Thompson has appeared on Broadway in Lend Me A Tenor (Diana), Footloose (Ariel), Wicked (Glinda) and Urinetown (Hope Cladwell), earning a Tony nomination for the latter performance.
Other theatre work includes Company, Little Fish, Little Miss Sunshine and several City Center Encores! productions.
Read more about Jennifer Laura Thompson's theatrical history in the Playbill Vault.
| Full given name: | Jennifer Laura Thompson |
| Where you were born/where you were raised: | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan |
| Zodiac Sign: | Sagitarius |
| What your parents did/do for a living: | Father: President of J.R. Thompson Productions Mother: Mom and Real Estate Agent |
| Siblings: | I'm the youngest of five siblings. |
| Special skills: | I have never had a special skills section on my bio. I have a driver's license. Is that special?? |
| Something you're REALLY bad at: | Not laughing when someone falls down. |
| First Broadway show you ever saw: | The Mystery of Edwin Drood |
| Current shows you have been recommending to friends: | Seminar, Peter and the Starcatcher and Once |
| Favorite showtune of all time: | I always loved "Elaborate Lives" from Aida and "Someone is Waiting" from Company |
| Favorite modern musical: | Sweeney Todd |
| Favorite classic musical: | Carousel |
| The one performance – attended - that you will never forget: | My first Broadway show as an audience member, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. It cemented my desire to be a Broadway performer. |
| Music that makes you cry, any genre: | Gospel!! |
| MAC or PC? | PC |
| Most played song on your iPod: | Right now it's "Mirrorball" by Elbow |
| Most-visited websites: | Gilt.com, and I don't feel guilty about it. |
| Last book you read: | "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" |
| Must-see TV show(s): | "Hoarders"
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| Some films you consider classics: | "Old School" I like great comedies. |
| Performer you would drop everything to go see: | Alan Rickman |
| Pop culture guilty pleasure: | Reality TV |
| Favorite cities: | San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego |
| First CD/Tape/LP you owned: | The Monkees, and John Travolta's first (maybe only) solo album |
| When you first realized you could sing: | 4 or 5 years old |
| First stage kiss | I should remember, but I don't. Guess it wasn't memorable or I've blocked it out. |
| Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager: | Playing a lamb in the church Christmas pageant at about five years old. But really my first lead as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls in high school. |
| How you got your Equity card: | Ugh. I took a terrible job at a theme park because it paid enough to get my "eligibility." Worst summer of my life. |
| Favorite liquid refreshment: | Iced coffee, but during a show, it's Emergen-C. |
| Most vocally challenging role you have ever played: | To date, the rangiest has been Glinda in Wicked. |
| Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap: | The infamous "Bubble" that transports Glinda to the stage didn't work. I was stuck 40 feet in the air while cast members on stage repeated "She's coming … she's coming … it's Glinda … she's … coming…" |
| Worst costume ever: | To date, the rangiest has been Glinda in Wicked. |
| Worst costume ever: | Mustard yellow suede pants |
| Worst job ever: | Theme park. It shall remain unnamed. |
| Who have you played on "Law & Order?" What edition? | "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" – I played a murderer. |
| Favorite Gershwin tune from another show: | "The Man I Love" |
| Something you are incredibly proud of: | My son Tommy |
| Career you would want if not a performer: | Architect |
| Three things you can't live without: | Cheese, Sleep, Music |
| "I'll never understand why…" | ... people spit their gum on the sidewalk, leaving permanent black spots. |
| Words of advice for aspiring performers: | I always say the same thing. Get a degree. |
