Tampa Bay Arts Passport Podcast

Quitting Safe: How Jenna Jane Walked Away From Journalism To Build A Life In Theater

This episode is about the moment you stop asking permission to be an artist.
Playwright, actor, and voice actor Jenna Jane talks about walking away from full-time journalism, surviving in Florida as a working artist, and refusing to play roles that sexualize or stereotype young women. “I made a commitment to myself… I was no longer going to play any roles that perpetuate stereotypes or involve my clothes falling off.” That decision meant less stage work — and also, a new path.
We get into:– That “it’s here” moment when an idea hits and everything else has to stop– How her sci-fi play Bionic has evolved from a one-act to a full-length built for real-world production– Why new work doesn’t get produced (and why “new work doesn’t sell” is usually just bad marketing)– What theaters owe actors and audiences when it comes to safety, access, and not pre-casting the same five friends– Why she left a “safe” field after her position was eliminated and said, “Why not do what I love?”
We also talk burnout, redefining success, and the radical, stubborn act of choosing joy in a politically hostile moment.
Follow Jenna Jane to catch upcoming staged readings of Bionic and her newest work across Tampa Bay — and sometimes internationally.
Programming notes:– November Book Club: Night + guided tour at the Florida Holocaust Museum– December Book Club: My Broken Language + Latin History for Morons at Stageworks
Tampa Bay Arts Passport: local arts journalism, but with teeth.Like, follow, subscribe, and go see new work in your city.

Cadillac Crew, Collaboration, and the Cost of Courage

When state arts funding collapses and women’s stories keep getting erased, what do artists do? They make more art.In this episode, Erica Sutherlin (The Studio@620) and Clareann Despain (Powerstories Theatre) join host Avery Anderson to talk about their co-production of Cadillac Crew, the power of small organizations, and why artists will always show up—no matter what Florida politics throws at them.

Sustainability, Not Stardust: Ross Egan, Managing Director of Asolo Repertory Theatre

Nonprofit theater isn’t a vibes-only economy. Aoslo Rep managing director Ross Egan joins Avery for a candid dive into money, models, and why “the mission is the heart, but the model is the engine.” From Chicago storefronts to Sarasota’s mainstage, this episode unpacks sustainability, salaries, and why a $5 gift from every audience member could change the game.

Finding the Funny in Fear: Susana Cordón on Dracula

Actress Susana Cordón joins Avery to talk about starring as Lucy in the Straz Center’s Dracula: A Comedy of Terror—why rooting comedy in truth makes it funnier, what “belonging” in the arts actually feels like, and yes, a healthy amount of Audra McDonald worship. Plus: first impressions of Tampa Bay’s arts scene, from murals to humidity.

Would You Bet on Yourself Like This? Julia Rifino Is.

What does it feel like to carry an entire Andrew Lloyd Webber show on your back? For hometown artist Julia Rifino, star of Tell Me on a Sunday at freeFall Theatre, the answer is joyfully... a lot of things. In this conversation, Julia opens up about going from shy kid with a sketchbook to singing 26 songs solo onstage, why she refuses the “starving artist” narrative, and what it means to celebrate a breakthrough moment on her own terms.