a self made entrepreneur. She had the messiest life and out of nothing she made something super extraordinary. And I think that that to me was not only the most impressive thing, that something so extraordinary could come out of something so ordinary, but that she was just this completely broken woman in so many ways, picking up pieces of everyone else around her, yet believing in them enough to say, I will make my life harder because I believe in there's something good in every single person. So I will make my life harder carrying an extra burden. Now, whether or not that's good for us or whether or not that's sustainable, I think we learn beautifully in this show. The shedding of responsibility, the bandwidth that we choose as mothers to carry. And when I first started the show, I didn't even have a little girl. And then the second reading I did, I was five months pregnant. No one knew. I didn't tell anyone. And then here I was, a woman raising a child in the middle of a pandemic, singing this music, running a business, and I didn't even realize how many similarities I had to her.

[Jean Smart]

And.

[Betsy Wolf]

And it's just an extraordinary story of a woman who like, figures out how to make her life incredible and therefore making her family's life incredible.

[Tamsen Fadal]

There are so many parallels that just went on. Went along right with you. Do you have a business as well?

[Betsy Wolf]

I do.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Tell me about it.

[Ella Stiller]

Yeah.

[Betsy Wolf]

So I'm in my. We're in our eighth year. It's called Broadway Evolved. And basically it is the intersection of personal growth and technical growth for students all across the country who want to be performers. It has grown into something so beautiful, so much bigger than I ever could have dreamed. We have students come from all over the world, all different socioeconomic backgrounds. And they come and they definitely think that they're going to learn more about how to, you know, belt and be on Broadway. But what they leave with is a sense of self worth. They leave with a sense of what environments do I thrive in. And no matter what, even if they never star on Broadway. That carries with them to whatever workplace that they're in.

[Tamsen Fadal]

How do you get the balance? And has doing this show helped you understand the importance of different types of balance and what you need to do?

[Betsy Wolf]

I thought I knew. I thought I had everything under control. And then have a child and have a kid and then actually try and balance a business and try and balance being a mom and try and balance being a wife. And it is because, I don't know.

[Tamsen Fadal]

There'S such a word as balance.

[Betsy Wolf]

No. Right. It's kind of this thing that, like, we all say, but yet I find that to be the most interesting thing is actually the navigating of that. And that is what she's doing in this story so beautifully and so messy. And that's kind of what I'm trying to do constantly in life.

[Tamsen Fadal]

I think we gotta be okay with the mess part. And I think that that's what she accepted, which has really been, you know, what. What catapulted her to the success of where she is. You've met Joy. She's locally based.

[Betsy Wolf]

Yep.

[Tamsen Fadal]

You've met Joy.

[Betsy Wolf]

Very much so.

[Tamsen Fadal]

What has that been like?

[Betsy Wolf]

Well, she's incredible. I mean, obviously, I'd seen her on tv. You know, I did my research, and I thought, who is this woman? And what you see on the outside is obviously a very, very polished version of who this woman is now who knows herself. And so the fact that we get to go back in time and tell the story of a woman who at every point in life, the time at which she did this, too, we have to remember this was the early 90s where most women were, you know, looking at this as nothing more than stifled dreams. She got accepted to Harvard. She didn't go because her parents told her to stay back. And so watching just knowing this woman who said goodbye to all these things in life and then watching her find her power, you know, when you meet her today, she really does embody and carry all of that with her. And so just to get to tell that story is. Oh, it's such a gift.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Did she talk to you about what those feelings were really like back then when she was going through all that?

[Betsy Wolf]

It was one of my questions. I had to.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Yeah, it had to be.

[Ella Stiller]

Right.

[Tamsen Fadal]

So what was that like to learn to hear that? Because, you know, no matter where you are today, you don't forget the pain points that got you.

[Betsy Wolf]

Oh, I have had so many conversations with her where I'm like, joy, I'm gonna peel back these layers. You are going to tell me what it was like. Please remind yourself. And I said, what do you do when you get mad? You know, I was trying to ask her all these questions because, you know, you listen to her life story, and it's almost unreal what she went through. And so we did get a chance to talk about that and identify key moments where she said, I really didn't think that this was gonna turn around for me. And you know what I also love about Joy, though, is within 30 seconds of us talking about that, she was like, selling me clean boss, you know, because she is Eddie Jo. She is, like, such a pro. And I was like, wait a minute. Go back to this. You know, and we just kind of laughed. Cause I was like, you are who you are. And she just. She doesn't sit in the unknown, or she's never a victim or a martyr. And that's what's crazy, is she had every reason to stop, to turn around or to blame others, and she never did. That's.

