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[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. Hi, McKenzie Kurtz. Welcome to Odd Woman Out.

[0:46] McKenzie Kurtz: Thank you so much for having me.

[0:48] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh my god, I'm so happy you're here. First of all, I'm so excited when we're in our odd woman hats. They're so cute.

[0:50] McKenzie Kurtz: Okay, version one and version two.

[0:56] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, but I love version two, which is what you have. I like the gray and pink.

[0:59] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes, me too, because super cute. The white and the caps is not it.

[1:05] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: What? It just was like round one.

[1:10] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh, okay. So this is like finished product. I don't know.

[1:13] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Well, I like, I think this is my vote. This is cute too, but I like the gray and the pink.

[1:19] McKenzie Kurtz: This is cute, but it's the gray. I wanted to do like a hot pink and white.

[1:25] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Cute.

[1:26] McKenzie Kurtz: But it was like giving too much. MAGA hat.

[1:30] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm like, I can't be passing a MAGA hat to my odd woman. Do you know what I mean? It's a little too much.

[1:37] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, no, I like the gray.

[1:39] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you. We have so much to talk about. You have like entered the Broadway community and have just taken over since 2020. Literally iconic, all these amazing roles, but we have to talk about women first, the base of this show.

[1:43] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, it's my favorite thing to talk about.

[1:48] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, me too. So I want to take it back to like baby Mackenzie, a younger version of yourself. Do you have a woman influence that you looked up to that inspired you to pursue a career in the arts, whether that was somebody in your personal life or somebody that was a working actor that you looked up to or both?

[2:03] McKenzie Kurtz: I mean, we're going to start with mom. Shout out.

[2:05] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Shout out Lisa Odom Kurtz.

[2:09] McKenzie Kurtz: Shout out Lisa. The most badass woman I know. My mother, I would not be in this position I am in my career today without my mom.

[2:18] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love that.

[2:19] McKenzie Kurtz: She is like a bit of a momager, but not in the negative sense.

[2:26] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, she just gets shit done.

[2:27] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Hey, somebody's got it.

[2:29] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. And she knows so much. She just studied up, learned so much about the musical theater field. Went as soon as I expressed interest and encouraged me and, you know, pushed me to get to where I am now. And she's the best. So shout out to her.

[2:45] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Shout out to mom. That's amazing because you don't always hear that. You know, parents sometimes are like, you want to do what you want to move to New York like that is not always the path that's most supportive. So shout out to your mom.

[2:56] McKenzie Kurtz: She was the opposite. She's like, let's go. Let's do all the things. Voice lessons, finding the best dance studios in my town, trying all different like community theater and looking at different high schools. And I ended up going to a public high school with like a great performing arts program.

[3:11] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: And so, yeah, where did you go on top of it?

[3:16] McKenzie Kurtz: Milton, Georgia. Shout out to Milton, Georgia. Love you guys.

[3:21] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: We love you guys.

[3:22] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. Great childhood there.

[3:27] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yes. Love that. So your mom influenced you to become an artist. I love that. So when you first started working professionally and you were like learning the ropes, was there a situation of a woman supporting woman type of thing, like somebody who was already working in the industry and sort of took you under her wing?

[3:37] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh, great question. I will say, I think a lot of my female professors in college were so incredible and supportive and instrumental and just like me gaining my confidence as a performer and a person because you're like growing into the person you're going to become. Those years are so formative.

[4:00] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: For sure.

[4:01] McKenzie Kurtz: And like seeing these people every day.

[4:04] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. So a lot of my teachers and then my first job pretty much right out of school was Frozen. And Sierra, Renee and I came in together and she had already kind of been established in the industry at that point. And I remember watching her and how she spoke up for herself and what she wanted and what she believed in. And I was like, okay, that's fierce and that's what I need to be doing.

[4:29] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. Because a lot of times, especially as women, especially starting out, we're like hesitant to ask for what we want and need and to have somebody who has already been established to that being like, why not?

