Jennifer R. Blake

Jennifer R. Blake
Background information
Occupation(s) Actress, singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1999–present
Website www.jenniferblake.tv
Jennifer Blake in the role of Caroline (Ma) in Prairie-Oke at the Cavern Club Theatre, Los Angeles
Jennifer Blake in the role of Mindy McCready, McCready the Musical

Jennifer R. Blake is an American actress and producer who has performed in television, film and musical theatre.

Career

Jennifer Blake is a notable alumna of The Boston Conservatory, where she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre and has appeared in television, film and musical stage plays in Boston, New York and Los Angeles.

She produced and starred in the role of Mindy McCready in McCready The Musical at Spirit Studio in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, May–June, 2015, reimagined and iterated during the Hollywood Fringe Festival, Los Angeles, June, 2016, and reprised Off-Broadway at The Triad Theater, New York City, September, 2016.[1][2][3] She was also co-creator and co-producer of the show in New York City.

She co-starred in Behaving Badly (film) (2014). She guest-starred in the prime-time comedy series How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)[4] in the role of Nirvana on ABC.

One of her most notable roles in musical theatre has been as the character Susan in the 2010 Los Angeles premiere of [title of show], at the Celebration Theatre.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] She was called in for an audition and remarkably learned the role in three weeks.[14][15] Her performance was awarded Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical by StagesceneLA.[16]

Jennifer Blake was also critically esteemed for her lead role in Side By Side By Sondheim at The Attic Theatre, Los Angeles,[17][18][19][20] and was awarded Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast/Musical by StageSceneLA.[16]

She was in the original cast of the Off-Broadway New York City production of The Donkey Show, in the roles of Disco Girl/Swing for Hellen/Vinnie/Mia/Oberon.[21][22][23]

She earned critical acclaim for her 2013 role of Caroline (Ma) in Prairie-Oke! at the Cavern Club Theatre, Los Angeles.[24][25][26][27][28] and for her 2012 lead role in Are You There God? It's Me, Karen Carpenter at the Hudson Mainstage (Los Angeles), reprised in 2013 at the Palm Canyon Theater (Palm Springs, CA).[29][30][31][32]

She appeared in a musical based upon the life of Charles Bukowski, Bukowsical!, (Swing) at the Sacred Fools Theater Company, Los Angeles, a production which was taken to New York City and presented at the New York International Fringe Festival, and the show was awarded as Outstanding Musical.[33][34][35][36] She participated in the original cast recording.[37]

Other notable roles include Hair in the role of Jeannie at the Bay Street Theatre, New York; Jesus Christ Superstar in the role of Mary Magdalene at The Attic Theatre, Los Angeles;[38] Chess in the Ensemble and in the role of Vanity Fair Reporter at The Lyric Theatre, Boston; and Ex(it) Wounds at IO Mainstage, Los Angeles.;[39] The Crucible in the role of Betty Parris at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival; Grease in the role of Marty at the West Virginia Public Theatre; and The Will Rogers Follies in the role of Ziegfeld Girl at the Galveston Island Outdoor Musicals, Texas.

Her television appearances have included Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS, Sketch Artist; Sex and the City, Co-Star; Contest Searchlight, Co-Star; and in the series How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)[4] in the role of Nirvana on ABC. She also sang on Ryan Adams' album Love is Hell, B sides.

She was producer/actor in "The Bar", a comedy web series about the South.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2015 "The Bar" web comedy series T.K.
2014 Behaving Badly Janice
2013 How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)[4] Nirvana TV series ABC
2012 Jayne Mansfield's Car (ADR Loop Group)
2010/I Hello (short)(I)[40] Jennifer Randall
2008 Simon (short)[41] Anna
2006 My Mother's Hairdo (short)[42] Dancer at the Hairdo
2004 Stepford Wives, TheThe Stepford Wives Stepford wife
2001 Zoolander Fashionista

Awards

Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical for the role of Susan in [title of show] from StagesceneLA's Best of LA Theatre Awards 2009-2010[16]

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast/Musical for Side By Side By Sondheim from StagesceneLA's Best of LA Theatre Awards 2009-2010[16]

Memorable Performance by an Ensemble Cast/Musical Spoof for Prairie-Oke from StagesceneLA's Best of LA Theatre Awards 2012-2013[43]

Community volunteer activities

Blake has given generously of her time to children in need through CoachArt, Los Angeles, a non-profit organization offering free lessons in the arts and athletics to patients with chronic illnesses and their siblings, ages 6 – 18.[44] She also traveled to Delhi, India, as a volunteer on a build in the Bawana district for Habitat for Humanity International's Global Village Program.[45][46][47]

She produced the California for Alabama Benefit at MBAR, which was for the victims of the 2011 tornadoes that killed hundreds and left thousands homeless or with significant damage. The event was to benefit the local charity California for Alabama: California residents by way of Alabama collecting and delivering donations to the areas of Alabama ravaged by the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak.[48]

Among her other volunteer interests are East L.A. Classic Theatre, the nation’s only Latino based Theater Company that offers professionally performed Shakespeare adapted for youth in underserved communities of color[49] and ENRICHLA Interdisciplinary Garden Program, an Environmental Non-profit focused on helping students build a good work ethic, promoting thoughtful and healthy eating habits, and adding edible school gardens to public schools.[50][51]

