JENNIFER TEEL! If you haven’t seen this amazing performer around OKC, you haven’t been attending local performing arts. She is tireless and entertains as a singer, actor, dancer, aerialist, model, business owner, and speaker.
Her abbreviated bio provides a cursory view of her involvement in professional art in Oklahoma!
Lyric: JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH (Ladybug), BIG FISH (Jenny Hill), LES MISÉRABLES, TRIANGLE: A NEW MUSICAL (Dr. Zimmerman/Theresa), THE ODD COUPLE (Cecily Pigeon), LYRIC’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Ghost of Christmas Past), SWEET CHARITY (Ursula March), SPRING AWAKENING (Adult Woman). Local; Lyric’s Musicals Interactive: CALL ME MADAM INTERACTIVE (Sally Adams), OKLAHOMA INTERACTIVE (Laurey), SHAKESPEARE SINGS (Juliet/Maria). Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre: NEXT TO NORMAL (Diana u/s); Pollard Theatre: AMERICAN IDIOT (Extraordinary Girl), COMPANY (Kathy), IN THE HEIGHTS (Vanessa), PASSING STRANGE (Desi/Renata), SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ (Patty), BEEHIVE THE 60’S MUSICAL (Janis Joplin); Reduxion Theatre Company: CABARET (Faulein Kost/Fritzie); Oklahoma Theatre Guild: 8 (Sandy Stier); Poteet Theatre: BYE BYE BIRDIE (Rose Alvarez), OLIVER! (Nancy), INTO THE WOODS (Witch), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Audrey), JOHN & JEN (Jen Tracy); Upstage Theatre: INTO THE WOODS (The Baker’s Wife); Jewel Box Theatre: LEND ME A TENOR (Maria); Sooner Theatre: SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHIEM.
Much like we did with Lyn Cramer prior to her meaningful performance in Fun Home, we asked Jennifer a few questions as well – a la “Inside the Actors Studio.” We will ask her a few more questions once rehearsals begin June 12th. So, stay tuned for a deeper insight into one of OKC’s artistic gems.
Jennifer’s responses are in bold.
- In what town did you spend most of your childhood? Was born in Minot, North Dakota on Mather Air Force Base, but I grew up in OKC. I’ve been in OKC since I was 2 years old. I have lived here ever since. Never lived anywhere else.
- What is your favorite word? I don’t have a favorite word. There are WAY too many beautiful and thought provoking words to choose just one as a favorite. But if I HAD to pick one word that I think has the most impact in this world, it would be “art”.
- What is your favorite color? I’ve always been drawn to blue. Not sure why, but I almost always migrate towards any shade of blue.
- What is your least favorite word? You’ll have to “censor” this one. Okay…censored.
- What turns you on? Ummm… none of your business!!! Just kidding! To clarify, what turns me on artistically is being challenged. Being pushed to go outside of my comfort zones and to expand my skills.
- What turns you off? Being undermined or disregarded.
- What sound or noise do you love? Rain. The ocean. A river. Really any sound of water.
- What sound or noise do you hate? Hearing loud eaters. Grosses me out. Mainly loud chewers.
- What was your first job? Lifeguarding at White Water Bay. I was there for 4 seasons. Loved it.
- How did you get into musical theatre? Well, according to my mother, I started matching pitches before I started speaking, so you could say it was in my blood from the beginning. I grew up watching the golden era musicals, but it wasn’t until I saw the original Broadway production of Into The Woods that I knew, “THAT’S what I want to do!” I was in 8th grade. After that, I jumped head first into drama in HS, and have been performing ever since.
- What is your favorite curse word? It’s a combo of a curse and non curse word. “S*@t sticks”
- What are you most proud of doing/achieving? Easy. Raising two kiddos that make me proud to be their mother, every day.
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I had to learn Silks and Lyra for a recent production I was involved in. I LOVED it. I’d totally be down to do that on a regular basis. In other words, be an aerialist.
- What profession would you not like to do? Janitorial services. Being a mom, I’ve cleaned up my share of gross things, so I can stomach almost anything, but still, would not want to have to do that for anyone other than my kids.
- What would you like to accomplish in the next five years? One thing in particular is to get a non-profit up and running that me and my business partner have been working on. It’s to provide character entertainment for sick, injured, disabled, or low income kids. We already do that quite frequently, but we want to actually make a non-profit branch off of our current company, Forever After, so that others can make a tax deductible donations to help fund the cost of cleaning and paying the actors, so we can do it even more.
- What two things do you want your public to know about you? My public? I have a public??? LOL. Well two things that many may not know about me is that I create and sew many of the costumes for my company, Forever After. I also went through hair school which helps me with styling and designing the wigs for my company as well. I have also worked wigs on some of the National Broadway tours that have come through OKC.
Exclusive! Lyric Theatre is proud to present a hysterical, new musical adaptation of the beloved film about a mother and daughter who, through a little mystic mayhem, wake up to the biggest freak-out ever – trapped inside each other’s body! When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again before mom’s big wedding.
Written by Bridget Carpenter • Music by Tom Kitt • Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Based on the novel by Mary Rodgers and The Walt Disney Motion Pictures • Directed by Michael Baron
June 26 – July 1, 2018
Click here for your seats today!
Feature Photo: Jennifer Teel in Lyric’s 2017 James and the Giant Peach • Photo by KO Rinearson
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