LoveNotes: Broadway to Berks w/ Wanda Colon

There we go . From real estate to the market as a whole , which then sometimes will affect the 10% Right , the real life . We all learn in different ways . If you think about it , wayne Dyer might not attract everybody and everything in between . Mission was really to help people just to reach their full potential .

Hello

We're back . You know what I'm so messed up today ? Because we're not streaming .

Yes , it throws you off , huh .

It really throws me off . I'm like amazed , Like I'm like okay , we actually have somebody in the studio today .

We're in the studio today , baby .

This is wonderful and actually it makes me happy . It makes me happy we have a somebody I've been trying to get on here . Actually , I shouldn't say that I had thought about having her on here , and then it would go out of my mind and then it would come back in my mind and then I would .

I'm so good , I'm so happy to be here , yeah .

It's awesome Finally have you here . I know it took like a village .

I mean and years , I mean . I feel like we have run through the same circles , but for some reason we're not in the same area .

Unbelievable . It is weird , because there's certain people that we know . We know different people that are the same , and I know your husband yes , for years .

You know a couple of my husbands .

I know a couple of your husbands . Hey , I wasn't going to say that , but if you want to say that , you can . It's funny . Third time's a charm . That's what you said . Yes , third time's a charm . Before we started recording , you said third time's a charm . Yeah , I do know a couple of heroes .

This is what I want to do .

This is what I want to do . I'm like , all right , cool . And she actually had said something to me at one point about doing something here locally . I'm like , yeah , no , that's , that's not going to happen . I don't have that kind of bandwidth at all and that's not my thing .

You know , I think it's because we're both from this area . So how I heard of Heather was actually a friend of mine said she's writing a book and I love your story , you should write in your story . So I reached out to her and she's like well , the deadline is like in a couple of days . So I was like , oh wow , that's crazy .

You're in this book . She's in the book .

Yeah , so I'm in the book right .

And so I was like , hey , I'm published , that's great , that's right , that's cool , though , and what a great start of being published .

It's really super cool . And so then , a year later , she said you know she's doing the show on Broadway and would I like to perform , right ? And so I said yes . And so I live in Florida Most of the time . I live there half the year , um and so you have it rough , I can tell . Oh , you know .

I'm going to guess the time of the year . The half that you don't live here is coming up soon . Yeah , Okay .

So after I did the show it was funny during the show she's like you should produce and I said you know , let's just see how it is . So she's really smart .

Right .

So of course , the adrenaline is pumping the night of the show . And we did three shows and it went so well . And she's like so how about producing ? I'm like , yes , we need to do this .

She got you at the right time . She knew you . She knew you . It is . It's so much easier to get a commitment when , when everybody's pumped up . You know that's great .

But well , look where you are now . You're doing it's so exciting and you know it's in my wheelhouse for sure absolutely but I haven't done theater in a long time , and I I mean when I had to do this show in new york .

So you know , yeah , every thespian I mean you got that , got that right . That's the number one .

Exactly so . It's definitely in my wheelhouse , but I was a little rusty . You know I started theater here at Genesius Theater .

There's a plug for Genesius .

There you go , there you go . That's where I started , isn't that ?

funny . My daughter did a show with Genesius .

Yeah , she was . It was just so amazing .

That's so cool , and so you come all the way back from and you were in LA , so let's dive into that . And then when we get through your past here , which is an amazing career , we can get back into the show and talk about how that works , because we need a refresher on it .

right 24 hour .

design 24 hour design Really crazy .

So I

Right . And you know not that there's anything wrong with waitressing but I had been there , done that you know , and .

I was like I don't want to do that .

Like , you know , like , oh , my God she's cuter than I am .

Why ?

did I wear that . Oh my god , her shoes are so cute and here I am with my little portfolio of murals unbelievable you know , so that's what you took in there , and to show that you're an artist that you do this .

This is what you do , and so , because it's not just about the acting of that show .

