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Jennifer [email protected] • Director • Storyteller • Playwright
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About
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. Washington to Bennington, Vermont, where she is getting involved in the local storytelling scene and working on new writing projects.
A collection of six short plays entitled PRESSING MATTERS premiered Off Broadway 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.
Recently, 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.
Jennifer [email protected] • Director • Storyteller • Playwright
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Resumé
Education
Bachelor of Art (Emphasis Directing) University of New Mexico 1987
Playwriting
“Pressing Matters” Mary J. Davis and MBL Productions, Inc. New York, NY 2017 Collection of short plays. Premiered April, 2017 Off Broadway.“Eggs” Summer Shorts, City Theatre Miami, FL 2016“Here, Gus” Live Girls! Theater Seattle, WA 2016“Destination Unknown” Live Girls! Theater Seattle, WA 2015“Etymology” 14/48 MixTape Seattle, WA 2015“Free Range” SPF Shorts Seattle, WA 2015“Etymology” Samuel French OOB Festival New York, NY 2014“No Apologies” 14/48 Festival Seattle, WA 2014“Oscar Clyde Denman” 14/48 Festival Seattle , WA 2013“Spoiled” 14/48 Festival Seattle, WA 2013
Solo Shows
"Bullygirl" 18th & Union Seattle, WA 2016"Bullygirl" New City Theater Seattle, WA 2015I Can Hear You...But I’m Not Listening” Bumbershoot Seattle, WA 2014“It Will Kill Them” Gay City Arts Seattle, WA 2014“I Can Hear You...But I’m Not Listening” Hollywood Fringe Festival Los Angeles, CA 2014“I Can Hear You...But I’m Not Listening” Teatro Paraguas Santa Fe, NM 2014“I Can Hear You...But I’m Not Listening” Theatre Off Jackson Seattle, WA 2012–2013“Middle” Theatre Off Jackson Seattle, WA 2010
Theatre Performance
“Hung By The Chimney” Theatre Off Jackson Seattle, WA 2015“Innocent Heat” Vixen Productions Seattle/Tour 1995–2005“Fistful of Lesbians” Vixen Productions Seattle, WA 2005“Brent or Brenda” Emutt Productions Seattle, WA 2003 & 2005“Derailed Desires” Vixen Productions Seattle/Tour 2000“A Very Lesbian Nutcracker” Vixen Productions Seattle, WA 2001“Hung By The Chimney” Vixen Productions Seattle, WA 2001 & 2005“MacBeth”(MacDuff) Greek Active Theater Seattle, WA 1996“The Childryn’s Hour” (Mary) Greek Active Theater Seattle, WA 1997
Jennifer [email protected] • Director • Storyteller • Playwright
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Resumé continued
Directing
“Eulogy” West of Lenin Seattle, WA 2016“Is it Just Me?” Pocket Theater Seattle, WA 2015“House #30” West of Lenin Seattle, WA 2015“Cantaloupe” Live Girls! Theater Seattle, WA 2014“Animal Cruelty” Printer’s Devil Theater Seattle, WA 2013“Shadow Odyssey” Printer’s Devil Theater Seattle, WA 2011“Keefee’s House of Cards” remount Printer’s Devil Theater Seattle, WA 2010“Teensploitation” Printer’s Devil Theater Seattle, WA 2009“Keefee’s House of Cards” Printer’s Devil Theater Seattle, WA 2009“Sister Windy—Temptation” Theatre Steve/Kevin Kent Seattle, WA 2000“Pirates of Lesbos” Vixen Productions Seattle, WA 1998“On The Verge” AHA! Theater Seattle, WA 1994“Agnes de Castro” Annex Theater Seattle, WA 1992
Film/TV
“Capitol Hill” Season 2 (web series) Sister Malvita Seattle, WA 2015“Capitol Hill” Season 1 (web series) Sister Malvita Seattle, WA 2014“Artzone” with Nancy Guppy Interview: Featured Artist Seattle, WA 2012“Waxie Moon in Fallen Jewel” Party goer Seattle, WA 2011“Love Laverne” Maggie Seattle, WA 1994–96
Production Companies
Printer’s Devil Theater, Company Member 2009–2014Vixen Productions, Co-Founder 1995–2005Kings’ Elephant Improvisational Theatre, Co-Founder 1983–1993
Other Performance/Comedy
Host/Producer/Curator Family Affair—Cabaret served up family style (monthly cabaret) 2013–PresentStoryteller Back Fence PDX 2012–PresentActor/Director/Writer 14/48 World’s Quickest Theater Festival 1999–Present
Jennifer [email protected] • Director • Storyteller • Playwright
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Awards/Accomplishments
Finalist, City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting 2016For Jennifer’s short play “Eggs”
Artist Trust GAP Grant 2016Grant to take “BullyGirl” into middle schools.
Willapa Bay Artist in Residence (August) 2015
Rain City Projects—Sweetness Grant 2015
Freehold Theatre School 2015Guest 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 2013Jennifer was awarded one of eight Artist Support grants from Jack Straw Productions to record her stories.
