Jenna is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and has
appeared at Wheelock Family Theatre in Peter Pan, Seussical, Honk,
Annie, Phantom Tollbooth and Anne Of Green Gables.
"Auditioning is a hard but necessary part of being a
working actor. I have found that the casting process can be particularly trying
as an Asian American actress. It’s challenging to prove to casting directors
that you aren't just your race. A play that requires an Asian actor may offer
me a foot in the door, but I am often asked to portray a stereotype. Landing a
role as a member of a family that is not Asian is even more difficult. WFT has
been the only venue where I’ve been afforded opportunities to play a range of
roles, based on my abilities not my race. Perhaps it’s because some people feel
that family members need to resemble one another. Interestingly, this is not
the case in my own family where my sister and I were adopted from South Korea
by Caucasian parents. My older brother is adopted, too, though he's originally
from the U.S. As a child on vacation with my family I can remember being asked
if I was a foreign exchange student. Happily, the definition of family is
ever-widening and I am encountering more and more acceptance that a family can
be comprised of people who vary in a multitude of ways.
My reaction to being cast as Tracy Turnblad at WFT was like
one of Tracy's lines in the show...'Ohmigod, it's a dream of a lifetime. I have
to [play this part]!' I grew up loving '50s and '60s music, fashion and styles
and saw the original film version of Hairspray with Ricky Lake as a kid. It
really spoke to me as a girl who was just a little different trying to change
the world around her while staying true to herself. I have that same feeling
every time I’m cast in a role that's not traditionally Asian. As with Tracy’s
desire to be on the Corny Collin's Show, I want to demonstrate to the world
that art has the capacity to transform lives. I believe that the theatre world
is changing with more new writers creating diverse roles and theatres like WFT
championing non-traditional, or 'colorful' casting. Among my reasons for
pursuing an acting career was a desire to see myself represented on the stage
and inspiring others to do what they love. I’m glad I can pursue these goals at
WFT."
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