Professional
Jennie Eisenhower’s passion is to tell interesting stories through the mediums of stage and film. She has had the opportunity to do so Off-Broadway, in regional theatres across the country, and in both independent and feature films. She has worked as an actor, a director and teacher and a choreographer.
She has a particular passion for new works and has originated roles in many productions including the renowned playwright Christopher Durang’s musical “Adrift in Macao” (music by Peter Melnick), “Suburb” at Off- Broadway’s The York Theatre, The Wilma Theatre’s “Embarrassments” about the writer Henry James, “Remember When the Music,” a revue of Harry Chapin songs, and the Arden’s “Baby Case,” a musical about the kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby. Additionally she originated roles in the Off-Broadway productions “Bus to Buenos Aires” and “Dreamhouse.” She was the first to play Aunt Cornelia and Tia Delores in the “American Girls Revue,” a musical about the popular American Girls dolls, written by Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Northwestern University’s theatre program.
In 2004 she was awarded the Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Barrymore (the Philadelphia equivalent of a Tony) for her work as Kate in “The Wild Party.” In 2009, she won her second Barrymore – this time for best Actress in a Musical for her work in “Forbidden Broadway” at the Walnut Street Theatre. She has had three additional Barrymore nominations for her portrayals of Julie in “Showboat” at the Media Theatre, Rona Lisa Peretti in “Spelling Bee” for Theatre Horizon, and Jo in “Little Women” at Bristol Riverside Theatre.
As a director, Jennie’s credits include CHICAGO at The Media Theatre, FLAT STANLEY and A CHRISTMAS CAROL on the Walnut Street Theatre’s Mainstage and MEAN GIRLS ARE BULLIES TOO for Walnut’s touring outreach, WORKING and RAGTIME at Howard Blake Magnet Arts HS, HOME SWEET at TBPAC, and STAGE DOOR, FOOTLOOSE, KISS ME KATE, RADIUM GIRLS, INTO THE WOODS and OUR TOWN at Conestoga High School. She is an adjunct faculty member at Temple University and a summa cum laude graduate of Northwestern University.
Personal
Jennie Eisenhower was born in San Clemente, California. At the age of two she, her parents David and Julie, and their cat, Boo, relocated to the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. This is where Jennie spent the remainder of her childhood. She has a brother, Alex, and a
sister, Melanie.
Her love of music and performance was evident from a young age. Inspired by Shirley Temple, six year old Jennie would tap dance in the supermarket aisles hoping to be discovered. Unfortunately there were no talent scouts lurking in the Berwyn, PA Acme Market, and Jennie would have to resign herself to local fame, performing in dance recitals, school plays, and at her parents’ dining room table. She was blessed with supportive parents who not only allowed the interruption of their dinner on a nightly basis for performances, but also attended every recital and show.
Stagedoor Manor (see the movie CAMP) and some very inspirational junior high and high school drama/music teachers including Suzanne Dickinger and Carmen Culp helped Jennie decide that this was what she wanted to do for a living.
She attended Northwestern University, majoring in Theatre (double majoring in Communications as a paltry fallback), and had the wonderful fortune of being assigned Kim Rubinstein as her acting teacher and mentor. Many tears, Meisner sessions and student plays later, she was unleashed into the New York acting scene.
Jennie’s work onstage and in film has taken her as far north as Whitefield, New Hampshire and as far south as Tampa, Florida. She currently resides in Philadelphia where she acts, teaches voice and musical theatre, and directs.
Jennie has been a professional working actress and member of The Actors Equity Association for twelve years and the Screen Actors Guild for eleven.
She married the wonderful “Dr. Tony” in July of 2011.