This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Hi, everybody. It's me, Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo, your host of Odd Woman Out, a show where we talk to women, artists, and just women in general about what it is like to be a woman in the entertainment industry and a woman in the world. We're talking some crazy stories, some experiences, overcoming insecurities, but we're having a great time while we're doing it. So thank you guys so much for tuning in and continuing to show love and support. I love you my odd squad. Stay odd and send a woman in your life a text today and tell her how fierce she is.

[0:40] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Hi, Hannah Cruz. Welcome back to Odd Woman Out.

[0:46] Hannah Cruz: Thank you for having me back.

[0:48] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh my gosh, of course for your special Tony nominee episode. Crazy. Listen, I have been absolutely screaming for you. The nominations came out and I was like, fuck yeah. Fuck yes, like so deserved. Like number one, how are you feeling? Such a silly question, but like how?

[1:06] Hannah Cruz: No, I mean, it like, it comes to me in waves. Some days I'll forget about it, like truly forget about it. And then I'll have days where the whole day revolves around it. So how could I forget about it, but it's all still like, so we talked to one of my friends on the morning of the nominations and he was saying like, you don't prepare yourself for your dreams to come true. And so it's like waiting for that to like hit you is a very interesting feeling. And then having people around you experience it. And it's just, it's, it's the wildest experience of my life thus far.

[1:40] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: What did, what did, what was that pull quote? You never prepared for your dreams to come true.

[1:44] Hannah Cruz: Yeah. Cause we're always preparing, especially as actors. I feel like we're always preparing ourselves for the worst and like, and trying to cushion the fall in any way possible. Cause you fall every day and if you don't learn how to handle it, then you're not going to make it through the business, but you don't really prepare yourself for it to go right or well.

[2:04] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. And it's a pretty, it's a pretty nice feeling.

[2:06] Hannah Cruz: Yeah.

[2:10] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So what, what would you tell, like what does little Hannah feel right now? Like what, what would she be thinking and what would you say to her?

[2:16] Hannah Cruz: I mean, it's, it's undescribed, indescribable. I can't, I used to lie awake at night and like wish and pray to be on Broadway and wish and pray to get to the Tony awards. It's something that like I've wanted, I've been very one track minded. My parents will agree. Like my whole life, this has been like, this is what I'm doing. And so to have reached this point is, um, it feels really good.

[2:46] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Well, I mean, I know I just pulled this clip and resurfaced it when you got up, but like, you're so stellar in this show. Like I was with my friend, I already said this, but he was like, she's so good. And like you were our topic of conversation after the show. So like, congrats. It's so well deserved. Um, obviously you're back on Odd Woman Out first repeat guest shout out.

[3:05] Hannah Cruz: Oh my gosh. Wow. History.

[3:06] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Um, I want to know, like you've been going through the awards season, you have lunches and parties and press and such crazy things happening. Is there a situation or a specific event where you're feeling like the odd woman out?

[3:23] Hannah Cruz: Oh, interesting. Thank you. You know what gala was? It was some gala. Uh, I didn't have a plus one, so I didn't get to bring my husband and he's busy being Hamilton.

[3:31] Hannah Cruz: Yeah. He's actually not in Hamilton anymore. He ended his run, but it works out because now I'm crazy busy and he can be a stay at home cat dad, which is super helpful.

[3:43] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Um, yeah, singular. He has mentioned he maybe wants to get a second.

[3:46] Hannah Cruz: Okay. Well now's the time. Now's the time when I'm so busy and he's at home all the time.

[3:52] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: What's the cat's name?

[3:54] Hannah Cruz: Svetlana.

[3:55] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You're absolutely kidding me.

[4:05] Hannah Cruz: I swear to God. Wait, was the cat before?

[4:07] Hannah Cruz: No. So I know I got her in previews. She was two months old. My husband was doing Come From Away in Florida and he was gone for like three months. And he was like, if you're going to get a cat, it's now because I'm not, he's allergic.

[4:18] Hannah Cruz: He's allergic. So we had to get a hypoallergenic. I've never done like a breeder before. And I know some people look down on it, but we needed a hypoallergenic cat. And I've previously rescued all my cats, but he was so allergic to them he couldn't exist in the house.

[4:32] Hannah Cruz: Okay. So I got this Russian Siberian cat and I told Leah, we were in tech. I remember we were standing behind the wall in the deal, teching the deal. And she was like, you have to name her Svetlana. She's a Russian cat. You have to name her. And I was like, you're right. And we named her Svetlana. I've had her since she was two months old. She's nine months old now. And she is the light of our lives.

[5:00] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I actually, this is our second interview and I know we spoke about the cat and the, and I cannot believe that we just learned that the cat's name is Svetlana.

[5:08] Hannah Cruz: Well, shout out to the best cat dad and shout out to Svetlana.

[5:12] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Truly.

[5:13] Hannah Cruz: Who I think, I think the naming of this cat really was some good juju.

[5:17] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[5:18] Hannah Cruz: For this nom.

[5:19] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I think so too. Because she'll always be a token from this time. You know what I mean? Like our little Svetlana.

[5:25] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh, I'm so obsessed about Svetlana.