[Tamsen Fadal]

That's the incredible part of it. And I think the other part is that I don't. Even if you. Even if you've seen the movie or if you haven't, because now it's been a while, people know her as, like, the lady who made the mop. Like, that's what they know. And so I think to hear this story, I think is going to. Is going to mean a lot for people of all different ages, whether you're going through a midlife pivot, whether you're a. A new mom, you know, whether you're young and you're trying to figure out.

[Betsy Wolf]

What your career is. I mean, I think it really just.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Kind of spans generations.

[Betsy Wolf]

I think it would be easy to say that this is just a musical about a mop. You know, I've been jokingly at times saying, mop girl, Summer, get ready for it. But what I think will really surprise people is that this is a story about three generations of women. There's my mom and there's my daughter in the show and the choices that she makes. To say, I'm going to change what's happened in the past. And that's okay. I accept it, but I will change it for the future is what will bring you to tears during the show. You're going to laugh. Like, for sure, there's funny moments in the show, but I definitely think that the story of family is what is at its core. And inventing a mop wasn't just for practical purposes. And what you understand after seeing this is the Emotional connection to what a product can actually do. And in Enjoy's case, this mop made her life easier, and she knew that it would make lives easier for women. Because if you have things, something, even one thing, a little bit easier, you have more time, and time is everything.

[Tamsen Fadal]

I love that. I love that. I think it's just going to be so fascinating and amazing. Why did you decide, you know, you were in and Juliet, and that was just an incredible show? Was that hard to make that decision, or did you absolutely know that this is what you wanted to do and if this came, you were leaving wherever you were?

[Betsy Wolf]

Well, I had been with Ann Juliet for. For two and a half years, so my time felt so complete. My time just felt complete. And I didn't know that this was going to happen until I had kind of said, like, that chapter is closed. And so I really do believe that the universe kind of just had this in store for me. I remember a vivid time when I had done a couple workshops of this, and I had been told by the team at the time, they said, you know what? We think we'd like to try a couple different options. And I said, you know what? You should absolutely do that. Because when you ask for me back.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Did you say that?

[Betsy Wolf]

I said, oh, you better believe it. It's the only time I've ever done this. I'm serious. It's the only time I've ever done this. Because I said, when you asked me to come back and do this, I want you to be 100% sure that I am who you want in that room. I've never had the balls to say that.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Were you scared saying that?

[Betsy Wolf]

Honestly, I felt so at peace about it.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Oh, that's so perfect.

[Betsy Wolf]

Because I just felt so perfect. I just knew it, like, in my body bones. I just knew that this story was mine to tell. And the craziest part, again, is, in 2018, what you would have seen on that stage is nothing like what I can actually bring to this now.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Why?

[Betsy Wolf]

Well, I'm a mom now. Yeah. And you can sit and say, you know, I understand what it's like, but as someone who was in Waitress and didn't have a kid at the time, it isn't. It's. It's not possible to understand what it is like to actually be fighting for your family. And so I would like to think that the depth that I can bring to this role now is so much more authentic than I even could have brought with it, you know, when I first started it. So I feel really like Incredibly lucky and blessed that all of this has come up at this time because I feel like it's really right.

[Tamsen Fadal]

I love that you did that. How quickly did they come back to you? No. Yes I can. Because I think what you said is, it was the right answer. It's like you were at peace. And when you feel that peace, you know you're in the right place.

[Betsy Wolf]

And it wasn't.

[Tamsen Fadal]

And you don't feel it often, but when you do. No.

[Betsy Wolf]

And it wasn't done. And I really didn't mean that in like a mean way or that someone else couldn't do this. It had nothing to do with that. I wasn't ready for it at the time either. I wasn't right for it at the time. And so by the nature of them going on their journey and me going on the Ann Juliet journey, it just perfect. When it was right, then it was right, you know.

[Tamsen Fadal]

I'm so excited. I can't wait to see the audience reaction because I know that that's going to just be incredible in so many different. On so many different levels.

[Betsy Wolf]

I think it's going to surprise people. What I like to think that we're doing is being authentic to her story but also telling it in a beautiful, dramatic but also very funny way of. What does this look like to be a self starting female entrepreneur in the 90s when it was impossible to do?

[Tamsen Fadal]

It was unheard of.

[Betsy Wolf]

Unheard of.

[Tamsen Fadal]

There weren't really things as like pivots then. I mean, maybe there a few people were doing pivots, but not like how we talk about it today.