You got to know your stuff a little bit .

I'm saying , saying like you , there's a village there's a village , of course .

Of course there's a lot of people that help .

Absolutely .

Yeah , so what we see on TV on these things is definitely it's TV .

Yes , but what was cool about the show was it wasn't 24 hours . So we showed up and we had to finish our design in 24 hours and some days . This , you know . We were there for a good 20 , 22 hours .

It was crazy . So when you say that you did that in 24 hours , so you were actually designing , redesigning or redecorating a house in 24 hours In 24 hours .

Wow , that's a lot . It was a lot , that's a lot , yeah , and somebody's there like this , like looking at the watch ticking . The clock is ticking and you know um , you know , and so it was . It was like the greatest experience , you know . I have to say like be careful , what you wish for , you know . So I had like four callbacks .

I was hoping . She said she saw her in a dark alley and kicked the crap out of her , but they did .

They picked the other girl , so I was they did . Yes , initially they picked the other girl . I was devastated . Then you beat her up . No , I totally did so . Then , um , she had a few skeletons in her closet .

You gotta be kidding me . I'm not kidding , so they did the whole research thing .

She was on set for one episode and somebody looked her up .

Oh yeah , and this was before social media , right , so somebody had to dig right .

So how much research did you do on her ?

okay , that's between us she sent a little envelope with with pictures in it , and that was it all over , and so then , they called me .

They called me like a week later and said can you be on set tomorrow ? And so then I was like that's , that was the start of my hosting career Did you ask for more money now that they were in a pitch . Seriously , I should have .

You should have .

Hugo , where were you back then ?

Yeah , Hugo , he's the negotiator . He's the negotiator . That's crazy . What a great story .

Yeah , it was cool , it was cool .

I love it that there was some , but that's just . That's just like being at the right place right time .

You know what it really was and I feel like , but you were prepared for it , your life prepared you for it . Listen , it was . It was the hardest thing . And going through all those auditions and , you know , psyching myself out and then finally getting to a place where I'm like , why not me , you're ?

exactly right . Why not me Exactly right ?

me . You're exactly right . Why not me ?

I deserve this as much as anybody here , and so I kind of went in with that mindset Good for you , yeah , why not me ? That's so true . No , because a lot of times people go why me ? Why would it be me ? Why , why should I get it ?

They were really looking for diversity , like they wanted somebody of color , which was really cool puerto rican , so it was .

That was really cool and it's awesome , um , you could go for italian , though a little bit too I think , yeah , I could do a lot I could see if it was like an italian show , you could have totally got that too . Now you do , you have that look , yeah , so it was kind of cool .

It was a cool time in . La , because I did get to play a lot of different things . I got to do a lot , that's awesome . It was , you know , the hardest and funnest time of my life . Yeah , for sure . Meet a lot of cool people , very cool people , cool people , very cool people , yeah , yeah , that's awesome yeah .

That's really neat . And then , so then TLC . Then was after that , right , yes , did you do the whole go through the whole audition ? No , or did you now have clout ? Now , all of a sudden , I'm somebody . That's cool . That was really cool . That's really cool .

That only happened that one time . Everything else to audition for , but that was . I got a call from my agent and they were like TLC would like to meet you , and it was like I went thinking it was going to be an audition and it was just a formality .

Let's talk about contracts . That's awesome . And then you're so then , yeah , so now they well , the thing is , they know you can do it . Yeah , that was really cool , because on HGTV I was the assistant interior designer , on TLC I was you were the thingv .

I was the assistant interior designer on tlc .

I was you were the thing that was a big team . Wow the main role now , what

did do . Yes , um , I actually did a movie with , uh , jean-claude Van Damme .

Oh my gosh , jean-claude .

Now you're fancy .

Whoa , was he the second husband he ?

wasn't , but you know what's funny ? I had a kissing scene with him , oh .

