Jennifer Simard

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Jennifer Simard
Simard at the 2022 Tony Awards
Born (1970-08-08) August 8, 1970 (age 55)
Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.
EducationBoston Conservatory (BFA)
OccupationsActress, singer
Years active1992–present
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)[1]
Spouse
Brad Robertson
​
​
(m. 2004; div. 2024)​
Websitejennifersimard.com

Jennifer Jean Simard (born August 8, 1970) is an American actress known primarily for her work in theater. A three-time Tony Award nominee, she rose to prominence with roles in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions in the 2000s, such as I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, The Thing About Men and Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit, nominated for a Drama Desk Award and Lucille Lortel Award for the latter.[2][3]

In 2016, Simard starred as Sister Mary Downey in Disaster!, receiving rave reviews and her first nomination for Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Between 2020 and 2022, she starred as Sarah in the Broadway revival of Company for which she received her second Tony nomination. Other Broadway credits include the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!, Mean Girls, and Once Upon a One More Time. She received her third Tony nomination due to her lead role as Helen Sharp in Death Becomes Her.

Simard's screen credits include Somewhere in Queens, Law & Order and Younger.

Life and career

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Simard is from Litchfield, New Hampshire. She studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music and Hunter College.[4] After studying, Simard moved to New York, where she appeared in Forbidden Broadway '93.[5][6]

She made her Broadway debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and later performed in the Broadway productions of Shrek The Musical and Sister Act.[7]

Simard garnered Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her roles in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, The Thing About Men, and Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit (2005).[8]

She originated the role of Sister Mary Downey in the 2016 Broadway musical Disaster!; her performance earned her a Tony Award nomination, as well as a Drama League Award nomination, in 2016. She was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for the role, which she performed off-Broadway in 2014.[9][10]

She appeared on Broadway as Ernestina in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce.[11] Simard played Miss Hannigan in the St. Louis Muny production of Annie from July 18–25, 2018.[12] In August 2018, it was announced that Simard would join the Tony-nominated musical Mean Girls as Mrs. Heron, Ms. Norbury, and Mrs. George that September, replacing Kerry Butler.[13][14] Her last performance was on December 8, 2019.[15]

In October 2019, it was announced that Simard would join the gender-swapped revival of Company as Sarah at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.[16] She returned to the production after the pandemic, starring as Sarah over the course of 2020 to 2022.[17] Between February 26 to March 6, 2022, she took over the role of Joanne due to the unavailability of Patti LuPone.[18] At the 75th Tony Awards Simard received her second nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.[19]

In 2023, she originated the role of Stepmother in the Britney Spears jukebox musical Once Upon a One More Time at the Marquis Theatre.[20]

In 2024, Simard starred in the stage adaptation of Death Becomes Her as Helen Sharp, opposite co-lead Megan Hilty as Madeline Ashton.[21] The production's out of town tryout ran at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre from April 30 to June 2, 2024. Simard and Hilty led the production on Broadway, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, which began previews on October 23, 2024, before opening on November 21, 2024.[22] Simard received a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Helen.[23]

Television and film

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Simard's television roles include appearances in Younger, The Good Wife, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order, "Girls5eva," and The King of Queens. She also appeared in the 2000 comedy film The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas.[24]

Personal life

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On October 3, 2004, Simard married Brad Robertson, whom she met when he was the light board operator for the off-Broadway production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.[25] The couple divorced in 2024.[26]

Theater

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Year Title Role Theatre Director(s) Ref.
1996 I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change Woman #1 Westside Theatre Joel Bishoff
2003 The Thing About Men Woman Promenade Theatre
2004 Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit Various Characters Douglas Fairbanks Theatre Gerard Alessandrini and Phillip George
2006 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Rona Lisa Peretti US National Tour James Lapine
[27]
2007 Rona Lisa Peretti (replacement) Circle in the Square Theatre
[28]
2008 Shrek the Musical Queen Lillian/Wicked Witch/
Magic Mirror Assistant 		Broadway Theatre Jason Moore
2011 Sister Act Ensemble Jerry Zaks
2013 Disaster! Sister Mary Downy St. Luke’s Theatre Jack Plotnick
[29]
2016 Nederlander Theatre
[30]
2017–18 Hello, Dolly! Ernestina Shubert Theatre Jerry Zaks
[11]
2018 Annie Miss Hannigan The Muny
[12]
2018–19 Mean Girls Mrs. Heron/Ms. Norbury/
Mrs. George (replacement) 		August Wilson Theatre Casey Nicholaw
[13]
2020 Company Sarah
u/s Joanne 		Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Marianne Elliott
2021–22
2022 Joanne (temporary replacement)
Sarah
u/s Joanne
2023 Once Upon a One More Time Stepmother Marquis Theatre Keone Madrid and Mari Madrid
2023 Hello, Dolly! Dolly Gallagher-Levi Renaissance Theatre Michael Thomas
[31]
2024 Death Becomes Her Helen Sharp Cadillac Palace Theatre Christopher Gattelli
2024–25 Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
[22]
2025 Pete 'n' Keely Keely Stevens Concert at Carnegie Hall Mark Waldrop
[32]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Ref.
2000 The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas Bride-To-Be
[33]
2001 Wish You Were Dead Cake Girl
[34]
2013 Shrek the Musical Wicked Witch
[35]
2014 Non-Stop Maggie Evans (uncredited)
[36]
2015 Sisters Pet Activist at Party
[37]
2022 Somewhere in Queens Patsy

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1999 The King of Queens Paula Episode: "Best Man"
[38]
2006 Law & Order Danielle Andreas Episode: "Invaders"
[39]
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Debra Jackson Episode: "Trade"
[40]
2015 The Good Wife Janie Mullaby Episode: "Payback"
[41]
2016 Younger Sherry Episode: "Last Days of Books"
[42]
2021 Girls5eva Daphne Episode: "Catskills"
[38]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award ceremony Category Show Result Ref.
1997 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change Nominated
2004 The Thing About Men Nominated
2005 Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit Nominated
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Featured Actress Nominated
2014 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Disaster! Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Award Nominated
2016 Nominated
Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated
[30]
2022 Company Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nominated
2025 Drama Desk Award Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical Death Becomes Her Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Award Nominated [43]
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical Nominated [44]
Grammy Award[45] Best Musical Theater Album Nominated
Tony Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Nominated [46]
Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical Nominated
Favorite Diva Performance
Favorite Funny Performance
Favorite Onstage Pair (with Megan Hilty) Won

References

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  8. ^ Murray, Matthew (April 28, 2005). "2005 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced". TheaterMania.
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  41. ^ "Listings. 'The Good Wife'. November 1, 2015". thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  42. ^ Smith, Matt (October 12, 2016). "BWW Recap: Krysta Rodriguez, Jennifer Simard Guest on YOUNGER as Liza Saves a Bookstore" BroadwayWorld.
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  45. ^ https://playbill.com/article/here-are-this-years-grammy-nominees-for-best-musical-theater-album
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