Jennifer Christa Palmer
r e g i o n a l t h e a t r e c r e d i t s
T h e R a i n m a k e r
by N. Richard Nash, directed by Rob Anderson
Mad Cow Theatre 105 S. Magnolia (between Pine and Church St) Orlando, FL 32802
31 January - 2 March 2008
A spellbinding, heartwarming tale of love and faith set in the drought-ridden plains of Middle America, from the pen of N. Richard Nash. When a handsome and charismatic stranger promises to bring rain and romance to a farm family, he sets in motion a storm that could tear them apart, or bring them together. Starring Don Fowler as Starbuck and Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Lizzie.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
See production photos below. Photography by Tom Hurst.
M a j o r B a r b a r a
by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Jim Martin
Mad Cow Theatre 105 S. Magnolia Orlando, FL 32802
24 July - 24 August 2008
George Bernard Shaw's masterpiece on the themes of War and God pits a millionaire armaments maker against his Salvation Army daughter in a battle of wits and ideologies that is both wildly funny and frighteningly current. Starring Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Major Barbara Undershaft, Ron Schneider as Andrew Undershaft and Michael Marinaccio as Adolphus Cusins. Supporting cast includes Stephen Lima, Robin Olson, David Knoell, Sarah Jane Fridlich, Jamie Cline, Kate O'Neal, Michael Sapp, Bobbie Bell, Sarah Lockhard, Marty Stonerock and Tommy Keesling. *denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
See show photos below. Photography by Tom Hurst.
A l m o s t , M a i n e
by John Cariani, directed by Jim Howard
in the Goldman Theatre at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre
Valentine's Weekend, February 2010
A benefit for OTP (Orlando Theatre Project) and their final show, "Almost, Maine" was directed by Jim Howard and played for three performance in the Goldman Theatre at Orlando Shakes. Scripted as a show for four actors, it starred nineteen - all OTP alumni. The cast included: Linda Landry*, Mark Lanier*, Doug Truelson*, Darby Ballard*, Jennifer Christa Palmer*, Ryan Gigliotti, Beth Cunningham, Eric Pinder*, Allison DeCaro*, David Jachin Kelley*, Krista Lynn Pigott*, Richard Width*, T. Robert Pigott*, S. Elizabeth Block*, David Veitch*, Ame Livingston*, Mark Whitten*, Christine Decker* and Philip Nolen*. Special thanks to Cid Stoll and George Hamrah. See show photos below.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
photo by Bruce Ruiz
T h e H e i r e s s
by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, directed by Michael Marinaccio and Tim Williams
Mad Cow Theatre 105 S. Magnolia (between Pine and Church St) Orlando, FL 32802
23 July - 22 August 2010
Based on Henry James' novella Washington Square, this romantic and tragic story of love, betrayal and revenge in 1850s New York first appeared on Broadway in 1947 and has been revived 3 times, winning 3 Tony Awards as well as 4 Academy Awards. Mad Cow's production stars Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Catherine Sloper, Steven Lane* as Morris Townsend, Mark Edward Smith as Dr. Sloper and Karel K. Wright* as Lavinia Penniman. Supporting cast includes Sarah Jane Fridlich, Elizabeth Judith, Marion C. Marsh, Alexander Mrazek and Samantha Faith O'Hare.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
Production photos below. Photography by Tom Hurst.
Review highlights:
"What's most appealing, though, is the way (director Rob) Anderson and his actors have humanized characters that can be played as stock...Jennifer Christa Palmer makes a vibrant Lizzie -- blunt, vulnerable and bright as a penny."
"A talented cast of seven, led by the inspired performance of Jennifer Christa Palmer as Lizzie, manages to convey all of the love and sympathy that playwright Nash instilled in his characters. The result is a winning production that washes over an audience like a welcome cool rain on a hot summer night." -Al Krulick, Orlando Weekly
"Don't miss the Rainmaker... a story made sweeter at Mad Cow by a raft of fine performances, especially Jennifer Christa Palmer as a Lizzie so spirited, she could probably make rain all by herself." -Orlando Sentinel
Named one of Best of 2008 - Orlando Sentinel Year in Review: Excellence Amid the Pathos (excerpt)
"Cynicism had to take flight in the face of The Rainmaker, Mad Cow's tender comedy about a plain young woman whose vibrancy and vulnerability in the hands of actress Jennifer Christa Palmer, spread love all around herself like rain." -Elizabeth Maupin, Orlando Sentinel 2008 Year in Review
Review highlights:
"Watching Palmer's Catherine turn into a force to be reckoned with is this riveting production's greatest joy ...an irresistible piece of drama...absolute, heart-wrenching and utterly understandable..." -Elizabeth Maupin on Theater
"Jennifer Christa Palmer is brilliant as Catherine." -Josh Garrick, Culture Worth the Miles
Shakespeare's most beloved and arguably most perfect comedy performed "in the round". This production at freeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg stars Giles Davies* as Puck, Gene D'Alessandro* as Theseus/Oberon, Roxanne Fay* as Hippolyta/Titania, Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Helena, Jose Rufino* as Demetrius, Jackie Rivera as Hermia, Tavis Doucette as Lysander and Matthew McGee* as Bottom. Supporting cast includes Bonnie Agan, Steve Garland, John Lombardi*, Christopher Rutherford and Dawn Truax.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
Production photos courtesy of BWL Photography.
