Jennifer Little
Linden, MI 48451 · 201-679-6084 ·
SngrLittle1011@gmail.com · LinkedIn
Education and Credentials
Master of Arts in Applied Theatre City, City University of New York – New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts in Opera Performance, San Jose State University – San Jose, CA
Professional Experience
OAKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Farmington Hills, Michigan
Theatre Program Director/Instructor, Fall 2021 to Present
Work closely with students and artists to direct and produce full main stage straight plays and musicals.Reworked and introduced curriculum and teach classes in acting, acting for film and television, theatreappreciation and performance. Produced and directed shows beginning fall of 2021, while still jugglingthe demands of Covid. Engaged more students on and off stage through an active recruitment andinvolvement program across campus. Revitalized drama program, offering community shows for free as part of their new mission.
Collaborated with ASL program to embed shadow interpreters with every performance.
Re-established the student drama club, who collaborated with the English department to produce student written plays.
Collaborated with Forensics program to offer a summer scholarships to OCC students, bringing in both Broadway performers as judges, as well as local professional artistic directors.
Brought in New York and Los Angeles Composer and Bookwriter to produce a World Premier Musical utilizing students onstage.
ODESSA COLLEGE, Odessa, Texas
Theatre Director/Instructor, Fall 2020 to Summer 2021
Taught acting, theatre appreciation, theatre history and performance. During the 2020 pandemic, produced and directed a radio drama for the college podcast to allow all students to continue performing. Brought Broadway’s “Hamilton” Musical Director, Ian Weinberger in (via zoom) for a Master Class. Collaborated across disciplines to provide students with headshots and resumes for theatrical auditions.
· Worked on recruitment through outreach, collaboration with outside groups.
THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, Ewing Township, New Jersey
Adjunct Professor & Producer/Director of Lyric Theatre, Fall 2015 to Fall 2020
Worked closely with students and artists to direct and produce full main stage musicals. Managerial duties included tracking finance use, promotions, and planning technical logistics. Collaborated with community groups to develop an advanced CEL course on Arts in the Community that paired students with a diverse partner to create theatre projects together. Created a syllabus for underclassmen on the underlying concepts and production efforts of stage musicals. In addition, helped write and develop Department of Music Theatre Minor.
Doubled the number of enrolled students and consistently increased tickets sales each year.
ADELPHI UNIVERSITY, Garden City, New York
Adjunct Theatre in Education Instructor, Spring 2018 to Spring 2020
Created comprehensive graduate level courses that fully engage students in how to incorporate theater concepts and Shakespeare into the creative process, including story dramatization, improvisation, directing, script writing, and play-building techniques. Guide the integration of learned theater practices to both traditional and non-traditional environments.
Graduated students gained interviews and earned theatre teaching positions in NYC public schools.
STRENGTH OUT OF SHADOWS, North Bergen, NJ
Applied Theatre Director, 2008 to Present
Developed and facilitated theatre pieces that examined issues that affect communities.
Original pieces were featured in Edinburgh, Scotland, and NYC, often to sold out shows.
UNION COUNTY COLLEGE & NAUGATUCK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Cranford, New Jersey
Adjunct Theatre Instructor, Fall 2015 to Spring 2019
Created and taught general and theatre students on theatre history, skills critiques, scenes analysis, script writing, and socio-economic implications. Wrote and taught Acting: Beginning Acting Skills; Advanced Acting: Advanced Character Development, Classical Scene Work and; Fundamentals of Drama.
Built and grew non-theatre student participation by 50% in two years.
SHADOWS, Somerset, NJ
Interactive, Multimedia, Devised Anti-Bullying Performance, Applied Theatre Facilitator, 2012
Created and launched a show with accompanying workshops that toured and offered in-class curriculum to improve inclusivity, acceptance and reduce bullying at the public-school level.
Recipient of numerous national and international awards from performances.
BLUE LAKE FINE ARTS CAMP, Twin Lakes, Michigan
Movement Teacher, Musical Theatre Director, Spring 2019
Worked with high school students to teach classes that included standard movement, mime, improvisation, devising, and Asian styles. Created and directed short musical theatre reviews and one-act plays for performance.
Successfully created original cabarets with high school students in only nine days.
FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL, Somerset, NJ
Drama Teacher, Applied Theatre Director, 2005 to 2015
Developed and led a five-course program on specific acting techniques, cultural history, social and political issues, gender and race issues, and overall understanding of different theatre structures. Worked with students to create an immersive course focused on bullying and promoting a safer school environment.
Grew drama program enrollment by 30%.
Won two state championships and a governor’s recognition.
Performances
Professional Actor, Broadway/Film/Television (1986–Present)
Phantom of the Opera Carlotta (Alternate, U/S and Performed) Broadway/National Tour/Germany
Mame Mame Main Street Theatre
Emma & Company* Emma Wings Theatre
*Listed as one of Backstage’s Best of 2001 “Jennifer Little made [an] indelible impression”
Chess (BC/EFA Concert) Featured Singer John Houseman
Madame Bovary Madame Bovary Judith Anderson
Picture of Dorian Gray Dorian’s Mother 14th St. Y Theatre
Prince & The Pauper Mary Cantor Backers’ Audition
And The World Goes Round Woman #1 Strong Will Productions
“Jennifer Little’s “Maybe This Time” is a show stopper...” Hearthstone Town and Country
Publications
Theatre Professionals, Q&A with Jennifer Little, Theatre Director, Educator and Social Justice Advocate. (2020)
Drama Research, The Show Must Go On: Using Applied Theatre Conventions to Create Intergenerational Attitudinal Shifts and Understandings. (2016)
AATE Insight/Incite, Using Theatre to Restore Equilibrium. (2014)
Teaching Theatre, Moment of Terror. (2014)
National Drama Quarterly Journal, Applying Ourselves to the Human Drama. (2012)
Changing the Way We Think. (2012)
Presentations
Speaker, Performing the World. (2016)
Speaker, TASP National Conference. (2016)
Guest Lecturer, Stanislavski Methodology in Acting, Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts. (2014)
Workshop Presenter, Creating More Opportunities for Inclusion in Theatre, Educational Theatre Association National Conference. (2019)
Workshop Presenter, National Theatre of the Oppressed Conference. (2014)
Workshop Presenter, Educational Theatre Association National Conference. (2013)
Workshop Presenter, Human Rights in the Global Perspective. (2011)
Workshop Presenter, National Drama Conference. (2011)
Workshop Speaker, National AATE Conference. (2010)
Workshop Speaker, Third International Online Teacher Conference. (2010)
Guest Speaker, New York University/Applied Theatre and Citizenship Conference. (2009)
Awards
NISOD Excellence in Teaching (2023)
NJ State Jefferson 360 Project for Youth Honoree (2014)
NJ Thespian Festival (2014)
Finalist, American High School Festival, Edinburgh Festival (2013)
Regional Emmy Nomination, Classroom Closeup Documentary on “Shadows” (2012)
Golden Bell Leadership Award, New Jersey Mental Health Association (2011)
Professional Associations
Screen Acting Guild AFTRA
Actor’s Equity Association
New Jersey Education Association
American Federation of Teachers New Jersey
Educational Theatre Association
Association for Theatre in Higher Education