[4:35] McKenzie Kurtz: Exactly. And we should always ask for what we want and need all the time. No matter what the career is, guys, always ask for what you want, voice it.

[4:52] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yes. So now tell us about a time in the career, in your career or in your personal life where you've ever felt like the odd woman out.

[4:58] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh, gosh. I think I found my place where I belong within my career and just pursuing musical theater. That's really where I feel like I fit in and found my purpose. So maybe I think younger days before that, when it wasn't necessarily the cool thing to do theater. And I was kind of straddling a couple different friend groups trying to fit in. You know what I mean? I feel like a lot of people go through that, but then now fast forward, it's like, no, this is cool.

[5:39] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[5:40] McKenzie Kurtz: And everyone else that ever said otherwise is like, damn. Can I get tickets to the show? You're like, you can go to the box office. Here's the address.

[5:45] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So maybe then, yeah, like seventh grade, I was actually homeschooled because I was bullied so bad.

[5:50] McKenzie Kurtz: No, because you loved theater. That was part of it.

[5:55] McKenzie Kurtz: And also it was just a weird girl that did weird voices and sang all the time. It was probably very annoying because you weren't on the field hockey team.

[6:03] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. Lacrosse. Lacrosse was big.

[6:10] McKenzie Kurtz: I actually found something recently where I had written down like, what are your favorite sports or activities outside of school? And I was like, lax. And I was like, that's a lie. You were lying because you were trying.

[6:18] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: She wanted to fit in. She really wanted to fit in.

[6:24] McKenzie Kurtz: So maybe then, maybe around middle school age, that's tough.

[6:28] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So your former co-star, Carrie Butler, had the same story of like being a child, being bullied for loving theater.

[6:34] McKenzie Kurtz: I love that woman so much.

[6:36] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Shame. Love her.

[6:40] McKenzie Kurtz: And look at her now. Carrie Butler, icon, legend.

[6:45] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: And look at you too. Do you know what I mean? Like these seventh graders who basically bullied you to be homeschooled are probably like, damn. Should have been me.

[6:51] McKenzie Kurtz: And it wasn't everyone. I don't want to say that, but there are.

[6:57] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. I mean, also like middle school, no matter what. Tough time, man. Tough time.

[7:05] McKenzie Kurtz: No, I was like, I'm going to take a little year to just chill out.

[7:11] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. Lax. Lax. L-A-X.

[7:13] McKenzie Kurtz: Okay. So you mentioned, you know, your Broadway debut was Frozen. So amazing. You were fresh out of school.

[7:21] McKenzie Kurtz: You were 23.

[7:22] McKenzie Kurtz: I was 22 when I booked the job and then turned 23 right before we started rehearsals.

[7:28] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. So can you tell us a little bit about that experience and like what it was like for you literally coming from school to literally leading a lady on Broadway?

[7:36] McKenzie Kurtz: Dream come true. Yeah. Something beyond my wildest dreams. When I got that call with the job offer, that I think was maybe the happiest moment of my life. Like I didn't sleep that night, sobbing, crying, just, you know, cause you work to get that. And that was the ultimate dream. So it was beyond amazing.

[7:46] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. And did you just like come in and you were like, yes, I'm here and I deserve to be here. Or was it like internally hard? Like, did you have any imposter syndrome?

[7:58] McKenzie Kurtz: I think it's a mix. It was a mix of that because I felt confident I had worked really hard to get there. And I felt like I was deserving of that at the same time. I'm so young. I'm working with people that I admire and look up to so much. So watching and listening how they operated in like the rehearsal space and on stage. And, um, yeah, I knew my place, but also it was like, I want to also be someone that can lead this company.

[8:31] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. So it was, it was a little bit of both.

[8:36] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. I really love your career cause you have like all these like huge things back to back to back.