Yes , let's see it . Let's see it , we're going to play it .

The movie is called Swelter , swelter . Yes , and so it's really kind of funny because you know everybody was like so excited . It was the worst kiss of my life . Oh no , I don't doubt that yeah , because sometimes those guys are just , they're not really . I just wasn't expecting like yeah , he went in for it , oh he went for it oh yeah , so no holding back .

Oh no , no , yeah , that's a little crazy , maybe he liked it , he went right in . He went right in he wanted to be be second husband .

I did like this , whoa .

Like what is going on . So then after like I am not kidding 10 takes I was like oh my gosh , 10 takes of the same thing , 10 takes of the same thing I said to the director do you have a minute ? Do you have anybody else that could be like a kiss double ? I kind of think that we've got this to think that we've got this . I think we got this .

yes , that's why the first time , I mean , he went all in and I was like whoa , like yeah , because it's supposed to be .

I mean sometimes you'll see on tv , on movies , that that it's a real yeah and I think that's probably when there's serious chemistry with them . Swelter , you were sweltering , huh , holy crap . I'm going to look that up . What's his name again ?

Jean-Claude Van Damme .

What else was he in ?

He's that karate .

Yeah , that's right . I grew up watching those movies oh my gosh , in Guatemala you were watching those .

Oh my gosh , I always thought I always wanted to be him .

Oh boy , I think you'd have to get a little taller , buddy , a little bit taller . Oh man , that's right . You guys can speak Spanish're talking about so yeah . So let's go back into actually one of the other things first , before we get back into this . You also have the Academy of Home Staging and Design .

I do yeah .

You're the founder or co-founder ? Yeah , I'm the co-founder .

I have a partner in Los Angeles .

Yeah .

So it's so great because- .

And that's a teaching school like a school .

It is so . We certify home stagers and we also have interior design classes .

And so .

I was going back to LA , like every other month , to teach . So it was kind of a lot , and so I just opened up a branch in Florida . So I'm teaching in Tampa and I'm doing virtual and my no-transcript and LA does all of the .

Los Angeles classes . That's a whole different thing too , it is .

It was kind of nice Because you have to get certified and stuff , right yeah it was really kind of nice because I went from having , like a lot of interior design clients . I still have some , like I have a dentist office that I'm designing right now in .

Florida .

So I have to stay in it right to keep current and stuff , yeah , but it's really kind of cool , you know , just to be able to teach and and I actually found that as to like one of my passions . Yeah , I really enjoy it .

Yeah , it's different . Teaching is different

So this is what I always say , like they're learning from leaders in the industry . My partner has been a home stager . I mean since , like the early 90s .

Like she's been home staging , seen all this stuff .

You know , and she's got a warehouse of like 10,000 square feet . She can stage up to 40 homes at one time .

So it's no joke . And these aren't little homes . I'm thinking , no , they're not .

Yeah , I didn't think so , and so I mean , and so and you know , and I and my you know background on television and doing interior design for over 20 years now . Yeah . So , it's really cool because they're learning from people who've done it .

Yeah .

Who've been successful in it ?

Yeah , so yeah , very cool . Yeah , I saw that and I was like , well , this is kind of fun .

Yeah , so you know , I was so bored , I needed one more thing .

Yeah , just put something else on the plate . That's right . Let's add something else to the plate .

That's cool , though , but it keeps you grounded in that , in that business . I love it . Yeah , it does . Yeah , I mean , you know , stephanie Taramina .

I don't , you don't , or from have Some Fun Today .

No , I don't . Oh my gosh , that's unbelievable . It's funny , right ? Yeah , I got to connect them here . Another local .

She started out as a . She's a decorator .

She's a home the place . But yeah , we'll have to get you guys in touch . She's local . I love you know . Coming back home , you know nothing's like home right . And then just reconnecting with people and seeing how far , like people have gone . Yeah , I mean , it's pretty cool .

