Jennifer Jasper is a hilarious storyteller, writer, performer and director. She’s known for her consummate storytelling, her pristine timing and her intuitive director’s eye. As a performer and writer Ms. Jasper possesses an uncanny capacity for creating memorable characters that are colorful, often outlandish and always emotionally authentic. She recently relocated from Seattle to Bennington, Vermont, where she is getting involved in the local storytelling scene and working on a new play and other writing projects.
A collection of six short plays entitled PRESSING MATTERS premiered Off Broadway on Theatre Row, April 20, 2017, produced by Mary J. Davis and MBL Productions, Inc. In 2016 her short play EGGS was one of nine plays chosen for City Theatre’s (Miami) acclaimed Summer Shorts series. Her short play ET•Y•MOL•O•GY was one of the six winners (out of 1,385 submissions) of the 39th Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival in New York City.
In the last year she has directed solo shows for Kevin Kent, EULOGY; Mik Kuhlman’s award-winning show HOUSE #30 which is being performed internationally; and Eric Lane Barnes’ IS IT JUST ME?.
Ms. Jasper’s solo work includes: I CAN HEAR YOU…BUT I’M NOT LISTENING which has been performed nationally; IT WILL KILL THEM, created for Seattle Gay City Art’s inaugural season; and her most recent show, BULLYGIRL, which received an Artist Trust GAP Grant to continue development for touring in middle schools.
She produced, hosted and curated a monthly cabaret FAMILY AFFAIR–CABARET SERVED UP FAMILY-STYLE in Seattle, 2012-2016. The show was a family-themed storytelling cabaret in all artistic mediums and raised money each month for a member of the arts community going through a financial crisis. She hopes to relaunch FAMILY AFFAIR on a quarterly basis in southern Vermont.
Ms. Jasper received her BA in Directing from the University of New Mexico. She co-founded the improvisational company Kings’ Elephant Theatre. After a decade of critical and commercial success with Kings’ Elephant, she went on to co-found Vixen Productions (1995–2005). This all-woman company toured and performed nationally. She was resident director of Printer’s Devil Theater 2010–2014 and is a regular participant in The 14/48 Projects. She is a member of Dramatists Guild of America.
Awards/Accomplishments
City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting—Finalist • 2016
Short play EGGS was a finalist for 2016
Artist Trust GAP Grant • 2016
Grant to take “BullyGirl” into middle schools.
Willapa Bay Artist in Residence (August) • 2015
Rain City Projects—Sweetness Grant • 2015
Freehold Theatre School • 2015
Guest Teaching Artist. Intensive workshop “Telling Your Story”
Samuel French OOB Short Play Festival • 2014
“et•y•mol•o•gy” Winner (out of 1,385 submissions) of the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival in New York City. The play is published and licensed by Samuel French and included in a short play anthology.
Artist Support Residence, Jack Straw Productions • 2013
Jennifer was awarded one of eight Artist Support grants from Jack Straw Productions to record her stories.
Mazen Award Winner (Summer) • 2011
The Mazen Award is awarded to veteran participants of 14/48 The World’s Quickest Theater Festival who embody the spirit of community and risk-taking inherent in our process. The award is named for longtime Seattle actor Glenn Mazen, a supporter of the festival who passed away in 2003.