[5:27] Hannah Cruz: Have you seen the picture? She's the cutest cat in the world. She's a beauty queen.

[5:31] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, please.

[5:31] Hannah Cruz: Her mom is a showgirl. I'll show you. She's a stunning, stunning. Every time we take her to the vet, the vet's like obsessed with her. They can keep her in the back for so long because they love her. She's a star.

[5:41] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I'm beyond obsessed with this.

[5:43] Hannah Cruz: She's a star.

[5:43] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Shout out to Svetlana the cat. Honestly, she's my next guest.

[5:47] Hannah Cruz: Yes. Oh my God. I'll bring her next time.

[5:49] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I'm great.

[5:50] Hannah Cruz: Yeah.

[5:50] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You'll have to come back.

[5:51] Hannah Cruz: Okay.

[5:51] Hannah Cruz: Third time's the charm.

[5:52] Hannah Cruz: But he wasn't there at the event with me and it was like kind of me just walking around like trying to find people that I knew or like waiting for people to talk to me.

[6:03] Hannah Cruz: And so that was, I had to like be okay in solitude in that moment, but I did feel like the odd woman out a little bit.

[6:10] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh man. Yeah. I can imagine like, hey guys.

[6:12] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: It's overwhelming.

[6:13] Hannah Cruz: I'm going to nominate for a Tony. Anyone want to try?

[6:16] Hannah Cruz: It's a little overwhelming.

[6:17] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[6:18] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So what are you doing during this time? Like we just said, you're running to calories and lunches and whatever. What are you doing during this time for like self-care to take care of yourself? Do you have any like rituals that you're doing?

[6:26] Hannah Cruz: I mean, I'm trying to get Billy Porter DM me after the name drop, pick it up.

[6:38] Hannah Cruz: After the nomination, he was like, you need to protect your peace. You need to be getting eight hours of sleep at night no matter what.

[6:44] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you.

[6:44] Hannah Cruz: Thank you, Billy Porter for the advice.

[6:46] Hannah Cruz: I did not get eight hours last night.

[6:48] Hannah Cruz: It was sometimes it's kind of impossible when you have two shows the night before and then you have an early morning glam. It's like not possible, but I got six and I'm going to nap when I get home.

[6:56] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Hey, that will equal eight.

[6:58] Hannah Cruz: Six is good.

[6:59] Hannah Cruz: I'm also trying in any free time that I have to like do something nice for myself. Like I got a facial this past Monday before I knew I had an evening full of like events.

[7:09] Hannah Cruz: Right.

[7:10] Hannah Cruz: And I've been doing this new thing. I believe it is not, I see Korean head spas, but I believe this is a Japanese head spa.

[7:18] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Have you ever been to a head spa?

[7:20] Hannah Cruz: No.

[7:20] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: It'll change your life.

[7:21] Hannah Cruz: I'll give you my gal.

[7:22] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Wait, what do they do?

[7:24] Hannah Cruz: It's like a head massage.

[7:25] Hannah Cruz: It's a head massage. It's a neck massage, which has been, that's like the thing I've noticed the most through all of this is my neck is so tight.

[7:29] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You're like holding stress.

[7:32] Hannah Cruz: Yeah. And she really gets in there and then she like shuts your head in this cocoon.

[7:37] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Which you mean she shuts it.

[7:40] Hannah Cruz: Not your face.

[7:40] Hannah Cruz: Okay. But it's like a zipper thing for your scalp and she steams your scalp and then she massages it and she gives you a blowout after.

[7:48] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I do want this.

[7:50] Hannah Cruz: It's amazing.

[7:50] Hannah Cruz: She's amazing. So I do that once a month.

[7:52] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Once a month?

[7:53] Hannah Cruz: Yeah.

[7:54] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Wait, there's nothing I love more than like my head getting rubbed.

[7:57] Hannah Cruz: Oh, you'll die.

[7:58] Hannah Cruz: It's the best.

[7:59] Hannah Cruz: At the nail salon, the lady who does my massage while I'm drying always does my head and I'm like, I'll add 10 minutes.

[8:04] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I know.

[8:05] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I'll pay you whatever you want.

[8:06] Hannah Cruz: Whatever.

[8:06] Hannah Cruz: The limit does not exist.

[8:08] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: It's true.

[8:08] Hannah Cruz: Okay, fierce.

[8:09] Hannah Cruz: So we're getting head massages and we're sleeping almost eight hours.

[8:13] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Almost eight hours.

[8:13] Hannah Cruz: We're doing our best.

[8:14] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Okay.

[8:15] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I want to go back. I want you to take us through the morning of 2019. I'm sure you're like sick of talking about it by now.

[8:21] Hannah Cruz: No, I'm not actually because it's like kind of my favorite memory of all time at this point and so reliving it is a joy to me.

[8:28] Hannah Cruz: Like I, the night before I think was this, yeah, it was the stuff screening at town hall.

[8:34] Hannah Cruz: It was the first time.

[8:34] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Not me like stalking, knowing that, but yes, it was.

[8:37] Hannah Cruz: Beautiful dress.

[8:38] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you.

[8:39] Hannah Cruz: I loved that dress.

[8:39] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You look great.

