Jennifer "Gamby" Gambatese is an American actress and singer. She is gaining recognition by performing on stage, and even starring in Broadway productions. Gambatese has performed in the popular musical production of Disney's Tarzan

Tarzan (musical)

Tarzan: The Musical is based on the Disney film of the same name and the story by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Music and lyrics are written by Phil Collins, with a book by David Henry Hwang.-Production:...

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Early life

Jenn Gambatese was born and raised in Richmond Heights, a suburb in Cleveland, Ohio. Her passion for acting began during the summer of fourth grade at the Willoughby Fine Arts Center in where she attended theater classes. Her first performance was “playing a ‘whitewasher’” in the story of Tom Sawyer. Jenn continued taking acting classes, and in her senior year of high school attended Beck Center as well as Cleveland State University. In 1993 Jenn left the town of Richmond for Manhattan, in where she enrolled in NYU”s Tisch School of the Art’s drama department. Jennifer’s talent and dedication was rewarded by being nominated for NYU”s “Artist and Scholar” along with three other graduating class members.Jenn graduated in 1997 with a double major in sociology and drama. After graduation Jennifer took on her first professional job touring the country to perform with American Family Theater, which performed for a younger audience.

Theater and Musicals

• Little House on the Prairie -played the part of Mary Ingalls, directed by Francesca Zambello
• Romeo and Juliet – played as Juliet , directed by Terrance Mann
• Little Women –played as older sister Meg March, directed by Nick Corley
• Refer Madness- understudy for the part of Mary Lane, directed by Andy Fickman
• Devil in the Flesh- played as Marthe, directed by John Caraffa
• Sunday in the Park with George- NYU- played as Dot
• Uncle Vanya- played as Sonya
• Jenn Gambatese switched from comedy to playing a role of Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun” which is part of the Goodspeed Opera House Production in 2010.

Broadway Performances

Gambatese went on a national tour playing the role of Serena Katz, “Fame”, which she did so well that she earned A National Broadway Theater Award for “Best Actress in the Theater”. She made her Broadway debut in “Footloose” in October 1998. She played the role of Urleen and also as an understudy to the female lead actress. “Footloose” was directed by Walter Bobbie and ran on Broadway from October 2, 1998 through July 2, 2000. Gambatese followed “Footlose” by the musical of “Hairspray” directed by Jack O’Brien that ran on Broadway from August 2002 through January 2009. She played the role of Penny Pingleton. In April 2003 David Petrarca directed a fantasy musical, “A Year with Frog and Toad” in which Gambatese played a few roles: Bird, Mouse, Squirrel, and a young Frog. In March 2005, Gambatese starred in the original musical of “All Shook Up”, a play directed by Christopher Ashley. “All Shook Up” featured popular music from the collection of Elvis Presley, in which Gambatese plays the role of Natalie Haller as well as Ed. From a rock and Roll style performance, Gambetese flew into the air with another starring performance of Jane Porter in Bob Crowley’s Disney imitation of “Tarzan”. The musical comedy of “Tarzan” played on Broadway from May 2006 through July 2007 in the Richard Rodger’s Theater. “The lavish Disney stage version of its 1999 animated film will close after 486 performances and 35 previews…” Micheal Kuchewara informed the public. In an interview with Valerie Smaldone, Gambatese comments that it was actually Phill Collins himself that believe her to be the perfect role for Tarzan’s Jane. After swinging across the stage, Gambatese came back into another starring role; she took the lead as Marie Leroux in a comedy play directed by Michael Blakemore “Is He Dead Yet?” that opened its doors on Broadway in December 2007.

Television and Film

• Played "Woman in Bar" in Robert DeNiro’s “The Good Shepherd”. Part was edited out of the final cut.
• All My Children (television series) in 2005 as herself
• Recorded music to the Broadway musicals of “Tarzan” and “All Shook Up”, which are currently on Itunes

Personal life

Jenn married Curtis Cregan who was a member of a children’s television show “Hi-5” and also a Broadway performer, they wed in June 2007. In January 2009, it was announced that Jenn and her husband, Curtis Cregan

Curtis Cregan

Curtis John Cregan is an American actor. He is currently seen in the American version of the children's television show Hi-5....

, are expecting their first child together in May 2009. On May 12, 2009, Jenn and Curtis welcomed a daughter, Josephine. Jenn likes to keep active by practicing yoga and bike riding as well as playing on the field as second base with her Broadway Show League. When Jenn is not in Manhattan she likes to spend time with her family in the Catskills mountains.
Gambatese played Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley , born Phoebe Ann Mosey, was an American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Oakley's amazing talent and timely rise to fame led to a starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which propelled her to become the first American female superstar.Oakley's most famous trick is perhaps...

 in the Goodspeed Musicals

Goodspeed Musicals

Goodspeed Musicals, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of musical theater and the creation of new works, was formed in 1959 to restore the Goodspeed Opera House, located in East Haddam, Connecticut, to its original Victorian appearance. Each year, Goodspeed...

, East Haddam, Connecticut

East Haddam, Connecticut

East Haddam is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,333 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....

, production of Annie Get Your Gun

Annie Get Your Gun

Annie Get Your Gun may refer to:*Annie Get Your Gun , a 1946 musical play*Annie Get Your Gun , a 1950 film version of the 1946 musical*Annie Get Your Gun , 1946, with Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton...

from April 16, 2010 to June 27.

She is good friends with Shoshana Bean

Shoshana Bean

Shoshana Elise Bean is an American stage actress and singer known for her roles in Broadway musicals. She is best known for playing Elphaba on Broadway in the musical Wicked.-Early life and education:...

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External links