Jennifer Paz Bio
Born in the Phillipines, and raised in the Seattle area, Jennifer grew up wanting either to be a cop, a teacher or a lawyer. After stumbling into theatre while in college, Jennifer realized she could be all those things in one profession. And to the initial resisitance of her immigrant parents who thought performing was just an after school hobby - something to do in between house chores - she began her journey as a working actor.
Jennifer has since worked with notable regional and international companies including Center Theatre Group, 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, East L.A. Classics, ACT Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, North Shore Music Theatre, Sacramento Music Circus, East West Players, George Street Playhouse, Public Theater, Singapore Repertory Theatre, Broadway Asia Tokyo, Playwrights' Arena and The Film School.
After attending the University of Washington, Jennifer attended an open call and was hired for the Broadway Company of Miss Saigon. However, before making her move to the big city, Jennifer was instead offered the title role in the 1st National Broadway tour that began in Chicago, and went on to originate "Kim" in many major US cities (Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress, Carbonnell Award for Best Lead Actress).
Jennifer has also appeared on Broadway in Les Miserables (joined the 10th Anniversary cast) and made her international stage debut in The Fantasticks (Luisa) with Singapore Repertory Theatre.
Jennifer has since reprised the title role of Miss Saigon with several regional companies including North Carolina Theatre, Starlight Theatre, South Bay CLO (2008 LA Ovation Award Winner for Best Lead Actress in a Musical) and Moonlight Stage (2010 San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Nomination for Best Lead Actress) and most recently with Maine's Ogunquit Playhouse (2011 IRNE and 2011 BroadwayWorld Boston Awards nomination for Best Lead Actress in Musical).
Her other Los Angeles stage credits include David Henry Hwang's newly adapted Flower Drum Song (pre-Broadway Mark Taper Forum and NYC workshop) where she took over the role of Mei-Li for the production's celebrated 5-week extension. Jennifer received a consecutive 2009 LA Ovation Award nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her work in The Last Five Years (Cathy). Jennifer also reprised Cathy for a Special Benefit Performance for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS with Tony Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown at the piano, and in 2003 appeared in the LA Premiere of Songs for A New World, for which she also served as co-producer with Ted Benito. The celebrated extended production, directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera recieved numerous Ovation nominations including best musical for a small theatre.
When not onstage, Jennifer enjoys lending her support to causes she believes in including 101 Heroes an all-volunteer partnership dedicated to promoting literacy for children, BC/EFA and most recently has lent her support for Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Relief.
At heart, Jennifer is a fan of healthy living, anything active and is a recovering Tae Bo addict. Jennifer is a huge fan of Hot Yoga, a lover of the outdoors, cooking with lots of garlic, watching great films and documentaries, and enjoys a good tell-all.
Jennifer splits her time between Seattle, Los Angeles and currently resides in the Chicago-land area with fiance Anthony Fedorov (American Idol finalist, lead singer of Chicago area band 7th Heaven) and are expecting their first child in Spring 2013.