[8:40] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Um, so I want to talk, you're probably so sick about talking about being the 20th anniversary, Glinda.

[8:47] McKenzie Kurtz: I mean, never talk shit about the girl in the bubble.

[8:54] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Um, what was that like? Because, you know, I, I grew up a wicked kid, like wicked changed my life and is maybe one of the reasons why I'm in New York. So what was it like for you for a, to be Glinda, Glinda, to, to, to play that role at such a huge time?

[9:08] McKenzie Kurtz: Incredible. Again, something just beyond my wildest dreams to get offered the role.

[9:17] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. And then added on, it was the 20th anniversary. The movie was creating even more hype about, about a show that's already been around for now 20 years and people still love.

[9:24] McKenzie Kurtz: And like you, I was a wicked kid and came to see it in New York.

[9:31] McKenzie Kurtz: Um, when I was maybe nine and sat by myself in the Gershwin cause my mom bought us all seats separately so we could get as close to the stage as possible.

[9:43] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I'm obsessed with your mom part two.

[9:45] McKenzie Kurtz: Thank you. Shout out Lisa. She's like, we're getting the best seats possible.

[9:48] McKenzie Kurtz: We went to the box office and we're like, here, here, here.

[9:53] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. We were all like, stay in your seat until I pick you up.

[9:57] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh yeah. And I wasn't, no, I was like just so locked in.

[10:01] McKenzie Kurtz: Um, yeah. Sobbing, crying, defying gravity. I'm like, okay, I have to do this. I have to do this. This being musical theater, but also that show, I was just obsessed.

[10:15] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Who is your Glinda and Elphaba do you know?

[10:20] McKenzie Kurtz: Kendra Kassebaum was my Glinda. I'm not a hundred percent sure who my Elphaba was, but yeah, I was really, I was a Glinda girl.

[10:27] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[10:28] McKenzie Kurtz: So that's, I was like a Nessa Rose girl. I was like always looking at who's, who's playing.

[10:32] McKenzie Kurtz: I will say one of my favorite scenes of the whole show is governor's mansion when Elphaba appears in the ward.

[11:40] McKenzie Kurtz: You've played so many amazing parts. Which part have you learned the biggest lesson from?

[11:47] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Good question. I think maybe most recently playing Heather Chandler in Heathers.

[11:56] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes. What a queen. It was a crazy time and I was taking on... I learned a lesson about... When I first moved to New York, people always asked me, what's a piece of advice that you would give someone when they first moved to the city? And something that I kind of lived by was I said yes to everything. I said yes to as many things as I could, whether it be a cabaret performance, getting together with my friends to read their new script, performing in whatever concert is offered to me, any audition, anything. I was doing, going a thousand miles an hour. And I've lived that way for a long time. And so during the Heathers process, I was doing that as well, saying yes to tons of press things, other workshops.

And there was a period where I was doing double duty for like, I think it was like five weeks straight during that time period, which so like performing Heather Chandler at night and then workshopping two different musicals back to back. And I experienced some serious burnout for the first time in my life. And it was a learning moment for sure, where I had to take a step back and say, OK, I need to reevaluate and I think I need to be a little bit kinder to myself and just take the time that I need. And again, goes back to like speaking up for what you need and what you like. Just as a woman in this industry, it's like you want to be the go, go, go. Yes. Yes. Yes. Person. Yeah. But, you know, also take care of yourself.

[13:26] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, you have to.

[13:31] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, I think not even because of the role, just that whole experience.

[13:35] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. In that circumstance, I learned a valuable lesson through doing that.

[13:38] McKenzie Kurtz: It's such an important lesson, too, because we do want to do it all.

[13:42] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: For sure. I hate saying no to things I do. And I'm like, I have to run things past my friends, my mom again. Shout out, mom, where I'm like, do you think? And she's like, OK, no, no, no. This is going to you're going to be miserable. And I was like, you're so right.

