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Meet Jaclyn Marfuggi

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaclyn Marfuggi.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I always wanted to be a pop star but never had the abs for it lol, I love food too much- So comedian it is. My passion for performing live, my Italian roots, making people happy, and pop stars are exactly what have lead me to a career in Stand Up Comedy.

Growing up in New Jersey, I would torture my cousins at our Italian family parties “casting” (making) them perform in my impromptu shows we’d put on for the family. I grew up idolizing Madonna, Paula Abdul, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sharon Stone, Robin Williams, and Ellen Degeneres. I’d also stay up late to watch comedians Elaine Boosler and Rita Rudner HBO specials never understanding that doing Stand Up could be a career. As a little girl I was always told I looked like my Grandma Gerri who sadly passed before I was born~ it stuck w/ me that the thing that made her happiest during hospital stays was watching Robin Williams “Mork and Mindy” episodes. Making people happy, giving back and laughing would stick with me from a very young age.

After being a shy small dancer for a few years everything started clicking around the age of 12. I became obsessed w/ dance classes, and begged to go into NYC for Broadway Dance Center Class and shows. When my mom put me in performing arts camp around that time I discovered a natural comedic timing and the thrill of getting a laugh on stage. I’ll never forget my first one: During an improvised monologue (at our final performance of Peddie School Performing Arts camp) I got a laugh after describing Santa Claus in an Armani three piece suit looking like Tom Cruise- Boom I was hooked. That’s also when I fell in love w/ Musical Theatre and the legend BOB FOSSE. His style are dark comedic tongue and cheek grit are a driving force behind my performances and choreography style today. After landing lead roles in Highschool (Anita “West Side Story”, Sally Bowles “Cabaret”, Peggy Sawyer “42nd Street”) I went off to college where I definitely worked hard and played harder.

At Univ. Of Rhode Island I wanted to do EVERYTHING and tried. Balancing Sorority Life (recruitment chair), dancing on the dance team as a Ramette (not to brag but I was Def called the “fat ramette” by a lovely frat boy at the time just to thicken my skin up. To be totally fair I was but didn’t care bc my confidence level was higher than the number of spray tans I’d rack up every week at Total Tan. I also was cast in the productions in the theatre department and hold those experience near and dear to my heart. That is where I learned community, discipline, and that it was ok to be a triple threat with un-intentional resting bitch face, all while trying to maintain the inner party girl that will always lie deep inside me. I owe that entire experience to my parents and their best friends who would send me back every year kicking and screaming, I’m so grateful to have that degree and experience.

After college it was straight to NYC where I did off off off broadway shows, but my greatest memory from the early days was stumbling upon the most incredible acting class I’ve ever encountered “STUDIO DANTE”. My Dad was driving me around the city interviewing headshot photographers (bc that’s what you did in the early 2000’s). He saw Actor Vince Curatola smoking a cigar outside of “Studio Dante Theatre”. My Dad encouraged me to look it up, turns out it was actor Michael Imperioli’s Theatre that he owned w/ his wife and they gave invitation only acting classes there. Long story short I auditioned, made it in and for the next two years was taking class (during the height & end of “THE SOPRANOS” HBO Show) w/ Michael, Vince, Sharon Angela, and Nick Sandow.

Our guest teachers included Jon Voight, the late great James Gandolphini, and many other cast members of the epic show. It was during this time I was cast in the Improv Show “Tony & Tina’s Wedding” performing in Atlantic City, Philadelphia, and NYC. I was given the opportunity to move to Los Angeles and was so torn bc things were going well in NYC I had just shot my first movie (FRATHOUSE MASSACRE) fell in love with filmmaking, was a regular “extra” on Guiding Light, and had a class I loved. It was Actress/Teacher Sharon Angela who sat me down on the doorsteps of Studio Dante and told me “What’s the worst that could happen? Go to LA, you can always come back.” The rest is history and I’ve been in LA ever since (thanks to college buddy Haley Hanson).

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The struggle is SO REAL. I always said if I knew what would really go into this career: the tears, sleepless nights, rejection, missing family, overdrawn bank accounts, and the constant hustle- I probably would never have moved across country and left the city and family I love so much. But all of that doesn’t matter when you get “the big laugh”, that phone call that says “you booked it”, or that email from a podcast listener that says you helped them laugh through a tough time and not feel so alone. One of the most inspiring things I’ve heard was advice Actress Sharon Stone got from her Dad about Mickey Mantle playing w/ the Yankees ~ who had the most runs batted in but he also had the most strike outs. “It didn’t matter how many times he struck out, ya just gotta keep hitting it and hitting it”. That’s how this career is, my Dad always told me “throw enough shit against the wall, something is gonna stick”. I’d like to think what I’m pitching out there isn’t “shit” lol but it’s true.