It is cool , and I'll tell you what . We have a very , very entrepreneurial area here . There's a lot of entrepreneurs , there's a lot of people that are just doing doing their thing , you know , and it's really cool to watch . It really is . Well , a lot of the stuff in our , in our studio here we got Pilsudski mustard that's local .

Yeah , I mean your .

Your career has been pretty cool , though , I gotta say .

I've had some fun yeah you did , so there's .

there's different actors in this show .

Yeah , you know it was . So I think that was going to be the hardest . I thought it was going to be the hardest thing is reaching out to the community because you know , once again I haven't been here in a long time .

You have 12 people , I have 12 people sharing their stories .

It's going to be about an hour and a half show , Um , and it's storytelling , but it's . I mean , we had rehearsal the other day and I literally like was so emotional and like so choked up because I thought these people are trusting me with their story . First of all , like I'm not , you know , I'm not very vulnerable .

So she performs ? I just saw that somewhere .

Yeah , she performs here locally , so she has an amazing voice , so she's singing , and then , um , I have a male vocalist from Connecticut , oh cool . And so he's singing . Very cool so it's going to be really entertaining . And then storytelling . There's some really funny stories , some heartwarming stories . You know there's some tragic stories .

Yeah .

But it's all about love , and I love when Heather says you know , we're just spreading love you know , one love note at a time .

Yeah , it's cool .

And it's really cool .

It's a very unique concept . It is , it really is , and that's why , when she first talked about it , it really caught my interest of like . This is something I haven't seen anybody do .

And I'm having her close the show . Oh good , so I'm having her come in and she's actually going to close the show , cause . I think it's really important to show that , first of all , two home girls are like collaborating together , so I think that's really special .

That's cool , yeah , and I have some of the names here and you can probably so tell me who you can . I know Jennifer DiNatale . I knew her . She's a realtor . She's amazing . Yes , I know her very well .

So you know , and so I met her a long time ago , when I was in college and I was working at Berks County Bank , and she came in and she was oh , my gosh Berks County Bank , yeah . And so I was a teller and she I don't know if she was an intern , but she came in and I hadn't seen her since then .

Oh , that's funny . 30 years ago . Berks County Bank that's a name I haven't heard for a while . Yeah , unbelievable , I haven't heard for a while . Yeah .

So she's in it . Um , heather is going to be performing . We have Lewis Cintron . Who is he ? He has a business called uh , two guys construction something like that . Go to guys .

Okay .

And he is just being um recognized um as entrepreneur of the year for the like the . Hispanics , you know some latino thing that's happening , so I think it's really cool that is cool um , so I have him . I have um . Oh , now , I didn't , I didn't write down .

I have some of the other names . Okay , I don't have them all , but that's just some . You don't have to go through all of them .

I mean 12 is a lot . Yeah , debbie bollinger , so she's amazing , suzanne I know that's her mom right she is fabulous , is fabulous , she really she's , she's isn't she an actress for a long time ? She is and her story is just beautiful and she just tells it beautifully . Um uh , deanna Whalen is actually a friend of mine from Florida , oh wow .

And so she's coming here .

So we have yeah , we have some local people , we have people from Florida coming in , so I'm just really excited .

Are you going to tell you're not telling your story . Again I am .

I'm going to open it up and tell my story and then introduce everyone , so I'm basically the emcee and then Heather will close the show .

So give me a little structure on this Cause . It's still like very much like I don't understand how it flows . So so you come out , you start the show , so give me a little structure on this because it's still like very much like I don't understand how it flows .

Yeah , so so you come out , you start the show , so the whole cast will be on stage .

OK .

And we're all sitting there , and so we have a podium and they go up and individually they'll come and tell their story .

So the whole they're on stage .

The whole time , that is interesting , right , and then you .

So you say okay , next do you say who's coming up next ?

