Meet Jenny Rizzo

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny Rizzo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenny, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think it was inevitable.

I was that classic toddler in the stroller, wriggling to get out so I could follow the energy around me. I wanted to dance when I heard music, or explore new things to understand them. I got in trouble as a kid for coloring all the animals rainbow and for improvising during my piano lessons. I’ve always been someone who, once they look at something, immediately starts having a billion ideas about how it could grow, shift, improve, or become something more exciting. Creative work is the space where my brain is happy and most at home. I’m also really inspired by being around other creative people. There’s something energizing about working with different artists who are all bringing their own ideas, experience, and perspectives into the room!

But, I think I have built my career in the arts because I love helping people grow into the best version of themselves. Watching others succeed and grow is inspiring. Whether that’s a student finding confidence, a teacher discovering their strengths, a program becoming more intentional and impactful, or a musical bringing people together, I’m motivated by the process of helping people see what they’re capable of and giving them the structure and support to get there!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think my art is really rooted in being an artistic leader. I have always been the kind of person who wanted to learn how to do everything; whether it be music, theatre, art, in school: if someone could do it, I wanted to try it too. By the time I was in high school, I could play five instruments, had a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, auditioned for Juilliard for their harp program and could fix almost anything with duck-tape! And I have just kept adding skills since then.

I like to think that what sets me apart is that I am not only one kind of artist. I am a performer, musician, teacher, director, curriculum builder, and program leader, and I truly love all of those pieces. In my current work as Director of Education at The Studios Brookhaven and as a teaching artist and Program Director for The Atlanta Institute for Musical Theatre, I use all of those skills every day. Some days I am behind a computer building curriculum, shaping programs, and balancing budgets, and thirty minutes later I am teaching a voice lesson. The next day, I might be accompanying an audition masterclass, or teaching ballet technique to middle and high school students. It is never a dull moment, and I feel very lucky that I get to do so many of the things I love.

Professionally, I got my degree in musical theatre from The Hartt School and then moved to Montreal after graduating to be with my now-husband, Anthony, who was my fiancé at the time. I was very lucky to meet the right people there, especially artists who were on the cutting edge of the English theatre and arts scene in Montreal. They took me under their wing, guided me, and helped me find where I needed to be. Through that community, I eventually became the Artistic Director of the Montreal Children’s Theatre, where I was able to grow and develop the school and its musical theatre program until I moved to Atlanta in 2022.

It definitely was not always easy. Starting over as an artist in a new city is super hard. So much of this business depends on relationships, trust, and finding your people, and that takes time. Moving to Atlanta meant allowing myself to become the student again and the new kid again. In a way, it required an ego death. I had to be open to learning, asking questions, being vulnerable, and letting people see who I really was.

Atlanta has been a mix of constant growth and also a step back in the best way. It has taught me that vulnerability is beautiful, and that showing up as your open, authentic self is often what leads you to the place you are supposed to be. Right now, I am most proud of the fact that my work helps other people grow. Whether I am teaching a student, mentoring a teacher, developing a program, or helping shape a creative space, my goal is always to help people feel more capable, more confident, and more connected to who they are.

What I want people to know about my story is that I believe creativity is not just about performance. It is about growth, curiosity, discipline, community, and becoming brave enough to keep evolving. My brand, my work, and my art are all centered around helping people discover what they are capable of and giving them the tools, structure, and encouragement to become their best selves!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Okay, first stop would absolutely be Dark Horse Tavern for live band karaoke, because what is more fun than singing your face off with an actual band behind you? It is chaotic in the best way, everyone is having the time of their lives, and it feels like the perfect Atlanta night out.

I would definitely build the week around food, music, cocktails, and fun little adventures. I’m a big foodie and a fancy cocktail girlie, so we would spend plenty of time exploring the BeltLine, trying new restaurants, popping into cute cocktail spots, and pretending we are just “grabbing one drink” before somehow ending the night at Burl’s, which has definitely happened more than once with friends.

One of my favorite surprises about Atlanta has been how creative the city is. I knew Atlanta was a major film city, but I had no idea just how much art is happening here in every direction. There is live music, theatre, comedy, dance, festivals, galleries, and always some fun event popping up in Atlanta or even in Alpharetta or Roswell

But I am also veryyy nerdy, so the perfect week would not just be going out every night. We would absolutely have a cozy board game night, probably see a movie, and maybe find something a little weird or artsy to check out just because it sounded fun. My dream week with a best friend would be a mix of great food, good cocktails, live music, big laughs, and a little bit of nerdy cozy chaos.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would definitely dedicate my shoutout to my parents first, for noticing who I was early on and investing in me, not just financially, but with their time, encouragement, and belief in what I could become.

I’d also give a lot of credit to three teachers who shaped me at really important stages of my life: Mrs. Bayno in elementary school, Ms. Lattanzio in high school, and Paul Feyer in college. Each of them helped me find my spark in a different way. They made me feel seen, challenged me, and taught me that I could figure out almost anything if I was willing to try, stay curious, and ask for help when I needed it.

That lesson has stayed with me in every part of my life and career. So much of what I do now as an educator and creative leader comes from the way they supported me: with a mix of encouragement, honesty, structure, and silly.

Website: https://thejennyrizzo.com

Instagram: Jenny__Rizzo, Thatteacherjenny

Youtube: TheJennyRizzo