Jennifer Simard | |
|---|---|
 Simard at the 2022 Tony Awards | |
| Born | August 8, 1970 |
| Education | Boston Conservatory (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse |
Brad Robertson (m. 2004) |
| Website | jennifersimard |
Jennifer Simard (born August 8, 1970) is an American actress known primarily for her work in theater.
Simard is from Litchfield, New Hampshire. She studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music and Hunter College.
After studying at Hunter College and the Boston Conservatory of Music, Simard moved to New York, where she appeared in Forbidden Broadway '93.[1][2]
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.[3]
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).[4]
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. The Variety reviewer wrote: "...this is a good cast that knows the comic ropes—and then some, in the special case of Jennifer Simard, who shows great comic chops as a nun with a secret gambling fixation."[5]
She appeared on Broadway as Ernestina in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce.[6]
Simard played Miss Hannigan in the St. Louis Muny production of Annie from July 18–25, 2018.[7] A St. Louis reviewer wrote that Simard "…is nothing less than incredible in the role. She is hilarious as the head of the orphanage, causing the crowd to burst into laughter for much of her time on-stage. Her rendition of “Little Girls” is not to be missed. With impeccable comedic timing, a wonderful voice, and all-around talent, [she] gives a performance that makes it impossible to look away."[8]
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.[9] Her last performance was on December 8, 2019.[10]
In October 2019, it was announced that Simard would join the gender-swapped revival of Company as Sarah.[11] From February 26 to March 6, 2022, she took over the role of Joanne due to the indisposition of Patti LuPone.
In 2023, she originated the role of Stepmother in Once Upon a One More Time.[12]
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.[13]
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.[14]
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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" |
| 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 |