Jennifer Simard

Jennifer Simard is an American actress and singer known primarily for her work in theater.

Jennifer Simard
Born (1970-08-08) August 8, 1970
Alma materHunter College
Boston Conservatory of Music
OccupationActress, singer
Years active1992–present
Spouse(s)
Brad Robertson
(
m. 2004)
Websitejennifersimard.com

Early life and education

Simard is from Litchfield, New Hampshire. She studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music and Hunter College.

Career

Theatre

After studying at Hunter College and the Boston Conservatory of Music, Simard moved to New York, where she appeared in Forbidden Broadway '93.[1][2]

She made her Broadway debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and later performed in the Broadway productions of Shrek The Musical and Sister Act.[3]

Simard received Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her roles in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, The Thing About Men, and Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit (2005).[4]

Simard originated the role of Sister Mary Downy in the 2016 Broadway musical Disaster!, for which her performance earned her a Tony Award nomination and a Drama League Award nomination in 2016. She was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for the same role, which she performed off Broadway in 2014. The Variety reviewer wrote: "...this is a good cast that knows the comic ropes — and then some, in the special case of Jennifer Simard, who shows great comic chops as a nun with a secret gambling fixation.“[5]

She appeared on Broadway as Ernestina in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce.[6]

Simard played Miss Hannigan in the St. Louis Muny production of Annie from July 18–25, 2018.[7] The reviewer wrote: "Jennifer Simard ...plays Miss Hannigan, and is nothing less than incredible in the role. She is hilarious as the head of the orphanage, causing the crowd to burst into laughter for much of her time on-stage. Her rendition of “Little Girls” is not to be missed. With impeccable comedic timing, a wonderful voice, and all-around talent – Simard gives a performance that makes it impossible to look away."[8]

In August 2018, it was announced that Simard would be joining the company of the Tony-nominated musical Mean Girls as Mrs. Heron, Ms. Norbury, and Mrs. George in September 2018, replacing Kerry Butler.[9] Her last performance was on December 8, 2019.[10]

In October 2019, it was announced that Simard would be joining the company of the gender-swapped revival of Company as Sarah.[11]

Television and film

She has been seen on television in Younger, The Good Wife, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order, and The King of Queens and also appeared in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas movie.[12]

Personal life

On October 3, 2004, she married Brad Robertson, whom she met when he was the light board operator for the off-Broadway production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.[13]

Theatre credits

Year Title Role Theatre Director(s) Ref.
1996 I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change Woman #1 Westside Theatre Joel Bishoff
2003 The Thing About Men Woman Promenade Theatre
2004 Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit Various Characters Douglas Fairbanks Theatre Gerard Alessandrini and Phillip George
2006 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Rona Lisa Peretti US National Tour James Lapine
2007 Rona Lisa Peretti (replacement) Circle in the Square Theatre
2008 Shrek The Musical Queen Lillian/Wicked Witch/
Magic Mirror Assistant
Broadway Theatre Jason Moore
2011 Sister Act Ensemble Jerry Zaks
2013 Disaster! Sister Mary Downy St. Luke’s Theatre Jack Plotnick
2016 Nederlander Theatre
2017–18 Hello, Dolly! Ernestina Shubert Theatre Jerry Zaks
2018 Annie Miss Hannigan The Muny
2018–19 Mean Girls Mrs. Heron/Ms. Norbury/
Mrs. George (replacement)
August Wilson Theatre Casey Nicholaw
2020 Company Sarah Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Marianne Elliott

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Ref.
2000 The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas Bride-To-Be
2001 Wish You Were Dead Cake Girl
2013 Shrek The Musical Wicked Witch
2014 Non-Stop Maggie Evans (uncredited)
2015 Sisters Pet Activist at Party

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1999 The King of Queens Paula Episode: "Best Man"
2006 Law & Order Danielle Andreas Episode: "Invaders"
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Debra Jackson Episode: "Trade"
2015 The Good Wife Janie Mullaby Episode: "Payback" [26]
2016 Younger Sherry Episode: "Last Days of Books" [27]

Awards and nominations

Year Award ceremony Category Show Result Ref.
1997 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change Nominated
2004 The Thing About Men Nominated
2005 Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit Nominated
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Featured Actress Nominated
2014 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Disaster! Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Award Nominated
2016 Nominated
Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated
gollark: But I like the current color.
gollark: I'm guessing. I'd like an actual answer from them but I don't think they'll give one.
gollark: Perhaps they feel some unfathomable sense of satisfaction at... temporarily holding people's attention?
gollark: We are asking them questions, palaiologos.
gollark: My models of people are very bad, but best guess is "funny" "trolling" or something?

References

  1. "Schools of the Stars: Where Disaster! Cast and Creators Went to College | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  2. Klein, Alvin. "THEATER; Getting the Giggles From 'Forbidden Broadway'". Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  3. "An Interview with DISASTER'S Jennifer Simard & Seth Rudetsky". Manhattan Digest. 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  4. Murray, Matthew. "2005 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced" theatermania.com, April 28, 2005
  5. Stasio, Marilyn. "Broadway Review: Disaster-Movie Spoof Disaster!" Variety, March 8, 2016
  6. Hetrick, Adam (September 16, 2016). "Kate Baldwin, Gavin Creel, Jennifer Simard Join Bette Midler Hello, Dolly!". Playbill.
  7. "Jennifer Simard and Christopher Sieber Join Muny Annie | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  8. Brackett, Kevin. Theatre: Muny’s Annie Has Audiences Fully Dressed With Smiles, Ear to Ear" Review St. Louis, July 20, 2018
  9. Clement, Olivia (2018-08-14). "Jennifer Simard to Join Mean Girls on Broadway". Playbill.
  10. Huston, Caitlin. "Catherine Brunell takes over for Jennifer Simard in 'Mean Girls'". Broadway News. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  11. "BREAKING: Matt Doyle, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, and More Join COMPANY; Cast Announced!". Broadway World. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  12. "Jennifer Simard". IMDb. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  13. "How Disaster!'s Jennifer Simard Landed the Role of a Lifetime | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  14. Hernandez, Ernio (July 6, 2006). "Jennifer Simard Prepped for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Tour". Playbill.
  15. Hernandez, Ernio (April 17, 2007). "Mo Rocca and Jennifer Simard Run Broadway's Spelling Bee with New Cast Beginning April 17". Playbill.
  16. Gans, Andrew (October 14, 2013). "John Treacy Egan, Michele Ragusa, Jennifer Simard, Mary Testa Try to Avoid Disaster!, Beginning Oct. 14 Off-Broadway". Playbill.
  17. Gioia, Michael (May 8, 2016). "Jennifer Simard On Carrying the Banner For Her Show as It Bids Broadway Farewell". Playbill.
  18. "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) - IMDb". IMDb.
  19. "Wish You Were Dead (2001) - IMDb". IMDb.
  20. "Shrek the Musical (2013) - IMDb". IMDb.
  21. "Non-Stop (2014) - IMDb". IMDb.
  22. "Cast and Crew Sisters". allmovie.com. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  23. "Jennifer Simard - IMDb". IMDb.
  24. ""Law & Order" Invaders (TV Episode 2006) - IMDb". IMDb.
  25. ""Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" Trade (TV Episode 2008) - IMDb". IMDb.
  26. "Listings. 'The Good Wife'. November 1, 2015" thefutoncritic.com, accessed September 8, 2019
  27. Smith, Matt. "BWW Recap: Krysta Rodriguez, Jennifer Simard Guest on Younger as Liza Saves a Bookstore" broadwayworld.com, October 12, 2016
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