[13:54] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. Yeah. It's so hard, too, because you do want to experience everything that comes your way. I remember when I first moved to New York, I read Kathy Griffin's memoir and she said like I never said no to anything. And I was the best at everything I did, whether it was a server, whether I was a guest or whatever. And so I've sort of lived by that. But I'm like also in a stage right now of burnout. And I'm like, OK, I think it's OK to take time.

[14:20] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. Take some time. Just be smart about the things that you're choosing to commit yourself to, because I'm the same way where when I commit to something, I give a hundred percent. And that was another piece of advice someone gave me at some point. They're like, if you're going to do it, you have to do it fabulously and do it. So, you know, there's only so much.

[14:40] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, for sure. We can straddle, you know.

[14:44] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: OK, so you learned your biggest lesson from the experience and Heather's. Now, out of all the characters you've played, who is the most similar to your true self? And who was like the hardest to play? That was such a big stretch. And you can include our girl, Betsy, that we're about to talk about. Schmigadoon. Shout out. Shout out Schmig. Shout out Betsy McDonough. What an absolute icon she is. Love her. Love playing her.

[15:06] McKenzie Kurtz: Most like me? Oh, gosh. I want to say Heather Chandler, the biggest. No, I think if I could take certain. I don't know who the most. I don't know. Maybe like Act Two Glinda. OK, maybe Act Two Glinda, because she's learned some lessons and she's chilled out a bit, but she still loves the fun things and the girly things. But she has that beautiful friendship between her and Elphaba at that point. It's changed her for good. I feel like my characters, I can relate to different parts of my life.

[15:46] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. So maybe Betsy would be like freshman year of high school.

[15:50] McKenzie Kurtz: Fun. Like actually that track. Yeah, exactly. So we tap into that Mackenzie. So fun playing her. And who's been the hardest? Like who's been the most different that you've had to take the biggest? Probably Heather. Like she's awful. She's a terrible person, but also still fun to play.

[16:06] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, because I think there are different versions of Heather, too.

[16:09] McKenzie Kurtz: I always call her Ghost Heather. Spoiler alert, she dies and she comes back to haunt Veronica. And that version of Heather, I think, is different than when we see her like in Candy Store. And when we first see her make that an insane entrance and beautiful. So it was fun to like play those different versions.

[16:28] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Right. I mean, those are like the most fun roles to just play something like so off the charts.

[16:34] McKenzie Kurtz: For sure. That you're just literally leaving yourself.

[16:38] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Exactly. Shout out to Heather's. It's still playing.

[16:41] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. Right. Yes. Shout out to Heather's. Please go see it at New World Stages if you haven't. So good.

[16:45] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Okay, we have to talk about Schmigadoon. Let's do it. Tony nominated best musical. First of all, like that. What does that feel like? This is your first time being in like a Tony nominated show, right?

[16:58] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes. So tell us about that.

[16:58] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. So thrilled. This cast is, I think, between everyone, there's 185 Broadway credits of this cast. Holy shit. Like the best of the best. Literally. Stars. So experienced. Again, talking about being on it and giving 100% these people, these folks.

[17:24] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah. And I love the show. It's so good. It's so good and funny and heartwarming.

[17:32] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. So yeah. And then just being in the show is amazing. Having the recognition and of the Tonys and everything that's going on with that is the cherry on top. This is my first experience with that. I was just thinking the other day, like, I'm going to perform on the Tonys like that. That's so cool. Like that's amazing. It's very exciting. Talk about like the dreams coming true, which we've been talking about. You're like hitting all these milestones.

[17:54] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I wish you could give us some Tony tea on what you're doing.

[18:00] McKenzie Kurtz: I can't just yet. You're going to have to tune in on June 7th. I mean, if I could submit a vote, I would love to see a little corn pudding.

