Jennifer Simard

Jennifer Simard (born August 8, 1970) is an American actress known primarily for her work in theater. A Two-time Tony Award nominee, she rose to fame starring on Broadway and Off-Broadway productions in 2000s, such as I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, The Thing About Men and Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit being nominated at the Drama Desk Award and Lucille Lortel Award.

In 2016, Simard starred as Sister Mary Downy in Disaster!, receiving rave reviews and her first nomination for Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Between 2019 and 2022, she starred as Sarah in the Broadway revival of Company for which she received her second Tony nomination. Other Broadway credits include the 2017 Revival of Hello, Dolly, Mean Girls, and Once Upon a One More Time.

Simard's screen credits include, Somewhere in Queens, Law & Order and Younger.

Life and career
Simard is from Litchfield, New Hampshire. She studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music and Hunter College. After studying, Simard moved to New York, where she appeared in Forbidden Broadway '93.

She made her Broadway debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and later performed in the Broadway productions of Shrek The Musical and Sister Act.

She received Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her roles in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, The Thing About Men, and Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit (2005).

She originated the role of Sister Mary Downy in the 2016 Broadway musical Disaster!, for which her performance earned her a Tony Award nomination and a Drama League Award nomination in 2016. She was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for the role, which she performed off-Broadway in 2014.

She appeared on Broadway as Ernestina in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce. Simard played Miss Hannigan in the St. Louis Muny production of Annie from July 18–25, 2018. In August 2018, it was announced that Simard would join the Tony-nominated musical Mean Girls as Mrs. Heron, Ms. Norbury, and Mrs. George that September, replacing Kerry Butler. Her last performance was on December 8, 2019.

In October 2019, it was announced that Simard would join the gender-swapped revival of Company as Sarah at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. She returned to the production after the pandemic, starring as Sarah over the course of 2020 to 2022. Between February 26 to March 6, 2022, she took over the role of Joanne due to the indisposition of Patti LuPone. At the 75th Tony Awards Simard received her second nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.

In 2023, she originated the role of Stepmother in the Britney Spears jukebox musical Once Upon a One More Time at the Marquis Theatre.

In 2024, Simard starred in the stage adaptation of Death Becomes Her as Helen Sharp, opposite co-lead Megan Hilty as Madeline Ashton. The production's out of town tryout ran at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre from April 30 to June 2, 2024. Simard and Hilty will lead the production on Broadway, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, with previews beginning Oct 23, before opening on Nov 21st.

Television and film
Simard has been seen on television in Younger, The Good Wife, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order, and The King of Queens, and also appeared in the 2000 comedy film The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas.

Personal life
On October 3, 2004, Simard married Brad Robertson, whom she met when he was the light board operator for the off-Broadway production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.