Recently, Broadway actor Jenn Colella took five with Q on Stage.com. Our conversation ranged from the first experience that this writer had with her work to the most recent project, the Paper Mill Playhouse production of David Yazbek and Terrence McNally's "The Full Monty," which runs through July 12.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, and raised in nearby Summerville, Colella grew up in a town not unlike the Buffalo, New York of "The Full Monty." Drawing upon many of the personalities in her hometown, she creates a rich characterization for Georgie Bukatinsky. Georgie is a woman who wants more attention from her beleaguered and now jobless husband, Dave, and Colella's ability to draw on the small community experience makes Georgie fully three-dimensional. And Georgie's love for Dave is palpable throughout. It just takes him a while to feel it.

A veteran of the stand-up comedy circuit, as well as an accomplished singer and improv performer, Colella is equally at home with roles like her Broadway turns as Sissy in "Urban Cowboy" and Laura in "High Fidelity," as well as television roles on shows like "Rescue Me" and "Cashmere Mafia." But her true love is the stage.

Kate Moira Ryan and Linda S. Chapman's "The Beebo Brinker Chronicles," which was presented by 37 Arts from February to April 2008, was my first experience seeing Colella. The actor had not read the Ann Bannon books upon which the play is based, until preparation began for her eponymous, iconic lesbian role. Upon reading about the character, she was challenged by how to convey Beebo's combination of menace and charisma, when she is more diminutive. Actors rise to such challenges and now my mind's eye sees her as that definitive Brinker. Portraying such a vibrant butch character, she is most comfortable with the accolades received for her work. Colella has experience with playing both sides of a multi-faceted coin, having been featured as Victoria, the woman playing a man impersonating a woman, in "Victor/Victoria" in regional theatre, but then, this why actors are actors. They transcend themselves so we that may transcend ourselves.

Music is one of Colella's passions and, in addition to singing Broadway tunes, she enjoys singing Rock, Country, and also Contemporary formats. Rumor has it there may be some musical projects and recordings in the works.

Theatre is rife with LGBTI people but, until becoming active in local productions, Colella did not know many out gay people. Marching in Pride in South Carolina, the experience was mostly about protest and it was not uncommon to encounter people who were not supportive. When she moved to New York, however, she began to see people who were celebrating our heritage with a march of happiness, power and presence.

Discussion turned to favorite roles and dream roles. Among Ms. Colella's favorites is the title role in "Peter Pan." One venue that stands out for her was the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in Fairfield, Iowa, where the production used the sets that were designed for Cathy Riggs. The audiences loved the show and, in a town that was populated with an amalgamation of intriguing people from theatre types to retro '60s people and more, many could have been extras in their own theatre vérité. And the sensation of flying out over the crowd was amazing. Colella's dream roles for that hoped-for someday include Sally Bowles in Kander and Ebb's "Cabaret" and Viola in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night."

Presently you can catch Colella until The Paper Mill Theatre Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. A short train ride on NJ Transit brings you to an urbane outpost, in the 'burbs, where the regional theatre is of Broadway caliber. You can keep up with Colella via her website www.jenncolella.com.