[8:40] Hannah Cruz: Great dress.

[8:41] Hannah Cruz: Shout out.

[8:42] Hannah Cruz: Shout out, Halsey.

[8:42] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love your stuff.

[8:43] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, shout out.

[8:44] Hannah Cruz: And we got to watch it all together for the first time.

[8:47] Hannah Cruz: It was nice to kind of get my mind off it, but people kept being like, how are you feeling about tomorrow?

[8:51] Hannah Cruz: And I was like, don't talk to me about it because at this point I was like, it's not going to happen.

[8:55] Hannah Cruz: You have to like, let this go.

[8:58] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yes, but you were in like the gold derbies and stuff.

[9:01] Hannah Cruz: Sure, but my odds were low.

[9:05] Hannah Cruz: I was trying not to look at it, but I was like, my odds are low. I got to let this go.

[9:09] Hannah Cruz: I can't.

[9:10] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[9:11] Hannah Cruz: Like even just to be eligible to be considered, like that's crazy.

[9:16] Hannah Cruz: Legitimately.

[9:16] Hannah Cruz: Yeah.

[9:16] Hannah Cruz: I was like, the fact that I'm in the conversation is amazing.

[9:19] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, yeah.

[9:19] Hannah Cruz: I have to let that be the win.

[9:21] Hannah Cruz: And so I like, I've been using these like new sleep patches.

[9:24] Hannah Cruz: I put a sleep patch on.

[9:25] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: What is a sleep patch?

[9:27] Hannah Cruz: You're teaching me a lot about the steaming head and the sleep patch.

[9:32] Hannah Cruz: Wait, I want the sleep patch-

[9:32] Hannah Cruz: I do far too much.

[9:34] Hannah Cruz: It's just like, instead of taking a melatonin, there's like melatonin in the patch.

[9:38] Hannah Cruz: You put it on your, I literally have the remnants on it from last night.

[9:40] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: There's melatonin in the patch?

[9:42] Hannah Cruz: Yeah.

[9:42] Hannah Cruz: And you put it like near your veins.

[9:44] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Okay.

[9:45] Hannah Cruz: And-

[9:46] Hannah Cruz: Okay.

[9:47] Hannah Cruz: And it helps you fall asleep.

[9:48] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Right.

[9:49] Hannah Cruz: Doesn't it make you like groggy in the morning?

[9:51] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: No.

[9:51] Hannah Cruz: Oh, great.

[9:52] Hannah Cruz: Because sometimes melatonin like makes me feel-

[9:54] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Same.

[9:54] Hannah Cruz: But I think maybe if it's through this-

[9:56] Hannah Cruz: In the vein, directly into the vein.

[9:59] Hannah Cruz: I don't know.

[10:00] Hannah Cruz: But that's why I put a sleep patch on.

[10:02] Hannah Cruz: I took like my calm gummies and I was like, I'm going to sleep.

[10:06] Hannah Cruz: And my husband had been coughing a lot.

[10:07] Hannah Cruz: So he was like, you know what? I'm going to sleep on the couch so you can get your rest.

[10:11] Hannah Cruz: I will wake up. I'll watch them.

[10:12] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Best house husband.

[10:13] Hannah Cruz: The best.

[10:15] Hannah Cruz: He's like my everything, truly.

[10:17] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Shout out.

[10:18] Hannah Cruz: And he slept on the couch and he was like, I'm going to wake up for the nominations. If it's good news, then I'll wake you up.

[10:26] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: And I was like, okay.

[10:27] Hannah Cruz: So I woke up by myself to my phone vibrating and I was like, well, Edward hasn't woken me up. So that must mean it's not good.

[10:35] Hannah Cruz: People are like-

[10:36] Hannah Cruz: So I was like, my phone is probably ringing. It's probably spam.

[10:39] Hannah Cruz: And so I was like, okay.

[10:41] Hannah Cruz: Okay. Don't answer it.

[10:42] Hannah Cruz: And then it started ringing again.

[10:44] Hannah Cruz: And I was like, okay, just go up and turn it off or whatever.

[10:47] Hannah Cruz: So you can actually maybe fall back asleep.

[10:49] Hannah Cruz: And I looked at my phone and it was my agent's face.

[10:52] Hannah Cruz: And then her face went away.

[10:53] Hannah Cruz: And it was a transcript from my publicist.

[10:56] Hannah Cruz: And it just said, oh my God, Hannah, wake up. You just got nominated for Tony.

[11:03] Hannah Cruz: I ripped my mouth tape off.

[11:05] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: My God, Hannah, mouth tape.

[11:07] Hannah Cruz: Wait, I'm learning a lot.

[11:08] Hannah Cruz: I have mouth tape.

[11:10] Hannah Cruz: I need, can you make me a list?

[11:12] Hannah Cruz: It's extensive.

[11:14] Hannah Cruz: I sleep with an open mouth and it's not good.

[11:18] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You need mouth tape. It'll change your life.

[11:20] Hannah Cruz: But then I'm nervous.

[11:20] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Like, how do you put-

[11:21] Hannah Cruz: There's a hole in the center.

[11:22] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh, okay, fierce.

