IN BED WITH BETSY WOLFE
For this installment of our In Bed With series at Refinery Hotel, we’re catching up with one of the one of Broadway’s biggest stars, Betsy Wolfe. Betsy has starred in Waitress, Falsettos, The Last Five Years, and most recently, as Anne Hathaway in & Juliet, where her performance was nominated for the 2023 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
Here, we get In Bed With…Betsy Wolfe to discuss her role as Anne Hathaway and what & Juliet means to her and Broadway fans.
What’s your pre-show ritual and how do you unwind after the curtain?
This show is deceptively hard on both the voice and body and requires regular physical therapy/laryngeal massage so I can perform this role 8 times a week! I make sure to pepper those appointments throughout the week and then the rest falls into place!
You’ve starred in so many memorable roles like Jenna in Waitress, Cordelia in Falsettos, and Cathy in The Last Five Years. What’s your favorite thing about playing Anne Hathaway in & Juliet and what has she taught you?
Anne has taught me to trust my instincts and that everything I’ve done or not done to this point has a beautiful reason.
There are so many empowering stories in this show. What is the one message you hope the audience takes with them when they leave the theater?
You too can have a second chance to make a difference.
What makes & Juliet stand out from the other shows on Broadway right now?
It’s a unicorn: a delicious combination of heartfelt, hilariousness with songs you love.
When you look around the Stephen Sondheim Theater, there are plenty of little girls in the audience, and you have a young daughter yourself. How has being a mom and a role model to so many girls impacted how you approach your craft and career?
A huge part of why I chose to do this role was because of my daughter. I wanted her to see her mom not only doing what she loves and hopefully sear into her memory that it’s important to be bold in life, be authentically vulnerable, find the joy and make your own path.
& Juliet is filled with the pop anthems we all know and love. What’s your favorite song in the show?
I’ve always had a particular fondness for “One More Try,” which is the one original song that Max Martin wrote specifically for the show. Oh, and “Domino.” “Domino” was on my “run playlist” long before this show came about, so it’s super sweet to sing it every night!
You co-founded BroadwayEvolved, a groundbreaking musical theater training program that prepares performers for a career in the theater. What’s your go-to advice for someone who wants to pursue a career on Broadway?
Trust your instincts, and lean into what makes you unique.
What’s next for you after Anne Hathaway?
A nap.
The Stephen Sondheim Theater is only a few blocks away from Refinery Hotel in Midtown. What are your favorite things to do in the neighborhood?
I always love going to Bryant Park. It has it all. My daughter and I ride the carousel in the summer and have loved the winter markets when it’s cold. It’s a gem of a location and this hotel is no exception!
What are three must-do activities you’d suggest to someone visiting New York for the first time?
You must visit one of the many parks in NYC. Stroll along the Hudson, and I personally love just picking a neighborhood and wandering aimlessly to find the hidden gems!
Photography by Stefanie Cole
Want to see & Juliet for yourself? Read on to learn more and book our ultimate girls’ night out.
In partnership with our friends at Broadway’s & Juliet, we’ve rolled out an A-lister experience for you and 1-3 friends. Along with one of our luxurious rooms, you’ll enjoy discounted tickets to & Juliet, Broadway’s most popular new musical. The score features hits from the ’90s and 2000s (think Britney, BSB, Ariana, etc.) and will have you living your best pop star lives.
Want to feel even more glamorous? Call in the professionals from Glamsquad to get your hair and makeup done at an exclusive discount. While you get ready, sip espresso martinis in your room and listen to a curated playlist to kick off this GNO. Plus, what’s a night on the town without proper accessories? You’ll get fun & Juliet swag with a disposable camera and a hangover cure to complete your iconic evening, capture the memories, and feel great come morning.
More about & Juliet:
“Created by the Emmy®–winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek,” this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & Juliet asks: what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way.
With every twist of the tale, & Juliet reimagines iconic pop songs you know and love—in ways you’ll never expect. Featuring “Since U Been Gone,” “Larger Than Life,” “…Baby One More Time,” “I Want It That Way,” “It’s Gonna Be Me,” “Roar,” “It’s My Life,” “That’s The Way It Is,” and more. The only thing tragic is missing it.”