I introduce the next person and they come in and then they tell their story and they just tell it there at the podium , they just tell their story and it's so powerful . It's when I did it in , like I thought the same thing like how's this going to work ?

Yeah , yeah , now do you read your story .

You can , or you could , have it memorized . It's going to be in a podium . Your story is going to be written there so that you can look up and yeah , you know but it's it just feels really intimate , really cool , it's it actually cool . When we performed it in New York I was like this is awesome .

Yeah , yeah , that's really cool , and she got really great reviews . Oh , I know I saw some of them . I saw them on social media and whatnot . Yeah , so do you think , now , being the producer of it , are you thinking you'll enjoy it as much as you did before ? So I have to tell you .

I'm way more impressed with Heather than ever before , and I did say to her .

Should we cut that part out of the podcast ? I ?

literally said to her like wow , you did not , let us see you sweat girl , it's a lot , it's a lot , it's a lot , it is . But you know it's in my wheelhouse , it is , of course it is . It's also kind of like just reawakening this theater thing you know and I'm really enjoying this a lot .

Do you think you'll do more of this stuff ? I ?

kind of do . Do you know she's going to ask you the day of ? You know the day of ? Oh , absolutely , she's going to be like what do you think ?

Actually , she asked us to ask you on the podcast .

Right , hugo , make sure you ask her this question , wait it's just a little contract you have to sign .

It's right here , all of over , here and go . Hey , you got to commit today .

Would you do it in Florida ?

So that's kind of what I'm thinking yeah , I mean , since you're half there , I'm thinking that it might be really fun to do in Florida .

And there's a really cool theater community out there . That's cool . Yeah , I think it's going to be a really great date night for people Like , even if you're not really into theater .

Is it a

saturday , october 11th at eight o'clock , at eight o'clock , at the miller center which is a great theater beautiful like I had never been in there before , um , and so someone suggested it and I gave them a call , because I was in florida at the time . I gave them a call , looked at the website and just kind of made a decision .

Wow uh , and that's a commitment too ? Yeah , because you're spending whether you want to or not .

They were like make sure you send that deposit yeah exactly , that's exactly right .

So , how do we , since you have the paperwork there ? How do we ? Well , you can just tell . How do you get tickets and Okay , so lovenotesburkscom . Okay .

So I so I have a website and it'll share all of the people that are in it . There's some really cool local people that are in it , also the Miller Center . I'll share my QR code with you as well , that would be great .

You can give that to us so that we can post it on our socials that would be awesome absolutely yeah . So it's October 11th at 8pm at the Miller Center . I'm collaborating with the peanut bar as well so we're going to do an after party there . Yes , a little plug for the peanut bar . Yeah , a little plug for the peanut bar .

So he and I met the other day and he's going to do some dinner specials Cool and we're going to have an after party there Very cool .

Is there anything else that you want to share about the show coming up ?

You know , I'm just I . I just have to say that I feel so like super blessed to be from here . You know you leave home and you think I'm never going to come back .

Well , everybody , everybody always says that and they all come back , cause I know I sell houses . They all come back , I sell their house and they leave and then later on , they come back .

Yeah , I have such an appreciation for I think , because I was gone for almost 20 years , I have such an appreciation for home , yeah , and I just have to say like everybody has like opened up their arms and like said , yeah , we're in with you , that's cool you know like it's just been really cool .

That's awesome .

So I just want to say I'm super grateful . I'm grateful to be here on this show to reconnect with you . We're glad you're here . Yeah , it's awesome .

Very cool . Well , we wish you the best of luck . I do have to check my schedule because I would like to come see it .

I would love that I couldn't make it to New York . Maybe you can go see it . That'd be great . That'd be a lot of fun .

Awesome , awesome , awesome . Thank you , I really appreciate it . Well , there you have it . So the show is Love Notes right , love Notes , and it is October 11th at 8 pm at the Miller Center . You can get tickets by lovenotesburkscom . Is that right ? That's correct . There we go , okay .