[18:05] McKenzie Kurtz: Corn pudding. That is a hit number. It is a hit. Emmy award winning corn pudding. So yeah, we'll just have to see. So how did she make it do and come to you? Tell us a little bit about the process and why you said yes. Talk about saying yes to everything. But what about this was like, I am going to be Betsy.

[18:25] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes. So funnily enough, I auditioned for the TV show. It was on Apple TV. Yes. Some of you may know. And I auditioned for Betsy. And that audition came into my inbox maybe like 2021 or 2022. Whoa. And I read it and thought, this is such a cool idea. I don't know really of anything like this that exists out there. And I think it's hilarious. And I was so into it. So sent that in. Nothing came of it. But then in 2023, when I was in Wicked, got an email saying they're thinking of bringing this to the stage. And I'm like, yes, because I was obsessed. Once the TV show came out, I was so good. So good. And so I came in to do I think it was a workshop of it for maybe a week in 2023. And then later on, got offered the part for the out of town tryout in D.C. On.

So I was so stoked about that. And then we brought it to Broadway, which is like the dream. I know it's a Tony nominated musical. Crazy. It's so fun. Like just as the in the audience, you cannot stop smiling or laughing or just being so intrigued in this world.

[19:38] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You literally are in the world. So how do you guys.

[19:44] McKenzie Kurtz: It's so funny. How do you not break?

[19:44] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh, we do. And then the second part of my question is who breaks the most?

[19:48] McKenzie Kurtz: We do break. Tell me a story about a time of a fun show.

[19:53] McKenzie Kurtz: Sure. There's because it happens every night. That's so fun. Alex Brightman makes it his mission in life to break Sarah Chase. He's so good and he's so good. And most of my scenes are with Alex. And I think I mean, again, talking about people you look up to and aspire just to be in the same room with working with and watching his comedic genius. The entire cast, too. I'm like, yeah, we're laughing every day. I mean, there's there's one moment in the show where Alex and Sarah get to choose their own adventure and come up with whatever they're feeling that day of a line where they're kind of roasting each other in front of the entire town.

[20:33] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Wait, I think it went right over my head.

[20:36] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. So like some improv.

[20:36] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes. So fun. Alex recently said Sarah came at him with something and then Alex switched it up and said, you want to know a really funny story? OK, since we're telling hilarious stories, she got super high at my Meemaw's funeral and tried to wake her up. And we all had no one had any idea that that was coming. Never heard it. Meemaw, first of all, the word like that's exactly like that. And I'm standing arm in arm with him at that point. And he does just the slowest turn and looks at me because he knows I'm like, I hate you because I was like gone. Sarah was gone. Everyone's looking at the ground. People are turning fully upstage.

[21:19] McKenzie Kurtz: Trying to hide it, yeah, we break all the time. That's hysterical. And then also though his delivery is so deadpan, how could you not? How could you not? No, you can't. That is so fun. Um, who like is the biggest clown backstage?

[21:38] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh, Jess Loprato! Shout out, shout out Jess Loprato. Another just like, he is the energizer bunny. I don't know how he does what he does. I mean, this ensemble, the dancing, the dancing. Also shout out best ensemble last night, sorry my voice is going away, at the Cheetah Awards. They just won and they're the most deserving. The dancing, you guys win like four Cheetah Rivera Awards. Izzy won, Max won, so deserving. The dancing that is going on on the stage, it's like classic big Broadway, like the tap number that opens up too, it's stunning. And I'm just sitting like in the rehearsal room being like yes, like a fan myself. But yeah, Jess is definitely the biggest goofball backstage.

[22:22] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh my god, that's so fun. Yeah, so Betsy, who would you say she's like mirrored from, from like classical musical theater?

[22:29] McKenzie Kurtz: I mean, we take from the 808 of it all, Oklahoma, I can't say no, kind of towing that line of like the innocent girl but who's also totally lovestruck, right? And you know, we have a little fun with that. I like to see how far we can push that. Um, the other thing I've been telling people, I feel like, do you know Princess and the Frog, the animated movie? Charlotte or Laudy? I feel like she's very Laudy coded, yeah, as well. Um, when she's, you know, after Prince Naveen, Prince Naveen, like, uh, I feel like Betsy has a little bit of Laudy in her.