[11:24] Hannah Cruz: Okay, great.

[11:25] Hannah Cruz: Don't worry.

[11:25] Hannah Cruz: I need a list.

[11:27] Hannah Cruz: I need a list of all the self-care.

[11:29] Hannah Cruz: Ripped my mouth tape off.

[11:30] Hannah Cruz: I ran into the living room.

[11:31] Hannah Cruz: And I was like, babe.

[11:32] Hannah Cruz: And he was fully asleep.

[11:34] Hannah Cruz: And he was like, what?

[11:34] Hannah Cruz: And I was like, I just got nominated for Tony.

[11:37] Hannah Cruz: And I fell to the floor and he jumped to this, literally, I'm so glad he didn't pull something.

[11:41] Hannah Cruz: He jumped so high.

[11:45] Hannah Cruz: If you've seen him in Hamilton, he jumps really high.

[11:47] Hannah Cruz: And he was like, let's fucking go.

[11:50] Hannah Cruz: And I just fell on the floor.

[11:52] Hannah Cruz: And I just kept seeing like, is it real? Is it real? Is it real?

[11:55] Hannah Cruz: I don't know if it's real.

[11:56] Hannah Cruz: And we found the broadcast.

[11:58] Hannah Cruz: And of course, my category was like the end.

[12:02] Hannah Cruz: And we wanted to watch everything because I didn't know anything about what was happening.

[12:06] Hannah Cruz: And so we watched all of them then finally got to my category.

[12:09] Hannah Cruz: And it was like, it was wildest, most incredible day of my life.

[12:15] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: How many texts?

[12:16] Hannah Cruz: I can't even.

[12:17] Hannah Cruz: Like, did you see the bubble at any point say something crazy?

[12:20] Hannah Cruz: What do you mean?

[12:20] Hannah Cruz: Like, you know, the text bubble will say the number.

[12:23] Hannah Cruz: No, I couldn't even.

[12:24] Hannah Cruz: I was so overwhelmed that whole day.

[12:26] Hannah Cruz: Like all the Instagram DMs and all the texts.

[12:28] Hannah Cruz: People really come out of the woodwork.

[12:31] Hannah Cruz: I'm sorry if I didn't answer, it's because I don't have your number saved and I don't know who you are. Congrats still, but it does matter, but I'm always afraid to be like, um, who is this? I don't want to be rude. So it was like, thank you so much. But yeah, so it was, um, called my mom immediately and she had already watched and she's, you know, she's the best, but she gets anxious around these things and she never wants to talk to me about them. And she was like, I didn't want to say, but I knew it was gonna happen. I was like, thanks, mom. Yeah, it was wild. I still like it. I keep the voicemail from my publicist and I listen to it when I forget how exciting it all was. I want to live listen to it before it's really good. Do you have your phone? She said no. No, okay. You don't want to be featured on album now copy. No worries. We respect. It's really good. I love that story so much.

[13:25] Hannah Cruz: But I think my favorite part is that, well, a, the mouth tape, can't wait for that. Be that your husband was like, I will wake up. I know he thought it was at 10 and it was at nine, and so he had the best of intentions. I love that so much. I was on a flight and I was like watching live because I'm like, I need to shout out all my odd women. Thank you. I'm about to get nominated and I was so happy for you and still am, so congrats. Congrats. Congrats.

[13:53] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you. Are you like so hyped about the dress? Like do we have any ideas? Can you give us an idea?

[13:59] Hannah Cruz: Listen, there's that scandal. No, it's so funny because I wouldn't have known this before I was even in this world, but like unless you're like buying a dress, like you don't know what you're wearing until like maybe a week before. People are lending it. Yeah, so we just scheduled my fitting and it's not this week and it's not next week, right? It's the week after, so I have an idea of what I want and I love my stylist. She's been pulling great stuff for me. Shout out to all the, it's gonna be great, Madison Guess. She's the best, and so she knows what like silhouette I want and what kind of vibe I want.

[14:37] Hannah Cruz: And I know it's gonna be great because I trust her. I trust her as well.

[14:43] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, shut up. So let's talk a lot about Svetlana, the reason you're nominated for a Tony anyway. So I want to take it back to like, what do you call it? Like when you make your whole life story that's never seen on stage?

[14:54] Hannah Cruz: I have not acted in a long time, not in her monologue. Like the story, like I want to know like where you went with her, like sure backstory, like the work that you did deep down to bring this Tony Award nomination performance alive.

[15:08] Hannah Cruz: How do you phrase that? How do you say Tony Award nomination performance? Tony? Tony nominated performance? Thank you to bring this Tony nominated performance to life. Like take me back to like day one of like, oh, yeah. Okay, this new chair. We can't do this anymore because they keep hitting it.

[15:30] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I'm sorry.

[15:33] Hannah Cruz: No, sorry. I just wanted to bring attention to it. Not her fault. Okay, day one of like Svetlana digging.

[15:38] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, I remember sitting at the McNally Jackson by my house, and that was when I started to like, I was like, I need to get out of the house and like sit down and do some work on her. And it was when I kind of put together my Svetlana playlist and I put together her scent and then a bit of backstory. I have like one notebook that I use for like backstory for everybody.

