Jennifer Engstrom
An ensemble member since 2003, Jennifer Engstrom has appeared in over a dozen AROT productions, culminating in a much coveted 2008 Orgie Award for her delicate portrayal of Fudgie in John Clancy’s Fatboy. She last appeared on A Red Orchid’s stage as Celeste in Tennessee William’s The Mutilated and as Mrs. Wicker in David Adjmi’s 3C. Other AROT appearances include The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Eric LaRue, Kimberly Akimbo, and The Hothouse, among others.
Jennifer was the Angel of America in David Cromer’s soaring production of Angels in America (both parts) at Kansas City Rep. Other regional credits include Eunice in A Streetcar Named Desire (directed by David Cromer) at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Lady MacDuff in MacBeth at Notre Dame Shakespeare, and Zelda in Lisa Dillman’s Ground at the 2009 Humana Festival. Her work at Northlight Theatre was rewarded with the Jack Springer Award for Best Actress in Sky Girls by Jenny Laird. Other Chicago credits include April Green in The Hot L Baltimore at Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company (directed by David Cromer), Shirl in Defiant Theatre’s The Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage, as well as both The Incident and Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been… at Next Theatre which garnered Jeff Awards for Best Ensemble. Jennifer also traveled to London with Steppenwolf Theatre’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and made her New York City theater debut with Excuse My Dust, a Dorothy Parker Portfolio.
Jen’s long and often unfortunate affinity for Dorothy Parker led her to compose a “live literature” series, bringing to life a series of Mrs. Parker’s most beloved monologues. Rick Kogan of WGN Radio called her performance at Davenport Cabaret Bar, “a revelation” and deemed its viewing “essential for those with a soul.”