[Betsy Wolf]

No. And you don't get to watch a full story like this on stage where we start at her messiest and then we get to see by the end what she's done. And even then some.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Has she been to any rehearsals? Is she allowed into rehearsals?

[Betsy Wolf]

Oh, yeah, Joy's allowed to do whatever she wants. Joy very much is around, I mean, just in the same way that she, you know, was around for the making of her product. This is a product in a way.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Does she have an input when she sees you? Do you ever feel any?

[Betsy Wolf]

Yeah, she's had inputs too. I think there's many blessings of getting to play someone who is alive and who is very much like, you know, present and still very much a part of our, you know, landscape. And I think what's really special about that is I have a chance to capture her essence. You know, it's not necessarily. I'm not having to emulate like a famous singer or someone as many of these biopics are, it's the most important thing for me was capturing her heart and what made her tick and what makes her tick. And I get to, you know, see that in real life, which is such a gift.

[Tamsen Fadal]

I'm so excited. Well, I feel like we're going to have quite a gift to see you.

[Betsy Wolf]

Thank you so much. This is great. Thank you.

[Tamsen Fadal]

So exciting. Ella Stiller just made her Off Broadway debut in the new play Deloria. It's a dark new comedy about the generation raised on true crime and social media obsession. Ella's the daughter of Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor. Paul and Torick got to chat with Ella Stiller.

[Paul Wontorek]

So happy to see you.

[Ella Stiller]

So good to see you.

[Paul Wontorek]

In rehearsal.

[Betsy Wolf]

I know.

[Paul Wontorek]

In action.

[Ella Stiller]

This is crazy.

[Betsy Wolf]

Crazy.

[Paul Wontorek]

This is like your Off Broadway debut. How are you feeling?

[Ella Stiller]

It's like my total dream come true. I can't even believe it. I'm, you know, come. Come down here to Brooklyn to rehearse every day and I'm like pinching myself. Cause this is all I've been working for, like my whole life. So I couldn't. Couldn't be happier.

[Paul Wontorek]

I love it. It's like a cool new play.

[Ella Stiller]

Yes.

[Paul Wontorek]

I just read it. It's wild.

[Ella Stiller]

Yeah, it's crazy.

[Paul Wontorek]

So tell me about your first exposure to it and what you thought of it when you dug into it.

[Betsy Wolf]

So.

[Ella Stiller]

So this all happened very fast. Like, this all happened within the last month.

[Paul Wontorek]

Wow.

[Ella Stiller]

Yeah, it's been a crazy month. But no, I read the play and I was like, oh, this is incredible. This is exactly what I want to be doing. This is what I talk about when I'm like, I wanna be doing women centered work and young women and cool feminist, edgy stuff. That is what I wanted. And then I read it, I was like, this is perfect. I had a zoom audition and I knew that if I didn't get was not that thing of like, oh, this isn't the right thing. It was like, oh, I it up. I'm not supposed to say that, right? Am I not supposed to say that?

[Paul Wontorek]

Well, in this play, we're gonna hear you say all kinds of things.

[Ella Stiller]

Yeah, exactly. No. Yeah, exactly. No, but I. You know the thing where when you audition or when you're looking at different projects, people are like, if it doesn't work out, it means it wasn't meant to be. It wasn't the right one. I really had this moment of like, well, if this doesn't work out, then like, what am I doing right then I can be I should reassess.

[Paul Wontorek]

Perfect for you.

[Ella Stiller]

Yeah. I mean, there's Real Housewives references. Like, the night before my audition, I was coming from the Countess Luann cabaret show. So, like. Yeah, I think it's. I think it was pretty good timing, but, yeah, it's just, like, the coolest play ever. It's like. It was so exciting.

[Paul Wontorek]

So you're playing Delaria.

[Ella Stiller]

Delaria.

[Paul Wontorek]

It's Delaria. I was gonna ask, because I keep thinking Leah Delaria, but it's not.

[Ella Stiller]

Yes, exactly.

[Paul Wontorek]

It's Delaria. Okay. You're playing delaria in delaria?

[Ella Stiller]

Yes.

[Paul Wontorek]

Tell me about this young woman.

[Ella Stiller]

Oh, she's so complicated. She is so complicated. But I get her, you know? No, she's. Listen, Delaria loves attention.

[Paul Wontorek]

Okay?

[Ella Stiller]

Delaria loves Delaria. Delaria really loves Georgia, her best friend. And that's sort of where most of the play takes place, is the two of them, us, in our. My bedroom.