[16:02] Hannah Cruz: Okay, and so like all my gussy notes are in there. All my Inez notes are in there. Everything that I've done is in there. So Svet started by looking at, really I had a call with Kate Wilson quite early, our dialect coach, and she was like, I would suggest that you go look at a bunch of Russian women. Like literally watch videos of them, watch them speak, watch the way they carry themselves and not only like from the 80s, but from now.

[16:27] Hannah Cruz: And so I did a lot of research on Cold War era Russian women at the time, both like in a social light way because that's how I think Michael Mayer really wanted to put her forward as she was like kind of this woman who was maybe like sleeping around with oligarchs after he left her to maybe keep her status up.

[16:48] Hannah Cruz: And then also, I can't remember the name of this documentary, but Nick Chris actually recommended it to me, and it's about this politician, this Russian politician who's going up against Putin and all the ways that Putin was trying to keep him down. And his wife is super interesting in the documentary to watch. Like Russian women, not to completely generalize, but grounded, I think very earthy. I think of like roots. I think of their stillness.

[17:22] Hannah Cruz: And I had done Polish before, and so I kind of had like an idea of where it sat in the mouth, and Russian is just like a little bit further back. And so I started to like compile my stuff for her. I looked into Russian composers at that time and I compiled a playlist which I still listen to at intermission every day, like the same number or same order of songs.

[17:44] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Can we get like two of those songs?

[17:52] Hannah Cruz: It's, it like secret. It's no, it's a, there's a violin. It's a, I know the piano concerto is number two in like F major or something. You know those like symphonic songs that have a long title? Yeah, but it's Dimitri Shostakovich, and I know I'm pronouncing that last name wrong, but like he was one of the most famous Russian composers from that time, and then he has this beautiful violin piece that I listen to every night without fail.

[18:17] Hannah Cruz: And then I did research on the perfumes that women were wearing in that time, and so I wear this perfume called Red Moscow, which actually Chanel No. 5 took a lot of components from that perfume. So there's like some interesting smells.

[18:28] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Do you like it?

[18:33] Hannah Cruz: I love it. I love it. I'm just on my second bottle now.

[18:35] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Do you wear it in your real life or you're only for the show?

[18:40] Hannah Cruz: So it's only at work, right? So then you're like channeling, like, yeah, smell like it really helps memory. It really helps. And for Inez, I never really had a scent. It was mostly just muscle rub because I was so sore all the time. So that was all I could smell. So I smell icy-hot.

[19:02] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I didn't get it. I'm like, what do you mean?

[19:04] Hannah Cruz: But I smell icy-hot and I smell, you know, that's what I smell because I was covered in that all the time because it was hard to get on to the horse.

[19:08] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: No, it was hard to fall.

[19:13] Hannah Cruz: Okay. I don't remember. Sorry. You need to watch it on PBS.

[19:17] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I will.

[19:18] Hannah Cruz: I will have to. I have to show my niece actually. Thank you.

[19:22] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, I love true a lot. It's good for the fight for the woman.

[19:27] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: We do. I don't know. Hey.

[19:30] Hannah Cruz: But yeah, so that was a bunch of what I did. And then what I do like day-to-day now is a lot of mental picturing. Like I know exactly what our children look like, and like when I'm getting on the coat and getting ready to go downstairs, I have a lot of picturing of like what it was like being pulled out of our flat like late in the night to get on a plane to who knows where. We don't know where we're going, right? And they like separate me and my children.

[19:45] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Are the children's names said in the show?

[19:53] Hannah Cruz: No, what did you name them? Anatoly is the son's name. We named him after Anatoly, and then the girl I think was Katerina that I had written down originally. I think it was Katerina. Did you change it? I know I might have in my head. I feel like she's more amorphous to me. Unfortunately, the son is like really what I picture because I picture the son looking like Anatoly and being like, and like when I say there's a lyric, I still recall the way he smiled. I always think about like the son smiling and how that reminds me of him and then the resentment for the children because of the, it's like, well, that's cool, which is why she's nominee for a Tony.

[20:24] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So what's been the most challenging part of this process of becoming Svetlana, the most challenging part?

[20:32] Hannah Cruz: I listen, I told my husband this last night. I have never felt, I mean knock on wood, I've been doing this show. We've been doing it for almost nine months. Well, I've never been like, I don't want to go to work today. If I, I guess if I had to think of anything, it's maybe like the vocal of it all, but this vocal actually like sits in a great place for me and it's not something that really stresses me out. I know how to navigate it even on a bad day. Yeah, knock on wood. So, I mean the challenge is keeping my voice where it needs to be, but like finding her, I don't find inhabiting her to be like a difficult in a negative way challenge. I find it a challenge in a positive way in that I get to change every night and like that to me is like stimulating for my brain and that's a challenge that I enjoy.

[21:23] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[21:23] Hannah Cruz: What's been the biggest reward from playing her? Playing her different every night. I think that is like, I've never felt so much freedom.

[21:28] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love that.

