Jessica's Biography
Jessica Sheridan was born
in Newport Beach, California and soon after moved to San Diego where she
spent her childhood. She saw her first musical (Peter Pan) when
she was 1-1/2 years old and absolutely fell in love with musical theatre,
quickly becoming a "musical comedy kid." She showed her promise by
singing full songs, on-key, before she could talk well and trying to dance
like the people on TV soon after she learned to walk.
Jessica began formal
dancing lessons at age four. One hour every Saturday morning soon grew
as she added individual classes in ballet, tap, jazz, and gymnastics.
She studied at the Janie Cushing Dance Studio in San Diego, the San
Diego Civic Youth Ballet, numerous workshop classes, and at many dance
conventions.
At age nine Jessica added theatre to her repertoire by joining San Diego's acclaimed Junior Theatre (SDJT), the training ground of such artists as Raquel Welch, Dennis Hopper, Victor Buono, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Casey Nicholaw, Don McManus, and Christian Hoff. Jessica received a thorough education in all aspects of theatre during her nine years with SDJT. As a performer, she had ample opportunities to learn her craft. In Jessica's first SDJT show she played a Munchkin, Jitterbug, and Ozian in The Wizard of Oz. She continued in many other roles—working her way up from the chorus to leads over the years—ending as Rizzo in Grease. In addition, due to Junior Theatre policy, she learned—through doing—all the myriad tasks it takes to get a show up and running from painting the sets; publicity; selling tickets; to operating the light and sound boards; ensuring scenery and props are where they belong; costumes, hair, and makeup are right; and how to call a show.
Upon high school graduation, Jessica received a full scholarship to United States International University's (USIU's) Musical Theatre program. She also began performing professionally at such theatres as Theatre East, San Diego's Starlight Opera, and the Lawrence Welk Village Theatre where she ultimately earned her Actor's Equity card. Eventually her professional work interfered with her education. She opted to continue professionally and soon thereafter moved to New York.
Jessica has been fortunate enough to earn her living as an actress almost exclusively. She is a character woman and jokes that she works so much because she can tap dance and sing a "high C" at the same time. Jessica has appeared on Broadway, at Radio City Music Hall, and has performed throughout the United States, much of Canada, across Europe, and several cities in Asia. She has been privileged to work with such notable artists as Jason Alexander, Roger Bart, Gary Beach, Matthew Broderick, Mel Brooks, Betty Buckley, Tony Danza, Fred Ebb, David Hasselhoff, Christian Hoff, Guy Hovis, Nathan Lane, Michele Lee, Rebecca Luker, Ralph Macchio, Barry Manilow, Andrea Martin, Andrea McCardle, Debra Messing, Bette Midler, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Melba Moore, Donna Murphy, Casey Nicholaw, Elaine Paige, Bernadette Peters, David Hyde Pierce, Lee Roy Reams, Lea Salonga, Martin Short, Lewis J. Stadlen, Susan Stroman, Clarke Thorell, Uma Thurman, Leslie Uggams, Ray Walston, Lawrence Welk, Patrick Wilson, and the incomparable Liza Minnelli.