[Paul Wontorek]

She loves her screams.

[Ella Stiller]

I know delaria loves her screams. She loves her screams and also hates them because there's a complicated relationship there.

[Betsy Wolf]

Yeah.

[Tamsen Fadal]

DeLaria.

[Ella Stiller]

And Georgia have this very intertwined friendship, and they clearly spend a lot of time in this bedroom, which is where the whole play takes place. And then, of course, we also meet Noah, who is the guy. Delaria's sort of.

[Paul Wontorek]

I'm laughing at the pronunciation.

[Ella Stiller]

Yeah, of course. Noah. No, no, no, it's not anything else. It's Noah. Okay, so Delaria. It all takes place here in this bedroom. This is where. Where all the magic happens. At the beginning of the play, we see Georgia and Delaria in the bedroom. As you know, they tend to be there probably every day, just hanging out. And they discover that a friend of theirs from college has passed away. And Delaria is just seeing the outpouring of social media posts and may or may not, in a way, be jealous of that attention and may go to certain measures to receive that kind of love and attention. That's what I got.

[Paul Wontorek]

It is interesting. When I read it, I thought about. You talked about plays about young women and new voices, and I was thinking about, like, John Proctor, the Villain is such a huge hit on Broadway right now. Like, it does feel like there's really an opportunity.

[Ella Stiller]

It really is loving.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah.

[Ella Stiller]

I think we, like, need it. I say we as a young woman. I think I graduated theater school, like, a year ago, and people were saying, do you want to do theater more? And I was like, yes, theater is my first love. I always want to do theater. But the question is, is there theater for women my age? Right. Now, is that where the juicy stuff is? And that was my worry. I was like, later in life. Sure. The Chekhov, the Shakespeare, all of it. Like, that's there. But to be in this summer right now, where all this amazing, cool female art is happening, it's so exciting, and I'm so honored to be a part of it.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah. You know, it's so funny to see you in this context, because I actually met you many years ago in a very random way. So your mom.

[Ella Stiller]

Yes.

[Paul Wontorek]

The gorgeous Christine Taylor.

[Betsy Wolf]

Yes.

[Paul Wontorek]

I saw her come up to me at the Broadway Flea Market with this sweet little girl.

[Ella Stiller]

Yes.

[Paul Wontorek]

And you were, like, fangirling. I.

[Ella Stiller]

Well, yeah.

[Paul Wontorek]

I don't want to put words in your mouth.

[Ella Stiller]

Guilty as charged. I'm like, was the biggest theater kid of all time. Still am. Of course. I, like, lived off of broadway.com. are you kidding me? The Audience Choice Awards, that was, like, my entire. It was my life.

[Paul Wontorek]

You voted and the whole thing.

[Betsy Wolf]

I still vote.

[Paul Wontorek]

Okay, okay, okay.

[Ella Stiller]

But, yeah, I have the picture.

[Paul Wontorek]

Oh, my God. I remember this moment, like, so vividly. I did not get stuck. And now look at you. Look how far you've come. And I've been following you, like, on Instagram and seeing you, you know, go to Juilliard and really pursue this, and seeing great photos of your, like, student career and then getting this play. It's really exciting.

[Ella Stiller]

Thank you. I mean, yeah, it's. It's. It's a really surreal moment. I'm a year out of graduating now, and it feels really good to be like, okay, and now this summer, this is where it's all really happening. And this is the thing I've wanted to do my entire life, that I've been working for for a long time. And I'm just so, so excited. I get emotional, like, every time I talk about it.

[Paul Wontorek]

So obviously, we have to talk about your lineage. I mean, you come from an incredible family of Broadway performers. Your grandparents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Mara. I mean, I grew up loving them intensely. They both balanced theater and TV and film, and your dad, of course, had done both. So is this sort of, like, written in the stars that of course you're gonna go down this path?

[Ella Stiller]

I think so. I mean, I always, like, there never was another option for me. There was a moment in time when I was a kid where I was obsessed with horses. That was the only other. Only other option ever.

[Paul Wontorek]

Okay.

[Ella Stiller]

But. No, but it just was the thing I loved to do, and my parents never forced me into it. They were very much supportive. But you know, never wanted us to feel any pressure.

[Paul Wontorek]

But they didn't tell you to run the other way either.