Never give up, just keep going. My mom also always told me “Run your own race and keep your blinders on”. We all struggle no matter what career your pursuing, but if you find your purpose and it’s something you’ll love it’s all worth it and you won’t give up. Let me tell you I’ve had alllllll the side jobs in Los Angeles and if you looked at my social Media you’d have no clue. It’s a balancing act trying to pursue your dreams but also survive. What I’ve been focusing on lately is working smarter not harder. Trust me I’ve bartended, bottle served at Playboy Mansion, Nannied for a famous Boy Bander, been an assistant, taught fitness classes, served at a famous hotel, you name the restaurant I probably know someone who works there lol. But all these experiences have lead me to where I am today. Something I heard Comedian Kevin Hart say recently really resonated with me “Nobody knows your future but you. You’re the only one who can predict your outcome. You’re in charge of your own book. How them chapters go and how that book ends is up to you.” I also have a very close friend Griffin Moore who gave me great advice before a big show that I still re-read before going on stage “Today you get up in there. It’s just you and that crowd and you kill. You make that stage your home”.

Recently I also was feeling a plateau in my career and after much encouragement, fear on my part, and encouragement from family friends I decided to take a production job on Joey Fatones game show “Common Knowledge”. The lesson here is “everything you want in life is right outside your comfort zone”. I was so nervous and had to really shake up my everyday life. I learned so much and found a razor like focus for all of my goals and talents, it forced me to pursue my dreams even harder and also opened my eyes up to an entire different skill set world in the entertainment industry. The point of all of this is all of the let downs and tough times have lead me to this point and given me a tough skin. You have to appreciate the good and the bad, especially in comedy. The bad and the most embarrassing moments often turn into the best bits.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m an Actress, Stand Up Comic, Podcast Host, Writer, Choreographer, and a Plyojam Dance fitness instructor. I’ve appeared on BRAVO, TruTv, FOX, SiriusXm Radio, and currently recurring as “Bethany” on the Amazon series “Alterred Reality”. One of my greatest accomplishments was touring overseas performing for the Troops in Egypt, Spain, Turkey, Jordan, and Portugal. I can be seen regularly at The Hollywood Improv, Comedy Store, and Laugh Factory. Another huge accomplishment for me was working w/ Credit Suisse down in New Orleans repairing homes and schools w/ Habitat for Humanity after Hurricane Katrina. The love I’ve found for the wonderful city, people, and culture is beyond words and I have “Fave” my Aunt Claire Forte to thank for that. Before starting my own podcast, I LOVED producing parody music videos some of which went “viral” (is that even a thing? Lol).

Some of my favorites were “Bitches in Weho” w/ Ty Chase, Uptown Punk w/ co-producer Rachael O’Brien, and A Million Reasons Why 2016 Sucked w/ Gabi Conti (Lady Gaga retweeted their Parody which was posted by the Huffington Post/Elite Daily). As a Jersey native and “Meat” Ball of Energy I also host the popular “Whats Your Jersey?” Podcast on iTunes and Audioboom Network. I talk Sports, Comedy, Life, and Love all while keeping it honest, current, and sassy. I’m definitely “Boyband Adjacent”- just wrapped working on Joey Fatone’s Gameshow “COMMON KNOWLEDGE”, and I’ve been recognized by choreographer Brian Friedman (Britney Spears, *NSYNC) as a “real dance DANCER” annnd judge Lance Bass called my Britney Spears Medley performance on the FUNNY DANCE SHOW “AMAZING”. Recently i was in the HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL musical “Les Deux You Remember This” playing BRITNEY SPEARS (Perez Hilton called my performance “Truly AUTHENTIC”)! My comedy is very physical and I love intergrating jokes about my obsession with pop stars, dance, and my Italian roots. My commentary on how awkward I can be in Relationships and with Dating is also so much fun for me to explore.

I find the more open and honest I am about growing up with strict Italian catholic rules, and embarrassing bedroom moments the more audiences can let their guard down relax and laugh their asses off. I also LOVE teaching Dance Fitness classes “PLYOJAM” currently in Brentwood! It’s like Zumba but cool AF, I get to connect with men and woman of all ages and make them sweat and live their best life for an hour. I always tell them to forget we’re all there and pretend you’re just letting go by yourself in the mirror at home to your fave Britney or JayZ song. I also teach their online classes so if you do t live in Los Angeles you can find me on www.Plyojam.com! I also could not have grown and made a lot of the changes necessary this year w/out my main squeeze Tommy Caprio. I’m looking forward to touring more the rest of the year and the comedy script I’m currently working on w/ Writer Abby Stern (According to a Source).

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I don’t have regrets and I’m so grateful I’ve made it this far~ one thing I would have done before moving to LA was save money. It did feel like for so long I was treading water with no safety net. I recommend having that cushion to allow you to fully go after your dream and to take allll the classes, pay for the headshots, casting sites, workshops, gym memberships, dinners, facials, ie, maintenance! No one tells you that in acting school – it’s called Show BUSINESS for a reason. It’s having the talent but also the business sense and preparation to back it up. You need to develop talent to back up your talent.

My quote in my yearbook was “There’s no business like show business” and I still to this day agree. Hey, I wasn’t voted BEST STORYTELLER in 1st Grade and MOST LIKELY TO BE FAMOUS in HS by accident. I also think white knuckling “my career” and trying so hard without enjoying the ride is a mistake a lot of us make. Stay true to yourself, work hard, and trust that everything will be how it’s supposed to be. Happiness is moving towards your purpose.

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