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Jennifer Ashley Tepper

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BIO

Jennifer Ashley Tepper is producer of the musicals Be More Chill, Broadway Bounty Hunter, and Love In Hate Nation. She is also the Creative and Programming Director at Feinstein's/54 Below, and the author of The Untold Stories of Broadway book series. She is the creator of The Jonathan Larson Project and historian consultant on the upcoming film version of tick, tick...BOOM! Tepper was recently named recipient of a 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award.



As the leader of Feinstein's/54 Below's creative programming team, Tepper is responsible for programming every show at the Broadway supper club and concert venue. She has curated and overseen the production of over 3500 shows, ranging from musicals in concert, to original solo acts, to theatrical reunions, to songwriter celebrations, and beyond. Feinstein's/54 Below has become notable for being the only venue of its kind: presenting over a dozen shows every week, specializing in Broadway acts, and welcoming both traditional cabaret and innovative new work. Tepper's leadership has been instrumental in making the locale "Broadway's Living Room", where on any given night one can find Broadway's biggest stars and emerging talents side by side, creating and sharing new work in an intimate theatrical environment.

Tepper's producing work on original ventures at the venue has gained praise from publications including The Huffington Post, The New York Times, Buzzfeed, Playbill, Newsday, the New York Post, and more. From Hit List (the live concert version of the fictional musical from NBC's Smash) to Smile: A Broadway Reunion Concert to her collaborations with musical theatre writers both established and emerging, Tepper has, according to Theatermania, "brought her encyclopedic knowledge and typical gusto to the venue, knowing just what musical theatre enthusiasts are looking for."

On Broadway, Tepper has worked on shows in directing, producing, and marketing capacities, including [title of show], The Performers, the 2011 revival of Godspell, and the 2013 revival of Macbeth. She has also worked at off-Broadway and regional theaters, including Second Stage Theatre, Ars Nova, The York Theatre, Weston Playhouse, and Goodspeed. Other credits include projects, shows, and educational initiatives with The National Alliance for Musical Theatre, The Producing Office, PBS, The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, TEDx Broadway, The Dramatists Guild, Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, the New York Public Library, The Actors Fund, New York City Center, the Broadway Green Alliance, the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and New York University, where Tepper is a proud graduate. Tepper has worked as the Managing Editor of The Best Plays Theatre Yearbook, and is currently on the Artists Board for the Encores Off-Center series. She is a freelance contributor to Playbill, BroadwayWorld, Theatermania, and Backstage. As an educator, she has been involved with Florida Thespians, New York Thespians, Texas' Joci Awards, and the St. Louis Cabaret Convention, and given master classes at several universities and high schools. She is a consultant for BroadwayCon.

Tepper is the co-creator of the Bistro Award-winning concert series, If It Only Even Runs A Minute, now in its 7th year. ...Runs A Minute celebrates short-lived Broadway and off-Broadway musicals in concerts that feature photos and research as well as songs. Each concert also boasts original cast members and writers telling stories, as well as songs that have never been recorded. The series thus far has comprised over 250 performers and over 200 'under-appreciated' shows. AM New York has called the series: "Artistically compelling... displays the blood, guts, sweat and tears that go into making Broadway shows."

Her most recent contribution to the concert world is The Jonathan Larson Project, an evening of the RENT composer’s unheard work. After years of research at the Library of Congress, Tepper curated a show featuring songs from Larson’s never-produced shows like 1984 and Superbia, songs that were cut from RENT and tick tick BOOM, songs that had never been heard before. After a celebrated twelve-performance run at Feinstein’s/54 Below, the show was forever immortalized by Ghostlight Records.

Tepper has collaborated for almost a decade on musicals, concerts and other projects with the group known as Joe Iconis & Family, who recently won a rave New York Times review and a MAC Award nomination for their work. In addition to producing Be More Chill, Broadway Bounty Hunter, and Love In Hate Nation, she has worked in various capacities on his other shows including the Drama Desk-nominated Bloodsong of Love.

The New York Times recently announced her project coming to Greenwich House Theater this summer, “Emboldened by Be More Chill, which is selling well in early previews, Ms. Tepper is planning this week to announce a commercial Off Broadway production of another Iconis show, Broadway Bounty Hunter, about an out-of-work actor who finds a job hunting criminals. It stars Annie Golden, who, although more than a generation older than Mr. Iconis and his college friends, is one of his most loyal collaborators.”

As a writer, Tepper has authored three volumes of The Untold Stories of Broadway series, published by Dress Circle. For these books, Tepper interviewed 250 theatre professionals about the Broadway theaters themselves and their stories of working in each house. The books cover over 70 years of our theatrical history, shared through first-hand interviews with Broadway professionals who were there. The Untold Stories of Broadway books comprise stories with actors, producers, directors, writers, designers, stagehands, door men and women, musicians, house managers, press agents, ushers, and many more. Interspersed with interviewees' stories are Tepper's own tales and discoveries about each historic building. The Untold Stories of Broadway partners with a charitable organization that receives proceeds from each volume, and is currently partnered with Broadway Impact, the Theatre Development Fund, and the Broadway Green Alliance. Published in 2013, 2014, and 2016, each book has occupied the #1 spot on Amazon.com's Best Sellers List in Broadway & Musicals. NBC New York has called the books an 'inspiring Must-Read'.

Tepper was recently named one of the 10 professionals on Backstage Magazine's "1st Annual Broadway Future Power List", alongside Alex Timbers and Leigh Silverman. According to the article: "Proving herself both a zeitgeist predictor and theatrical historian with her eclectic programming, Tepper is leading the conversation on contemporary musical theatre."

