dream roles: fiona (shrek, the musical), dawn (waitress), little red (into the woods), helena (midsummer night’s dream), gertrude mcfuzz (seussical), girl scout (beetlejuice), anna (frozen), kate monster (avenue Q), brooke ashton/vicki (noises off), karen smith (mean girls)
“Being an artist means to be continually asking, ‘How can it be better?’ whatever it is. It may be your art, and it may be your life.”
-Rick Rubin, The Creative Act
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
- William Shakespeare, As You Like It
About Jillian
I grew up in a small town called Mokena in the southwest suburbs of Chicago with my parents and two brothers. Yes, it’s true— the Midwest has a lot of corn fields. I started theater and dance at the young age of 6 and haven’t stopped since. As the only daughter in a set of triplets, I always wanted the spotlight and fell in love with performing.
I went to private school nearly my whole life doing community theater, school theater, dance classes, voice and guitar lessons. In August 2019, I moved to Nashville TN to pursue my dreams in theater and dance. As of May 2023, I graduated from Lipscomb University with a BFA in Musical Theater and a Dance Minor. Now I’m a a human out in the real world.
In the midst of auditioning for upcoming seasons, I am also a nanny to three super cute kiddos, dance instructor with a company called “Tippi Toes”, and a stagehand/carpenter at a professional children’s theater. Post college, song writing has become a big creative outlet for me which has led to my very first single, “Sparks” out now on all platforms! I am very proud of this project so here’s a cool picture of me in the studio recording it!
I value communication, honesty, empathy, authenticity, and failing gloriously. Besides my work, I love staying active, photography, the color green (but a deeper forest green) , hanging out with my friends, my perfect kitty, Luna, and am always excited to meet new people and learn what they love. Also, I am a water-bender, if you know you know. Let’s be friends! Find me on Instagram @jilliannrice :)