[21:28] Hannah Cruz: Ever. How fun to, so fun, right? When you're not feeling like constraints to like, yeah, be and hit a certain, be a certain way and I don't have to cross downstage of the bench every night. I can cross upstage or I can cross downstage. I can, I've started sitting next to Nick on the bench instead of coming behind him. Like, like those things can change and you guys were just given that creative.

[21:47] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, that's a Michael Mayer is such an actor's director.

[21:51] Hannah Cruz: And he lets you, he really gives you a long leash and he will pull you back if it's not right, so you can trust him. It's not like he's just letting you run wild, but he is giving, he trusts you. Yeah, and that's very important.

[22:03] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: What has been the biggest lesson that Hannah has learned from learning about Svetlana?

[22:09] Hannah Cruz: I would say trusting my instincts. I especially because I didn't go to college and I've never taken an acting class. I kind of, you have it? No, I wanted to. I've been trying to find one in the city forever. I would love to take an acting class and I remember like asking my old agents like you because I've been here for a long time and I was trying to find one. It was all like audition classes. None of them were like proper acting classes, and I would watch this DVD of Uta Hagen's acting class and I was like, I want to go to this. Where does this exist? But I never found it.

[22:40] Hannah Cruz: But because of that, a lot of times I would ignore my instincts or not follow them because I was like, well, I don't know what Larry Moss. Sorry. I didn't, Larry Moss is an amazing acting great. Look him up. He only like surfaces every few months, Larry Moss. Okay, sorry. I while you said that I was like, what is this guy's name? Tell me, and his book is called, I don't know what it's called. It's Larry Moss.

[23:00] Hannah Cruz: It's called like the art of something, and I read that book and I was like, oh, I understand acting. Yeah, just from reading that book. Okay, Larry. It's heavy. No, it's good. Shout out to that book, Alan. Can you look up what Larry Moss's acting book is called? Because it's important. Yes, that is important.

[23:13] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: The intent to live: achieving your true potential as an actor by Larry Moss.

[23:18] Hannah Cruz: Whoa, Mariska Hargitay told me to read that book when I was 21 and I had no self-control and said hi. Hello, you're my idol. I love you. She was like, read this book. Read that book. Okay, great. Yeah, and I'll, if he has openings, I'll take his class. I look, I, there's something fun, more fun than like doing a scene and then getting notes on it and fixing it. That's like a part of auditions I actually really enjoy. I love getting a note and like implementing it in the room.

[23:44] Hannah Cruz: But because I haven't no formal acting training, I think for a long time I didn't trust my instincts and I would ignore them and I would do what I thought like looked correct or what I've seen other people do before. And this is kind of the first time where if I have an instinct to do something, I follow it and I don't second-guess it. I mean, I still second-guess it from time to time, right? If I find myself second-guessing it in one show, the next show I'll be like, no, do it. Like don't be a baby, do it.

[24:11] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, because the worst that could happen is it doesn't work and they don't do it again the next day. It's fine. Yeah, that's what the benefit of doing eight shows a week is like you get the chance to do it again.

[24:19] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, and that audience probably is like fierce.

[24:23] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, like they have no clue.

[24:28] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, there never is like, I'll do like these little micro things. I'm like, no one even sees this. Stop freaking out about it. No one sees it.

[24:31] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh, like if it's not what you want?

[24:36] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, yeah, or if I think I've gone too far and it's too weird, but that hasn't happened.

[24:40] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, for sure. Nobody's walking out of that theater being like, whoa, Hannah, way too far.

[24:44] Hannah Cruz: Well, they might think, well, fuck them.

[24:46] Hannah Cruz: A little dramatic. Sorry.

[24:51] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: If you could fix Svetlana up and drop her into any other musical.

[24:56] Hannah Cruz: Any, not just like playing now, but like, or play or play Liberation.

[24:59] Hannah Cruz: So a lot of liberation. Amazing. I want to.

[25:01] Hannah Cruz: Well, this was kind of scary, but I think about this often because it was scary. Um, someone had a heart attack in the Mez during endgame. It was like right before Nick started endgame. It was like right before the thing came down. And Nick handled it perfectly because those things are scary. Sometimes you hear yelling in the audience. You're like, Oh my god, what is that? And you don't being on stage. You're like, you have no idea what's going on. People were just like calling for a doctor. The person is fine. So that's like the most important part of the story. Um, everyone is fine. And I don't even actually remember if it was a heart attack. Someone had some sort of medical emergency. And Nick was like, hold Nick hat.

Nick held the show. And we all like exited and stood off in the wings. But that's always like an interesting thing, right? When like, real life kind of like comes in because theater feels so insulated. And like, we're protected in here. And this is we're all going to spend this time together and everything will be okay. And sometimes when that glass is broken, it's like, very jarring.

[26:32] Tutz: Did you guys stop the show?

[26:34] Hannah Cruz: We stopped, but then we picked back up and we started at endgame and finished the show. I was like, poor Nick. It's a lot to ramp up. It kind of is like a shocking. Yeah. Like part of the show for that to happen. And I think that was our first. Oh, sorry. I was lounging. I think that was our first show stop. Maybe that happened once before, but we show stops not so often. But we did have them at stuffs because we had so much automation and automation will is inevitably not going to work. I saw Stranger Things and it stopped like in the first 10 minutes.

