About Me

Well, I've decided to start a blog. It's something I've thought about doing for awhile now, but I always thought, "Who would actually care enough to read something like that?". Well, I don't know, but I'm putting it out there anyway, if for nothing else, to get myself writing more. And, if people happen to enjoy reading it, well, BONUS!

So, I assume that most people who will be reading these first few posts are going to be people who already know me in some way, shape or form, but if, for some reason, you are new to the life of Jeny, let me share some little tidbits about myself...

TOP TEN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JENY....

1) I work as an actress and a singer who works retail to help pay the bills. I live in the suburbs of Chicago, so most of my performances are in the greater Chicagoland area, but I am hoping to make the move to NYC to pursue my dream of performing on Broadway sometime in the near future.

2) I am also a writer. I've been working my first novel for almost 11 years now. The first draft was supposed to be my college project, but between classes and homework and performing and my job, it took me 5 years to finish and it was a tome. I've re-written the book many times and am currently on what I think may be the last major overhaul before I start attempting the publishing journey. Stay tuned...

3) I am a huge theatre geek. I love musical theatre- mostly performing in it, of course, but watching it as well. Favorite show: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE by Stephen Sondheim. Others on the top of the list: INTO THE WOODS, GYPSY, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, MY FAIR LADY, THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Favorite role I've ever played: 'Dot/Marie' in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE with 'Annie Oakley' (twice) in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN coming in in second place. Role I most want to play: 'Dot/Marie' again. I could very easily and happily do that show forever.

4) If you didn't notice a trend with the above list of musicals, let me point it out: I am quite possibly one of the biggest Bernadette Peters fans you will ever meet. She has been my inspiration since I first saw her star in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN in 1999. She completely changed my life that day. Experiencing firsthand what power a phenomenal performance can have on an audience member made me start to view theatre and acting in a completely different way. I have since seen her in concert and on Broadway over 30 times. I not only admire her professionally, but also personally. She is an incredibly gracious woman, and is a dedicated advocate for saving shelter animals, which is a cause that is close to my heart as well.

5) There are some other celebrities that I look up to. I have been a big Lucille Ball fan since I was in the 6th grade (although I'm not telling you how many years ago that was!). In reading about her, I discovered that her daughter, Lucie Arnaz, does musical theatre. So, I went out and got one of Lucie's albums, was thoroughly awestruck, and instantly became a huge Lucie Arnaz fan as well. Then came Audrey Hepburn and Gilda Radner. And when I became an X-Files fan, Gillian Anderson. Each of these ladies is so very different and yet, each of them so admirable in so many ways.

6) I have always been a huge reader, although now that I am writing a novel, I don't have as much time to read other peoples novels as I would like. There is one writer, however, for whom I drop everything whenever her latest book comes out: Jodi Picoult. Talk about a phenomenal person. Not only is she the greatest writer to have ever walked the face of the Earth, she is also one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I have been reading her books since 2002 and followed her around on all her Chicago book tour stops since then. I think everyone should be reading her books. Everyone. Go get one now. You can thank me later.

7) I have Celiac Disease, which means than I cannot eat gluten. That's wheat, rye, barley and oats (but depending on who you listen to, oats are debatable). You don't realize how many everyday food items have flour (wheat) in them until you can't eat them anymore. I don't intend for this blog to be about gluten intolerance, but I have a feeling it may come up from time to time, just because I have only known I have it for about 7 months now, and I am still trying to learn how to negotiate the world with substantial food allergies. It's also sort of become a mission of mine to educate the masses about Celiac Disease, simply because it's much more common than people realize... like 1 in every 133 people common. I'm not going to preach, rest assured, but sometimes, I may attempt to inform, should the need arise...

8) I am a scrapbooker. There, I've said it. I've outed myself. I am a crafty person. I have always been big on chronicling my life in photographs, so the scrapbooking thing seems to come hand in hand with the camera bug. It has sort of become an addiction. My house is cluttered with all things scrapbooky. I have paper for scrapbook pages that I might possibly make many years from now for my future children. Because you know, if you see cute paper, you'd better get it because when you want it... 20 years from now... it may not be there. It's highly illogical, I know, but on the bright side, I have a plethora of options right at my fingertips for any project I may undertake.

9) I am an old soul. Someone once described me as 'the most vintage girl you will ever meet' and I think that's a fairly accurate description. I always have been drawn to the classics and I think I always will be. I also tend to be a little old-fashioned in my morals and values and the way that I view the world. That is, most of the time, but definitely not always...

10) What to write for a #10? I have to say, finding one more thing to tell you about myself is pretty hard right now. I guess that's because what I've written so far really sums up my life and my mentality... me in a nutshell, really, pretty thoroughly. So, I guess #10 is kind of up to you to figure out. Take what you will from my writings and ramblings and you decide on what should be my final definitive statement. Of course, that's going to require you to keep reading. And I hope that you will.

<3,
Jen