Review Highlights:
"Finally a 'Midsummer Night' that's truly dreamy..." - John Fleming, St. Pete Times
"A splendidly accomplished work, postmodern in sensibility, acted to the hilt by a large, professional company... the cast is universally strong... Dream is powerful, first-class Shakespeare." -Creative Loafing Tampa
"It is fiery and dynamic, spirited and engaging... The actors handle the spoken language flawlessly. Each infuses their character with traditional Shakespearian traits while bringing something fresh to the part. Palmer, for instance, gives Helena an elegant clumsiness that complements the Athenian's self depricating nature..." -Tampa Bay News Weekly
Press Details on OTP's "Almost, Maine" - Orlando Sentinel
T h e L e t t e r s
by John W. Lowell, directed by Blake Braswell
Mad Cow Theatre - 54 W Church St, 2nd floor Orlando, FL 32801
When Anna is called in for a meeting with her superior, everything seems to be going well. But nothing is quite as it seems in this thriller of politics and disinformation set in 1930’s Russia. An informal interview quickly turns into a game of cat and mouse in which the roles of hunter and hunted shift without warning, and being the last to flinch may mean the difference between life and death. Who will claim the upper hand: those who suppress the truth, or those who will risk everything to liberate it?
This production at Mad Cow Theatre in Orlando, FL stars Brian Brightman* as The Director and Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Anna.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
Promotional photos by Tony Firriolo, courtesy of Mad Cow Theatre
Review highlights:
"A successful staging of Noel Coward's Private Lives menas pulling off a tricky balancing act with precision... (director Timothy Williams) gets the balance just right. Philip Nolen and Jennifer Christa Palmer revel in their zingers as the kiss-em or kill-em exes... Palmer uses her voice magnificently, moving her British accent up a social class or two when Amanda tries to be exceptionally superior..." - Matt Palm, The Orlando Sentinel
"Jennifer Christa Palmer dazzles as the imperious Amanda Prynne: Her bearing is regal and high-toned, but when it's called for, she can shift direction in a flash and get down-and-dirty as a cage fighter." - Al Krulick, Orlando Weekly
"The play hinges on chemistry, and the Nolen / Palmer mix worked wonderfully." - Carl F Gauze, Ink19
A M i d s u m m e r N i g h t ' s D r e a m
by William Shakespeare, directed by Eric Davis
freeFall Theatre 6099 Central Avenue St. Petersburg, FL 33710
13 May - 29 May 2011
R o m e o + J u l i e t
by William Shakespeare, directed by Eric Davis
freeFall Theatre Company 6099 Central Ave St. Petersburg, FL 33710
26 October - 18 November 2012
An ensemble of 8 versatile actors will bring this classic to life in this vibrant staging of Shakespeare's masterpiece. Join us as freeFall builds on its award-winning approach to Shakespeare's plays (Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay, BroadwayWorld FL awards). Stars Sarah McAvoy as Juliet, Jesse LeNoir* as Romeo, Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Tybalt & Lady Capulet, Michael Shenefelt as Mercutio & Prince, Roxanne Fay* as Nurse & Friar, Chris Crawford as Benvolio & Balthasar, Matt Lunsford* as Paris & Montague and Gene D'Alessandro* as Capulet. Fight direction by Blake Braswell.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
Review highlights:
"freeFall's 'Romeo + Juliet' is an edgy take on classic Shakespeare ...Director Eric Davis' fast paced production is actually pretty straightforward, as long as the idea of a woman playing Tybalt, the Capulets' fearsome duellist, is not too jarring. And why should it be?" - John Fleming, Tampa Bay Times
"As Tybalt, Jennifer Christa Palmer is lethal in the fight scenes (expertly choreographed by Blake Braswell), and as Lady Capulet, she exudes the restless sexual discontent of an unhappy wife." - John Fleming, Tampa Bay Times
"In an unorthodox piece of casting, a woman, Jennifer Christa Palmer, is playing Tybalt, the Capulets' master duellist. Combat director Blake Braswell thinks she is perfect for the role. 'She is one of the best sword fighters in the Southeast,' Braswell said. 'Those boys are running for their lives when she goes after them,' " - The Scoop, Tampa Bay Times
(L to R) Chris Crawford*, Roxanne Fay*, Michael Shenefelt, Jesse LeNoir*, Sarah McAvoy, Matt Lunsford, Jennifer Christa Palmer* and Gene D'Alessandro*
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
Photo courtesy BWL Photography
