Jennifer Simard

American actress

Brad Robertson
​
(m. 2004)​
Websitejennifersimard.com

Jennifer Simard (born August 8, 1970) is an American actress known primarily for her work in theater. A Two-time Tony Award nominee, she rose to fame starring on Broadway and Off-Broadway productions in 2000s, such as I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, The Thing About Men and Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit being nominated at the Drama Desk Award and Lucille Lortel Award.[1][2]

In 2016, Simard starred as Sister Mary Downy in Disaster!, receiving rave reviews and her first nomination for Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Between 2019 and 2022, she starred as Sarah in the Broadway revival of Company for which she received her second Tony nomination. Other Broadway credits include the 2017 Revival of Hello, Dolly, Mean Girls, and Once Upon a One More Time.

Simard's screen credits include, Somewhere in Queens, Law & Order and Younger.

Life and career

Simard is from Litchfield, New Hampshire. She studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music and Hunter College.[3] After studying, Simard moved to New York, where she appeared in Forbidden Broadway '93.[4][5]

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.[6]

She 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).[7]

She 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 role, which she performed off-Broadway in 2014.[8][9]

She appeared on Broadway as Ernestina in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce.[10] Simard played Miss Hannigan in the St. Louis Muny production of Annie from July 18–25, 2018.[11] In August 2018, it was announced that Simard would join the Tony-nominated musical Mean Girls as Mrs. Heron, Ms. Norbury, and Mrs. George that September, replacing Kerry Butler.[12][13] Her last performance was on December 8, 2019.[14]

In October 2019, it was announced that Simard would join the gender-swapped revival of Company as Sarah at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.[15] She returned to the production after the pandemic, starring as Sarah over the course of 2020 to 2022. [16] Between February 26 to March 6, 2022, she took over the role of Joanne due to the indisposition of Patti LuPone.[17] At the 75th Tony Awards Simard received her second nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.[18]

In 2023, she originated the role of Stepmother in the Britney Spears jukebox musical Once Upon a One More Time at the Marquis Theatre.[19]

In 2024, Simard starred in the stage adaptation of Death Becomes Her as Helen Sharp, opposite co-lead Megan Hilty as Madeline Ashton. [20] The production's out of town tryout is currently running at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre, through June 2nd, 2024. Simard and Hilty will lead the production on Broadway, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, with previews beginning Oct 23, before opening on Nov 21st. [21]

Television and film

Simard 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 2000 comedy film The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas.[22]

Personal life

On October 3, 2004, Simard 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.[23]

Theater 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/Joanne (temporary replacement) Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Marianne Elliott
2021–22
2023 Once Upon a One More Time Stepmother Marquis Theatre Keone Madrid and Mari Madrid
2024 Death Becomes Her Helen Sharp Cadillac Palace Theatre Christopher Gattelli
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre [28]

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
2022 Somewhere in Queens Patsy

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"
2016 Younger Sherry Episode: "Last Days of Books"
2021 Girls5eva Daphne Episode: "Catskills"

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
2022 Company Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated

