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Biography
Jenna Morris, an only child, was born in
Hampton, Virginia and was bit by the performing bug at a very early age.
As a matter of fact, her theatre debut was as
"Raggedy Ann" in an
elementary school production at the Hampton
Coliseum. She was even a model for a social
studies textbook. Jenna’s love of music also started as a
child. She took piano and violin lessons and her innate musical ability was evident at an early age. She even accompanied her
father, a local musician and high school band director, on his gigs, where she
would sing.
Jenna then started getting involved in school
plays, Show Choir, and Band, where she was Drum Major. Also, while in high
school, she auditioned for the local community theatre where she quickly became
a star and was featured in five productions. One of which was the title
role in Cole Porter’s Kiss me, Kate, which got rave reviews.
Jenna attended the College of William and Mary
in Williamsburg, Virginia, where she was a music major and theatre minor.
In college, Jenna was a member of the William and Mary orchestra, where she
played the French horn. She performed with the Opera workshop in such
roles as Mimi from La Boheme and Norina
from Don Pasquale. She was also featured in the main stage production of
Showboat directed by Jerry Bledsoe, executive director of the Virginia
Shakespeare Festival. Jenna also got her first professional gig while in
College in the Colonial Williamsburg annual production of The First Christmas
Tree.
In New York, Jenna has
performed in a variety of different venues as varied as a church soloist to
cabaret singer at Don't Tell Mama's. Jenna starred in The Elephant Man:
the Musical as Jessica Curvey, the elephant
man’s love interest, which ran for two years at the acclaimed Upstairs at
Rose’s Turn. She also starred in the production when it moved to
the New York International Fringe Festival and played to
sold out audiences.
Jenna has also starred in and produced two
concerts for the Interchurch Center's Noonday Concert Series. One, a
concert of Love Duets called So in Love, and more
recently a one woman musical revue entitled When Did I Fall in Love.
Jenna has been described by casting directors
as hard working and willing to give it her all to fulfill their artistic
visions. Guy Hayden, who directed her in Kiss Me, Kate, said he loved
watching her every night of the performances because every night Jenna
discovered new things and created something new and fulfilling.