She has also had a part in The Creative Coalition, the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan social and political advocacy organization of the entertainment industry.[52] and The National Lab Network, a national initiative that connects K-12 teachers with science, technology, engineering and mathematics professionals to bring hands-on learning experiences to students in all 50 states[53]

References

  1. ↑ "Mindy McCready Musical to Open in Los Angeles". Rolling Stone. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "BWW Interview: Jennifer Blake Chats MCCREADY THE MUSICAL, Opening in Silverlake 5/8". BroadwayWorld. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "PopCulturalist Chats with Jennifer Blake". Pop-Culturalist. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "How To Live With Your Parents - Episode 1.08 - How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life - Press Release". Spoilertv. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Theatre review: "[title of show]" at Celebration Theatre". Los Angeles Times. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Review: "[title of show]"". Variety. 18 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "[title of show] at the Celebration Theatre". L. A. Theatre Review. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Theater Review: "(title of show)"". UCLA Daily Bruin. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Theater Review: "(title of show)"". Stage Happenings. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "L. A. Theater Review: "(title of show)"". Backstage. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "BWW Reviews: L.A. Premiere of Witty '[title of show]' Is Hilarious Fun". Broadway World. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "[title of show], Celebration Theatre, Los Angeles". Huffington Post. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Singin' in the Rain [title of show] and Dani Girl". L. A. Weekly. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Facing Your Vampires". LAStageTimes. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "[title of show]: Celebration Theatre, 9/3/10". wordpress. 3 Oct 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  16. 1 2 3 4 2009-2010 StageSceneLA Scenies
  17. ↑ "Theater Reviews: Hot Pants, Cold Feet, Liberty Inn, Side by Side by Sondheim". L. A. Weekly. 18 Mar 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Side by Side by Sondheim". L. A. Weekly. 18 Mar 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Stage Raw: Extropia". L. A. Weekly. 15 Mar 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  20. ↑ "Ashman, Blake, Duke, Donohoe and Sarando Set for Attic Theatre's Side by Side by Sondheim". Playbill. 12 Feb 2010. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  21. ↑ "The Donkey Show: A Midsummer Night's Disco". Lortel Archives, The Off-Broadway Internet Database. 18 Aug 1999. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "The Donkey Show: A Midsummer Night's Disco Off-Broadway Cast". Broadway World. 30 Sep 1999. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  23. ↑ "'The Donkey Show' shakes up Shakespeare". The Daily Princetonian. 30 Sep 1999. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "Forever Young: Judy Blume & Laura Ingalls Wilder Become Cheeky Musicals". LAMag. 8 Mar 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "Little House on the Prairie-oke!". AllEvents. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  26. ↑ "Whoa, Nellie: Get Ready For Little House On The Prairie-Oke!". laimyours. 29 Mar 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  27. ↑ "Need to Know: 'Little House on the Prairie-Oke'". Out. 29 Mar 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  28. ↑ "Prairie-Oke!". stagescenela. 16 Aug 2013. Retrieved 31 Aug 2013.
  29. ↑ "'Are You There God? It's Me, Karen Carpenter' parodies teen angst". Los Angeles Times. 23 Aug 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  30. ↑ "Karen Carpenter Meets Judy Blume in a Glorious Musical at Hollywood's Hudson Theatre". Huffington Post. 4 Dec 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  31. ↑ "ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, KAREN CARPENTER". StageSceneLA. 17 Aug 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  32. ↑ "ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, KAREN CARPENTER". Palm Springs Life. 17 Oct 2013. Retrieved 17 Oct 2013.
  33. ↑ "BUKOWSICAL!". NY Theatre. 12 August 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  34. ↑ "Review: "Bukowsical!"". Variety. 19 Mar 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  35. ↑ "'Bukowsical!' is seeking support". Variety. 24 Mar 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  36. ↑ "Gary Stockdale wins Outstanding Music Award at 2007 New York International Fringe Festival". thescl. Aug 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  37. ↑ "BUKOWSICAL!". Kritzerland. 19 Feb 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  38. ↑ "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR". StageSceneLA. Mar 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  39. ↑ "BWW Reviews: EX(IT) WOUNDS Takes a Trashingly Refreshing Look at Real Break-Up Letters". BroadwayWorld. 19 Mar 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  40. ↑ "Hello (I)". imdb. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  41. ↑ "Simon". imdb. 10 Apr 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  42. ↑ "My Mother's Hairdo". imdb. 5 Apr 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  43. ↑ "2012-2013-stagescenela-scenies". stagescenela. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  44. ↑ "Volunteer FAQs". CoachArt. 12 July 2013. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  45. ↑ "GV in India". Habitat for Humanity. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  46. ↑ "Habitat For Humanity And Roman Catholic Chetanalaya To Build 150 Houses For Former Delhi Slum Dwellers In India". Habitat for Humanity. 24 Aug 2006. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  47. ↑ "Habitat for Humanity India". Habitat for Humanity. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  48. ↑ "California for Alabama Benefit". All Events in Los Angeles. 3 Aug 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  49. ↑ "East L.A. Classic Theatre". East L.A. Classic Theatre. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  50. ↑ "Programs". ENRICHLA. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  51. ↑ "Quincy Jones Elementary and Synergy Charter BUILD 4/14/12". ENRICHLA. 14 Apr 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  52. ↑ "The Creative Coalition". The Creative Coalition. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  53. ↑ "The National Lab Network". The National Lab Network. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
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