References

  1. ^ Haun, Harry (June 7, 2022). "Jennifer Simard: From 'Forbidden Broadway' to Tony Contender". The Observer. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Peikert, Mark (March 21, 2016). "8 Questions With...Jennifer Simard". Backstage. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Gans, Andrew (August 11, 2023). "Comedic Broadway Scene Stealer Jennifer Simard Says She Actually Prefers the Drama". Playbill. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Arnegger, Sarah Jane (March 8, 2016). "Schools of the Stars: Where Disaster! Cast and Creators Went to College". Playbill. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  5. ^ Klein, Alvin (January 31, 1993). "THEATER; Getting the Giggles From 'Forbidden Broadway'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Leeds, Ryan (April 21, 2016). "An Interview with DISASTER'S Jennifer Simard & Seth Rudetsky". Manhattan Digest. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  7. ^ Murray, Matthew (April 28, 2005). "2005 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced". TheaterMania.
  8. ^ Stasio, Marilyn (March 9, 2016). "Broadway Review: Disaster-Movie Spoof 'Disaster!'". Variety. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 8, 2016). "Diva Talk: Disaster!'s Scene-Stealing Jennifer Simard Shares Her Most Memorable Nights Onstage". Playbill. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Hetrick, Adam (September 16, 2016). "Kate Baldwin, Gavin Creel, Jennifer Simard Join Bette Midler Hello, Dolly!". Playbill.
  11. ^ a b Gans, Andrew (April 10, 2018). "Jennifer Simard and Christopher Sieber Join Muny Annie". Playbill. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Clement, Olivia (August 14, 2018). "Jennifer Simard to Join Mean Girls on Broadway". Playbill.
  13. ^ Deb, Sopan (September 22, 2019). "That New 'Mean Girls' Teacher Has Homework to Do". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Huston, Caitlin (December 11, 2019). "Catherine Brunell takes over for Jennifer Simard in 'Mean Girls'". Broadway News. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  15. ^ "BREAKING: Matt Doyle, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, and More Join COMPANY; Cast Announced!". BroadwayWorld. October 21, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  16. ^ Quinn, Dave (April 11, 2022). "Company's Jennifer Simard Transforms the Pain of Her Past Anorexia Battle into Humor on Broadway". People. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  17. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (March 8, 2022). "Patti LuPone Returns to Broadway Company March 8". Playbill. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  18. ^ Gans, Andrew (March 24, 2022). "2022 Tony Nominee Jennifer Simard Is Grateful for the Company She Keeps". Playbill. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  19. ^ Ramírez, Juan A. (August 16, 2023). "This Evil Stepmother Has Perfect Comedic Timing: In "Once Upon a One More Time," Jennifer Simard finds value in seeing "how small you can make something and achieve a big result". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Gans, Andrew (March 4, 2024). "Christopher Sieber, Michelle Williams, More Join Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard in Death Becomes Her Musical". Playbill. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  21. ^ {{Cite web |last=Abourizk |first=Michael |date=May 15, 2024 https://www.broadwaynews.com/megan-hilty-and-jennifer-simard-will-star-in-death-becomes-her-on-broadway/
  22. ^ "Jennifer Simard". IMDb. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  23. '^ Spaner, Whitney (February 14, 2016). "How Disaster!s Jennifer Simard Landed the Role of a Lifetime". Playbill. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  24. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (July 6, 2006). "Jennifer Simard Prepped for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Tour". Playbill.
  25. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (April 17, 2007). "Mo Rocca and Jennifer Simard Run Broadway's Spelling Bee with New Cast Beginning April 17". Playbill.
  26. ^ Gans, Andrew (October 14, 2013). "John Treacy Egan, Michele Ragusa, Jennifer Simard, Mary Testa Try to Avoid Disaster!, Beginning Oct. 14 Off-Broadway". Playbill.
  27. ^ a b Gioia, Michael (May 8, 2016). "Jennifer Simard On Carrying the Banner For Her Show as It Bids Broadway Farewell". Playbill.
  28. ^ {{Cite web |last=Abourizk |first=Michael |date=May 15, 2024 https://www.broadwaynews.com/megan-hilty-and-jennifer-simard-will-star-in-death-becomes-her-on-broadway/
  29. ^ "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) - IMDb". IMDb.
  30. ^ "Wish You Were Dead (2001) - IMDb". IMDb.
  31. ^ "Shrek the Musical (2013) - IMDb". IMDb.
  32. ^ "Non-Stop (2014) - IMDb". IMDb.
  33. ^ "Sisters (2015) - Cast & Crew". allmovie.com. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  34. ^ a b "Jennifer Simard - IMDb". IMDb.
  35. ^ ""Law & Order" Invaders (TV Episode 2006) - IMDb". IMDb.
  36. ^ ""Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" Trade (TV Episode 2008) - IMDb". IMDb.
  37. ^ "Listings. 'The Good Wife'. November 1, 2015". thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  38. ^ Smith, Matt (October 12, 2016). "BWW Recap: Krysta Rodriguez, Jennifer Simard Guest on YOUNGER as Liza Saves a Bookstore" BroadwayWorld.

External links