Jennifer Hope Wills
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Hope Wills is an American
actress and soprano
singer. She was the first child of William and Sue Wills. She made her stage debut at the age of 1 in a production of Rumplestiltskin performed by the Baltimore Actor's Theatre.
The family moved to Ocean City, Maryland
where her parents established a live children's theater. Parker Playhouse opened in 1978 and over time became a favorite of the city's many summertime visitors. Jennifer performed in almost every production the theater company produced.
Her parents now run Presidents and Their First Ladies Dramatically Speaking, a production company that performs nationwide and provides great insight to the personal lives of our many presidents and their wives.
Wills attended Salisbury State University. While at the university she continued to improve her acting abilities by performing in several productions to include West Side Story
and The Secret Garden
. After graduating she earned her master's degree and for a few years taught voice.
Wills eventually found her way to New York City and jumped right into the daily grind of being an actor. After many ups, downs, regional and local performances she was finally offered her first big break, when she became an understudy for the production of Beauty and the Beast
. She also was part of the ensemble when performing her duties as the understudy.
After some time, Wills was offered to co-star opposite Brooke Shields
in the production of Wonderful Town
. She accepted the role and enjoyed a great albeit brief run of six months. The exposure she received from this was huge. During this time Wills was asked to participate in the recording of a second cast album for the show.
Upon the closing of Wonderful Town, Wills found herself without work but willing to do what she needed to do in order to continue doing what she loved the most. She accepted a role in the ensemble of The Woman in White
. However, this production was short lived and was soon cancelled.
From Woman in White, Wills was asked to audition for the alternate in the role of Christine Daae
in The Phantom of the Opera
. Soon after auditioning she was offered the role. A few months into her run she was asked to take on the principal position in the Canadian tour of the show. She accepted and for 10 weeks she travelled around Canada performing in several different cities. Upon her return to New York, she was asked to accept the principal position in the Broadway production. She accepted and enjoyed rave reviews from her interpretation of the role.
Wills left the production in August 2008 on a personal leave, but as of June 2, 2009 has returned to the production and continued the role of Christine. Jennifer played her last performance, along with her co-star John Cudia, on September 4th. She was replaced by Sara Jean Ford.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
singer. She was the first child of William and Sue Wills. She made her stage debut at the age of 1 in a production of Rumplestiltskin performed by the Baltimore Actor's Theatre.
The family moved to Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
where her parents established a live children's theater. Parker Playhouse opened in 1978 and over time became a favorite of the city's many summertime visitors. Jennifer performed in almost every production the theater company produced.
Her parents now run Presidents and Their First Ladies Dramatically Speaking, a production company that performs nationwide and provides great insight to the personal lives of our many presidents and their wives.
Wills attended Salisbury State University. While at the university she continued to improve her acting abilities by performing in several productions to include West Side Story
West Side Story
West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...
and The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden (musical)
The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical's book and lyrics are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon...
. After graduating she earned her master's degree and for a few years taught voice.
Wills eventually found her way to New York City and jumped right into the daily grind of being an actor. After many ups, downs, regional and local performances she was finally offered her first big break, when she became an understudy for the production of Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (musical)
Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name. Seven new songs were written for the stage musical...
. She also was part of the ensemble when performing her duties as the understudy.
After some time, Wills was offered to co-star opposite Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields
Brooke Christa Shields is an American actress and model. Some of her better-known movies include Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon, as well as TV shows such as Suddenly Susan, That '70s Show and Lipstick Jungle....
in the production of Wonderful Town
Wonderful Town
Wonderful Town is a musical with a book written by Joseph A. Fields and Jerome Chodorov, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Leonard Bernstein...
. She accepted the role and enjoyed a great albeit brief run of six months. The exposure she received from this was huge. During this time Wills was asked to participate in the recording of a second cast album for the show.
Upon the closing of Wonderful Town, Wills found herself without work but willing to do what she needed to do in order to continue doing what she loved the most. She accepted a role in the ensemble of The Woman in White
The Woman in White (musical)
The Woman in White is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Zippel with a book by Charlotte Jones, based on the novel The Woman in White written by Wilkie Collins...
. However, this production was short lived and was soon cancelled.
From Woman in White, Wills was asked to audition for the alternate in the role of Christine Daae
Christine Daaé
Christine Daaé is the main female character in Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera , the young singer with whom the main character Erik, the Phantom of the Opera falls in love.- Character history :...
in The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
. Soon after auditioning she was offered the role. A few months into her run she was asked to take on the principal position in the Canadian tour of the show. She accepted and for 10 weeks she travelled around Canada performing in several different cities. Upon her return to New York, she was asked to accept the principal position in the Broadway production. She accepted and enjoyed rave reviews from her interpretation of the role.
Wills left the production in August 2008 on a personal leave, but as of June 2, 2009 has returned to the production and continued the role of Christine. Jennifer played her last performance, along with her co-star John Cudia, on September 4th. She was replaced by Sara Jean Ford.