Production photos courtesy of BWL Photography.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR
Jennifer Christa Palmer as Amanda Prynne
in PRIVATE LIVES at Mad Cow Theatre
Complete awards list - TheDailyCity.com
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Jennifer Christa Palmer in ROMEO + JULIET at freeFALL Theatre
Complete awards list - Theatre Tampa Bay Awards Recipients & Nominees
S c o t t a n d H e m
by Mark St. Germain, directed by David Arisco - FLORIDA PREMIERE
Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre - 280 Miracle Mile Coral Gables, FL 33134
14 May - 8 June 2014
F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway wrestle with the sparks of art and the perils of creativity. This combative new play is set in 1937 Hollywood, at the infamous Garden of Allah, celebrity-filled apartment complex. Fueled by friendship and rivalry, these two literary heavyweights reunite for one final night, in this smart and powerful new drama exploring the cost of love, friendship and the personal and professional price of being a writer. Starring Tom Wahl* as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gregg Weiner* as Ernest Hemingway and Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Miss Eve Montaigne.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
Production photos by Alberto Romeu, courtesy of Actors' Playhouse.
Photo by George Schiavone - "Scott and Hem" at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre.
(L to R) Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Miss Eve Montaigne, Gregg Weiner* as Ernest Hemingway, and Tom Wahl* as F. Scott Fitzgerald.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
Review Highlights:
"Clever and engrossing", "a nifty piece of thoughtful entertainment that... grabs your brain and won't let go." - Matt Palm, Orlando Sentinel
"Terrifically gripping for every one of its scant 75 minutes... thanks to Braswell’s disciplined direction and Brightman and Palmer’s finely focused performances, this Cold War thriller couldn’t be any more tense if Hitchcock hid a ticking briefcase beneath the mahogany desk." - Seth Kubersky, Orlando Weekly
"A great example of a small cast in small space building a much larger sense of menace…" - Carl F Gauze, Archikulture Digest
"It manages a superb feat: to paint a very grim, chilling portrait of a brutal regime, while at the same time being vastly entertaining for its smart dialogue and clever interplay between two characters..." - Freeline Media Orlando
P r i v a t e L i v e s
by Noel Coward, directed by Tim Williams
Mad Cow Theatre 105 S. Magnolia (between Pine and Church St) Orlando, FL 32802
30 March - 29 April 2012
Noel Coward's stylish, savvy comedy about modern romance and the people we can't live with - or withou. Starring Philip Nolen as Elyot Chase, Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Amanda Prynne, Kevin Zepf as Victor and Sarah Jane Fridlich as Sybil.
*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association.
Review Highlights:
"Jennifer Christa Palmer's Rosalind is a refreshingly imperfect hero. She's prickly, defensive and she has every right to be... even her laboratory solutions are powerless to defy her iron will." - Matt Palm, Orlando Sentinel
"Franklin fights for her rights as a woman and a scientist. That being typed, Franklin is not without flaw. She is curt and arrogant, but Palmer gives her such life and vitality that, despite her obvious faults, you root for her; despite the fact that she is (likely) far more intelligent than you could ever imagine being, you feel a connection to her. These are no easy tasks, and it takes a special performer, like Palmer, to pull them off successfully." - Matt Tamanini, BroadwayWorld.com
O n e S l i g h t H i t c h
by Lewis Black, directed by Gavin Hawk
American Stage Theatre Company - 163 Third St. N. St. Petersburg, FL
10 July - 2 August 2015
It's Courtney's wedding day in 1981, and her mom, Delia, is making sure that everything is perfect. The groom is perfect, the dress is perfect, and the decorations (assuming they arrive) will be perfect. Then, like in any good farce the doorbell rings. And all hell breaks loose. So much for perfect.
Cast includes Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Courtney, Brian Shea* as Harper, Jordan Foote as Ryan, Brian Webb Russell* as Doc, Karel K. Wright* as Delia, Jonelle Marie Meyer as Melanie, and Regan Moore as P.B. (*indicates a member of Actors' Equity Association)
Promotional photos by Chad Jacobs, courtesy of American Stage Theatre Company.
