JESSICA DEAN TURNER

jessicadeanturner@gmail.com 773.663.5695 EDUCATION New York University, MA in Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities, expected graduation May

2017

University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, BFA in Theatre, Acting Concentration class of 2012

HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

NYU Steinhardt Centennial Scholar

University of Illinois Presidential Merit Scholar, Lydia E. Parker Bates Scholar, Graduated with

Departmental Distinction

OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

YWCA NYC Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies, Critical Literacy and Youth Development Specialist,

August 2015- June 2016, Brooklyn, NY

Developed coursework for 6th-8th graders under the programs anti-sexism/anti-racism pedagogy,

created a survey of theatre coursework starting from the ancient Greeks to present day theatre

makers

Definition Theatre Company, Ensemble Member, May 2012-August 2015, Chicago, IL

Developed promotional educational material on the shows produced by the company to be

distributed to youth organizations in the Chicago and Urbana-Champaign area, created

mentorship and workshop opportunities

Holy Family School, After School Teaching Artist, September 2012-June 2013, Chicago, IL

Co-directed/produced two student performances at the end of the fall and spring semesters

with 3rd-8th grade students on the topics of bullying, behavior, and violence prevention

UIUC’s The Lost Toys, Ensemble Member, Outreach Coordinator, September 2009-May 2011, Urbana, IL

Coordinated, developed, and facilitated collaborative storytelling and contemporary social

issues workshops for middle and high school students in the Urbana-Champaign area, guests of

the university from Chicago’s BUILD organization and Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit

The Miracle Center, Youth Director, June-August 2008, Chicago, IL

Participated in creating an original multimedia script on urban gun violence and developing it for

performance with a group of 6th-10th graders

MASTER CLASSES AND GUEST FACILITATION

University of Chicago Lab School, Guest Artist, July 2014, June 2015, June 2016, Chicago, IL

Workshop utilizing viewpoints work, LaBan movement analysis, and a series of vocal and

physical exercises to implement in their character work in their upcoming production of Peter

Pan.

JESSICA DEAN TURNER

Conducted a fundamentals of theatre workshop incorporating movement and vocal techniques

culminating in a mock audition clinic for 6th-9th grade students

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre’s Groundlings, Guest Artist, June 2014, Conway, AR

Conducted a LaBan movement workshop to create characters with distinguishing shapes and

voices for 7th-10th graders within a summer Shakespeare camp.

Urbana Middle School, Guest Speaker, April 2012, Urbana, IL

Career day speaker on how the professional practices of acting

Broader Urban Individualized Leadership Development Chicago, Counselor, Teaching Artist, June 2008,

February 2009, April 2009, Chicago, IL

Creative writing and performance poetry workshop leader on the topics of violence prevention,

entitled “Explosive Pens”

Creative writing and performance poetry work shop on self-esteem, body-positivity, and media

workshop representation for high school aged women entitled “Ladylike”

Gang prevention and intervention storytelling workshop as part of BUILD’s “Black and Brown

Experience

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE

APPRENTICE/INTERN EXPERIENCE

Riverside Shakespeare Theatre, Acting Intern, May-August 2012, Iowa City, IA

o Understudy, costume assistant, and set building crew

Great River Shakespeare Festival, Acting Apprentice, May-August 2011 Winona, MN

o Understudy, costume and properties shop assistant

FILM EXPERIENCE

Member SAG-AFTRA

NBC Universal/Twentieth Century Fox, Crisis, 2013-2014

THEATRE EXPERIENCE

Oracle Theatre, The America Play, June-August 2015

Goodman Theatre August Wilson Festival, Seven Guitars, March 2015

International Jewish Playwright Festival, Continuum Theatre, To Kill A King, March 2015

About Face Theatre, A Kid Like Jake, January-March 2015

The House Theatre of Chicago, Season on the Line, August-October 2014

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre The Comedy of Errors, Two Gentlemen of Verona, May-July 2014

Congo Square Theatre, The Fall of Heaven, February-April 2013

Oracle Theatre, Pink Milk, June- August 2013

Riverside Shakespeare Theatre, Merchant of Venice, As You Like It May-August 2012

Definition Theatre Company, Fabulation, December 2012

Griffin Theatre Company, Letters Home, September-November 2012, September 2013

Great River Shakespeare Festival, Henry IV Pt. 1, King Lear, May-August 2011

JESSICA DEAN TURNER

EXTRACURRICULAR AND VOLUNTEER

UIUC Theatre Alumni Network 2012-Present

Victory Gardens New Play Development, Ariel Zetina’s British Honduras Fantasy, 2015

The House Theatre New Play Development, Jenni Lamb’s Candy Store, 2015

American Theatre Company workshop of PJ Paparelli’s The Project(s), 2014

Shakespearean Folio training at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, 2013, 2015

Childcare and storyteller to pre-K learners, 2014-Present

Chicago Dramatist Playwriting Course, 2013

Armory Free Theatre Costume Designer, Songs For A New World and The Brothers Size, 2012

Black Student Union UIUC “100 Strong” 2008-2012

CORE Mentoring group UIUC 2008-2012