Jennifer's Bio

ABOUT JENNY:

Jennifer began performing at the age of 4 in talent shows and musicals in Northern California. As a child she did commercials for Atari, Marshall Fields, Hunt’s Spaghetti Sauce and others. She has fond memories and distinct sensitivity to the issues kids face in the business of acting. It is this experience that inspires her to deliver the best information to kids and their parents to prepare them for the industry. Jennifer holds a BA and MFA in Acting from San Francisco State and DePaul University in Chicago, respectively. She is a graduate of B.A.D.A. Shakespeare Midsummer in Oxford program, The Second City Sketch Comedy Writing Program and The Groundlings Comedy School, homes to such luminaries as Tina Fey, Lisa Kudrow, Cheryl Hines and Jennifer Coolidge. Since moving to New Orleans from Los Angeles, Jennifer has taught acting and theatre at UL Lafayette, Southern Repertory, and Play NOLA, in addition to her "private practice.” An avid improviser, she has conducted corporate improv-based team-building training for both local and national companies such as Blue Bag, The Crescent Fund, Idea Village, Tranzon, and Tulane University.

While living in Los Angeles, Jennifer performed with numerous comedy groups, including "Tito's Harmony" and "Monkeyshines," and worked on the sets of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "The Sarah Silverman Programme." She continued to pursue her love of working with children as a substitute teacher in elementary school classrooms of the LAUSD and was a mentor for young filmmakers at the 4th Superfly Experience, hosted by Longhouse Media's Native LensProgram, in partnership with the Seattle International Film Festival. As a writer, Jennifer has recently developed 2 original sitcom pilots with Emmy-nominated writer Ellen Sandler ("Everybody Loves Raymond"), and continues her multi-character comedy work as the opening emcee for local band “The Help”, a post previously occupied in the 1980’s by Ellen DeGeneres. It makes Jennifer feel very proud to be in such company. On stage, Jennifer was recently seen in "Wine Lovers, the Musical" at Le Petit Theatre under the direction of Holly-Anne Ruggiero . She currently directs the comedy improv group "Yesand's Hot Cousins," whose members started in her Monday night improv classes, and now perform monthly. Jennifer was recently the recipient of the "Honorable Mention" for Best Actress for her work in two different films in the 48 Hour Film Project, including the winning film "Crazy Stairs." The short film she wrote and directed, "Pimp My Rascal," was an official selection of the 2009 Los Angeles Comedy Shorts Festival, and is featured as part of the Rascal Scooter Company's current campaign. Her second comedy short film "Abs Like Jesus" was an official selection at the Short Toronto Indie Film Festival. The animated short for which she supplied voice-over won "Best Animated Short" at the 2011 Comic-Con. She has a number of original comedy and reality projects in development under her production company "The Schempire", including a project featuring kids and teens. Her sketch comedy trio "The Universal Half-Truths" first comedy short "Babyhead Jones" is set for release this Fall. Jennifer also teaches a donation-based Improv for Healing class in Arabi, LA at the Swan River Community Center to help rejuvenate the 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish communities.