Jennifer Stewart
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Degree: Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance
Year of graduation: 2000
Details
Jennifer began her career at the Stratford Festival in The Winter's Tale at the age of eight. The day after graduating from Sheridan she flew to PEI to appear in Anne of Green Gables and Emily at the Charlottetown Festival. She also took on the role of Dinah in the roller-skating, Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Starlight Express in Germany. After her time in Germany, the travel bug got the better of her. Jennifer took a performing job on the Noordam cruise ship for Holland America. While singing and dancing in five revue-style shows, she visited 33 countries in the Baltic, Mediterranean and Caribbean seas. Back in Canada, she played Purity in Anything Goes for Drayton Entertainment, Lisa in Mamma Mia! for Mirvish Productions in Toronto and Vancouver, Emma in the CanStage Workshop of Not Wanted on the Voyage and then landed the role of Penny Pingleton in the Toronto production of Hairspray. Jennifer made her directorial debut at Talk is Free Theatre (TIFT) in Barrie with their production of Bye Bye Birdie in 2007. In November and December 2007, Jennifer appeared in the stage musical White Christmas directed by Broadway director Walter Bobby, at the Hummingbird Theatre in Toronto.
A Memory from Your Days at Sheridan
I loved attending the Music Theatre – Performance Program at Sheridan. I also needed the program to make the transition from a ‘small town girl’ to a woman ready for show business. My best memory would be of my classmates and teachers, some of whom I am still in contact with.
A Faculty Member Who Made an Impact on Your Life
A teacher that changed my life was my singer teacher Deb Joy. I was not a singer when I came to Sheridan and she helped me understand my voice and the way it worked. One day in a tutorial she was unimpressed with my lack of preparation and told me that, ‘This program is competitive and if you don’t start working harder now you’ll be left behind. So pull your socks up and get to it!’
Advice for a Sheridan Grad
Your time at Sheridan is short. Be kind to your fellow students and teachers but be greedy with your classes, workshops and shows. Try to read, study, and soak up as many opportunities as you can. Challenge yourself to try new monologues, songs, and dance steps while in the cocoon of your training. All your sweat, blood and tears will pay off later in your career. Break a leg!
Current Occupation: Actor/Director