Jen Bender

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Jen Bender BIO

Bender joins Paper Mill Playhouse directly from her role as a member of the musical theater faculty at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Previously, Bender was Senior Vice President of Production and Development at The Araca Group in New York City. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Programming and Artist Services for the New York Musical Festival (NYMF), and as Resident Director for the Broadway productions of The Lion King and Avenue Q. She was the Assistant Artistic Director for Cirque du Soleil's Ovo for productions in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, Taiwan, and Japan. Inspired by her work with The Lion King, Jen co-founded and served as the Artistic Director of Broadway in South Africa, leading a program that brought Broadway artists to work with children in need through a variety of arts disciplines in townships across South Africa. She's been a guest teacher at the Michigan State University, the BFA program at Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Camp Broadway, The Broadway Experience, The Artist's Crossing, Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, and served as Interim Education Director at the Vineyard Theatre.

Jen Bender Photos

Jen Bender Productions

 
[Off-Broadway, 2006]
Assistant Director
 
[Broadway, 2006]
Assistant Director
 
[Broadway, 2005]
Assistant Director
 
[Broadway, 2003]
Assistant Director
 
[Off-Broadway, 2003]
Assistant Director
 
[Broadway, 2002]
Music Assistant
 
[Broadway, 1997] [Replacement]
Resident Director[Replacement]
Resident Director[Replacement]

Jen Bender Videos

Jen Bender News


Photos: On the Red Carpet at Opening Night of THE NOTEBOOK

The Notebook officially opened at the Schoenfeld Theatre last week. Opening night was held on March 14th, and BroadwayWorld was there! Check out photos of the VIPs arriving at the big night here!

Interview: Dominique Kelley & Jen Bender on Co-Directing AFTER MIDNIGHT at Paper Mill Playhouse

BroadwayWorld sat down with the co-directors of the production to learn more about their process and bringing the Jazz Age to life at Paper Mill. After Midnight intertwines the poetry of Langston Hughes with songs from big-band legends Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Harold Arlen, Dorothy Fields, and more.

Review: AFTER MIDNIGHT at Paper Mill Playhouse-A Jazzy, Exhilarating Musical Revue Celebrating the Harlem Renaissance

Paper Mill Playhouse is now presenting After Midnight, a scintillating musical revue.

Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of AFTER MIDNIGHT at Paper Mill Playhouse

See photos from opening night of After Midnight at Paper Mill Playhouse!

Photos & Video: Get a First Look at AFTER MIDNIGHT at Paper Mill Playhouse

Get a first look at photos and video of After Midnight at Paper Mill Playhouse!

Photos: In Rehearsals for AFTER MIDNIGHT at Paper Mill Playhouse

Paper Mill Playhouse will soon present After Midnight, co-directed by Dominique Kelley. Check out photos from inside rehearsals here!

Cast and Creative Team Revealed For AFTER MIDNIGHT at Paper Mill Playhouse

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for After Midnight. Learn more about who is in the cast and on the team here!

VIDEO: Director Mark S. Hoebee Talks FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Paper Mill Playhouse

Watch Paper Mill's Associate Artistic Director, Jen Bender, interview Producing Artistic Director and the director of Fiddler on the Roof, Mark S. Hoebee here!

National Alliance for Musical Theatre Reveals Complete Casting For the 35th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS

 National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced additional casting for the 35th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 26 and Friday, October 27, 2023, at New World Stages.

Photos: On the Red Carpet of SOME LIKE IT HOT Opening Night

See photos from the opening night red carpet of Some Like It Hot, now playing at the Shubert Theatre.

TRU Announces Community Gathering Via Zoom - A TALE OF TWO THEATERS: Papermill Playhouse And The Village Theatre

A dependable haven for artists in isolation, Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is now into its second year of non-stop weekly Community Gatherings this Friday, having offered to date over 100 conversations and unlimited camaraderie since April 17, 2020.

TRU To Host Community Gatherings Via Zoom - Adding Virtual To The Commercial Development Toolbox

A dependable haven for artists in isolation, Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is now into its second year of non-stop weekly Community Gatherings this Friday, having offered to date over 100 conversations and unlimited camaraderie since April 17, 2020.

Industry Pro Newsletter: Theatres Aim to Hold True to Their Values, Some Audiences Are Being Left Behind

As theatres work to return to the new normal, we continue to find new ways in which the industry needs to find improvements on the way that they treat those that are creating the art - we have arrived at the “rubber meets the road” moment for every theatre that issued statements about their ideals in the past few years.

Paper Mill Playhouse Names Jen Bender New Associate Artistic Director

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced that Jen Bender (Broadway’s The Lion King, The Wedding Singer, Avenue Q) will join PMP as Associate Artistic Director, following longtime Associate Artistic Director Patrick Parker, who stepped down on September 30, 2022 after 27 years at the post.

Karen Olivo & More to Star in Industry Readings of New Musical WE WON'T SLEEP

We Won’t Sleep, a new pop musical based on the true story of Jeannette Rankin, America’s first congresswoman, will hold industry readings by invitation only in New York City on Thursday, December 16 and Friday, December 17.

Alysha Umphress, Capathia Jenkins & More Will Take Part in Readings for New Musical, THE OUTRAGEOUS SOPHIE TUCKER

The Outrageous Sophie Tucker is the story of a turn of the 20th century immigrant girl and how she became the Last of The Red Hot Mamas. The show chronicles her early years as a singing waitress at her family's restaurant in Hartford, and spotlights how a first-generation full-figured Jewish girl partnered with Black performers Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Molly Elkins to revolutionize American entertainment, onstage and off.

Signature Theatre Sets 2021/22 Season Featuring Pre-Broadway KPOP, THE BROADWAY MUSICAL & More

The 2021/2022 Signature Theatre season kicks off early November 2021 with a reimagined new production of Jonathan Larson’s musical RENT and continues with the DC premiere of Daphne’s Dive by Quiara Alegría Hudes; a new production of She Loves Me by Joe Masteroff, Jerry Bock, and Sheldon Harnick and more.

Brandon Victor Dixon & Heidi Blickenstaff Join COMPOSERS IN CONVERSATION with John Kander and Lin-Manuel Miranda

Vineyard Theatre’s 2021 Gala Series will culminate in an intimate conversation between legendary musical theatre composers John Kander and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Brandon Victor Dixon and Heidi Blickenstaff will join previously announced artists  including Mandy Gonzalez, Bryonha Marie Parham, and George Salazar.

John Kander and Lin-Manuel Miranda to Join Vineyard Theatre's COMPOSERS IN CONVERSATION Series

Vineyard Theatre’s 2021 Gala Series will culminate in an intimate conversation between legendary musical theatre composers John Kander and  Lin-Manuel Miranda. The “Pay-What-You-Can” virtual event will debut on Thursday, July 22 at 7pm ET, with on-demand access available through Sunday, July 25 at 11:59pm ET.

Broadway Women's Fund Releases Inaugural List of Women to Watch on Broadway

To spotlight emerging leaders in professional theater, the Broadway Women's Fund has released its inaugural list of Women to Watch on Broadway.

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