Photos

Productions

 
[Off-Broadway, 2025]
Conceiver
 
[Broadway, 2019]
Producer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2018]
Producer
 
[Broadway, 2017]
Associate Producer

Videos

News


How Often are Live Animals in Broadway Shows? 
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Apr 20, 2025

This time, the reader question was: How often do legit Broadway plays and musicals include live animals in their companies? Can you name some recent examples of animals in Broadway shows?
Photos: Inside West Bank Cafe & Laurie Beechman Theatre's Star-Studded Gala Reopening
by Stephen Sorokoff - Apr 15, 2025

Tom D’Angora and Michael D'Angora held the official Renaissance Gala last night on Monday April 14th, marking the reopening of one of New York City’s most beloved cabaret venues, The Laurie Beechman Theatre.
Broadway Musicals for Every US State
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Apr 13, 2025

This time, the reader question was: There are only three states in America without known Broadway musicals set within their borders. Can you guess which three? WE're breaking it down state by state.
The 92nd Street Y Unveils Full Lineup for Summer Cabaret Conference
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 9, 2025

After a thrilling inaugural year in 2024, The 92nd Street Y, New York’s School of Music has announced the full lineup for the 2025 92NY Summer Cabaret Conference running July 14-18, 2025.
A History of Nudity on Stage
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Apr 5, 2025

The play Liberation which is currently playing at Roundabout’s Laura Pels Theatre off-Broadway features nudity. How often do plays and musicals feature nudity on stage? We're breaking it down!
How Often Do Broadway Musicals Tackle the Topic of War?
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Mar 30, 2025

This time, the reader question was: How often do Broadway musicals tackle the topic of war? There are actually many musicals about war in the canon. The rare feat of Operation Mincemeat lies in its tone. The show is a fast-paced, zany, comedic take on a mission that used a dead body to mislead the Axis forces, leading to the successful Allied invasion of Sicily.
A Brief History of THE LAST FIVE YEARS
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Mar 23, 2025

This time, the reader question was: The Last 5 Years makes its Broadway debut this spring… but everyone you know already has the show memorized. How did that happen? Tepper unpacks the history of the beloved show.
THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT To Close This Month
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 20, 2025

The Jonathan Larson Project, the world premiere musical that celebrates the visionary writer of RENT died suddenly at the age of 35 in 1996, will play its final performance on Sunday, March 30.
How Often Do Musicals Change Their Titles After Broadway?
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Mar 15, 2025

This time, the reader question was: How often do Broadway musicals change their titles after Broadway? We're unpacking the history of shows that have been renamed.
Photos: THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT Opens Off-Broadway
by Bruce Glikas - Mar 11, 2025

The new musical, The Jonathan Larson Project, is open now at at the Orpheum Theatre Off-Broadway. Check out photos from opening night here and learn more about the show!
Review Roundup: THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT Opens Off-Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 11, 2025

The Jonathan Larson Project is open now at at the Orpheum Theatre for a 16 week limited engagement. The musical is a world premiere that celebrates the dozens of unheard songs, unfinished and unproduced musicals, and pop songs from the writer of RENT. Read the reviews!
Norm Lewis, André De Shields, & More Nominated for 2025 MAC Awards - See the Full List
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 6, 2025

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) has revealed the 39th Annual MAC Awards. Check out the full list of nominees, which includes Norm Lewis, André De Shield, and more!
Exclusive: 'Love Heals' from THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT
by Nicole Rosky - Mar 5, 2025

BroadwayWorld is very excited to share an exclusive clip of 'Love Heals', performed by Taylor Iman Jones and the rest of the cast. Watch the video here!
Photos: First Look at THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT
by Nicole Rosky - Feb 18, 2025

Previews are officially underway for The Jonathan Larson Project, which has an official opening on March 10 at the Orpheum Theatre for a 16 week limited engagement. Check out a first look at the cast in action here.
Exclusive: 19 Songs by Jonathan Larson That You Probably Don't Know Yet
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Feb 18, 2025

Previews are now underway for The Jonathan Larson Project and fans who have checked out the new musical already have intel on the more than 20 undiscovered songs, as audiences are treated to a brief breakdown as they leave the Orpheum Theatre. BroadwayWorld is excited to share an exclusive, in-depth version of the story behind each song, courtesy of the show's conceiver, Jennifer Ashley Tepper.
THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT Will Host Digital Rush, Plus Additional Casting
by Stephi Wild - Feb 12, 2025

The Jonathan Larson Project will host a Digital Rush via TodayTix beginning Friday! Plus, additional casting has been announced. Learn more about the show here!
An In-Depth History of the Orpheum Theatre
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Feb 9, 2025

Some of the shows that the Orpheum has been best known for are Stomp, which ran there for an astounding 29 years, from 1994 to 2023, and the original production of Little Shop of Horrors which spent over five years at the theater from 1982 to 1987. 
Videos: Sneak Peek of Songs from THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT
by Michael Major - Feb 3, 2025

Ahead of the first performance of The Jonathan Larson Project on February 14, watch the cast perform 'SOS' and 'One of These Days.' The new videos feature Adam Chanler-Berat, Lauren Marcus, Andy Mientus, Taylor Iman-Jones, and Jason Tam.
Breaking Down the Different Stephen Sondheim Revues
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Feb 2, 2025

This time, the reader question was: Other than Old Friends, what are the other Sondheim revues and what makes them different? This marks the theatre world’s fifth major Sondheim revue and the first since the theatre legend passed away in 2021. 
Photos: THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT Meets the Press
by Bruce Glikas - Feb 2, 2025

The Jonathan Larson Project is now in rehearsal in preparation for its world premiere run Orpheum Theatre off-Broadway. Check out photos of the company as they meet the press here!

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