[27:09] Hannah Cruz: I need to see it. I mean, it's unreal. Their tech elements are unlike anything I've ever seen. It's also so loud.

[27:15] Tutz: Is it?

[27:16] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, really loud. I can't wait. Scary. I've never seen Stranger Things. So I was kind of lost, but I binge it over the holidays and I would recommend to watch it.

[27:24] Tutz: Yeah, I would recommend doing it when it's cold and you have like downtime to change the whole thing. I mean, it's five seasons. It's like a solid week. But I love Winona Ryder, so I can't believe I haven't watched it.

[27:32] Hannah Cruz: I know. I'm obsessed. Well, you know, I like was thinking I'm not going to like it. This is like not the kind of like genre that appeals to me. Yeah, but I was wrong. Yeah. I'm obsessed. Staying up to three. I'm with my mom like absolute psycho.

[27:48] Tutz: Maybe I'll get into it.

[27:49] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, I think you would love it. Okay. I think you love it. So on the show, as you know, I love to talk about women supporting women. We're all in this community together. It's not a competition. So I want to go through your fellow nominees.

[28:04] Tutz: Oh, fun. Okay.

[28:05] Hannah Cruz: And I want you to like shout out something you admire about them or a memory you have of them or something to just gas them up.

[28:11] Tutz: Okay, absolutely.

[28:12] Hannah Cruz: Shoshanna Bean. Shoshanna Bean. I met Shoshanna after a performance of The Connector and she's Shoshanna Bean. So it's like I've been listening to her since I was in high school. I love she has a cover of Ain't No Way that is still to this day one of my favorites. I remember playing it for my mom once and my mom held the speaker so close to her ear that she was going to go deaf because she wanted it like inside of her being. She loved that recording so much. And Shoshanna was so effusive and kind and complimentary after that show. Like when you have someone who is so successful in this business and then they take an opportunity to be really like genuine and give you their time and their eye contact and their like presence to be kind to you is always like really affecting to me.

And I've only seen her once since the NOM. We saw each other quickly at the press meet the press thing. And she gave me such a big hug. And she was so sweet and kind. I can't wait to see her more because every time I see Shoshanna, she's so she like really lifts you up as a performer and a person. And I just think that's really, really nice of someone who's like so talented. And like Broadway legend. Yeah, royalty. That was nice.

[29:24] Tutz: Okay, Anna Gasteyer.

[29:26] Hannah Cruz: Listen, I've only I've met Anna maybe twice. She was in Once Upon a Mattress with one of my best friends, Michael Urie. Shout out. And I thought what did Michael Urie like officiate your wedding?

[29:34] Tutz: No, he was my maid of honor.

[29:36] Hannah Cruz: Oh, my gay of honor, as he says. Yes. And he was the very best. Actually, he like made sure my dress was all quick little side story. For my for our anniversary. I posted all these pictures of our wedding. And there's this one picture I love of him like taking my shoe off before we went to go walk on the beach. And my husband was like, that's not my hand. And I was like, what are you talking about? And he was like, that's Michael Urie's hand. You posted a picture of from our anniversary. Another man taking your I was like, Oh, I'm so I'm so sorry. And now I look back at the picture. I'm like, obviously, that's not my husband's hand. But I love the picture so much. But out to Michael Urie's hand.

Love him. But Anna, I met very briefly at the Tony meet the press thing like pass by her and we like waved at each other. And I'm obviously a huge fan of hers. I used to listen to her Elphaba bootlegs because I think she's amazing. Yeah. And I'm a huge SNL fan, also linked Rachel Dratch, but I'm a massive SNL fan. Yeah. So I love Anna. I can't wait to get to know her more.

[30:43] Tutz: How do you feel about this? Like, like, public feud with her in September Davis?

[30:50] Hannah Cruz: I need to I can't really Yeah, I think it's brilliant. She was at Broadway bets. I guess I saw that just Mr. I'm just happy. I want to come back from the dead. I know I heard she passed. She passed. I think she's I don't know. I heard seven minutes 14. But like it's a mirror. I hope I get to meet her.

[31:05] Tutz: I do too. Shout out to September Davis as well. An honorary nominee in this category. Sure, sure.

[31:12] Hannah Cruz: Okay, Rachel Dratch. Rachel Dratch also never met her. But Debbie Downer, one of the best sketches of all time. It's one of the best sketches of all time. It's one of the ones I will rewatch on the regular. The one with Lindsay Lohan at Disney. It's incredible. It's some it's incredible. So and my husband just saw her in Rocky Horror and said she was amazing. So I need to meet her. And I'm very excited to meet her. Yeah. Okay, Michelle Lewis, Michelle, class act. I got an edible arrangement from Michelle after the noms. And I thought it was the nicest thing. She wrote me a very, very nice note. And then I finally got to meet her at the Drama League Awards. And it was so nice because we've known each other.

