Jennifer Johns-Grasso
(BAA’s Artistic Director and Founder, Actress, Broadway Producer) first began her career as a working child performer and created BAA back in 2005 with her childhood interests and passions at heart. As a Producer, Jennifer has most recently Co-Produced the Broadway Revival of Cabaret starring Eddie Redmayne and Bebe Neuwirth! Previously she Co-Produced the Broadway production of Once Upon a One More Time. As an adult professional, Jennifer has toured with six Broadway National and International Tours as well as performed extensively in NYC and Regional Theatre. Favorite roles include Reno in Anything Goes, The Narrator in Joseph…Dreamcoat, Betty in White Christmas, The Mother in A Christmas Story, Princess Puffer in Mystery of Edwin Drood, Peggy in 42nd Street, Sandy in Grease, Polly in Crazy for You, Margaret in The Light in the Piazza, Babe in The Pajama Game, Mae in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and as a Singer/Dancer with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She’s also performed stateside and overseas for our troops alongside many celebrity performers as a part of the USO American Belles vocal trio for over 10 years. TV/film credits include: All My Children, One Life to Live, Strangers with Candy, Oz, Saturday Night Live, 3,2,1 Contact, Law and Order, Sex in the City, Moulin Rouge, Garden State, Kate and Leopold, Hairspray, and more. Throughout the year, Jennifer enjoys teaching on the Faculty of Pace University, as well as multiple Master Classes at Universities, Performing Arts High Schools, and Thespian Festivals across the country, in addition to maintaining a busy NYC Voice studio with a career coaching/college audition coaching focus. She also is a Regional Theatre Director and Co-producer and has sat on several non-profit theater companies’ Boards of Directors. Jennifer is proud to see so many of her students currently at top Universities, with Broadway and National Tours credits, and signed to Top NYC Agents and Managers! Jennifer has been a proud member of NATS, AEA, AGVA, SAG and AFTRA (since 1981). She holds a M.M. in Musical Theatre (Vocal Performance) as well as an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from NYU. She’s also been on the adjunct voice faculty at NYU, the University of the Arts and (currently) Pace University teaching voice, musicianship, business skills/ Senior Seminar, and Musical Theatre History. The highlight of her year is always finding new talent and helping to springboard their careers through BAA’s classes, coachings, showcases, and Summer Intensive Programs. Check out Jennifer’s interview with Backstage for Broadway Artists Alliance winning their Reader’s Choice Award for NYC Acting Class For Kids and her interview on Pointers for College Acting Applicants to Remember! Jennifer gives “A huge THANK YOU to all of my own students and teachers who continue to inspire me everyday!”