P h o t o g r a p h 5 1
by Anna Ziegler, directed by Denise Gillman
Mad Cow Theatre - 54 W Church St, 2nd floor Orlando, FL 32801
part of the 2nd annual Science Play Festival
20 February - 15 March 2015
Anna Ziegler's PHOTOGRAPH 51 recounts the often overlooked history of one of the most groundbreaking scientists of the 20th century. A tenacious chemist in 1950s London, Rosalind Franklin captures the first images of the double helix structure of DNA. While her colleagues jockey to push her out of the frame, Rosalind continues to work tirelessly, regardless of her invisible status within the male-dominated labs. Ziegler's tale of isolation and perseverance creates a powerful ode to the woman who gave her life to science. Winner of the 2008 STAGE Award, PHOTOGRAPH 51 was featured as a staged reading in Mad Cow Theatre’s inaugural Science Play Festival last season. This full production anchors the 2nd annual Science Play Festival and stars Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Rosalind Franklin, Steven Lane* as Maurice Wilkins, Ryan Kim* as Ray Gosling, Adam Reilly as James Watson, Scott Browning as Francis Crick, as Peter Travis as Don Caspar.
(*denotes a member of Actors' Equity Association)
Promotional photos by Tom Hurst, courtesy of Mad Cow Theatre.
Review Highlights:
"Jennifer Christa Palmer as Courtney, skillfully seizes on those moments when hi-jinx give way to substance, and guides this play home."
T h e I m p o r t a n c e of B e i n g E a r n e s t w i t h Z o m b i e s
adapted by Eric Davis from the play by Oscar Wilde
freeFall Theatre Company - 6099 Central Ave. St. Petersburg, FL 33710
3 October - 1 November 2015
Oscar Wilde’s classic satire on societal conventions and propriety is even more biting when played against the backdrop of the zombie apocalypse. In the tradition of mash-up lit like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, this evening of impeccable manners, mistaken identities, and corpses rising from the dead will send you home giggling – or checking over your shoulder!
Jack wants Gwen. Algy wants Cecily. The ladies both want Ernest. Aunt Augusta wants cucumber sandwiches. And zombies want brains. Will anyone make it to the church alive in this raucous send-up of Wilde’s “Trivial Comedy for Serious People?” Whether a fan of Oscar Wilde or of The Walking Dead, you will delight in this side-splitting riff on decorum and decay.
Cast includes: Nick Lerew* as Jack Worthing, Daniel Schwab* as Algernon Moncrieff, Kelly Pekar* as Gwendolen Fairfax, Maya Handa Naff as Cecily Cardew, Jennifer Christa Palmer* as Miss Prism Zombie Hunter, Larry Alexander* as Dr. Canon Chasuble, Susan Haldeman* as Lady Bracknell and Matthew McGee* as Lane/Merriman. (*indicates a member of Actors' Equity Association)
Review Highlights:
"A resident badass... Palmer yielded weapons in such a way that I would feel completely at ease having her protect me from zombies."
T h e T i n W o m a n
by Sean Grennan, directed by David Arisco
Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134
18 May - 12 June 2016
From the author of Making God Laugh, which AP audiences fell in love with two seasons ago, comes Sean Grennan’s newest comedy, this one with inspirational dramatic resonance. The Tin Woman is a rich, funny and moving theatrical experience involving a postoperative heart transplant recipient struggling with her own survival guilt, who decides to meet the family of the late donor, their son. The grief of the late donor’s family coupled with the recipient’s own questions, fears and doubts evolve into a very real, very funny and touching new play, that leaves the audience with an unexpected and moving resolution.
Jennifer Christa Palmer* stars as Joy. Cast also includes: Cliff Burgess* as Jack, Laura Turnbull* as Alice, Ken Clement* as Hank, Natalia Coego* as Sammy and Lela Elam* as Nurse/Darla. (*indicates member of Actors' Equity Association)
Review Highlights:
"Palmer embraces (her) darkness by deftly spinning Grennan’s gallows humor, martini-dry rejoinders and self-deprecating jokes..." - Bill Hirschman, Florida Theatre On Stage
"Grennan infuses his play with a cynical humor, especially in the personality of his lead character – Jennifer Christa Palmer is spot on..." - Michelle F. Solomon, Miami ArtZine
Theatre Tampa Bay Award Winner
OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Jennifer Christa Palmer as Miss Prism Zombie Hunter in
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST WITH ZOMBIES
at freeFALL Theatre in St. Petersburg, FL
Complete awards list - 2016 Theatre Tampa Bay Awards Recipients