Sufson the Wiz were the same season, but we never crossed paths. And I know Shayna and Ben, whom I love in ragtime, love her. And so that's like the biggest, like endorsement I could ever get that to people who my love and adore love adore this person. And I think I got to see her do it at city center. And I'm astounded by her. Yeah, what an incredible, incredible hefty like she she's so effervescent and alive. And she brings such like this. This is a heartbreaking aspect to Sarah. I mean, your daddy's son is one of my favorite songs of all time. Incredible of all time. And she sounds remarkable. Yeah. Remarkable. I think I got everyone. Yeah, that's everybody. But now I want you to talk about yourself.

And I want you to say what you are like the most proud of of Hannah in the last year or specifically during this season and how you're handling everything. What are you the most proud of yourself about?

[32:38] Hannah Cruz: I I'm proud that I'm proud of the emphasis that I put upon the work. I'm proud that I've been taught by a lot of people that I look up to in this business about the importance of showing up and how you show up to work every day. And eight shows a week is very difficult. No matter how long you're on stage, no matter what the track is, it's always going to be hard. And I am proud that I show up to work every day. And I really do give like everything, everything that I have, because I feel like it's my purpose. So I'm proud of myself for showing up even when it's hard, even when I'm tired, even when life is seemingly falling apart, both in the world and in personal like, it's hard to when you give yourself to this, a lot of sacrifice comes with it, you sacrifice time with family, you sacrifice time with your husband, and you have to like, trust that the work and your purpose moves through you. And that's why we're doing all this. So I'm proud of myself for showing up in that way.

[33:46] Tutz: Well, we're proud of you too. And congratulations.

[33:49] Hannah Cruz: Thank you. Okay, so you can only bring two things with you the Tonys.

[33:51] Tutz: Oh, only two?

[33:53] Hannah Cruz: Yeah.

[33:54] Tutz: What are you bringing?

[33:55] Hannah Cruz: Only two? Yeah. I was gonna say just one. One might be easier. Let's go with two. I mean, when I think about what I have to bring a purse, does that count? Like no, you don't need to. Yeah, what's in the purse? What are the two things that are in the purse? You don't need to count the purse. I don't want my phone.

[34:09] Hannah Cruz: So that's not in there. I don't want my phone. On big days like that, like I don't want my phone anywhere near me because I want to be present. I would need a lip. A lip is very important. I need some kind of gloss. What color lip are we thinking? Oh, I don't know. It depends on the dress. And we don't know about the dress. But I'm usually a nude lip girl. Okay. Some sort of gloss or something. And then what else do I need? I feel like a turkey chomps.

[34:41] Tutz: Yes!

[34:42] Hannah Cruz: Or, because those are the highest protein. Can I tell you the Archer I just switched to? Do you like Archer? No disrespect to chomps, but I switched from chomps turkey to the Archer turkey.

[34:46] Tutz: Oh, is it better?

[34:48] Hannah Cruz: Yeah. Okay, maybe I'll give it a try. I think you should give it a try. I survive on those. That's what I survive on. I don't mean to disrespect the chomps. That or a BTR protein bar is in my bag. Like a snack and a lip is like really all I need. And I guess a mirror, but that's the real thing. I can just run to the bathroom if I really need it.

[35:06] Tutz: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because what if the snack's in your lip gloss?

[35:09] Hannah Cruz: Right, that's true. Oh, and you don't have your phone to check on your phone?

[35:14] Tutz: Yeah, okay. Those are good answers.

[35:16] Hannah Cruz: Yeah. And what two songs are non-negotiable for your get ready for the Tonys playlist? Hello Miss Johnson by Jack Harlow. I know he can be controversial, but this is from an old album and I really like it. And it's like my pump up song. And Sue Me by Aubrey Holt. It's A-H. It's a song called Sue Me. I found it because Hillary Duff was in an interview. I love Hillary Duff. And they were like, what song do you wish you wrote? Or do you wish that you sang? And she recommended the song and I'm obsessed with it. It's such a bop.

[35:53] Tutz: Great. I'll have to check it out.

[35:54] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, it's a good one. Well, this was a short and sweet one just to chat about your Tonys and your Svetlana process and you're so great and I'm so happy for you.

[36:04] Hannah Cruz: Thank you. I know we talked about your younger self a little bit at the beginning and I actually can't even remember if I asked this. So if I did, I didn't look at this once. Always happens.

[36:12] Tutz: Yeah.

[36:13] Hannah Cruz: If you could tell your younger self something. Did I do this already?

[36:16] Tutz: Yes. Did you give her advice?

[36:18] Hannah Cruz: Yeah, but I think. Did I really do that already?

[36:21] Tutz: Yeah. But I mean, yeah, I think I would say trust that it's all going to be okay. Like you're going to go through years of not working, years of babysitting, of being a barista, being a caterer of all the odd jobs in New York City. You're going to be really overdrafted and poor. But it's all going to be okay. It's all going to be worth it. It's all going to be okay. Because you're going to get that Tony nom, girl.

[36:44] Tutz: Thanks for coming back. Can't I hear me say? I'm so happy for you.

[36:50] Tutz: Hello, my Odd Squad. It's me again, Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo. Thank you guys so much for tuning into this episode, this literal iconic episode. Don't forget to like, subscribe and follow to the show. Tell somebody else to take a listen. We are Odd Woman Show on Instagram and TikTok. And you can follow me also if you want at Sammy Tutz. I love you, my Odd Squad.