[23:10] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, yeah, yeah, she gives me a little Carrie Pipperidge too from Carousel. Yes, it's like, yeah, because Carrie's like pretty contained but then she has moments of absolute batshit for sure.

[23:22] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes, yeah, shout out. So if people have no idea what we're talking about, tell them why they need to run to the Nederlander and see Schmigadoon on Broadway.

[23:28] McKenzie Kurtz: You need to run to the Nederlander to see Schmigadoon! I think it's one of the funniest shows I've ever been a part of, ever seen. If you want to laugh, and I think in this day and age, we all need a freaking laugh. You so be ready to laugh, be ready to also like get your heart touched. Um, it's very heartwarming and people leave, you know, holding their loved ones a little tighter. I think also just the spectacle of it, they have the most gorgeous hand-painted sets, the costumes are incredible. It's like classic golden age musical theater on steroids, um, with, you know, the wink wink and nudge nudge of like modern day musicals and humor. Um, it's smart, it's clever, it's like, it's so smart.

[24:19] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, and even if you don't know classic golden age musical theater, I love talking with some friends after the show that aren't theater people and getting their takes on, yeah, what did you get? And they're like, oh no, I was shocked at how much I just knew just from American culture and life. Like, Sound of Music, come on, hello! Yeah, there's like some things that you can't, that won't just go over your head, exactly. You know, you don't need to be an expert on it and there's something for everyone.

[24:44] McKenzie Kurtz: Um, God, Ana Gasteyer is incredible. It is amazing, hysterical. Um, our little Carsons, the sweetest little boys in the world, just killing it. So killing it every night. It's literally like an all-star cast and everybody is just so perfectly cast. Yes, there's not one, every single, yeah, every single person. I love the show, so come see it, come see it. I'm on the Schmigadoon campaign, come see it!

[25:17] McKenzie Kurtz: Shout out to you, congratulations, that is amazing!

[25:22] McKenzie Kurtz: I want to talk a little bit about your social media life.

[25:27] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh sure, your social media presence in your vlog, you know, the show was really started about women being confident in themselves and like especially in the entertainment industry, putting themselves out there in ways that might be judged by trolls or whatever. So how do you keep your confidence when you're doing, when you're being so vulnerable on social media and like doing a day in the life from your bed, just rolling? And like, I guess I was watching last time, like get it, like I wish I had like strength to be like, hey, good morning from my bed, yeah, you know? So just like I want to talk a little bit about that process and also what inspired you to start doing vlogging.

[26:06] McKenzie Kurtz: And a big part of that was my sister, and shout out, yeah, she, your sister and your mom, what an iconic family, strong women and the Kurtz fam. Um, but yeah, she, I remember she really encouraged me, especially during just like the COVID era of it all when TikTok blew up. She's like, you got to get on this. And I was like, okay, because you were just in Frozen, yes?

[26:29] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes, and she's four years younger than me, so she knows what's cool, and so I always am like, Lydia, what do I do here? So she has helped me so much. But that's been definitely a journey where I feel like I, when I first kind of started trying to do that, I felt like I had to kind of put on this persona and be like, hey guys, I feel like I've gotten, yeah, you know, like classic influencer. I don't even know what I was doing, but I feel like that's just with anything, you get more comfortable the more you put yourself out there, right?

[26:57] McKenzie Kurtz: And also I feel like the more I like don't really care about it, I'm just kind of like, okay, we're just gonna do this and this is what it is. Yeah, people respond way more to that than something that's like polished and put on.

[27:07] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, so yeah, that's been a process for me.

[27:14] McKenzie Kurtz: And well, you're killing it!

[27:15] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you!