[Ella Stiller]

No, they didn't. Because they know. They know that it's not really a choice. It's a calling. Right. I take a lot of pride in my family's roots in the theater. I've been feeling very connected to my grandparents recently, and I'm really sad that I don't get to know them as an adult or in this moment in time. Especially my grandmother. She was such an incredible actor, both of them, but she was a real actor in her own right. She was a Tony nominee. Underrated. But, yeah, I love them so much. And I walk. I walk in Central park every day where they're. They're renovating the Delacorte and they have pictures of Shakespeare in the park's past, and I walk past my grandpa every day.

[Paul Wontorek]

Wow. And your dad's making a movie about them. I know. Like, a big patch. I can't wait. I can't wait to see that.

[Betsy Wolf]

It's.

[Ella Stiller]

It's very. I mean, you know, I'm biased in many ways, but it's a really, really moving, moving film, and I just take so much pride in those two.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah. I actually heard your dad talk about you on a podcast recently. Very proud. Very proud.

[Ella Stiller]

He's very proud. Well, it's interesting because now I'm also in a time in my life where I'm very proud of him, too. I think it's a special moment for the both of us, and we have so much in common. His parents were both actors, too, and he. He knows what it's like to start your own career and how difficult that can be, and exciting. Yeah. I feel very lucky to get to share that with him right now.

[Paul Wontorek]

I love young actors who really start on the stage and really put their feet down. And that's actually true of your grandparents and your dad. They all did theater.

[Ella Stiller]

Yeah, my mom, too. Before the Brady Bunch movie. There was the real live Brady Bunch.

[Paul Wontorek]

Oh, my God. Yes, of course. Your mom. Yes, of course. Absolutely. Wow. That's totally. That's right.

[Ella Stiller]

Okay, so they've all, like. Not to mention that I grew up in, like, a show tunes only household.

[Paul Wontorek]

Okay. So, yeah, like, what were some of the, like, go to?

[Ella Stiller]

It's like. It's like the seventies. It's the Jesus Christ Superstars. It's the Pippin, you know, Hair, Les Mis, my dad. I mean, we're going later now, but. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's a. We're a real theater family.

[Paul Wontorek]

Are you. Will ever be doing. Will you ever be doing a musical?

[Ella Stiller]

My gosh, I hope so.

[Paul Wontorek]

Okay.

[Ella Stiller]

When I met you in that picture from a long time ago, I wouldn't have dared of doing something that wasn't a musical. I wouldn't have dreamed.

[Paul Wontorek]

Right. Only big Broadway musicals.

[Ella Stiller]

And I'm like, okay, I think this is where my strong suit is. But you know what? Put me in a musical, please.

[Paul Wontorek]

You can't, like, plan a career, obviously. All you can do is kind of, like, set your path in the right direction. So do you think about that a lot, about how you want to be spending your time?

[Betsy Wolf]

I do.

[Ella Stiller]

And I. I've really been thinking about that right now, because I'm thinking, well, this is exactly what, you know, what I want to be doing right now is this awesome play at this awesome off Broadway theater and just really, like, cementing myself in the theater community, which is what I've always cared about the most. I do think, like, if we're talking about, like, setting a foundation, I'm. I'm. I'm doing what I. What I always thought I would or should at least.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah. Starring in an off Broadway show in New York City. Does it get any better?

[Ella Stiller]

It really doesn't.

[Tamsen Fadal]

It really doesn't.

[Paul Wontorek]

And how's the family feeling about this moment?

[Ella Stiller]

Oh, my gosh. So excited. So excited. They haven't read it.

[Paul Wontorek]

I was gonna say, is there any, like. Do they know that they're walking into.

[Ella Stiller]

They know a little bit. I've. Listen, I am. I'm a yapper. Okay. I talk, I talk, I talk. I've been really good about. No sweet spoilers on this one.

[Paul Wontorek]

Oh, okay.

[Ella Stiller]

It is a play that, you know, is fun to have. No spoilers on.

[Paul Wontorek]

Just walk in not knowing what you're gonna say.

[Ella Stiller]

But there's some stuff that, I don't know, maybe I should embrace them for. But who cares? They get it. Everyone gets it. Whatever. I want people to, like, you know, I want some people to watch it and be like, that's not for me. That's how you know it's a good play. Because I think a lot of people are gonna really love it.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah, I do, too. I'm so thrilled for you.

[Ella Stiller]

Thank you.

[Paul Wontorek]

So good to see you.

[Ella Stiller]

Good to see you.

[Paul Wontorek]

Can't wait to see you off Broadway this summer.

[Ella Stiller]

Off Broadway.

[Tamsen Fadal]

And that's going to do it for this latest episode of the Broadway show Uncut. Until next time, I'm Tamsen Fadal.