Lena Hall on Kinky Boots, Hedwig & Winning a Tony Award

What’s a childhood moment that quietly shaped who you became?For this week’s guest, Lena Hall, it was sending out invitations to her eighth birthday party and no one showed up.In this episode of Love, Take Two, Lena reflects on how her early experiences with performance, rejection, and identity influenced the trajectory of her career — both the drive that fueled her and the pressure that followed. That once self-described theater kid went on to become a Broadway powerhouse, appearing in major productions including 42nd Street, Tarzan, Dracula, and Kinky Boots, and later taking home a Tony Award. She’s also appeared in television series like Snowpiercer and Your Friends & Neighbors.But success didn’t come without cost.Lena opens up about the unexpected unhappiness she felt at the height of her Broadway career, her pivot into rock music, and how she has processed grief and personal loss through her work. Key TakeawaysGrowing up as theater kids — Lena and Jaimie reflect on their early yearsHow childhood experiences shaped Lena’s career and creative identityThe surprising emotional toll of Broadway successPivoting from Broadway to rock musicProcessing grief and pain through performanceReclaiming joy after burnoutIf this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs a reminder that reinvention is possible and come hang out with us on social! Connect with Us⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Love, Take Two Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jaimie Kelton Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jose Rolon Instagram⁠Credits:Edited by: Jerson BarajasRecorded by: MCM CreativeProduced by: Jose Rolon, Jaimie Kelton, and Dianni Hall