[27:16] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, and I feel like also I've, I used to think, and I mean I still like posting like fire pics on the gram, obviously, who doesn't? But also sprinkling in some of my just normal, like silly life and like being myself, and that's also what people love.

[27:33] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, and I think it's so important too, especially like at your level and platform for like younger women, especially younger women artists who want to pursue this life but might be feeling like the odd woman out or whatever, just to see somebody being themselves and just like existing and being received well, I think it's so important.

[27:50] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, so shout out to you!

[27:52] McKenzie Kurtz: Thank you! And shout out to Lydia!

[27:55] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes, Lydia! Shout out to Lydia, my best friend! I really need Lydia to come help me with my social media, so yes.

[28:03] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Um, this has been so much fun. Thank you for joining us! You are now a part of the Odd Squad!

[28:08] McKenzie Kurtz: I'm honored, I'm honored! Thank you so much!

[28:14] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Before you go, can you please offer up some advice or inspiration for any women that may be listening that might be feeling like they are the odd woman out, feeling insecure about the way they are or what they want to do with their lives or the way they look that might be holding them back from achieving their greatest potential?

[28:32] McKenzie Kurtz: Absolutely, jeez, where to even begin?

[28:40] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh my god, I'm sorry, that was shocking!

[28:44] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You're so fine!

[28:45] McKenzie Kurtz: That was me!

[28:46] McKenzie Kurtz: You're so fine because it was the computer ringing. Mine does that at my, in my apartment and it always scares me. I don't know how to make that stop because it's shut. I'm like, why are you talking?

[28:52] McKenzie Kurtz: Right, so like now if I have my laptop and I go see a show, I have to put my phone on like airplane mode or like completely off, which you're supposed to put it off anyway.

[28:57] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Okay, cutting that!

[28:58] McKenzie Kurtz: Okay, advice: silence your cell phones!

[29:05] McKenzie Kurtz: No, I think you are uniquely you, and this goes back to, I feel like starting out, I will say I remember I had an assignment in school where they were like, can you pick some actresses that you look up to or you could see yourself, you know, having a similar career, following in these people's footsteps? And I'm like, okay, and so I did that. And I think it's great to have those heroes and people that you look up to, but also remembering what you have to bring to the table no one else can bring to the table. And just like those women that I picked, yeah, no one else could bring what they brought because they are uniquely them.

[29:39] McKenzie Kurtz: Sure, reminding myself of that, reminding yourselves of that, I think is super helpful. Um, surrounding yourself with, for me at least, having those people in my corner that are there for me if I'm feeling not confident, sad, whatever that may be, having those people in my life that are always, I know, are going to be there, lift me up, support me no matter what, that is like my rock.

[30:06] McKenzie Kurtz: Um, and taking care of yourself, being kind to yourself. When I'm kind to myself, I'm a better person outwardly for the entire world. So reminding yourself to be kind to yourself, put yourself in situations that also make you a little uncomfortable because that's how we grow.

[30:25] McKenzie Kurtz: Um, I think, yeah, all of those things.

[30:32] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, and you're a baddie! You are!

[30:34] McKenzie Kurtz: You're an odd woman baddie!

[30:39] McKenzie Kurtz: Absolutely, absolutely!

[30:44] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, all those things! Thank you so much! That was, I loved that! I was just like getting lost in your words. I need to hear that. Be kind to yourself, Alan, be kind!

[30:49] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: All right, thank you so much! This was so much fun! Everybody go see Schmigadoon! Literally everybody needs a little Schmigadoon in their life right now, I'm telling you!

[31:01] McKenzie Kurtz: No, I want to see a million more times! I had way too many cosmos before I went the first time!

[31:07] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: That's the best way! Best! I was actually like almost had to excuse myself from the theater.

[31:12] McKenzie Kurtz: That's okay, but I'll be back!

[31:19] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I love that! Thank you so much!

[31:25] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: 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!