Mazen Award Winner (Summer) 2011The 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.
Memberships
Dramatists Guild of America
Resumé continued
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Plays
et•y•mol•o•gy Run time: 10 minutes
Seven words map the course of Susan Anne’s and Calvin’s life. 2014 Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival—WinnerPublished and licensed by Samuel French, Inc. in Off Off Broadway Festival Plays, 39th Series
Oscar Clyde Denman Run time: 25 minutes
A young woman’s perpetual quest to move forward.
Spoiled Run time: 10 minutes
Parenting is taken to the extreme.
No Apologies Run time: 10 minutes
A unique view on bullying.
Destination Unknown Run time: 12 minutes
Passengers await their final destination.
Inheritance Run time: 15 minutes
Changes and choices for three generations of women.
Thanksgiving in July Run time: 25 minutes
As one woman remembers a journey together, another prepares for a journey alone.
Eggs / Free Range Run time: 10 minutes
Parenting is an obstacle course in the 21st century. Play is available for a two-person cast (Eggs) or as a monologue (Free Range).
Here, Gus Run time: 10 minutes
A daughter and her father's best friend meet for the first time.
Jennifer [email protected] • Director • Storyteller • Playwright
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“I Can Hear You…But I’m Not Listening.”
Synopsis
Jasper explores her experiences as the middle daughter in a family of five girls with colorful (and off-color) stories in her own unique storytelling style. From her early efforts at speech therapy to her Laura Ingalls Wilder obsession to her discovery of her grandfather’s “interesting” hobby, Jasper’s expert comic skills and her gift for wringing laughs from the dark and uncomfortable moments of growing up make each performance unique and revealing.
Performance History
• Bumbershoot, TPS Stage, Seattle, WA August 30, 2014
• Hollywood Fringe Festival, Los Angeles, CA June 12-16, 2014
• The Cell, Albuquerque, NM January 11-12, 2014
• Teatro Paraguas, Santa Fe, NM January 9-10, 2014
• Solo Performance Festival 7, Seattle, WA March 8-9, 2013
• Theatre Off Jackson, Seattle, WA September 27-29, 2012
• Theatre Off Jackson, Seattle, WA • Premiere July 27-28, 2012
Reel
Click here: Five-minute highlights from the show
Conceived and performed by Jennifer Jasper
Jennifer [email protected] • Director • Storyteller • Playwright
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“Bullygirl”
Conceived and performed by Jennifer Jasper
Synopsis
Storyteller Jennifer Jasper pulls no punches in Bullygirl as she delves into the darkness of adolescence to pick at the bones of her self-esteem. Told in her unique voice mixing pathos and hilarity, Jasper spits out tales of bullies, victims in plaid stretch pants, a shunning, and a young teacher’s near breakdown as she revisits the halls of horror: Junior High.
Performance History
New City Theater, Seattle, WA • Premiere • February 201518th & Union, Seattle, WA • October 2016
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Press, etc.
Print and Online (click on item to read)
Seattle Gay News, June 26, 2015
AXS.com, November 18, 2014
The Sunbreak, July 17, 2014
CityArts Online, January 23, 2014
The Stranger, Winter 2013–2014 Seattle A&P Quarterly
Santa Fe Reporter, Jan. 8–14, 2014
Pasatiempo, Jan. 3, 2014
The Stranger, July 25, 2012
Video (click on item to view)
CityArts Online—One Minute Webcam Monologue #7
Art Zone with Nancy Guppy
The Morning Brew with Larry Ahrens
Back Fence PDX—"Naked Squirrel"
Jennifer [email protected] • Director • Storyteller • Playwright
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Press, etc. continued
Santa Fe Reporter, Jan. 8–14, 2014
Pasatiempo, Jan. 3, 2014
The Stranger, Winter 2013–2014 Seattle A&P Quarterly
Art Zone with Nancy Guppy (scroll to 4:34)
The Morning Brew with Larry Ahrens
Jennifer [email protected] • Director • Storyteller • Playwright
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Quotes
“The clarity of Jasper’s performance style, which allows her to speak to the audience like she’s telling stories at the dinner table (granted, maybe not everyone’s dinner table), only helps ‘I Can Hear You…But I’m Not Listening.’ ”
— Santa Fe Reporter
“In an age of boundary-pushing shock comedy, [Jennifer] Jasper traffics in old-school humanistic comedy, and watching the show, I kept thinking of the classic comedy of Carol Burnett, given a 21st-century lesbian twist.”
— David Schmader, The Stranger
“What a sparkling gem of an evening! What strikes me is the honesty, the movement, the transition-on-a-dime.”
— “I Can Hear You…” audience member
“I laughed so hard at one point I almost wet myself … hilarious, authentic and poignant.”
— “I Can Hear You…” audience member
Jennifer [email protected] • Director • Storyteller • Playwright
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Contact
Website
JenniferJasper.com
facebook.com/JenniferJasperPerformer
@JennJasper